The man continues ascending up the stairs until he is face to face with Victor. And with a calm but cold voice he asks.
"Are you unhappy that I came?"
Looking straight at the mans with great calmness he responds.
"Why would I be unhappy to see you, my lord, after all it's wonderful that you came to see the next generation of the family? Of course…"
Looking at the woman who is just a few steps behind. The man's blue eyes divert to the side trying to look behind.
"…that implies to those who have children."
Infuriated the woman bits her low lip. This is the second time a person has mocked like this in the last five minutes.
"But of course we pray to the gods that our ladyship will be blessed with a child soon if not now."
This makes the woman sighs and the man gaze returns and he looks at Victor.
"How many have arrived for the ceremony Victor?"
"Apart from the two of you who have come even though you don't have children who will be participating this year, about thirteen people in total. But there are other who will be arriving from the branch family soon."
"The branch family?!"
"Yes, my lady. It was the grand patriarch's orders that the branch family should be part of the ceremony."
The man sighs and places his hand on his forehead allowing only his deep blue eyes to be visible.
"I should have guessed."
"Why don't I take you to the patriarch? By now he has most probably sensed your presence and could be waiting for the two of you inside."
"Yes, your right. We should go and pay our greetings to the patriarch."
The man starts walking towards the mansions huge door. The woman still rooted to here spot squints her eyes.
"He is here."
The man stops and turns his head just slightly to the side and looks at the woman.
"What are you saying?"
"Father is here."
The man widens his eyes in surprise while Victor stands there unfazed.
"I can feel his presence and this is no doppelganger, this is the real thing."
"Are you sure that you're not making things up."
With a rather calm voice.
"How would I lie about my own father's presence?"
The man turns and looks at Victor, and he nods his head.
"Her ladyship is not wrong my lord. The grand patriarch is here."
While looking forwards at the door.
"I should have known he would come. But why? He came the last two times and then this time. Could it be because of…?"
"No, I shouldn't make conclusions early when I haven't seen them in the first place."
The man reaches for the door handle and opens the great doors of the mansion and enters with Victor and the woman walking right behind him.
In one of the rooms in the mansion, Gray in his human for is lying on the bed face up.
"Who would have thought that my grandmother loved kids that much?"
Gray looks worn out and tired as he remembers him meeting his grandmother with his cousins.
"I am so tired…"
He yawns his eyes heavy and tried.
"… just going to take a short…nap…"
Gray closes his eyes and falls asleep.
During the night as the two twin moons shine bright in the night sky, casting there bright lunar light onto the room. A shadow of a figure is cast on Gray and a hand can be seen stretching and reaching out for Gray. A woman dressed in a black dress and a pair of black gloves is standing next to Gray's bed towering above him and smiling broadly as the moonlight partially illuminates her face.
In a dark empty space, a spirit is floating aimlessly in the void. The spirit open its eyes and looks up.
"Where am I? Is not the room where I was sleeping?"
Gray is confused and shocked. He looks at his body which is that of a child.
"How did I get here? Did I die again?"
He questions himself wondering why is fate so cruel and when he is about to accept his fate a booming voice is head.
"Well well well! How long has it been since an heir came here!"
The voice is loud and strong. Powerful enough to crush a person.
"Wh-who are you?"
Gray is terrified and shocked.
You don't know me when you have the same beast genes as me!"
"What are you talking about?"
The being opens its golden eyes and seems to be looking at Gray keenly but opens its eyes wide in shock.
"Hmm…what a child!"
"What is a child of your age doing here!?"
Gray responds calmly.
"You tell me, I was peacefully sleeping when I appeared here."
"There is no way a child especially of your age would come here not unless….."
A huge black lion spirit appears before Gray.
"Don't tell me you have awakened your beast transformation ability!"
"Wh-what are you!?"
"Ah…well it has been a long time since I have meet a child like you."
Raising its head prideful.
"I am the lion king of conquests, the first lion, the king of all lions and the first contracted partner of the first patriarch of the Leonhard family. I am Mufasa!"