Chapter 12 Potential Testing I

As Zephyrion woke up from his sleep, he felt a sense of longing for his mother. He remembered a beautiful dream where his mother played with him and hummed a lullaby when he was sad. He felt remorse for being an ungrateful child, always staying out late and not spending enough time with her.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke to her in his mind, 'Mother, I'm sorry. I should have been more grateful and spent more time with you. But I understand something now. I have been given a new chance at life, and I shouldn't waste it with sadness. It will take time to move forward, but I must look towards the future and stay in the present instead of always dwelling in the past.'

He gave his mother a moment of silence, feeling grateful for the chance to have this dream and process his emotions. But he knew that despite his newfound resolve, he would still need time. 

Zephyrion let out a sigh in his mind and scanned the room, until his eyes landed on the baby that had caught his attention before. The baby looked back at him with its purple electric-like eyes, and Zephyrion couldn't help but feel fascinated by them. 'I wonder if I have cool eyes like that too. I bet I'd look like a badass in a fight with eyes that shine with the power of lightning,' he thought to himself. 

As he daydreamed about his future, the door creaked open and he turned his head to see who had entered. In walked a group of people dressed in formal clothes, including familiar faces such as the maids Helga and Sarah, his mother Helena, and his father Thomas, however he still did not know that Thomas was his father. 

Zephyrion finally had a better sight of Thomas, who had entered the room also wearing formal attire. He couldn't help but notice his towering height of 6'2, with a well-built body underneath his clothes.

He gazed up to Thomas' face and saw his striking features - dark blue hair that was neatly combed, a stoic expression that exuded authority, and most notably, his purple electric-like eyes that seemed to pierce through everything. Zephyrion felt a shiver run down his spine as he met Thomas' gaze. 

On his hips, he wore a big blue broadsword in a sheath, the hilt adorned with intricate designs of lightning bolts and thunder clouds. It was clear that this sword was not just for show, but a weapon to be reckoned with.

Zephyrion still didn't know their names, but he knew he couldn't rush things. He had to first learn the language of this world, which would take at least a year to learn the simple basics.

Behind Zephyrion's father, a woman with long golden hair entered the room. She was tall, with a height of 5'7, and her face was sharp and angular, with a pointed chin and high cheekbones that made her features appear almost predatory. Her piercing green eyes seemed to glow with malice, and her thin lips looked like they were often twisted into a cruel smirk.

She wore an elegant dress that flowed gracefully around her, emphasizing her slender figure and small bust. Her regal presence made Zephyrion feel intimidated, as if he were in the presence of someone very powerful and dangerous.

Besides the golden haired woman was a butler, Zephyrion observed the butler following the woman in the beautiful dress. His face bore several faded scars, hinting at a past filled with danger and violence. His gray hair was neatly combed back, giving him a distinguished look. The butler had a normal body build, a height of 6'0, and he wore a butler outfit that was neat and clean, indicating his professionalism. 

Zephyrion couldn't help but feel intimidated by the golden haired woman and the butler when they looked at him. It was as if they knew something he didn't, and their gazes were filled with a cold disdain that made him feel like an outsider in his own home.

Zephyrion realized that the other people present were probably aristocrats and important figures. Despite their distinguished appearances, Zephyrion couldn't shake off the negative feeling he sensed from them whenever they looked at him. 

Suddenly, Thomas took his sword and knocked it three times on the floor, commanding the attention of everyone in the room.

("Today, we shall test the mana and qi control potential, the physical potential, as well as the Element affinity of my two children, Ethan Thunderheart and Zephyrion Thunderheart,") Thomas declared, his voice booming with authority. ("We shall determine if they have the potential to become heroes like myself!") 

The people erupted in applause, whether out of genuine excitement or mere politeness, but Zephyrion's mother, Helena, looked on with contempt as the spectacle unfolded before her.

Thomas struck the floor with the tip of his sword, and the sound reverberated through the room, instantly silencing the crowd. He turned to face a figure shrouded in a dark cloak, the fabric obscuring their face and body.

("Zuriel,") Thomas called out, his voice firm and commanding. ("Go forth and measure the mana and qi control potential of my children. We must determine their talent and assess their potential as heroes.") 

Zuriel nodded silently, his movements smooth and graceful despite the voluminous cloak that concealed him.

Zuriel retrieved a tablet made of a white crystal, intricately etched with strange symbols. He advanced toward Ethan, who was laying next to Zephyrion, and took Ethan's small hand to touch the tablet. Suddenly, a blinding white light erupted from the tablet, illuminating the entire room. Zephyrion was taken aback by the intensity of the light, as he had not expected the tablet to shine so brightly.

Zephyrion cursed inwardly in his mind, 'You've got to be kidding me! Warn me about the blinding light, at least!' 

Not like, he would have understood their language anyway.

As the light subsided, Zuriel looked at the tablet curiously, and when he finished, he held the tablet high and exclaimed with a shock in his voice, ("Ethan Thunderheart, mana control potential phantasm, and QI control potential legendary!") 

Everyone was impressed by Ethan's talents in mana and QI control. 

("Great job, Mr. Thunderheart. The future of the Thunderheart family seems to be secured,") one of the aristocrats exclaimed.

("I'm sure he will become a great hero in the future!") Another aristocrat continued. 

("I have a granddaughter around Ethan's age. Mind if we talk later, Mr. Thunderheart?") an old aristocrat chimmed in. 

The room erupted in cheers and congratulations, and Thomas nodded his head in proud satisfaction of his son's potential. The golden-haired woman also looked proud, and even the butler clapped excitedly, despite his normally stoic demeanor.

Zuriel held up his hands, signaling for silence once again, before moving over to Zephyrion, who was still fuming silently about the blinding light.

Zephyrion saw the tablet in front of him and wondered why it was suddenly there. When Zuriel took his hands and placed them on the tablet, Zephyrion tensed up, anticipating another blinding light. But this time, there was no light, only a dimly lit tablet.

Zuriel looked disappointed as he examined the tablet, and then spoke loudly for everyone to hear, ("Zephyrion Thunderheart, Mana control potential normal, QI control potential trash.") But Zephyrion couldn't understand the words and simply stared at Zuriel in confusion.

The aristocrats in attendance were disappointed to learn that Zephyrion possessed the same potential as an commoner, despite being the son of a hero. They had expected him to have a superior potential, given his lineage. Some of them even mocked him, making fun of his lack of potential and questioning his worth as the son of a hero. Even his own mother, Helena, looked sad upon hearing her son's results. However, Helena's love for her child would never waver.

Thomas, on the other hand, had no expectations for Zephyrion and looked at his illegitimate child with disdain, as if he were nothing more than a piece of garbage. The golden-haired woman standing behind him even laughed, which infuriated Helena. 

However, Thomas quickly silenced the room with a loud knock of his sword on the floor, signaling for everyone to be quiet.

As Zephyrion watched with annoyance, Zuriel took out a stone with a Vetruvian symbol in the center and walked over to Ethan. With a nod from Thomas, Zuriel allowed Ethan to touch the stone.

Zephyrion couldn't help but thinking, 'I hope the kid won't start another light show again.' 

But much to Zephyrion's dismay, the stone once again emitted a bright blue light, blinding him. 'Damn it,' Zephyrion thought, 'Is the kid trying to make me blind?' He closed his eyes and waited for the light to dim.

Zuriel, on the other hand, was looking at the stone with a shocked expression on his face. He held the stone up high above his head and proclaimed, ("Ethan Thunderheart's body potential is Mythic!") 

Silence engulfed the room for a brief moment before it erupted into cheers and applause. The news of Ethan's mythic body potential had spread like wildfire, and everyone in attendance was excited at the prospect of a new hero in the making.

As the clapping and cheering died down, people began to voice their excitement and congratulations to Thomas.

("Amazing, Mr. Thunderheart!") exclaimed one of the aristocrats. ("You truly hit the jackpot in getting such a great child. Now, if only his affinity for an element is high, we would have a new prodigy among us!") 

("I couldn't agree more,") chimed in another. ("With such high control over mana and QI potential, and on top of that with mythical body potential, this is child is already a once-in-a-thousand-years prodigy.") 

Some of the aristocrats even began discussing their own personal matters, including potential marriage alliances for their own children with the Thunderheart family.

("I have a granddaughter at the same age as your child,") one of them said to Thomas. ("I wouldn't mind arranging a marriage between our families.") 

The room buzzed with excitement and anticipation, as the possibility of a new hero emerging was truly a rare and exciting occurrence.

The golden-haired woman standing behind Thomas wore a smug expression on her face as she listened to the praises of Ethan's potential. She looked over to Helena, her demeanor exuded superiority, as if to say, "Look, my son is a prodigy, and your son is just trash." However, Helena didn't even give her a passing glance and remained focused on her own son's results.

Thomas was equally pleased with the results and didn't attempt to stop the flattery this time around. He basked in the glow of his son's exceptional potential, reveling in the fact that Ethan was truly one in a million.

Meanwhile, Zuriel walked over to Zephyrion and presented him with the stone, but Zephyrion was confused by all the cheers and contemptuous looks being thrown his way. He thought to himself, 'What's going on? Why are they cheering for the baby next to me and giving me contemptuous looks? Are they insulting me!? And what is this table and stone, what are they supposed to show?'