The Sun was towering high above the sky and the day was still young.
However, the hall which was resounding with the joyous laughs here and there just a while ago—suddenly fell deathly silent.
Murmurs and whispers were to be heard as people were leaving.
Valerius carried a grave expression on his face as he watched Sophia trying to calm August down. Her eyes screamed of fear, her expressions—ashen.
While August leaned on his mother's lap tightly covering his ears with both of his hands.
His condition seemed to have stabilized, for now at least.
Valerius trying to hide his fear deep within turned to old man Rowan—
"We have to do something, elder. Tell me the solution and I swear I'll bring down the Sun if I have to."
Suppressing his tears, he turned to August,
"I can't watch my son suffer this agonizing fate."
Rowan massaged his temples, "I know my lord you are fairly capable of doing the impossible but I fear there's no cure for this condition called Ambivalence. Not to humanity."
His brows knitted together in a frown,
"The only way to save the young lord from this predicament is to make him ascend to the higher order."
"You don't mean that right?" Sophia said, her voice trembling, "there's no way August can pull that off. He's only three years old."
"I am afraid, there's no other way around it," Rowan said apologetically. "Young lord has to do it himself, ascend naturally. Step by step. Otherwise as you both witnessed—echoes won't let him live an easy life."
He stayed silent for a while contemplating his next words carefully,
"...or maybe they won't let him live at all."
At his words Sophia burst into tears almost immediately. August was sobbing on her lap while Valerius was watching the sight helplessly.
August looked at his mother and mustered his voice, "momma..?" He asked.
"Why …are you …crying?"
His mother pursed her lips into a made up smile but couldn't hide her true feelings beneath.
However, he stood up and wiped her tears off,
"Look I'm ..okay. No …more voices."
Hearing that his mother pulled him into a tight hug.
"Gods can be really cruel sometimes," Rowan said to Valerius. "This is not the fate a child should bear. It's not fair at all."
Valerius heaved a heavy sigh,
"The gods were never forgiving. They were always cruel and petty. What amazes me is your faith that you still cling to, old man. The gods are just higher beings, believe me you will start to hate them the moment you meet them."
As the residents were slowly leaving the main hall from a corner of his eyes Valerius saw a woman sitting in the corner faraway.
Her face was covered in a veil. The moment his eyes met with her, she smiled, stood up and left the hall.
Valerius chased after her but on his way climbing down the stairs she disappeared from his sight.
He clicked his tongue in anger but at the next moment he heard her voice from behind,
"Tough luck for you and your family today."
She lifted her veil revealing the pearl white hair.
"I hate to admit it but even I couldn't see you in this miserable state."
He didn't pay her jokes any mind and only asked,
"You know the cure don't you?"
"My, what do you mean?" She said dramatically.
"You say like Ambivalence is some kind of disease."
"Worse," he retorted. "It's a curse that will eat you alive. And I don't want my son to suffer such pain whole life. Drop the act. I know you have something, otherwise you wouldn't dare to show your face to me."
"Bold of you to assume that I'm afraid of you." she replied. "... okay maybe a little." She waved a hand.
"You know what? Why are we doing this? You live within the most secure place in the whole world. What element or echo could possibly dare to trespass Aurelion's barrier?"
She let out a chuckle,
"I mean look at me. I am a soul creature. Probably stronger than most of the inhabitants of this forest. But even I would not dare to enter a place like this without your permission, of course."
"It's not that simple," he replied. "The barrier could only hold most of the elements outside but sooner or later some of them are bound to create problems. Inferior elements are like pests; you can never get rid of all of them."
"Is that so?" The woman raised her brows. "Then activate the barrier to its full capacity. Lock the whole place down. No one enters, no one leaves. Simple."
"That's not practical," he replied. "...there will be severe repercussions if I do that."
Valerius knew the woman was slowly poking him for the information but at the moment she was the only one who could help him.
And she did offer to do just that,
"Okay then, grant me another permission to get close to your son. I can't think of anything but my presence that could scare the echoes off your little one."
Slowly a devious smile appeared on her face,
"...and don't forget you'll be owing me a favour. Not like I won't enjoy chatting with your little one—"
Before she could complete her sentence she choked on her words. Valerius gritted his teeth and revealed so much pressure on the surroundings.
"You will stay around but not let yourself be seen by him. You won't talk to him either. You know what will happen to you if I catch you having even a bit of harming intention towards my son, don't you?"
"I do, I do," she screamed in pain. Slowly the air returned to normal as she bowed her head reluctantly,
"I won't harm him. You have my word. But—"
She asked her voice barely audible,
"...how do you intend to save his life? You know the moment August steps in the outer world it's all over, don't you?"
Valerius waved his hand,
"It's not that big of a deal, only a matter of time. My son will learn everything about the essence, elements and then will ascend to the mage order naturally."
"Are you serious," the woman asked. "It's already difficult to ascend for a normal mage with a core element. Hate to be the bearer of bad news but for a child this young, it's almost impossible."
Two corners of his lips curled upwards in a smile as he looked at the woman before him.
"Who says it's impossible? Who says no one has done that before? There are orders far higher than Ambivalence and the mage that people have climbed already."
The woman gasped for more air as her heart sank when she realised. The fear of Valerius' that was engraved deep within her heart only grew deeper. In the tense moment her voice and inner thoughts mixed up as a faint whisper escaped from her lips,
"Oh God, he's a sorcerer."
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