God From The Abyss

Chapter 24: Chapter 024: Breakfast

The Limnor children sat in order of seniority, from Evander to Sybil, the last child at the left side of the table. There was visible tension and silence hung over them. The events from a few nights still played over and over in their heads.

’Father lost.’

’Father couldn’t beat him!’

’That guy’s a bigger problem than I thought.’

"I love Mikael. He is so strong!"

Evander nearly choked and coughed up blood from sheer shock while Isabella looked like she aged forty years in a second. Even the cool headed Lucian spat about his tea with such force he fell of his seat

"Sybil... you what?" Evander croaked, wiping imaginary blood from his lips.

Sybil beamed as though she did not just casually nuke her siblings with just her words.

"Listen here..."

The doors to the garden opened once more, ushering a new presence. The very one they detested.

Mikael still dressed in his spotless white night robe, barefooted. He looked less like a human troublemaker and more like a sentry of the dawn. A lethal one, though.

The sunlight reflecting off the early morning mana mist shone on his white hair. And he wore the warmest smile they had ever seen. Asides from their father.

Mikael waved like a little boy as he approached the table.

"If it isn’t the children of the Duke. Beautiful morning, isn’t it?"

For a moment, the Limnor children all fell in love with him. Isabella muttered under her breath, flushing red.

"Beautiful."

The first to recover was none other than Lucian who coughed.

"Wonderful morning to you too, Mikael. Good to see you finally awake. How’s the manor treating you?"

Mikael sat down gracefully. "It’s not a bad place."

Lucian scoffed inward. ’So it’s not good for you. Talk about condescending.’

Sybil stood up and fluttered over to Mikael and she flew straight into his lap. Mikael looked her deep into her eyes, his own turning blazing red in the sunlight.

She shivered in fright a little before regaining her composure.

"Bad husband," Sybil complained, playfully punching Kael in the chest.

Mikael felt strange. This child doesn’t fear his inner being. The eyes revealed him, his story. The fullness of his being as the Abyss Sovereign, to some extent. And yet this child feared it not.

Mikael wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling her hair, which had the scent of something beautiful and refreshingly relaxing. Silence prevailed in the entire garden as everyone witnessed the unforeseen display of affection between the two.

Up in the main house, Selena exchanged a bewildered glance with her husband, albeit with smiles.

"Alan, he’s claiming my child too?"

"A very amusing young man. Let’s go down too, my love." Alan smiled.

He put forward his arm. She gently threaded her arm through his, their joined arms forming a gentle curve.

Evander flew up in a fit of rage and shock.

"Sybil! Get off that bastard, immediately!"

At the sudden shout, Mikael’s head snapped up, his eyes so red it seemed it was burning inside. The rage flared so quickly, as he locked his gaze onto the source of the shout — Evander — like a provoked predator.

The suffocating pressure and bloodlust from that time seeped out. Lucian gripped his seat’s edge, knuckles very pale. Evander sat down forcefully as the bloodlust seemed to claw at his neck, seeking to strangle him.

Isabella wasn’t left out either, as she fought for her life too, falling to the floor. Sybil still sat humming softly, unaware of what was happening to her siblings. Luckily for the servants, most of them had left subtly, not wanting to experience that feeling of dying again.

Then....the soft rustle of footsteps on the stoned steps leading to the table, drew subtle attention as the Duke and Duchess approached.

They had already seen everything and hurried lest Mikael smother all the children in his rage.

Mikel’s bloodlust vanished immediately. "That was careless," he muttered. He had put in a bit of effort to shield the smallest child from the effects of the Gaze but that only ended up adding to his headache.

Just as the Duke and his wife came into full view, he reached for the teacup before him, all composed and smiling — as if nothing had happened at all.

The Limnor children stood up, at least without wobbling to the floor, as their parents sat. The d6uke motioned for them to sit immediately as he knew they were all struggling to be standing.

His eyes settled on his last daughter and sweetheart, Sybil, perched contentedly on Kael’s lap. His arms held her tenderly, as if he was afraid she would shatter from into a million pieces if he held her too—

tightly.

Selena subtly cast healing mana on the them, now glaring at both Alan and Mikael who were undoubtedly the source of her increased worries these past few days.

The boy sat with flawless calm, looking more refined and breathtaking than the day he has first shown up, and with no care in the world; one hand holding a teacup, the other resting protectively across the girl in his lap.

"She’s not going to break, my boy." Alan laughed heartily.

Mikael joined in, laughing softly. "That’s a relief."

" You should have begun breakfast without us," Alan said with gusto, picking up his cutleries.

"Please, Father. That would have surely been audacious!" Evander butted in. He did get an acknowledging nod as a reward.

There were golden-brown croissants and other varieties of fresh pastries, cheeses, roasted quail, spiced ham and a variety of fruits and juices, and warm tea also.

Deep into breakfast moments later, the garden buzzed softly with the clink of silverware and murmured conversations. Sybil and Kael took turns feeding each other and laughing softly at what each said.

"Pray tell, my boy, what plans have you in the coming days?" the duke asked.

"I’ll be leaving today, for a very quick trip."

The air around the table seemed to change. Some at the table wanted to require that he’s leaving, a few others saddened, though the shock showed visibly on their faces.

"Oh, Duke?"

"Yes, my boy."

"May I trouble you in registering me at the Silver Arcane? I’ll handle the um.... ’fees’ myself when I come back."

"Won’t be an issue, lad. So... where do you intend to go?"

"A secret, my good man. Now Sybil, down you go.

" I think I must leave at once."

Sybil pouted as she got off. "When will you come back?" she asked woefully.

Kael ruffled her hair. "Soon, child. Just—"

"I’m not a child! I’m five!"

"Then what do I call you? Sybil’s okay, right?"

"Call me Love."

Everyone coughed.

"Very well, ’Love.’ I must be on my way, Limnor family! Duke, Duchess, Duke’s children, Love!"

Stepping beyond the garden’s edge, he got into a sprinting stance.

"Wait a moment, Mikael!" Isabella blurted out. "You’re leaving like that? And with no supplies?"

Mikael laughed. "The Princess cares for me. Fret not, things will work out okay. Probably. Well then..."

"Oh, lest I forget." He turned quickly back at the sitting family. "It seems I need a map, if possible — one that marks locations of good mana veins and mana ore cores. Surely you have that, don’t you?"

The duke took off a ring from his finger and tossed it at him.

" One more thing, Duke Alan. Why did you not slay me af-"

" All that can wait until after your trip." He cut him off. "Now shoo, will you?"

" Very well, Duke Alan. Later then..."

Mikael’s form blurred as he surged forward at tremendous speed. A loud bang followed suit as gusts of wind threatened to uproat the garden and its inhabitants. His form blurred as he surged forward, streaking the air like a comet. Absorbing lots of mana yesterday had helped. Not that he had any idea where he was headed to.

"To think that he’s not yet at full strength," the Duke muttered. Alan prided himself in having an eye for talents and geniuses, and Mikael was one of them.

Leaning back on his seat, the duke’s face turned serious as he faced his family.

"I know you are all wondering why I’m acting the way I do with Mikael."

Waving to a maid he ordered, " Summon Lina and Clinton right away. It’s time for a Limnor Family meeting."