"Oh, my little moon."
Those were the first words which appeared in her mind when she saw him.
Empress Selene pulled Aurelion closer to her chest. Just firmly enough that he could feel her heartbeat, steady and calm beneath him. Her warmth was all around him.
"…She really isn't letting go," he thought. Before anyone could react, she stood up. Then, she stood and turned.
"Your Majesty—" one of the maids said.
The Empress was already walking. Then walking faster. Then almost running.
She reached her hand out and pushed the massive doors open. Bright light came inside.
The hallway beyond was long, wide, and impossibly lavish. Polished marble floors reflected the sunlight streaming in from tall arched windows. Golden inlays traced patterns along the walls, broken only by tall pillars carved with ancient symbols. Rich tapestries hung between them, depicting victories, coronations, and moments frozen in time.
Aurelion's eyes widened slightly. "…This place doesn't even try to hide it," he thought."… it's impressive."
Selene didn't slow down.Her steps echoed as she moved through the hall, skirts swaying, silver hair trailing behind her. Servants and guards along the corridor froze, bowing quickly as she passed.
She didn't look at them. She didn't need to. She simply kept going. And going.
"…She's excited," Aurelion realized."…Really excited. Must be because of my Aura. "
They stopped before a door that felt different.
Smaller than the chamber he had awakened in. It was huge.
The decorations were simpler. The wood darker. The handle polished from use rather than display.
Selene didn't knock. She opened it directly. The room beyond fell silent almost instantly.
Aurelion saw it all at once.
There was a long table which streched through the center of the room. It was clean and polished. People were sitting surrounding that table. Men and women dressed in very nice clothes.
At the far end sat a chair that stood apart. It was higher and more lavish than others.
Broader and More imposing. And the one who seated in it—
The Emperor.
Tall, even while sitting. Broad shoulders filled the chair without effort. His presence anchored the room, pulling attention toward him naturally. Dark ash-black hair framed his face, streaked faintly with silver at the temples. His jaw was strong, his expression composed in a way that felt permanent rather than practiced.
His steel-gray eyes lifted the moment Selene entered. They sharpened, then narrowed slightly.
"—Honey!" Selene called out, voice bright, echoing through the room."Come look what our boy just did!"
"…That must be him." the boy thought. The nobles stiffened. Aurelion felt it immediately.
The shift.
"…So this is a serious situation," he thought.
The Emperor leaned back slightly. "My dear Empress," he said, tone calm but firm, edged with the patience of someone interrupted mid-thought, "we are in the middle of—"
"No work is more important than my son," Selene replied instantly.
The room froze. One of the nobles cleared his throat. Another nodded. A third spoke, carefully, reading the room.
"Her Majesty is correct," he said."His Royal Highness is the most important person in the Empire." Murmurs followed.
Agreement, polite and controlled. The Emperor closed his eyes for a brief moment, then opened them again.
Selene crossed the room quickly still holding Aurelion close.
"Darling" she said."Our boy just did magic. That too on first try."
Aurelion felt her excitement ripple through her body.
"…She's really doing that," he thought.
Several nobles exchanged glances. They were subtle ones. The kind meant not to be seen.
Then, one lifted an eyebrow. Another pressed his lips together.
"Yeah, they definitely are think that she is bullshitting." Aurelion realized.
The Emperor looked down at the child in Selene's arms. Then back at Selene.
"Selene," he said carefully, "you may be imagining things. You adore him. It's natural." Her expression changed instantly. Her lips pushed forward in a pout. Aurelion saw it.
"Woah…, She's actually pouting."
She turned her head slightly away from him, arms tightening around Aurelion.
"You never believe me," she said."He really did it."
The Emperor sighed quietly. Aurelion watched his father's face closely. Trying to read him.
"…He's used to managing rooms like this," Aurelion thought."…And Damn, she just bulldozed through it."
Selene turned back to Aurelion, her expression was now even softer completely.
"My little moon," she said gently, voice dropping into a playful tone meant for a child, "can you do it again for Mama?"
She smiled sweetly.
"Please? Show these bad men… these big bad men how amazing you are."
The nobles blinked. One almost smiled before stopping himself.
"…They think this is ridiculous," Aurelion realized.
He stayed still. And thought. "…Can I do it again?"
He remembered the sensation. The way the air had responded, the way it hadn't resisted.
"Of course, I can. We are talking about me after all."
He looked at Selene. Then at the room, then at the wide open space and the tall ceiling. The pillars were lining against the walls. "…This place is bigger." His breathing stayed steady.
"…She's the one who gave me warmth," he thought."…And this life."
"And well, she is my mother now."
He focused. Not forcing himself. Just remembering the sensation of the feeling of air moving. That flow.
His tiny fingers twitched. The room shifted. At first, Nothing changed. Then, a subtle change in pressure.
A few papers at the table rustled.
One noble frowned. Then the wind came. It blew up that Noble's hair wig.
The mana power in his hands surged, and the wind similar to his mother came out of his hand. A voice of swift wind could be heard in the room. One of the pillars along the narrower side of the room cracked.
Stone fractured with a sharp sound. The wind pressed on them. It was strong and controlled.
Aurelion felt it clearly. "…This is easier than before."
The nobles froze. Chairs scraped back as several stood instinctively. Eyes widened, and his breath caught
The Emperor stood in awe. A Reflex. His gaze locked onto his son.
The wind began to fade as Aurelion relaxed his focus. The air settled and Silence followed.
Aurelion blinked. "…Did I do it too strong?"
No one spoke Only Selene laughed. She looked proud. Her arms tightened around him.
"I told you," she said in a tone looking down on the people not believing her but, still not rude.
The Emperor did not look away. His composed expression remained. But something beneath him had shifted.
[To be Continued]