Rebirth and Spiritual Fragments

Rebirth and Spiritual Fragments

At this moment, a new life was being brought into the world in a room on the castle's top floor.

Magnificent blue-gold curtains tightly covered the windows. A woman with long pale-golden hair lay on her back upon the bed in the center of the room.

Her fair brow was tightly furrowed, her hands unconsciously clutching the sheets. Cold sweat covered her body, and her Amethyst Eyes were filled with pain.

A magic circle beneath the bed glowed faintly, constantly monitoring the woman's life fluctuations.

Several maids stood tensely by, some holding various Enchanted Knives while others stared intently at the Crystal Ball connected to the Life Monitoring Array, observing the stability of its glow.

"How are Madam's life fluctuations?"

The plump, Brown Hair midwife massaged the woman on the bed as she spoke. Gentle mana fluctuations flowed through her fingers, easing the woman's pain.

"They're somewhat weak, but stable!"

"Good. Keep monitoring her."

On the other side, the pink-haired young mage focused on maintaining the Restoration Spell. Dense Life Mana streamed endlessly into the woman's body, replenishing her depleted strength.

Amid everyone's tense yet orderly activity, a loud cry rang out, and the infant was successfully born.

"Congratulations, Madam. It is a healthy young master."

The Brown Hair midwife wiped away her sweat and respectfully addressed the somewhat weakened woman on the bed. Several enchanted tools danced rapidly under the control of Spiritual Power, swiftly handling the aftermath.

Once everything was finished, she picked up the child and brought him before the exhausted, panting woman.

Gazing at the adorable little face so close before her, the woman nodded, let out a long breath, and smiled in relief. Her body finally relaxed completely, and her eyes slowly closed.

"Jennifer, Erica, I'm tired. I need to rest for a while. You may leave first."

"Yes, honored Madam." x2...

I... became a newborn...? In an unfamiliar environment, surrounded by people speaking a language he could not understand, Xia Yuan's ability to think had been reduced to the absolute minimum by the limitations of his body.

"@ω,﹡·)╰ひ╯."

Then, he felt himself being picked up. The blurry image of a woman with long pale-golden hair appeared before his eyes.

When he looked at her, her expression shifted slightly. She seemed to be smiling.

She... is...? She began speaking, her voice slow and clear, but Xia Yuan could not understand. It was not any language he had ever encountered.

",^,⊙#,%○⌒,◎◇╦."

"￥,&ω." x2... So sleepy... I can't think...

His thoughts gradually became sluggish. Struggling to force his eyes open for one last glance, the final image that entered his vision was the blurry backs of everyone filing out of the room. Then, his tiny body fell asleep.

Outside the room, two men stood silently, one before the other.

The man in front possessed a head of unusual Ice-Blue Hair. Beneath his sword-like brows, his deep azure eyes resembled a bottomless ocean. His features were handsome and sharply defined, and he possessed a peculiar charm.

He was the master of this castle, the lord of Carlas Province, one of the Empire's Four Great Dukes, the current head of the Olyvendi Family, and a ninth-rank Legendary Bloodline Warlock—Duke Carlot.

The latter was about the same height as the former, though thinner. He wore crisp Black Tails, and his Iron-Gray Eyes were sharp and alert.

His white-gloved hands were folded before him as he stood straight about three steps behind the man in front.

When the midwife and maids emerged from the room, Duke Carlot's probing gaze immediately swept over them.

"How is the situation?"

"Honored Duke—"

The midwife Jennifer lowered her head slightly, keeping her gaze fixed upon the ground before the Duke as she answered respectfully.

"Madam has given birth to a healthy boy. She is somewhat exhausted and is currently resting. I have left two maids in the room to attend to her."

"Very good!"

Hearing the midwife's words, the Duke nodded. The faint trace of worry deep within his azure eyes faded, replaced by relief and delight. His tone unconsciously softened.

"Leonard—"

The Duke turned to face the butler behind him.

"As usual, once Madam has recovered from her postnatal weakness, distribute rewards to every servant and guard in the castle."

"As you command, Your Grace."

The butler bowed slightly in acknowledgment.

At the same time, the young mage Erica carefully pushed the newborn out of the room.

Seeing this, the Duke stepped forward and gently lifted the swaddled newborn into his arms. His azure eyes carefully studied the child's adorable sleeping face, and the corners of his mouth rose uncontrollably.

"Has the Bloodline Detection Ritual been prepared?"

"The magic circle and materials are ready. The Family Mage is waiting in the testing room."

Leonard lowered his head slightly and answered in a deep voice.

"Good."

The Duke nodded, suppressing his thoughts. He laid the newborn back down, then turned and strode toward the testing room.

Xia Yuan had no idea of his current circumstances. At this moment, a transformation was taking place within his consciousness.

As everyone carried his body toward the testing room—

A Spiritual Fragment of unknown origin, brimming with a sense of presence, floated out from the strange energy enveloping his consciousness.

To his perception, it was as if a brilliant star had suddenly appeared within the boundless dark expanse of space.

The star gradually drew closer and collided with his consciousness. Then, it turned into a stream of information and merged into his awareness.

It was a brief memory fragment recorded from a child's perspective—

Within a lavish room stood a child who appeared to be two or three years old.

The beautiful woman with Golden Hair and Amethyst Eyes whom he had seen at his birth held the child in her arms as she stood before an enormous Floor Mirror framed in gilded carvings.

The child mischievously reached his little hand toward the mirror, and the reflection moved in sync with him. The two small hands touched through the mirror's surface, making the child giggle.

Through the mirror, Xia Yuan saw the appearance of the memory's owner.

His bright eyes were as clear and blue as lake water. Beneath his straight, upturned nose, his small mouth was stretched into a wide smile. His tender skin was as fair and smooth as milk, while his pale-golden hair shone as brilliantly as the sun.

The woman lowered her head to look at the child, her cheek close to his. She smiled gently with narrowed eyes, radiating an enchanting glow.

"Remember, child. Your name is Anvis, Anvis Carlas Carlot Elena Lo Olyvendi."

What a long name... No, wait! I can understand what she's saying now?!

Within his mental space, Xia Yuan instinctively offered his assessment, then suddenly realized something.

No, it was not that "I" could understand it. The owner of the memory could understand it. Acquiring his memories had also allowed me to master this language.

Still, the surname Olyvendi sounded a little familiar...

Xia Yuan was somewhat puzzled, but he did not dwell on it. He merely continued immersing himself in the information.

Inside the testing room, the Blue-Robed Mage stood guard before an enormous Ritual Magic Circle, waiting in silence.

When he saw the Duke and the others arrive, he hurriedly lowered his head and raised his right hand. He tapped his chest three times, forming the simple equilateral-triangle Symbol of the Eye of Truth, then solemnly performed a mage's salute.

The Duke nodded to him, strolled into the room, and casually glanced at the magic circle on the floor.

"Prepare to begin the test."

The Ritual Mage nodded, took out a Magic Crystal that glimmered with a deep blue radiance, and placed it at the core of the magic circle. Then, he lightly tapped it with his Staff.

A hazy halo spread from the crystal. Deep blue light radiated outward from it, illuminating the entire Ritual Magic Circle.