Legacy and Laughter

“W-W-What do you mean?”

“It’s as I just said, young Velanova,” the elder mage replied solemnly. “Your mana pool... it cannot be measured.”

The room froze. Time itself seemed to halt.

“It's something we’ve never seen before. I suppose... you could call it an almost infinite mana pool.”

A chilling silence overtook the hall. Nobody dared to speak. Not a whisper, not a breath—until—

“Hahahahahaha!!”

Laughter erupted—loud, booming, and from three familiar voices.

All eyes turned toward them.

The three men laughing as if they'd just heard the greatest joke in the world were none other than: His Majesty Orion Lunaris, my father Luke Silvannor, and Duke Alden Valcrest.

“Luke, your kid really is something else,” Orion managed between gasps, tears streaming down his cheeks.

“And here I thought my son would be this generation’s miracle genius,” Duke Alden added with a smirk.

“Well, he is my son, is he not?” my father said with a prideful grin.

All three of them were laughing so hard they had tears in their eyes.

Meanwhile, the rest of the audience was still too stunned to react.

The silence was finally broken by none other than Elio Valcrest.

He walked up to me and extended a hand, a relaxed smile on his face.

“First of all: happy birthday, Velanova Silvannor. Second: congratulations on both the spirit and the mana pool,” he said. “Or should I say... you’re unexpectedly talented. And here I thought I was the only real genius of this generation.”

I didn’t know why, but guilt welled up inside me.

“I-I’m so—”

“Stop right there,” Elio interrupted. “I’m not mad. Actually... I’m kind of glad.”

“Glad?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Because I always knew I’d have to get along with you, whether I wanted to or not. Our fathers are over there laughing like idiots, after all—it was inevitable. But I’m glad you turned out to be a decent guy and not some stuck-up noble brat.”

“...Thank you?”

Suddenly, an arm wrapped around both of our shoulders, pulling us in tightly.

“That’s how it should be, boys!” a voice exclaimed. “Let’s continue the legacy of our dads, yeah?”

It was Alistair.

Elio and I exchanged glances, and then the three of us burst out laughing. Why? We had no idea. It just felt right.

Somewhere deep inside, I knew—these two would always have my back, no matter what.

I glanced toward our fathers, who were still wiping tears from their eyes, and for a brief moment... I saw us in them.

After their laughter subsided, the three men approached us.

“Well, what can I say, Velanova?” King Orion said, his voice warm. “You’re truly something else. I never expected the boy who tried to skip every noble event just to play around would turn out to be the greatest prodigy in our history.”

“Y-Y-You flatter me, Your Majesty,” I replied nervously.

“Ha! I always knew!” my father said, grinning. “Of course—because I’m his dad.”

The proudest, smuggest look I’d ever seen was plastered across his face.

“Wipe that ugly smug look off your face, Luke,” Duke Alden growled.

“Awww, what’s wrong? Jealous your genius son got outshined?” my dad teased.

“I’m really going to burn you.”

“Hahaha! I’m just kidding, kidding!”

Dad stepped forward, set a hand on my shoulder, and pulled me into a hug.

“I’m really proud of you, son. Don’t mind the others.”

“Thanks, Dad. But I told you I’d make you proud, didn’t I?”

“Yes. Yes, you did.”

Suddenly, I was yanked out of my father’s embrace by someone I’d recognize in any lifetime.

“Big Sis—! You’re choking me!”

“Awww~! My little brother is such a prodigy he defied history!” Yuna squealed.

“No, seriously—I can’t breathe!”

Her grip only tightened.

Thankfully, Alistair stepped in and pried her off me.

“You brother-complex lunatic, you’re gonna kill him!”

“Oi! Who are you calling a lunatic, Alistair?!”

And then came the hug that always made everything okay.

“I’m so proud of you,” Mom whispered gently.

“Yes, Mom... Thank you.”

Her warm embrace calmed my mind and cleared the noise around me.

I finally looked around.

There were murmurs... and glares.

That was to be expected.

I was a prodigy.

“Wha—! You scared me, Lyra!”

“Not my fault. You didn’t respond when I called earlier.”

“My bad, my bad…”

“Still, this is to be expected of my future husband~”

Ah. I’d forgotten about that.

What do I do?

I couldn’t say it aloud, but I didn’t want to be engaged. Lyra was cute, sure, but that wasn’t the issue. I didn’t want to be dragged into politics and royal responsibility. I just wanted to focus on my magic... and my physique.

This was too much.

That’s when I overheard it.

Two nobles whispering behind me.

“A Spirit of All and an almost infinite mana pool... He’ll either be a hero or a problem.”

“If he’s going to be a problem, best to get rid of him now—before it’s too late.”

I gulped.

Fear started creeping in—until she stepped in.

“Well, well... fine men. What are we talking about here?”

Her Majesty, Queen Elara Lunaris.

“You wouldn’t mind if I joined this... very interesting conversation, would you?”

“Y-Your Majesty—!”

The two nobles tried to kneel in a panic, but another voice cut in.

“Why bother bowing now?” said Duchess Selene Valcrest, her expression unreadable.

“I heard you two speaking... unsavory things about my friend’s son. Care to repeat it? But this time, so everyone can hear?”

“Oh, I’m intrigued now,” Mom said coldly. “They had something to say about my son?”

The look on my mother’s face... was terrifying.

I made a mental note: Never get on the bad side of my mother. Or the Queen. Or Duchess Selene.

Actually, could I call them “Auntie Selene” and “Auntie Elara”?

Maybe I’d try that next time.

“So?” the Queen said sweetly. “Let’s hear it, gentlemen.”

The crowd went dead silent. Nobody dared to oppose the three most terrifying women in the kingdom.

I glanced at their husbands... all of whom were looking the other way.

Smart men.

But as I’d later learn...

It wasn’t respect that made them avert their gaze.

It was survival.

Because they knew better than anyone else...

...just how scary their wives could be.