Chương 21: ORTIS

Lady Elara, her fear slowly giving way to a simmering indignation, held Elias close for a moment longer before gently setting him down. She then turned her fiery gaze back to the man, who was now slowly walking towards them, seemingly unfazed by her fury or the destruction he'd just orchestrated. The maid girl, walked up to him, remaining a few paces behind him, her cold eyes still fixed on Elias with that unnerving disdain.

"Brother!" Lady Elara repeated, her voice sharp with a rarely heard authority.

"What the hell was that? You nearly killed my son!" The man offered what could only be described as a flimsy, dismissive apology. He shrugged, a casual gesture that made Lady Elara's face tighten.

"Apologies, dear sister. A test of his awakening. Nothing more. My own daughter, you see, is also hailed as a prodigy. I simply wished to gauge his true potential, unfiltered by parental anxieties. As well as see who's better." He said the last part under his breath and gestured vaguely towards the girl, as if her presence explained everything. Elias, still slightly wobbly, narrowed his eyes." What does her being a 'prodigy' have to do with anything?" he thought, genuinely baffled.

"What does Aina being a prodigy have to do with anything?" Lady Elara asked with annoyance. Elias looked at the girl, Aina. She was still glaring at him, her gaze unwavering. It wasn't just disdain now; there was a hint of challenge, almost a strange possessiveness in her eyes, as if his accidental awakening had somehow trespassed on her territory. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Why is she dressed in a maid outfit?" Elias wondered. It was completely out of place for a supposed prodigy, let alone someone accompanying an…. esteemed? Master of flow to a noble manor. His mind, the Ethan part, buzzed with questions and a growing sense of annoyance. Lady Elara, however, seemed to deflate slightly at her brother's words, her anger tempered by an obvious, long-standing exasperation. She sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"Ortis," she muttered, "you truly can be an incredibly irresponsible person at times." She then turned back to Elias, a weary but loving smile on her face.

"My love," she said, gesturing to the man, "this is your Uncle Ortis." Elias blinked." Uncle?" The word echoed in his mind, confusing him further. He hadn't known his mother had a brother, let alone one like… this. The family tree of the Dukker line was a labyrinthine puzzle he hadn't fully committed to memory, but this was a significant omission. His internal monologue went wild." My 'esteemed' tutor is my irresponsible uncle who just tried to blow me up? And he brought his glaring, prodigy maid-daughter?

It can't get more generic than this." The man, Ortis, offered a lazy, almost arrogant grin.

"Indeed, little Elias. My name is Ortis Mellou. And this," he said, finally gesturing to the girl, "is my daughter, Aina." Elias stood up." It's a pleasure to meet you, Uncle Ortis, Cousin Aina." Lady Elara sighed and led them inside talking to her brother while they walked. Aina regarded Elias one more time, then scoffed before following. Elias raised his head and flared at them." Tch. Curse this world."