"But why? What's so special about me? Why would anyone want to hurt me just because I became a herald?"
Alec smirked and chuckled.
"You aren't just some mere herald, Theodore. You are the child of one of the greatest to ever be born." As he finished his statement, the large door swung open. "And this, is their legacy."
Theodore's eyes widened
"What are you talking about? What do you mean, 'the child of one of the greatest to ever be born'?"
Alec non-chalantly stepped through the doorway.
"Come, I'll explain everything inside. It's a long story, and we have a lot to discuss."
Theodore hesitated for a moment, staring at Alec's back as he left him behind.
'Can I trust him? No, definitely not, but I have no other choice but to follow along with him. At least for now.'
Even if he wanted to, Theo had no way of fighting back against Alec, so despite being hesitant, he had to continue forward. His curiosity and thirst for answers being the only thing grounding and urging him forward.
A gust of cool air rushed past Theo as he stepped through, and what Theo saw when he stepped through the doorway nearly sent him stumbling back. Before him was a massive hall, in it was an army of men and women all clad in different types of armour. Row after row of them, with some wearing plate armour, others wearing leather.
The moment they laid eyes on Alec, the all fell to their knees with their heads bowed low. The clang of metal echoed faintly as the soldiers remained kneeling, their armour catching the distinct modern led lights in sharp gleams. The contrast between their attire and the hall was drastic, but that wasn't what caught his eye. What caught Theo's eye was how vast the hall was, so vast that he could barely see the far wall at the opposite end.
"We greet you, clan leader!" They said in unison, the echo of their voices reverberating in the hall.
Theo stepped back, drawing the attention of Alec, who chuckled as he Alec glanced back at him, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. He stepped forward, his expression calm, almost seeming, regal.
'What the... what's with the switch up all of a sudden?'
"What's wrong, Theo? Shocked?"
Theo remained silent as his eyes fell on each and every person kneeling in front of him. Amused by his shock, Alec raised a hand and in perfect synchrony, the soldiers rose to their feet and focused their gazes on Alec. Not a single gaze shifted from even slightly. Flabbergasted by the sight, Theo's jaw hung open.
After a few seconds, though, he composed himself and stepped forward and stood side by side with Alec. The moment he did, the attention of every person present shifted to him. Their gazes felt, disturbing. But it wasn't just the fact that they were looking at him that disturbed him, it was the way they looked at him. Almost with a sense of, contempt.
'But what did I even do?'
Jus then, as he was glancing over al the faces of those present, at the very front of one of the many rows of people in the hall, stood a girl who looked no older than he was. Though, her looking the same age as him didn't mean she carried the same air of, youth.
She was a, tall, and beautiful girl with long flowing platinum blonde hair that fell below her shoulders. For a brief moment, he thought she might speak. Her lips parted, but no words came — only the faintest curl of disdain at the corner of her mouth, as if she had just seen a cockroach.
"What's that look..."
"Father, who is this?" She asked interrupting Theo.
Taken aback by her words, Theo completely ignored her angelic voice and turned to Alec.
"Father?"
Turning to Theo he sighed. "Yes Theo, that is my daughter, and also your cousin, her name is Elaine Blackthorn."
"She is? So what you're telling me is this girl is related to Maria?"
At the mention of her sister's name, she stomped her foot hard on the ground, sending cracks tearing through the nearby tiles.
"You dare!"
Flabbergasted by the sudden turn of events, Theodore looked between her and Alec for a while.
'What the hell have I gotten myself in to?'
A few moments later, he focused on the girl. Looking the girl over once more, he saw that not only was she a beautiful young woman with porcelain like, even almost pale skin, and the strangest eyes he had ever seen. They were a strangely alluring emerald with white hues. Her pupils though were the highlight, their shape was irregular, almost like something was engraved within them.
Mesmerized by them, he stepped closer, looking even more intently into them. The girl's gaze didn't waver. If anything, the closer he got, the sharper it became.
"Beautiful!" he said, stepping even closer.
Shocked by the sudden praise, the girl flushed red and in that instant, the colour of her pupils changed from emerald, to a breath taking violet. Even more intrigued by the change, Theo stepped even closer, and reflexively, she scampered back in shock and turned to Alec.
"I would appreciate it if you refrained from ogling at me like that!"
Utterly lost in his thoughts, Theo completely ignored her words.
'Interesting!' he thought. 'So not only am I 'apparently' the relative of this Alec guy and Maria! But now he's telling me I'm related to this, brat? Though, she is pretty, I'll give her that.'
Stepping forward, Alec chuckled. "What could you possibly be doing, Theo? You'll scare the poor girl to death."
"Father, I asked who this fool is?"
'Fool? Did this brat just call me a fool?'
"Well my dear daughter, this foo.. I mean young man you see here is..."
With a mischievous grin, Theo interjected.
"Well, apparently you idiot, I'm your cousin. So I would suggest you rethink your tone!"
In that moment, the entire hall hall went dead silent. The only thing that could be heard was the faint hum of the LED lights above, and even that seemed to vanish. Aria blinked, her confidence faltering for the first time.
"...Cousin?" she repeated, as though confirming the words she had just heard.
"Did I stutter?"
The soldiers exchanged glances, their disciplined stances momentarily broken by the surprise. A few murmurs rippled through the ranks, quickly silenced by Alec's stern glance. That proclamation not only drew the attention of all those who stood behind the girl, but also the curiosity of Alec who had decided to see where Theo was taking things.
"My what? What the hell are you talking about?"
"When last did you clean your ears? Or are you deaf? I said I Theodore, Theo for short am your cousin!"
Elaine's expression shifted as a seed of rage clearly sprouted in her gaze.
"I am not someone of a rank of which you can address that way, so first I suggest you watch your tone, and words. Second, I don't know what you plan to achieve by spouting such ridiculous lies. I have no cousins!"
With an expression of pity, Theo shook his head and clicked his tongue.
"Guess you were in the dark too. Such a shame that 'someone of your rank' was kept in the dark about such a big secret."
Elaine seethed at Theo's words. A vein bulged on her forehead and she grit her teeth hard. Sharply turning to her father as she tried to calm herself, she demanded to know what was going on.
"Father, who is this?"
Theo interjected.
"Like I said, I'm your cousin."
"I wasn't talking to you!"
Theo shrugged.
"Well, I was talking to you, and why are you asking him about me when I'm right here anyway?"
"Because you're nothing but a goddamn liar! The mere thought of being related to someone like you is not only infuriating, it's impossible!"
"Why is that? Feeling inferior?"
The girl raised her brows in confusion. Her rage seemed to vanished, replaced by a glint of pride.
"Well, for one, if you were really my cousin, that would make you the child of my only distant relatives, my uncle and aunt. King of ruin, and his wife, Princess of storms!"
Theodore rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Were they one of the strongest in the world?"
"Are you seriously asking that?"
"Just answer the question."
The girl grumbled in protest for a few moments.
"Yes, they were! In fact, they were probably the strongest! But what does that..."
"That settles it, then."
"Settles what?"
"The fact that I am your cousin."
Elaine continued to stare at him with a dumbfounded expression.
"Wait... are you saying you, some random no-name fool, is the child of the greatest heralds to ever be born?"
"I see that you aren't deaf!"
The girl turned to her father once again in utter confusion.
"Father, are you just going to let this boy...."
Interrupting her, Alec burst out laughing at the developing situation.
"Father! This isn't funny."
"Oh, but my daughter, you don't know how funny it truly is."
The girl crossed her arms, her brow furrowing deeper as she glared at Alec, but before she could even respond, Theo chuckled.
"You think this is a joke?"
"Well, the fact that I'm your cousin, no. But your reaction to the news? Oh hell yeah its a damn joke.."
The girls eyes burned with rage and she clenched her fists tight.
"You damn....."
But before she could let that rage explode, she took a moment to calm herself. With a few deep breaths she let the rage wash away and continued.
"Okay, if you really are my cousin. where is your proof?"
Theo stood for a minute, rubbed his chin thoughtfully and finally said with confidence.
"...I have none."