The wheel's crimson glow slowly faded, and in its place appeared a glowing message.
[ Reward Acquired: The Eclipsed Sovereign's Eyes ]
I froze. My tiny jaw slackened like it was about to fall off my baby face.
"…Holy—"
Then I snapped my gaze down at my chest, where the faint shimmer of the Feather of Luck had just completely vanished. My lips twitched. "I will never forget your noble sacrifice, dear feather. You gave your life so that I, a mere potato, might gain cosmic eyeballs."
Nyxara cackled in my mind.
[ Pfft—cosmic eyeballs! Host, only you could downgrade one of the rarest cursed treasures in existence into 'fancy peepers.' Truly poetic. ]
I ignored her mockery and focused on the screen, where the system laid out the new ability in elegant, glowing text.
[ Eclipsed Sovereign's Eyes ]
Red Tier – Cursed Blessing
Abilities: True Appraisal (Unlocked), Hypnotic Eclipse (Unlocked), further effects locked…
A shiver of excitement and dread coursed through me. My heart hammered. For once, it didn't feel like I was losing—it felt like I had won.
Just before I could press the integration button, a tiny notification popped up.
[ Warning: Integration may cause extreme discomfort. Proceed? ]
"…'Extreme discomfort'? That's vague and not ominous at all."
[ Hehe~ don't worry, host, ] Nyxara chimed, her voice silky and far too amused. [ It's just the system's polite way of saying 'you're going to scream like a baby with colic.' ]
I stared blankly at the screen. "…Why am I not surprised."
Still, I clenched my pudgy fists and muttered, "No pain, no gain." Without hesitating, I slammed the Integrate button.
Immediately, a cold shiver lanced down my spine. Every instinct in my body screamed bad idea.
"Uh oh…" I whispered.
Then it hit me.
Agonizing fire exploded in my eyes, as though molten metal was being poured into my skull. It wasn't just burning—it was like someone was ripping my eyes out with red-hot claws while forcing me to stay awake through every second of it.
"GAAAHHHHHH!" I howled mentally, thrashing against the invisible tide of pain.
Nyxara's voice was maddeningly calm.
[ Oooh, look at you! Such strong willpower, host. Most people would've fainted by now, but you're holding on. Adorable~ ]
Adorable? I wanted to strangle her with my tiny baby hands.
Seconds stretched into minutes. My body was drenched in sweat, my throat dry, but I refused to black out. My consciousness clung stubbornly to the edge of the torment.
Five. Agonizing. Minutes.
Finally, the torment began to ebb. My head slumped, breaths ragged, as though I'd just fought a war inside my skull.
Nyxara's giggle echoed faintly in my head.
[ Congratulations, host… you've officially joined the "scream-your-eyes-out" club. Membership: you. ]
I groaned, half-dead, half-proud.
"…Worth it."
The agony faded at last, leaving me trembling in my crib, my chest heaving with ragged breaths. Slowly, cautiously, I pried my eyes open.
The world… had changed.
Where once there had been dull walls and flickering candlelight, now there were streams of light flowing everywhere—shimmering ribbons of blue, faint sparks of red, gentle wisps of green. Mana. Elemental currents weaving through the air, hidden threads that painted the world in colors unseen.
For the first time, the unseen tapestry of reality revealed itself to me.
A faint ding resounded.
[ Notice: Minor Mana Sense has been integrated into the Eclipsed Sovereign's Eyes. ]
[ Eyes of the Sovereign now carry enhanced perception of elemental flows and magical threads. ]
My lips parted. "…So this is… power."
Nyxara hummed in amusement.
[ Aww, look at that. My little potato can finally see sparkles. You must feel so grown up~ ]
I ignored her jab, my gaze still fixed on the radiant rivers of mana swirling around the room.
Another screen materialized, laying out the abilities clearly.
[ Eclipsed Sovereign's Eyes – Red Tier Cursed Blessing ]
Unlocked Abilities:
True Appraisal:
Inspect people, items, and techniques with extreme precision. Reveals strengths, weaknesses, and hidden properties. Strong entities may detect your attempt.
Hypnotic Eclipse:
Prolonged eye contact induces trance or obedience in weak-willed beings. Stronger targets may resist but still feel unease or hesitation.
Drawbacks:
Overuse causes migraines, bleeding, or temporary blindness.
Stronger entities may retaliate when inspected.
Eyes attract attention—others may be unnaturally drawn to you, whether in awe, envy, fear, or obsession.
Warning:
The Eclipsed Sovereign's Eyes mark you as a sovereign challenger. Unforeseen circumstances may arise in the future.
⸻
A chill crept up my spine as I read that last line.
"Unforeseen… circumstances?"
Nyxara giggled.
[ Oh, don't worry, host. That just means sooner or later, people will come chasing your shiny new peepers. Some will want to worship you, some will want to pluck your eyeballs out and keep them in jars. Either way, I'll be entertained~ ]
I deadpanned at the glowing screen, still panting. "…Why do I suddenly feel like I should've just taken the blanket?"
[ Because you're cursed with ambition, potato. And now you're stuck with those pretty, dangerous eyes of yours. Fufu~ ]
Despite her mocking, I couldn't help but stare into the glowing streams of mana again. My pain had nearly broken me, but my will had endured. And for the first time, I wasn't just a helpless potato.
I was a potato with eyes that could bend fate.
Meanwhile, outside the grand Aurelith mansion, the sound of rolling wheels echoed through the stone-paved streets. Several carriages, each adorned with a crest of a dragon coiled around a sword, steadily approached the gates.
Servants hurried to gather at the entrance, lining up in neat rows. At the forefront stood Selene, her face calm yet expectant, with her maid silently behind her.
The carriages halted. From the most lavish one stepped a man whose presence alone seemed to cut through the air. His hair was a dignified gray, his short beard framing sharp features, and his crimson eyes glowed with a quiet authority. He was Selene's husband—Duke Lucaris Le Aurelith, head of the house and bearer of the title Sword Saint. A small troop of soldiers trailed behind him, their armor gleaming faintly under the sunlight.
To his right descended his first wife, Reina Aurelith. With hair like molten gold and eyes to match, she wore a flowing golden gown that radiated the elegance of her station. At her side walked a boy of about five years, his silver-gray hair and golden eyes mirroring the union of their bloodline—Lucas Le Aurelith. Following closely was a younger girl, no more than three, with golden hair but striking crimson eyes—Luna Le Aurelith.
The remaining carriages opened one by one, revealing the members of the vassal houses of Aurelith, each family head stepping down in ceremonial dignity.
All of this grandeur and assembly was for a single purpose—
the celebration of the birth of the Duke's third child, and the sacred naming ceremony that would soon etch his existence into the annals of House Aurelith.