The silence in the Sun Hall did not last long.
Like an ember blown by the wind—
It flared up again.
Slowly… then it grew brighter.
Footsteps could be heard from the right side of the hall.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Borin Valerius stepped forward into the center, his dark red cloak fluttering lightly. His face bore a faint smile—a smile too measured to be called sincere.
"What a pity…"
His voice echoed without needing to be raised.
All eyes immediately turned to him.
Not even the elders stopped him.
Borin stopped a few steps away from the three siblings.
His gaze first fell on Iggo.
Then Ariven.
He nodded slowly.
"His two younger siblings… rare gems."
A few people nodded in agreement.
But then—
His gaze shifted.
Straight to Naivre.
His smile changed.
It grew sharper.
"…but the eldest…" He paused for a moment, as if choosing the most precise words to cut deep.
"is nothing but a wooden box."
A few small laughs were heard.
But not as loud as before.
Now—
Everyone was more cautious.
Naivre didn't move.
Didn't react.
But his eyes… stared straight at Borin.
"Naivre," Borin continued casually, walking slowly in a circle.
"With your clarity… you should be smart enough to realize something."
He stopped right in front of Naivre.
Close.
Too close.
"That the seat of Valerius's heir…" His voice dropped.
"Isn't fit for a porter."
Silence.
Everyone waited.
Waiting for a reaction.
Waiting for a crack.
Naivre took a slow breath.
His mind was clear.
Too clear.
He could see—
The direction of everyone's gaze.
The shift in Borin's stance.
The slight tension in Corvus's shoulders.
Even the slightly faster heartbeats of some of the elders.
Everything… was clear.
Then he spoke.
Calm.
Flat.
Yet loud enough for the entire hall to hear.
"Uncle."
One word.
And the whole room seemed to hold its breath.
"A box… can hold many things."
Borin narrowed his eyes.
Naivre continued:
"Including things… that you might not want others to know."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Borin's face changed.
His smile froze.
For a split second—
His true expression showed.
Startled.
Then—
Flushing.
"How dare you—"
"Corvus!"
The voice cut in before Borin could continue.
Corvus had already stepped forward.
Blue flames licked at his hands, swirling wildly like a snake ready to strike.
His eyes were sharp.
Filled with rage.
"You're just trash who happened to be born first, Naivre!"
The heat pressure spread instantly.
Several members of the branch family stepped back slightly.
"Is he going to attack?"
"In the hall?!"
"Crazy…"
But before Corvus could take another step—
A soft footstep sounded.
Ariven stepped forward.
Standing directly in front of Naivre.
Without hesitation.
Without fear.
Her eyes—
Changed.
Her Spirit Sense activated.
And in her vision—
A different world.
She could see Corvus's flames… not just as fire.
But as intent.
Aggression.
Arrogance.
And—
The intent to harm.
Ariven narrowed his eyes.
"Corvus."
Her voice was low.
Cold.
"Your evil intentions… stink like garbage."
The entire hall fell silent.
No one expected—
That a seven-year-old would speak like that.
"Stay away from my brother."
Corvus's flames flared brighter.
"How dare you—"
Click.
A small sound.
But sharp.
All eyes immediately turned.
Iggo.
He stood casually beside Naivre.
A single coin spun between his fingers.
A thin red flame coated it.
Spinning.
Condensing.
Aiming.
He smiled widely.
"Go ahead," he said lightly.
But his tone…
It was no joke.
Several people tensed immediately.
"With accuracy like that…" Fenric muttered.
"If he releases it now…"
"Corvus could get hurt," Selene added.
The situation—
It only takes a single spark.
To explode.
The elders began to move.
"This has gone too far—"
"Stop them—"
"In front of the inspectorate—"
Inspector Luminara didn't move.
But her eyes were ablaze.
Observing.
Assessing.
Borin stepped forward again.
His face no longer hid anything.
"Kaelen's children…" he murmured softly.
"Truly… have no sense of place."
And just as the tension reached its peak—
"ENOUGH."
That voice—
Not loud.
Yet it shook the entire hall.
The tension dropped instantly.
Like a mountain pressing down from above.
Kaelen Valerius had descended from the balcony.
No one knew when—
He was already standing among them.
His eyes swept over everyone.
Cold.
Commanding.
Undeniable.
"The ceremony is over."
No one objected.
No one dared.
He turned toward Borin.
Their gazes met.
Silence.
Yet full of meaning.
"My brother," Kaelen said softly.
"We'll discuss this… another time."
Borin gave a faint smile.
But he didn't answer.
Kaelen then turned away.
His gaze softened slightly… as he looked at his children.
"Naivre. Iggo. Ariven."
He paused for a moment.
"Come with me."
Iggo immediately dropped his coin into his pocket.
The flame went out.
Ariven took half a step back but remained close to Naivre.
Naivre himself…
Simply nodded.
As they began to walk—
The whispers returned.
But this time, they were different.
"Kaelen's line…"
"Is not weak…"
"Is dangerous…"
"And that firstborn…"
"...directly threatens Borin."
Inspector Luminara watched their backs.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Interesting…" she murmured.
On the other side of the hall—
Corvus still stood with his fists clenched.
His blue flames slowly died down.
But his anger…
No.
He watched Naivre walk away.
With one clear thought—
This isn't over.
And beneath the shadow of Ignist Valerius's portrait…
The Sun Hall fell silent once more.
But that silence—
Was fragile.
Like cracked glass.
The Valerius family walked toward the hall's grand doors.
Their footsteps echoed softly.
Their private pavilion… was waiting.
And behind those doors—
A far more serious conversation was about to begin.