Valdis's eyelids snapped open, revealing his red eyes.
Seeing the familiar ceiling, he took a deep breath as his mind replayed the events that occurred in the crimson hall.
While the Grand Elders and the Ancestors were discussing, he felt something calling to him. Wanting to understand this feeling better, he found his body moving on its own without his conscious control. It resembled the time he heard his brother's voice in the awakening pool, but was different at the same time.
When his brother's voice calmed his nervous body, he still felt that if he wanted to, he could fight back and regain control. But this time, whatever was calling to him was undeniably more powerful.
As soon as he felt the call, his control over his body was hijacked, and his consciousness dulled. When he finally regained awareness, he found himself before the box, hand stretched toward the silvery blob. Before he could react, the blob stretched toward him, piercing his hand and vanishing into his body.
This action left him stunned, but before he could speak, he felt his consciousness slipping away. The last thing he heard before everything went black was Malrik's scream.
'It seems like I've bonded with the Second Ancestor's soul weapon, but what is it really?' he thought as his mind drifted back to the shape of the weapon inside the box.
Valdis quickly shook off the distraction, closed his eyes, and began examining his body all around.
Soon, he discovered a tiny silver ball in his chest, rotating around his heart. But before he could investigate further, he sensed movement on one side of his bed.
He sat up immediately to see what was beside him. What greeted him was a pool of pristine white hair connected to a charming face, whose eyes were closed in deep sleep.
The person beside him was his mother, Elanor Ebonhart. She was sitting on a stool with her head resting on his bed.
His movements stirred her awake. She raised her head and looked at Valdis.
His ruby eyes met her deep blue ones, and he could clearly see the worry in her eyes. When she saw he was alright, she exhaled deeply, and the worry in her eyes eased slightly.
"Do you feel alright? Are you hurt?" she asked.
"I'm alright, Mom. Everything's fine."
"Good," she said with a smile.
She studied him for several seconds, searching for any signs of instability or lingering damage. Finding none, her shoulders relaxed—tension she had been carrying finally eased.
Then, without warning, she leaned forward and pulled him into an embrace.
Her hair brushed across his arm again, cool and impossibly soft.
For a heartbeat, Valdis stiffened.
Then slowly, he allowed it.
The scent of frost and faint incense clung to her robes.
"You are strong," she whispered near his shoulder. "But strength doesn't give you the right to scare your mother."
Hearing this, Valdis smiled and said, "Alright, Mom. I won't do it again."
Hearing that, she pulled away and gently placed her hand under his chin, saying,
"As much as I want to believe that, being in the Ebonhart house has taught me one thing."
"What's that?" Valdis asked.
"I've learned that as long as you carry this family's blood in your veins, troubles will always find a way to come after you."
After saying this, she seemed to remember something and smiled.
Her smile seemed to brighten the room. Valdis couldn't understand how she in front of him was the same woman Malrik was completely terrified of.
Seeing that he was fully okay, she stood up, dusted her dress, and said,
"Get dressed. You have a meeting with the Ancestors and the Grand Elders again in the Crimson Hall," she said as she headed toward the door.
Valdis hesitated for a moment before asking,
"Will they take the weapon away from me?" he asked, voice a little subdued.
Elanor saw his hesitant expression and chuckled.
"Even if you want to give it back, I don't think it would want to be separated from you. So, it's yours to keep. Nobody will bother you about it."
Hearing this, Valdis smiled and nodded.
Afterward, she opened the door and left.
A little after she departed, Valdis got out of bed and headed straight to the bathroom where a bath had already been prepared.
He quickly washed himself and got dressed.
Just as he was about to grab his door's handle, a knock came. He swiftly opened the door to see the same maid who had led him the first time.
She bowed quickly and said,
"Young master Valdis, your father and the Grand Elders are waiting for you in the Crimson Hall," she said.
Valdis nodded and started walking toward the Crimson Hall with the maid following behind.
At the entrance, two guards stationed at the door saluted Valdis as he arrived and promptly opened the doors. When he entered, the maid stopped at the entrance, bowed in the direction of the central throne, then turned and left.
Inside, he felt several pairs of eyes on him, but the most intense gaze came from the Second Ancestor, seated on his throne, who seemed intent on examining every inch of him to discover what made him special.
His eyes then fell on his father, sitting on the central throne in the Crimson Hall. Their eyes met, and his father smiled and nodded.
He also saw his brother, Malrik, and his sister, Isolde, standing in a corner. When his eyes met hers, she smiled and waved.
Soon, his steps halted as he reached the center of the hall. He bowed and said,
"I greet the Patriarch and the Grand Elders," Valdis said.
Everyone nodded in response.
Before he could speak further, the Second Ancestor appeared before him like a phantom and, before Valdis could react, placed both hands on his head and chest.
Valdis immediately felt a warm stream of energy flowing into his body from the Second Ancestor's palms.
This energy started to investigate every part of his body meticulously.
After a few seconds, the Second Ancestor removed his hands and said,
"You are one lucky boy. Not only did you receive a weapon from me, but it also provides passive protection to your soul and heart." Then he burst into laughter.
Although the Second Ancestor was laughing, everyone else in the hall fell silent. Soon, only his laughter echoed.
Draven, seated on the central throne, sighed and rubbed his forehead.
The reason for everyone's reaction was that soul weapons were rare, but those with additional defensive properties were almost nonexistent.
The soul weapon Valdis bonded with didn't just have one—it had two defensive properties, one of which safeguards the soul.
If news of this spread, nearly every family would want to get their hands on it. If they discovered it was already bonded to Valdis, they might plot to eliminate him, putting him at great risk.