Chapter 8
…
Yet, the elation wasn't quite done fading, as just before it was Kyren's turn, a little baby girl who was around his age, revealed to have an astonishing 8 Star Aptitude, which even made Lucius in his seat and the representatives from the church shocked while looking at her.
Soon after, another surprise followed, as her image Talent also formed on the surface of the water mirror.
And it was the rare Blue Insignia, a higher-grade Talent than even Patriarch Lucius' Emerald Insignia.
Meanwhile, the shape of the Insignia Talent of the Valentine Family itself was similar to that of a Black Spade in a playing card on Kyren's first life.
In the center of this Spade, there was another heart shape, glimmering in sapphire color.
Scarlet, witnessing all of this, smiled brightly at the baby girl who was held by the nanny.
The church representatives all smile seeing that and gleefully accept that the House of Valentine had finally gained another prodigy.
Lucius promptly stood up from his chair and, along with Scarlet, approached the little baby girl.
He scooped her into his arms, a bright smile illuminating his face as he gazed at his genius daughter, stopping the test altogether, even though there were a few more children yet being assessed.
"As expected of my daughter. You surely are my blood and joy…" he exclaimed. Pride radiating from him.
Scarlet stood quietly beside him. A proud smile formed on her lips.
And as if sensing a gaze coming from Chriselda and Kyren, she turned to look at them, then blatantly showing a smirk.
'Damn woman,' Kyren cursed at her, while his mother was unfazed by her provocation.
After the nonsense bla-bla-bla between the jerk father and his daughter was over, finally, it was Kyren's turn.
He touched the surface of the mirror.
It wasn't as cold as he expected at first, but warm instead.
Kyren also didn't feel the wetness of water inside it.
It's more like his left hand was currently enveloped by some kind of abnormal air current that felt warm.
And that feeling gradually crept to his whole body, enveloped him fully.
It was relaxing. And he ended up almost falling asleep from the sensation.
'No wonder none of those babies are crying. This is really good. I might be addicted to this feeling…' Kyren thought, occasionally yawning.
After at most 5 seconds, the result was out.
Only the first gem was lit up. Indication that it was the worst result of the day's assessment.
After taking Kyren's arm from the mirror, the Acolyte, whose task was to note the Talent, kept waiting. And waiting for at least fifteen seconds.
But there was no image appeared, which means the young master of the Valentine family didn't have any talent.
The two Acolytes and the Deacon from the church kept their silence, didn't make any exaggerated response or expression to the unfortunate fate that had befallen Kyren.
Instead, the Deacon Adhavan patted Kyren's head twice, then looked at Chriselda in concern.
"Please don't be too sad or disappointed for such a result, madam. Everyone has their own fate and destiny. We humans can do nothing about it. Just… take care of him, alright… he is still your child after all…"
"Thank you for your kind words, Deacon Adhavan. But I'm fine. I'm not sad, nor disappointed at all. He is my precious child. Of course, I will take care of him with all my heart. Truthfully, I'm glad this is the result…"
Chriselda slightly bowed her head as a sign of respect to those who were older and had a prestigious position.
"Huh…"
And unexpectedly for Deacon Adhavan, he was taken aback by her genuine answer as Chriselda looked relieved instead.
Her face showed radiant happiness for his son.
For all the years he served the Church of Light as a Deacon and assisted many people to find out their children's Aptitude and Talent, the usual parents often reacted in disappointment and distress when they found out their child had no future of being a Transcendence.
In turn, they would treat their child horribly, which he often agonized over.
Chriselda's reaction was rare as a Sea Blue Diamond for him.
And he understood instantly what she meant by her words.
"I see. So, you already envisioned a path for him to walk. Hmmm… good to know that madam."
Deacon Adhavan exhaled a breath, then brainstormed seriously about it for a moment.
A few seconds later, he added, "But you need to remember this, Madam Chriselda. Just a reminder!? In this world, peace was often never an option. It instead left you and those you hold dear in the state of vulnerability…"
"Don't worry, Deacon. I already understand that. And thank you once again for your kind words," she assured him.
While the exchange happened between the two of them, the others, who were backed up by the Elders in the family, bravely sniggered.
At first, they were scared. Yet, everything suddenly turned into a joke as no one expected a baby that was born to the daughter of the Raven Head Clan could be this untalented.
One Star Aptitude didn't even qualify Kyren to be a guard in the Mansion, much less become an inheritor of the House of Valentine.
Added with no talent at all.
All of them simultaneously thought one word. 'Trash'
Whispers then began to circulate among them once again.
"Ha, I guess there was all to it, to the name of the Ravens' Clan. They will be gone soon enough…"
"It must be because the mother is a cripple. There is no way the blood directly from the patriarch can make a baby this much of a waste!!!"
"Agreed…"
"Or maybe that rumor about her sleeping with the guard is true. It isn't patriarch son, but someone else's…"
"Tch, what a slut…"
The murmur started again, but Lucius didn't stop any of them.
After Kyren's Aptitude was revealed, he was seen sighing and turning away, didn't even bother to look at him and his mother anymore.
Once the test concluded, everyone returned to their homes, with a few big, blabbermouths eager to share the latest gossip:
The son of the arrogant woman from the fallen clan was deemed a failure and trash.
Soon, this knowledge spread abnormally quickly and widely, even reaching the other family out there that was quite far from the Valentine's region.
…
Many years later, Kyren finally reached 10 years old.
And he also eventually understood what the system meant when it said the curse would also slow his age.
He was currently a damn 10-year-old child, but he looked exactly like a kid who was still 5 years.
He didn't lose his baby fat at all.
At first, his…