By the time I woke up, I found myself in a rather comfortable bed, lying on fabric I hadn't felt since the mansion in Roa. If anything, it felt even better against my skin.
"What happened...?"
When I touched my hair, it felt incredibly soft. The clothes I was wearing were completely new, too, a pair of shorts and a short-sleeved shirt, maybe linen.
What happened to me? I remembered passing out in the middle of the street, right in front of the guild. After that, only darkness, and then I ended up in this room.
"Oh... you're awake, sleeping beauty," she said with a hint of irony.
Therese was sitting on the edge of the bed with a tray in her hands. She looked tired. There was a strange look in her eyes, as if she had just finished arguing with someone important.
"Excuse me, could you tell me what happened?"
Therese just smiled.
"You're quite the inquisitive boy, it seems. Even in your sleep, you kept mumbling your mother's name followed by some completely random question."
"I'm just very curious, that's all. It's normal for boys my age."
"Maybe so. You passed out last night and you've been asleep ever since. I decided to bathe you myself because I didn't want a maid doing it. I'm your aunt; if I missed the chance to take care of you as a baby, I wasn't going to miss this."
"You... bathed me...?"
I must have blushed a little; my face felt hot. I thought that sort of thing stopped once you were old enough to wash yourself.
"What does it matter? It was one of the conditions for letting you stay here... along with not letting you sleep in a clean bed smelling like a goblin. Though, surprisingly, you didn't smell that bad."
"That's because I constantly used magic to wash up. It's just that you found me in the middle of a fight, so obviously I wasn't going to be clean. By the way, do you know where it is?"
"Where what is?"
"My sword."
"Ah, your sword?"
Therese reached under the bed and pulled out a box. Inside was the sword, still in its scabbard.
"I have to admit, that sword has quite a bite... I had to come up with a whole strategy just to get it into the box to transport it. It was exhausting. I will say, it was quite the main attraction for the crowd. It turned into a spectacle of who could actually lift it."
"Did they ask any other questions?"
"Not a single one. They just assumed it's a sword with some kind of enchantment on it. In this case, they figured 'binding' made the most sense."
After that, Therese grabbed both of my cheeks and pulled on them.
"Why are you so cute? Even when you try to act tough, you still blushed when you found out your beautiful aunt gave you a bath... Kyaaaaa! I know deep down you're just a scared little boy who's happy to have family again. I don't buy the serious act for a second, Daiki."
My cheeks burned again, so I quickly changed the subject.
"Thank you, Aunt Therese. For taking care of me and taking the time to bring me here. But I'm especially grateful that you treated my weapon with respect."
"You're an angel! A true angel!"
Therese threw her arms around me in a hug that, frankly, tested my physical endurance and my recently recovered lung capacity. I wasn't used to these kinds of affectionate displays, but I couldn't complain. It felt... good. It reminded me of my mother.
"Aunt, about my father..."
She tensed slightly.
"Even after what your father did, you want to protect him... You really are an angel."
I tried. After breakfast, I'll try to explain it to her again. Though at this point, her stubbornness and naivety seem to dictate her conclusions a lot more than anything I could say.
[You shouldn't worry about Paul. I think they'll hate him more for other things than for this in particular.]
If he comes looking for me, assuming he even does, I don't think it'd be wise for him to find out I lied about the situation. He might get mad about that.
[Or maybe he'll think you were just a child looking for refuge. He must know about the Latreias, so he will understand your situation.]
"...Ah, by the way. A package arrived for you. Anonymous, but the note said they were annoyed, and it came with a cloak."
"Yes, he owed me. Thank you for letting me know."
Therese stood up, smoothing her dress with her hands.
"You're welcome. Well, I'll let you get changed. Your new clothes are clean and folded next to the cloak. But listen to me carefully. We are in the main residence of the Latreias. My mother—that is, your grandmother—knows you are here. She knows you are her grandson, or at least she seemed to like the idea of it."
"Do they know... who my father is?"
Therese grimaced in distaste, though she tried to hide it quickly.
"They know. That's why I kept you in this room. To her, you are 'tainted goods' that must be evaluated. But as long as you're with me, I won't let her harm a hair on your head. Just... try not to cause trouble, alright? If you cross paths with my mother, be as polite as you've been with me."
"I promise, Aunt. I will be the picture of elegance."
She smiled, recovering her usual brightness.
"That's my nephew!"
She left.
She left me with more questions than answers.
It doesn't matter. What should I do?
Looking at the breakfast tray, my mouth started watering instantly. That meant I hadn't eaten a thing since passing out. I quickly grabbed the teacup and took a sip. It was a bit cold, but a quick "Warm Hand" spell was all it took to enjoy it properly.
"Tastes like home."
The breakfast was delicious: toast with exquisite jam, eggs, a bit of meat, and some fruit. A fully balanced meal of fiber, protein, and carbohydrates. Exactly what my body needed to recover from its magical and physical exhaustion. I didn't even leave a single crumb.
[It seems that the rest and high-quality food worked wonders.]
I know, it's been a long time since I felt this good...
[Don't get used to it. I doubt you'll eat this well when we get back on the road again.]
Can you just let me eat?
After eating, I walked over to the clothes.
Dark pants made of sturdy fabric, a white button-down shirt, and a vest that seemed tailor-made, that was my entire wardrobe right now.
I left Temphestalis behind for the moment. If I was going to meet my grandmother, it was best to downplay anything barbaric about my appearance and present a much tamer version of myself.
[You did well. That woman seems very strict. If she saw you with a giant sword in her majestic tea room, you would have given her the perfect excuse to label you a savage just like Paul Greyrat.]
With that decided, I gave myself one last look in the mirror and headed for the door.
Therese was waiting for me in the hallway, her back leaning against the wall and her arms crossed. Seeing me come out, she straightened up, and her eyes widened in surprise, scanning me from head to toe.
"Wow..." she let out a low whistle, unladylike but entirely typical for her. "You look... incredibly decent. If I didn't know you were just drooling on your pillow a few hours ago, I'd say you were a prince from some distant kingdom..."
She stepped closer and adjusted my shirt collar with a maternal gesture.
"Thank you, Aunt. The clothes are very comfortable."
"I'm glad. And I see you left that monstrous thing in the room," she said, looking at my empty waist. "Wise choice. The elders would have a heart attack if they saw drawn steel in the house."
"I figured it would be for the best. I don't want to cause any unnecessary trouble."
"Well said. Come on, let's stretch our legs."
We walked through the mansion's halls. They were wide, with high ceilings, and decorated with exquisite yet austere taste, very different from the sometimes ostentatious style of the Greyrats. In Roa, it was common to see Sauros shouting here and there, or Phillip occasionally trying to get me to court his daughter. However, the calm didn't last long; as we turned at an intersection in the main hallway, we hit a roadblock.
Approaching us, flanked by two maids trailing a step behind her, was an older woman.
"Mother..." whispered Therese, slightly lowering her head.
But the woman didn't look at Therese. Instead, her eyes were fixed on me, or rather, a bit higher up, at my strange hair.
She narrowed her eyes, as if searching for some imperfection, dirt, or vulgarity. But all she found was a boy who wasn't nervous or overly pensive; he just was. She didn't say a word, and after standing there for quite a while, I decided to break the tension.
I offered a proper noble's bow.
"It is an honor to finally meet you, Matriarch Latreia. I am Daiki Greyrat. I deeply apologize if my sudden and unconscious arrival has caused any inconvenience in your home."
Claire blinked three times before saying anything.
"You," she said, her voice dry, "speak properly."
She took a step toward me, invading my personal space to look at me more closely.
"Black hair... red eyes..." she murmured, almost to herself. "At least you don't look like that man..."
"I've been told I have my mother's nose, madam."
She just scoffed.
"Hmph. We shall see if it is only the nose, or if you also inherited some of her good sense, though I doubt it having the blood you have," she said harshly, although the fact that she hadn't yelled at me yet felt like a victory.
She turned to Therese.
"Therese, take him to the inner garden. I want to speak with him without the elders snooping around just yet. If he truly has manners and it isn't just an act, perhaps he won't be a total waste of time."
"Yes, mother."
Claire looked back at me.
"Don't think good manners will erase the fact that you are a Greyrat, boy. But... I appreciate that you aren't a filthy savage. Do not make me change my mind. Even so, I want to verify if you truly are Zenith's son."
And with that, she walked past us, looking at me out of the corner of her eye until she disappeared from my field of vision. Immediately, I allowed myself to breathe. Had I done well?
"Where did you learn to bow like that?"
"I read a lot of books, Aunt," I replied. "Survival isn't just knowing how to use a sword."
Therese smiled and patted my back.
"You're right. Aside from handsome, you're diligent. Let's go, before she changes her mind. You survived the first round."
As for proving I was truly Zenith's son, I had a plan: demonstrate my ability to use advanced healing and detoxification magic. My mother was gifted at that.
Claire was waiting in the garden, a teacup resting on the table in front of her. She did not look like a grandmother eager to see her grandson.
"Go on," Therese whispered. "It's your stage."
I walked until I was at a respectful distance and waited. Claire set her cup on its saucer and looked up.
"If you really are my daughter's son, show me that you know how to do more than cut meat."
I nodded slowly. It was time.
"My mother always told me that healing magic is the act of sharing one's own vitality to mend another's," I said, repeating the words Zenith used to tell me when I sat on her lap. "It's not just a spell, it's a prayer."
Claire's eyes widened slightly upon hearing that specific phrase.
There was no one injured nearby, so I didn't have an obvious target. However, I noticed something else. Near Claire's boot, one of the white roses had been trampled, probably by some nervous servant.
I knelt next to the flower.
"What do you think you're doing?" Claire asked impatiently.
"Proving my heritage," I replied calmly.
I closed my eyes and focused my mana.
Angel of miracles, grant your sacred breath to the beating heart that lies before you. Oh heavens blessed by the sunlight, servants who despise the crimson, descend to the ocean of light, let the pure white of your wings spread wide. Drive away the blood you see before you!
I had to prove I was capable of using advanced-tier healing magic. After all, it was the only real proof I had, besides the "nose," which was far too ambiguous.
"My mother was very strict with my studies. She always said that to heal the body, you must first understand the flow of life. Plus, she bought me a magic book. That's how I managed to perfect it."
Claire Latreia looked at the rose. Slowly, she looked up at me.
"That light..." she murmured. "That warmth... it is identical to hers. And with perfect pronunciation..."
"My mother made sure I memorized every word before allowing me to attempt the spell," I replied, giving Mom all the credit. It was the best strategy.
"Very well. I acknowledge it," she declared at last. "You are Zenith's son. There is no doubt about it. That man... that barbarian could never have produced or taught such pure magic. The Latreia blood is strong in you, despite your appearance."
"Sit down, Daiki. Now that we have established you are not a fraud, I need to understand something. What is a child with your talent doing alone in Millis? Therese says you appeared out of nowhere."
"If I may, Mother," said Therese. "I am certain Paul kicked him out of the house because he doesn't look like him. He saw him as a bastard's son, and he came here to seek refuge with his family."
"Very well. If that man does not want you, the House of Latreia will claim you. Zenith is my daughter, and you are her son... Your healing is very good, but you will begin training to advance it further."
"I'm glad to be accepted by you, Grandmother."
"Do not confuse 'acceptance' with 'benevolence,' boy. I have not accepted you out of affection. I have accepted you because letting my daughter's blood go to waste in the filth would be an insult to the House of Latreia."
There it was, she was back to her usual self. I knew it wouldn't be that easy, so I wasn't surprised.
"You have the talent, yes. But you also have those eyes and that hair... and that defensive mercenary posture. In my eyes, you are still a savage with an impressive magic trick. You have a roof and food, but respect... that you will have to earn. And believe me, the bar I measure by is high."
With that, she turned and left. The only sound remaining was the tapping of her cane against the stone floor, echoing first in the garden, and then fading inside the mansion.
"Oof... that was... intense," Therese murmured, wiping a hand across her forehead. "But you're in. That's what counts."
We arrived in front of a dark wooden double door. Therese opened it, revealing a spacious and luxurious room, decorated in blue and white tones, with a massive window overlooking the back gardens. It was far more elegant than anywhere I had slept before, even Eris's mansion.
"This is your new room... The other one was temporary. Dinner is in two hours, and Mother demands absolute punctuality. Oh, and Daiki..." She stopped in the doorway. "Don't let her words affect you too much. She... she loved Zenith more than anything. Losing her broke her in a way she'll never admit. Seeing you is like seeing a ghost to her."
"I understand, Aunt. Thank you."
She closed the door.
I looked at my hands. I had managed to infiltrate the Latreia main house; I had food, a roof, and security. But the cost was selling out my father's image and submitting to a woman who viewed me as a project to be fixed.
[Are you going to get sentimental now? Claire sees you as a tool, but for you, she is one too. She wants to use you to get Zenith back or to feel better about herself. You can use her to get information, improve your healing magic, and find your brother. It's a fair trade.]
Yes. Even if you're right, it feels dirty.
[Then deal with it, and leave it at that.]