Breakfast Table

Knock Knock Knock . . .

Someone knocked on the door but Val couldn't hear it as he just entered in his sleep.

- " Your Grace, forgive us we'll dare to enter. "

A soft voice of a woman, her name was Ana Kail, she showed basic courtesy before entering the room to wake up Val.

Clang . . . clang clang

But the door was jammed, she used little force but only heard a metallic sound. There were 3 more woman beside her and all four of them found that situation strange.

- " Your Grace !! your grace !! Oh goddess, your grace are you alright? We beg you please open the door. "

- "C-Calm down grand deaconess, why is the door locked ?"

- "Oh goddess, I don't have a good feeling"

- "Silence Syllia, don't utter any foul words"

Syllia got scolded by Lenna and gained a sharp glare from Aleesia. Ana was so focused calling for Val that she didn't heard others.

When Ana's call didn't met with any responses, everyone started panicking while the sole reason of that mayhem was sleeping soundly. Only after hearing everyone's panicked voice and banging on the door, Val shot up from the bed. Without any hesitation he flicked his fingers and the pokers went flying sideways removing from the door handles.

He totally understood why they panicked so suddenly. Original Val was like a time bomb as it was a miracle that he was still alive after so many years of torture. Everyone came in hurriedly but stopped in mid way, apparently shocked by the messed up room.

That room was totally looked like a place that turned upside down by a bunch of thieves searching for valuables, everything was misplaced and were spread on the floor. After regaining her composure, Ana came running to Val and started checking all over his body.

(Deacon – 'servant or helper' in Greek, catholic term)

Ana Kail 32yr old, who held a temple rank of Grand-Deaconess was a seedless. She was a kind and beautiful woman with short black hair and black eyes. She was taking care of Val since he was born and she was one of the very few people who genuinely cared about him.

Others were also seedless but their rank was lower than Ana. So like a head maid, they followed every word of Ana. They all wore a dark blue fashioned robe which was beautifully embroidered with silver threads and their faces was covered by a semi-transparent long gray veil. It was a common uniform for deacon rank with a different embroidery pattern for each sub-rank.

- " Your Grace, what happened here? Are you alright ? Are you hurt anywhere ? "

Asked Ana as she gently placed her hand on Val's cheek and he could saw the worries filled in her eyes behind her veil. She noticed that Val had already removed his bandages. As the other 3 who were kneeling before Val, knew that beside Ana no one would dare touch Val much less lift their head in front of him.

Val gently removed Ana's hand and in pretense, gave a soft smile

- " I'm alright Deaconess Kail, I was just practicing my mana control and I apologize for the mess. "

He said while pointed to the mess and a hint of surprise showed in everyone's demeanor but then Ana smiled kindly with little teary eyes. In past long years Val had never used his magic, so Ana was happy hearing that he used mana on his own free will.

- " It's alright your grace. If your grace wishes to practice then please do so as much as you desire, do not worry about cleaning. Anyways, your attire is here, Lenna and Aleesia will help with your grace bath while I tidy up the room."

- " By your order Grand-Deaconess "

said Lenna and Aleesia in unison as they stood up, then they urged Val to head toward bathroom while Syllia left kneeling with the tea tray in her hand.

- "Get up Deaconess and I'll take my bath alone Deaconess Kail."

Syllia stood up on Val's order as he started heading toward bathroom. Ana felt a change in Val behavior but she didn't understand what caused it, she interrupted him after seeing the look of disappointment in the face of Lenna and Aleesia.

- " Your grace, please forgive me but it is our faithful wish to serve you, please do not rob us from our services. "

Individuals who served the divine family no matter the temple ranks were truly faithful devotees. They felt grateful and indebted to divine family as they lived under their protection and kindness. So they wished to provide utmost services for the divine family even at the cost of their lives, not for wages but for their spiritual satisfaction.

But still, Val was really uncomfortable with that idea and did not wanted to drag it any longer.

- " Your priority should be my wishes, does it not ?"

Said Val with a cold face.

- " I apologize, your grace."

Said Ana as they all lowered their head on his question and Val headed toward the bathroom. For Theo, the worst kind of disease was, carelessly taking the responsibility for someone else's emotions, Theo detested human emotions.

Standing in middle of the room Ana made several hand gestures after which furniture, bed and pokers went back to their places, books floated back to the studies and stacked itself in book shelves, portraits went back to wall, blanket was folded and bed-sheet got fixed, it was like seeing the time moving backward.

Finally, Ana collected the bandages from the floor with pitiful expression. After glancing around the room, Ana's gaze stopped at the fire place and with a snap of her fingers the flame rose up again and she left those bandages to burn.

Theo knew his actions were not matched with Val, not only Ana but many would start questioning about his behavior but he didn't care, he just needed to play along until his departure.

After the bath, Lenna and Aleesia helped Val dress up in velvet navy blue shirt, white pants, white vest and knee length silver embroidered navy blue chimere. He sat on the couch with crossed legs and Syllia poured the tea for him.

When Val was sipping the tea, Ana bent down and said in a low voice

- " Your Grace, shall I order your breakfast in your room ? "

Origanal Val was a gloomy person who always acted weakly. He always ate breakfast separately in his room because his mother Eira and his brother Zion detested him on the breakfast table.

But Theo thought of it as a good opportunity to let his new family know about the changes in Val, so that he could prepare for his departure openly.

- " No, prepare an extra plate on the breakfast table. I will eat with others."

Said Val with an indifferent face but everyone got surprised after hearing his unusual order.

- ". . As your grace desire."

Ana said with little worry in her voice as she gave a nod to Syllia and Syllia left the room in hurry. After getting done with the tea, Val departed for the breakfast table.

*******

Morning sunlight showering inside the grandeur hallway which was 3 story high with magnificent large glass windows and colorful marble floor. White spirit birds passed above their heads flying through hallway playing with each other, several floating brushes dusting the deep corners of hallway, curtains fluttered then folded by themselves magically and deacons were using cleaning magic on windows. It was a refreshing sight.

- " We bow to divine blood. "

- " We wish for a great morning to your grace. "

'Tough luck'

thought Val with an expressionless face, the other deacons knelt and greeted him seemingly surprised by his presence. He went past them with a nod and soon after, the hallway filled with a wave of whispering.

- "Oh goddess, what in the world is happening? His grace is heading toward the breakfast table right?"

- "Yes, the great mother will be upset about this, I feel worried for his grace."

- "We all are worried. Only goddess knows what his grace is thinking . . but his grace feels different somehow."

- " Yes, how should I say this? I felt coldness in his grace demeanor and did you see his grace eyes? it seemed like . . "

- " Like, robed of every emotions. Oh goddess have mercy on his grace "

- " Oh goddess have mercy "

Val walked peacefully under the guidance of Ana while the other deaconesses followed him nervously. Reaching close to the hall Theo's extraordinary instinct started screaming, warning him of several unknown powers.

He suppressed his instincts and entered the hall when two completely veiled deacons opened the door for him. Val found the other family members already seated while several priests and deacons stood in corners around the hall.

Everyone was taken back by Val's appearance at the breakfast table. Obviously, Asvaldur his new father and Zelos his new eldest brother didn't reacted but opposite from them Zion was disgusted and Val's mother had stoic expression.

- "I bow to holy father as I'm humbled by your grace."

Firstly, Val greeted his new father Asvaldur Kelnar, the Supreme Leader who was seated in the head seat. At first sight, Val was baffled by Asvaldur's existence, he instinctively known that just a movement of Asvaldur finger was enough to turn him into dust.

Asvaldur looked like a man in his early 30s with a well built body, swept back long brown hairs, sharp green eyes, expressionless godly face and longer pointed ears which was a special feature of the divine family.

He wore a long golden embroidered blue coat attached with golden ornamental shoulder guards over white silk hanfu and various gold ornaments in ears and neck. His whole existence was screaming divinity and Val got reminded again that the being who was siting in front of him held the temple rank of Arch Supreme Leader, who was one among the 8 ruler of lower realm, a most powerful demigod.

After receiving a slight nod from him, Val greeted the other family members only for being ignored.

- "May goddess Hiera be with you."

Then Val intentionally moved to take his seat next to Zion but Zion stood up seething with anger

- " How dare you show your face here. "

Zion asked while putting his face in-front of Val, after which room temperature started to go down. Zion's power were heavy, it made deacons and priests present in the room started chocking, they fell on their knees and started begging for mercy.

20yrs old Cardinal-Priest ranked Zion was looked like a handsome villain with facial features similar to Val but little sharp and dark. He had a fierce personality, being born with the divine bloodline fueled his pride and ego, he looked down on seed bearer and seedless all the same. Val was a living disgrace for him as he could not stand that a seedless was his brother.

Val felt a slight killing intent as a burning pain inflicted inside his chest. He couldn't able to breath properly but he didn't let his pain appear on his face. Instead, he gave a smile to Zion after scoffing.

- " You dare- "

- " Zion !"

Original Val didn't even dare to breath in the same room as Zion but now watching Val smiling, made Zion flustered. Zion exploded with anger, embarrassed by himself. His hand was few inches away from Val's throat when his mother stopped him.

Eira Kelnar, Val's mother who looked like a woman in her late 20s held the rank of Grand-Abbess (Female Bishop), her godly radiant face with eyes similar to Val, she was a stern person and a seed bearer. In Kelnar, she held the highest temple rank among women and she was addressed as holy mother or great mother.

The shocking part to Val was that he couldn't saw Zion hand moved, it was terrifyingly fast.

- " Don't disgrace us with your impudent behavior, sit down, you too Val. "

- " I humbly apologize your holiness."

Zion apologized as they both sat down quietly and Val stabilized his breathing in secret. Then breakfast was plated after his mother's signal. Breakfast was lavished with vegetarian meals with various type of fruits and juices. They prayed before eating and in the middle of Zion's glaring Val tasted the food.

Fruits presented at the table were totally different compared to earth's, but regardless, Val found it delicious. He was eating with an indifferent face when his mother turned toward him

- " It's been a while since you've joined us for the breakfast Val and it seems like you've changed a little. What happened overnight ? "