The northern Duchy family

The man looked into my eyes and showed a huge smile as he picked me up, his hands were huge and calused, his dark blond hair with a few grizzly locks reached his shoulders and his red eyes were deep. He placed me near his chest and started talking.

"Our baby boy is finally born my love, he has your hair and my eyes" he said in a emotional tone. "I hope he gets along with his sisters and brothers hahahaha" his laugh was powerfull almost roar like due to his hoarse voice.

"He sure is pretty..." said a faint femine voice. "Give him to me, let me hold him for a while, I will need to rest" as soon as she finished speaking my father handed me to a beautiful woman with long gray hair, a pale skin similar to snow which perfectly blended with her purple eyes.

She kissed my forehead and hummed a lullaby as she held me tight, her sweet voice brought me comfort, I guess this what they call motherly love?

"Our baby boy is perfect... what should we name him?" Mother looked at father and asked.

"Leo, his name shall be Leo! The lion cub of the North" Father exclaimed as he smiled.

Mother held me closer and smiled while repeating the name Leo, her voiced became more faint as she began humming again, we both fell asleep as father left.

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5 years later.

I will skip the boring parts about my upbringing, I was raised by mother, countess Irina Havenbone, the second wife of father, Duke Alexander Havenbone, I was not close to my father until last week, of course he visited me almost every week but now he comes almost everyday to talk about an awakening that is going to happen soon. I also met my brothers and sisters during this time, if I learned correctly, they were:

My eldests brothers Jonathan and Dante Havenbone, born from father and his first wife, Natalie, the twins are 10 years older than me, Dante is a powerfull swordsman and Jonathan is a schoolar. Father and Natalie also had my eldest sister Sophia, 8 years older than me, who just began her studies in Magic, as she awakened later than her peers. Last but not least there is Evelyn my full blood sister, who is 5 years older than me, mother was sad when sister didn't awaken but she didn't give up and tried to become a schoolar like Jonathan, which made father happy... I guess.

And then there is me Leo Havenbone, I know father called me a cub as a joke but my hair grew messy almost maine like so I got to give him that, my eyes were cold, very similar to his and I inherit my mother's skin, she and Evelyn like to say that I look almost like a porcelain doll due to my soft and pretty features.

Today I woke up because of the incisive sound of knocking on my door and a familiar voice calling for me.

"Young Master Leo, the countess is calling you for breakfast" It was Sonya, the maid who raised me alongside mother, I like to think of her as a second mother.

"Hmmm" I yawned "I am going Sonya" I said as I got up and quickly dressed myself before opening the door.

Sonya grabbed my hand and lead me towards the dining room where both my mother and sister where already there sitting, waiting for me. They both looked at me and let out a huge smile as soon as I entered, my sister eyes almost shinning as she ran towards me giving me a big hug.

"I missed you so much baby!" Evelyn exclaimed as she lifted me up.

"You saw me yesterday sis" I said a bit embarrassed, I am already a boy.

"It feels like an eternity" she kissed my forehead which made me blush even harder.

"Evy, leave your brother alone please" Mother said without looking at us, soon Evelyn let me down but still sat beside me.

I looked at the plate infront of me, as always it was a full meal, a hundred times better than what I used to eat on my last life. I started to eat ignoring the small talk around me, sometimes noding with my head without giving much thought about their questions. After I finished my plate, the door opened and father walked in.

"How are you going son?" He asked as He took a seat next to mother

"I'm great dad, it is nice seeing you again" I smiled as I looked at him.

"Good! It is almost time for your sixth birthday, which means you can try to awaken! For sure you will be a great swordsman like me and your brother." He exclaimed, sometimes I think he only cares about power and not about me.

I sighed deeply as I noded my head at him, I think he would have a hearth attack if he learned that I have talent for magic and not swords like he hoped to. Talking about my talent, I did some research and found out that dark mages became part of the grand council of mages, so I wouldn't be a pariah or maybe exiled from my family, maybe some people would look at me funny, which I don't mind after living as a officer worker for quite sometime.

"I hope to be a master like you father!" I gave him a fake smile before I spoke again "But dad, what if I don't have talent for swords?" I asked trying to sound inocent .

"I guess that is still a possibility..." He wondered for a bit as He sounded a bit sad. "In that case, I would hope for you to become a schoolar like your sister, or maybe a mage if you have the right skill tree" father tried to give me a reassuring smile.

"thank you, I just hope to awaken something good" I said as I layed my head on my sister shoulder, which made her pretty happy.

"That's my boy!" Alexander smiled at me.

We kept eating for about half an hour as we chatted more about the awakening cerimony, how my private classes were going and about my birthday party next week. My mother and sister were so excited about their dresses and the suit I would wear at the party, when we finished eating dad got up.

"I will leave you be, focus on your studies, and I will see you next week" He gave mother a passionate kiss, soon after we all got up.

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A few hours later.

I was sitting under the old oak tree on our garden, my mind drifted far away as I was reading an old book from the library, it was about the great empire of Hivarl, an ancient kingdom of mages who disappeared after an unknown plague. I wondered about all the technology and spells lost forever when someone called for me and the sound of metal hitting against the ground entered my ear.

"Good day little bro" Dante looked down at me with a devilish grin. "I see that you keep reading instead of training" He laughed as he hit the book off my hands.

"Hi Dante" I said a bit annoyed as He got closer to me. "Can I help you at anything?" I asked.

"Nah, I just wanted to see what you were up to, after all your birthday is coming up." He said is a mocking tone as he unsheated his sword and pointed at me. " I taught about giving you some tips about sword play but a nerd like you, will never be a master like me" He laughed, his sword scraping my cheek as it drew a bit of blood.

"I don't need your tips, specially when you are acting like this" I looked into his eyes as I picked my book and got up.

"You really amuse me, your eyes don't look like those of a child" He sneered "Father and the slut you call mother, really made a nice toy to play with, I hope you awaken fast, I will love to beat some sense into you."

I ignored his remarks as I made my way into the garden, cleaning my cheek with my handkerchief, as usual Dante was acting like an asshole, the rest of my evening was peaceful, I studied a bit with Jonathan as he always loved to help me with my doubts, he really treated me like his own flesh and blood, I am always confused how twins could look so much alike but be completely diferent people.

Night has already fallen when mother came into my room, she was smilling as ever as she sat down at the foot of my bed and patted my head. Her fingers gently caressed my hair as she hummed the same lullaby, her eyes showed a mix of emotions as she looked at me.

"How are you baby? I know your father have been acting strangely lately" Irina said with a bitter smile as she paused for a bit. "Just have in mind that he will always love you okay?"

I smiled for a bit before sitting up and resting my head on her lap, I forced myself to look up and show my faint smile to her.

"I love you mom, I really do..." my voice cracked as tears wanted to flow down my cheeks. "I will awaken and be someone capable of protecting you."

"Oh honey, if you awaken or not, I will always be proud of you and safe with you." Irina looked at me and kissed my forehead. "Just go to sleep baby, I will check up on you tomorrow" she held me close and sang to me until I feel asleep.