A suffocating silence reigned in the Palace after Adam's last words. That calm sentence, devoid of any trembling or tone of fear, in which he announced that he was going to enter a mana pit for an early awakening, resembled for her not the voice of a thirteen-year-old boy, but the tone of a man stripped of all sense of experiences. Leon ivanhart stared at him for a short movement, then exhaled slowly as he said in a warm but measured voice: – "if you are determined... I won't stop you. The decision is yours, Adam."His kindness was evident in the words, but in his eyes a calm cruelty: he does not forbid, but he will not be congratulated if he rushes and later regrets. Elise's features trembled , her eyes quickly filled with tears , and she shouted in a trembling but connected voice: - " Are you crazy, Leon?"! He's a kid! You want to pay him to death with your own hand!"She took a step forward, grabbed his dress as firmly as someone trying to force the world to change course, and her stubbornness appeared as an unbreakable wall. Leon did not hold back, he looked at her with affectionate but resolute eyes: – "when he adopted him, we promised to respect his way. I can't be tied up."His voice was gentle, protected by inner rigidity. He did not react sharply, but did not soften. - "And if he dies?"! What will we say next!She approached him, whispered in a desperate but stubborn voice:" you promised me, Leon... You promised me that we would protect him no matter what. And if we lose it... I won't forgive you."Adam did not answer. He calmly walked out, unhesitatingly took his steps to his room, and closed the door behind him without turning his head. Inside the room, an old call echoed: "dad... Don't you walk out on me."But this time, it no longer has any weight — no rupture, no earthquake. The cold has become a way
In the office, Elise's tone escalated until she burst into tears, her tears turned into an inner roar: – "if Adam dies because of your stubbornness... I'm gonna kill you with my own hands, Leon!"Her words were an unbreakable oath, not a threat or a fleeting mom, but a reproach surrounded by anger and unbridled love. Leon froze for a moment, and then calmly put his hand on the table: – "if you want to kill me... It won't change anything. This is his way, and his will deserves respect."He gave her his words gently, but he is as hard as iron inside-external kindness protects a strict attitude.
A quick knock sounded on the door. The Butler Smith entered with measured steps, but his lips did not stop moving, and his eyes shone with festive cunning: – "Sir... A call from Alan von lucifar has arrived. He wants to talk to you now."He went, constantly talking, like a person wrapping a question with a plot: – "it seems that the guy has not yet lost the habits of the past. Good news, sir, or, at least... Something worth listening to."Elisek immediately changed her features: -" Alan...?"!"She gasped, and her anxiety took a sharp episode. Leon turned around in surprise, but Smith suddenly raised his head, honed his voice with a mixture of Whisper and sarcasm: – "excuse me, sir... But you're making a mistake. She allows the child to decide his fate and allows to tear my lady. Is this really the attitude of the Lord of this house " his laugh was light and thoughtful, not rude sarcasm but intelligent bitterness. His words hinted more than they said frankly, like a fox looking into the hole in the fence.
Leon only answered with a long silence, and then slowly put his hand on the magic crystal. A voice emanated from the Crystal loud and clear: - " Leon... Here is Alan von lucifar. It's been a long time. Then, as if shaken by a sudden blow, his tone suddenly turned into an impulsive affectionate tone: - " Liz... Why are you crying?"If this guy gets mad at you again, say the word and I'll come teach him a lesson."Elise's face changed, her anger and sadness took on a single form: tears are hiding behind the desire for revenge and defense. Leon answered in a steady but friendly voice: - " Alan... What is the reason for the call? Alan laughed lightly, and then his voice quickly turned into analytical coldness: – "on every continent there are three elite families..."He spoke as if telling a game map, but behind his words there was a clear trembling, as if his nerves were on a tightrope. Leon narrowed his eyes and smiled with a short smile: - " she didn't change then... You still see the world as a chessboard. Alan laughed, but his laughter hid his anxiety: - " yes, a chessboard... And we make it.And then a moment, as if impatient: "but let's leave politics aside. Tell me, Leon... How is Adam " a period of rigidity reigned in the room. Leon leaned back, his voice thin but firm: - " he's fine. Alan is unconvinced , his tone suddenly rises, like an explosive spark: - " well?"Is that all you're saying is that he agreed to enter the Mana pit... And you know what that means!"His words were like a thoughtless word striking in every direction: anger, fear, threat — capricious and unbalanced. Elise burst out, tears fell on Kennedy and NAR together: - " enough lying, Leon! She agreed to enter the mana slot... And you know what that means!"The air is tense. Alan, who was previously very controlled with words, suddenly turned impulsive: "is that what you call protection?"! That's the promise you made to me nonsense! If anything happens to him... I will bring my sword and
And cut off your head in front of the whole continent!»
Alan's voice came out loud but it was loaded with cold, not chaotic anger ; it was the anger of a man who had lost everything he could hold on to, the anger of someone who feared for his last remaining. The Crystal shook under the influence of his words, its colors flashed as if the air itself became heavier.
Then his voice suddenly subsided , becoming a sharp whisper like condemnation:
- "How dare you?"»
Breathing stopped for a moment. His short laugh after that was not for pleasure, but a nervous Echo hiding behind a bitterness that does not hide remorse. The Crystal shot a crack, its fragments broke with a sudden shudder, and silence fell on the hall like a strong fist.
Smith smiled calmly, lined up with intrigue, like a person reading a map of upcoming events. Leon remained standing with a mysterious calm; his features carried the weight of the decision. Elise partially collapses, her voice mixes anger and promise, and the mother refuses to lose her son at any cost. And Adam, being in his room, showed no trace of emotion; cold as a rock, with eyes that see only her written decision.