Beyond the Aeternis estate, the noble houses of Solaris were already stirring.
At the grand Valmore estate, Duke Alric Valmore sat at the head of an opulent table, his piercing blue eyes locked onto the man kneeling before him—the family's spymaster.
"And the Aeternis boy?" the duke inquired.
"Still unconfirmed," the spymaster answered. "But the prince's visit suggests something unusual. The court is paying attention."
Duke Valmore leaned back, fingers steepling beneath his chin. House Aeternis had once been a dominant force, but now, their influence had waned. Even so, they remained a potential obstacle—one that needed to be dealt with before they could rise again.
"Then the king will act soon," he mused.
A slow smile formed on his lips as he turned his gaze to a young woman seated beside him—Lady Evelyn Valmore, his eldest daughter.
"You understand what must be done," he said.
Evelyn, a vision of grace and intelligence, nodded. "Yes, Father. If House Aeternis wishes to regain its standing, they will need alliances."
"And we shall give them one," the duke said smoothly. "An engagement between you and the Aeternis heir will bind them to us."
The plan was simple: control the boy, and House Aeternis would be theirs.
Evelyn lowered her gaze, her expression unreadable. "I will do what is required."
Duke Valmore's smile widened. "Good. The proposal will be sent before Duke Reynard departs for the capital. With pressure from the court mounting, he will have little choice but to consider it."
The storm was gathering, and House Valmore intended to seize control of its winds.
---
Within the quiet halls of the Aeternis estate, Leon lay in his crib, his small fingers twitching slightly as a familiar presence stirred within him.
He had felt it growing—this power, this awakening.
Leon was no ordinary child.
He was not just the heir of House Aeternis.
He was the Supreme God.
The memories of his past life remained intact, buried deep within his soul. He remembered the betrayal, the fall, the loss of his divine throne. But fate had not erased him—it had merely cast him into another existence.
And now, his power, though sealed, was beginning to stir.
A voice, neither foreign nor external, echoed in his mind.
[Awakening Protocol: Status Re-evaluation in Progress…]
Leon's golden eyes gleamed faintly, the glow hidden beneath the veil of sleep.
[Leon, your training with your grandfather has resulted in significant improvements. Analyzing changes…]
Eon.
The AI he had once created—his eternal companion—had resurfaced after weeks of dormancy. It had remained silent during his training, allowing him to focus on the fundamentals of mana control and combat. But now, with external forces shifting, it had chosen to awaken once more.
[Your progression has reached a sufficient threshold. Unlocking partial access to Absolute Calculation.]
Leon's mind sharpened. Absolute Calculation.
A power that had once allowed him to process information at a speed beyond mortal comprehension. Even with only a fraction restored, it would be invaluable.
"How much access?"
[Currently, 5%. Enough to enhance perception and logic processing for short bursts. Full restoration will require further development.]
Leon absorbed the information, his mind far sharper than any infant's should be.
His path to reclaiming his divine throne had just begun.
---
In the depths of the royal palace of Solaris, King Eldric sat upon his grand throne, his golden eyes locked onto the kneeling figure before him—the royal spymaster.
"And the boy?" the king inquired, his voice calm but carrying a weight that demanded precision.
The spymaster lowered his head. "Prince Alistair's observations confirm that he is not ordinary. There is something unusual about him, though the specifics remain unclear. Duke Reynard's swift movements suggest he is aware of the growing interest."
The king's gaze darkened slightly. "Then we must be cautious. House Aeternis may be weakened, but they are not without their defenses."
"Indeed," the spymaster agreed. "However, Duke Valmore has already taken action. He has proposed an engagement between his daughter and the boy."
The king leaned forward slightly, a small smile forming. "Clever. Valmore seeks to control House Aeternis through marriage."
He tapped his fingers against the armrest of his throne.
"Let them move forward with their plans. We will watch. If the Aeternis heir is truly more than he appears, then we shall decide his fate."