NoGift

AURUM woke up with a headache. It's probably because she only slept for about two hours. Who could sleep properly after she had read the things written on that record book yesterday? 

The main line of the Blackbourne family had the blood of all races because one of their ancestors decided to marry an elf and their son married a dragon-beastkin hybrid. Seriously, did no one ever tell them the consequence of that? At least someone should have given them a warning. That the blood of all the four races would act as a 'poison'. Causing the generations that would follow after them to forever rely on the fruit of the Tree of Life to get rid of that 'poison' and continue their life span.

She even suspected that those people from Mythos purposely hid the truth so that someone like Ellion Blackbourne could be born. She had read the things written about the 8th Duke of Hanover. He was powerful. The most powerful Blackbourne ever born. His appearance was mostly human with no pointed ears or beast-like eyes. But his otherworldly beauty and powerful Mana bellied that fact. 

She asked Gregory yesterday if there was any portrait of Ellion Blackbourne in the manor. He then took her to a room where all the portraits of all the former Dukes of Hanover were located. She only had to take one sweep before she immediately zeroed in on one particular portrait. 

The man had golden locks and a pair of purple eyes. There was a slight smile on his lips as if he knew a lot of secrets. But even if you asked, he wouldn't tell you about it. All his features were human-like. But there was just something ethereal about him. Something magical. And she just knew this was Ellion Blackbourne. 

The dukes who followed him were all beautiful. But none could have matched his beauty. Maybe because the blood of the four races was most manifested on him. 

She had also seen the portrait of her father – Dorian Blackbourne. Just like how many people have said, her brother really did look like him. Only with more masculinity. She didn't really feel anything while looking at his portrait. Unlike the former dukes, he didn't write any entries on the record book. Maybe he's too busy to look for the location of the three artifacts. But at least now, she probably could understand him more. The reason why he left and the reason why he disappeared. 

Because he was looking for a way to open the Mythos Continent. So, they could continue to live. She now understood that restless feeling that something was not under your control. That even if you didn't do anything, there's already a time limit on your life. It's suffocating and frustrating. Even if you know how to solve it, there were still a lot of things getting in your way. 

Aurum could give her father a plus for his determination. But maybe he could have at least left some notes on where he found the three ancient artifacts. According to what the remnant of the soul of the dragon king said to her brother, their father successfully found the three artifacts. He just failed on using them properly. 

As a safety net, just in case he failed, he should have had a plan B. That's certainly what her brother would have had done. Well, there's no use crying over spilled-milk. What she and Argent could only do now was to look for those artifacts and make sure that they would succeed. 

Of course, while they're doing that, they still had to face the evil Pope and his bands of minions. She should probably do more mental training to have more control over her Gift. If she could, then maybe whenever they met an enemy, she could just one-hit kill them. That would certainly save them a lot of trouble.

She stood up and called a maid to bring her bathwater. It took a while before they managed to bring everything in. 

Aurum submerged herself in the rose-scented water and thought of the video call she had with her brother last night.

=====

"Could you send me a picture of every page on that record book?" Argent asked as soon as their video call connected.

"I could. But it's really a lot of pages. I only picked those that I deem relevant," Aurum said. 

"And you did perfectly. I just wanted to read the entries of the other dukes. Especially those that lived after the Mythos Continent closed."

"Okay. I'll do it tomorrow."

Aurum didn't hesitate to agree. Because she knew that there must be a reason why her brother asked her that. Probably to see how those dukes coped up with their situation, knowing that they had limited life span. 

"How did Mother react?" Argent asked.

"Shocked and scared."

Their mother almost had a panic attack when they read the part about the main line of the Blackbourne family having a limited life span and that the only thing that could stop that was a fruit from the Tree of Life. Heck, Aurum would probably have reacted the same way if she wasn't sure that it would have a more negative effect on her mother.

"Understandable. It's not only her children who are affected by this. But also her missing husband," Argent said in her usual indifferent manner.

"You're talking as if we're not the ones who are affected," she said jokingly.

But what she couldn't say was that, she too was very scared about this turn of events. She just didn't want to show that to her brother. It might just add more unnecessary pressure on Argent when she already had a lot on her plate. 

"Because we will get through this. We will open that continent. We will get those damn fruits. And we won't die before we reach the age of 30. I swear we will."

Aurum was slightly startled by her brother's sudden declaration. But when she looked at those purple eyes filled with determination, all her fears and anxiety suddenly disappeared. 

She smiled. "I know."

=====

Aurum finished her bath and picked a simple sky-blue dress. She was combing her hair when someone knocked on her door. 

"Come in," she called.

The door opened and a maid walked in. "Young Lady, a friend of yours came to visit."

The first thing that came to Aurum's mind was Clay. So, before she could think properly, she was already running out of her room. She climbed down the stairs and stared at the tall young man standing not far away. But he was not the one she expected. Because this one didn't have dark-brown hair. Instead, his hair was as fiery as a scorching red flame.

"Mishla?"