Ethan blinked, his confusion evident as he tried to process what Madeleine had just said. The room around him felt like it was spinning, his mind struggling to catch up. His voice came out shaky, almost disbelieving.
"I… I don't understand. I've been out for two weeks?"
Madeleine's eyes softened as she gazed at her son, the warmth in her expression tempered by the firmness in her tone. She leaned forward slightly, her hand resting gently but decisively on his shoulder, grounding him in the moment.
"Yes, my dear. Two full weeks," she confirmed, her voice steady. "But that's not what we need to focus on right now."
Ethan's brows furrowed further, his lips parting in protest. "Not important? Two weeks is a long time!" His tone rose, frustration creeping into his voice as he looked to Trevor for validation.
Trevor, seated beside him, glanced nervously at his mother and then at the others in the room. His discomfort was evident in the way he shifted in his chair, his hands fidgeting. Madeleine, however, remained calm, her gaze never wavering.
"Perhaps," Madeleine conceded with a small nod, her voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of urgency that demanded attention. "But what I'm about to tell you is far more significant. I've been delaying this conversation for years—waiting, hoping you'd be older, more prepared. But fate, as it often does, has made other plans for us. There is no more time to wait."
Her words hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over the room. Ethan stiffened, his bewilderment giving way to unease as Madeleine's tone grew heavier. It felt as though the very atmosphere had shifted, becoming dense and charged with unspoken tension. Trevor's unease deepened, his hands stilling as he glanced at Ethan, worry etched into his features.
"What I'm about to tell you," Madeleine continued, her voice sharp and unwavering, "will change your destiny forever. Whether it changes for better or worse will depend entirely on the choices you make."
Ethan opened his mouth, a protest forming on his lips, but Madeleine silenced him with a raised hand. Her expression softened, but only slightly, as she pressed forward.
"Before we delve into the truth, there's something else you need to know," she began, her tone brooking no argument. "After your outing, I will personally be training you and Trevor. This is not up for discussion. For the others—Harley, Clara, Lamair, Emily, Andriel—you are all welcome to join if you wish. But for you two…" Her gaze locked onto Ethan and Trevor, her tone leaving no room for debate. "It's compulsory and non-negotiable."
The weight of her declaration hung in the air. Ethan exchanged a wide-eyed glance with Trevor, both of them momentarily too stunned to respond. The silence between them was telling—a shared understanding of the gravity of Madeleine's words.
"Good," Madeleine said briskly, her voice cutting through the tension as she took their silence for compliance. "Let's start with something simple. Tell me, what do you know about the Four Families?"
Ethan hesitated, trying to focus despite the whirlwind of thoughts racing through his mind. His voice was uncertain as he finally spoke.
"The Four Great Families represent Anbord. They rule over it together, with each family having a specific role to play."
Trevor nodded quickly, eager to contribute, though his tone was tinged with unease. "Yeah, they're the leaders of Anbord," he added, his confidence wavering slightly.
Madeleine chuckled softly, the sound warm yet tinged with sadness. Her laughter seemed to echo in the charged silence of the room, carrying with it an unspoken truth that none of them were prepared for.
"You're both correct," she said finally, "and yet, completely wrong at the same time."
The room fell silent once more, her words landing like a thunderclap. Clara, seated near the edge of the room, leaned forward slightly, her silvery blonde hair catching the light. Her blue eyes narrowed in curiosity, suspicion flickering in their depths.
Madeleine's voice dropped slightly, taking on a conspiratorial tone as though she were about to reveal a dangerous secret. "There is another family—more accurately, a clan—that oversees the Four Families and, indirectly, rules over Anbord itself."
Her words sent a shockwave through the room. Trevor froze, his face draining of color as though the blood had been siphoned from his veins. Ethan's eyes widened in disbelief, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the edge of his chair. Clara's frown deepened, her suspicion growing more pronounced.
"Mom… do you even realize what you're saying?" Ethan whispered, his voice trembling as he leaned closer, his green eyes searching hers for some hint of a joke. "Something could get you into serious trouble!"
Trevor nodded rapidly, his voice rising an octave. "Y-yeah, Mom! This is dangerous talk! Even mentioning something like that—"
Madeleine raised a hand, silencing them both. Her calm, almost amused expression was disarming, a stark contrast to the tension that gripped the room. "Thank you for your concern, but it's unnecessary," she said smoothly. "Carmen is here." She gestured toward Carmen, who had been sitting quietly, her feline grace exuding an aura of authority and poise. "As the heir to the Steils, she knows more than enough about what I'm about to say."
Carmen inclined her head slightly, her movements measured and deliberate. "That's true," she confirmed, her voice steady and assured. "Everything she's said so far is accurate."
Trevor's voice dropped to a whisper, his awe palpable. "You mean… the legendary overlords of Anbord?"
Clara's voice broke through the tension, her tone sharp but laced with uncertainty. "Aren't they supposed to be a myth?" she asked, though the slight tremor in her voice betrayed her unease.
Madeleine's smile grew, though it was devoid of humor. "So, you've heard of them as well? Interesting," she mused. "Let me assure you: they're no myth."
Her words hung in the air, heavy and unyielding. She straightened, her gaze sweeping across the room, commanding the attention of everyone present.
"They are very real," she said, her voice carrying a finality that left no room for doubt.
She paused, letting the weight of her statement settle before delivering her next words. "And they are us."
The silence that followed was deafening. It lasted only a heartbeat before chaos erupted.
"Huh?!" Ethan exclaimed.
"You can't be serious!" Trevor shouted, his voice breaking with disbelief.
"Is this some kind of joke?" Clara demanded, though her tone suggested she already knew the answer.
Harley's jaw dropped, her eyes wide as she stared at Madeleine. "Mother, what are you saying?!"
Even Lamair and Emily, who were usually calm and collected, looked visibly shaken, their expressions a mixture of confusion and disbelief.
Madeleine raised a hand again, her expression patient but firm. "I understand your shock. It's normal," she said, her voice soothing yet unyielding. "But let me ask you this: why do you think Anbord has always welcomed all races? Why do most newly awakened individuals tend to be mixed races?"
Ethan blinked rapidly, his mind struggling to catch up. "Because… that's how it's always been?" he ventured, his voice uncertain.
Madeleine's expression softened slightly as she addressed her son. "Exactly, sweetie. The Smiths are a combined clan made up of nearly all races. However, the dominant ones are dwarves and vampires. As for me…" She paused, her voice growing proud. "I am a dwarf."
Trevor's shock quickly gave way to excitement, his eyes lighting up. "That's so cool, Mom!" he exclaimed, his grin wide.
Madeleine laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "You're on your way to becoming my favorite son!" she teased, the levity in her tone cutting through the tension.
Clara shook her head slowly, still grappling with the revelation. "I… I don't even know what to say…" she admitted, her voice a faint whisper.
Carmen, who had remained calm throughout, smiled faintly, her admiration for Madeleine apparent. "Master is the best," she said softly, her words carrying a weight of certainty that seemed to steady the room.
Madeleine turned her attention back to the group, her demeanor shifting from warm humor to a commanding seriousness. "Now, let's get into the details. The Smith Clan isn't just powerful—it is the foundation of Anbord. The Four Families, while influential, are extensions of our clan's influence. Their roles are vital, but make no mistake, they exist because we allow them to."
Emily, who had been sitting quietly at the back, raised her hand timidly, her face pale but determined. "Not to be rude… but if the Smiths are so powerful, why are you here? Why are you like… this? In this house, living so… normally?"
Ethan glanced at Emily, then back at Madeleine, curiosity burning in his green eyes. Trevor also looked at his mother, clearly eager to hear her answer.
Madeleine chuckled softly, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of sorrow. "An excellent question, Emily," she acknowledged. Standing to her full height, her commanding presence seemed to fill the room. "Allow me to properly introduce myself."
The air grew heavy with anticipation as Madeleine placed her right hand on her chest, her stance exuding authority.
"My name is Madeleine Elmira Smith, the firstborn child of the Smith patriarch and the former heir to the clan. This," she gestured toward Ethan, "is Ethan Smith Junior, my son and the rightful heir to the Smith Clan. Ethan, you are not just an ordinary child of Anbord; you are its legacy."
The silence that followed was thick with disbelief. Trevor's jaw dropped, and Ethan buried his face in his hands, overwhelmed. Clara's gaze darted between Madeleine and Ethan, her mind working furiously to make sense of everything.
Harley was the first to break the silence. "Wait… if that's true, then why haven't we heard about this before?" she asked, her voice a mix of frustration and confusion. "Why keep something hidden?"
Madeleine's expression softened, though her voice retained its firmness. "For his protection," she said simply. "The Smith Clan has enemies—powerful ones. If word had gotten out about Ethan's lineage before he was ready to defend himself, he wouldn't have lived to see today."
Ethan lifted his head, his green eyes burning with a mixture of anger and determination. "So, you've been lying to me? Hiding this from me while we lived our lives like… like normal people?"
Madeleine nodded; her expression unflinching. "Yes, Ethan. I've lied to protect you. But now that the time has come, I will no longer hold back the truth. You deserve to know who you are, and you deserve the chance to rise to your potential. I had to run away from the clan at a young age and run more to protect you."
Trevor leaned forward, his voice shaking. "So, what now? Are we supposed to… take over Anbord or something?"
Madeleine smiled faintly. "No, Trevor. For now, your focus will be on training—learning who you are, what you're capable of, and how to wield the power that runs in your veins. The Smiths still rule. They are still there just that they need an heir. One who would take over from my father."
Clara crossed her arms, her voice laced with skepticism. "And what if we don't want to be part of this… this legacy?"
Madeleine's gaze locked onto Clara, her expression unreadable. "Then you'll have to leave," she said bluntly. "This isn't something you can half-commit to. The moment you know the truth, you're either in or out. But understand this: leaving means renouncing the protection and privileges that come with being part of the Smith Clan. It means renouncing your relationship with my son."
Clara flinched, the weight of Madeleine's words sinking in. "That's… a lot to process," she muttered, her voice softer now.
Ethan clenched his fists, his mind racing. Finally, he spoke, his voice firm. "If what you're saying is true… if I'm really the heir to this clan… then I want to learn. I want to know everything. But Clara stays with me whether she accepts or not. I won't bow down to any rules set by a family I never knew. Where were they when you were bedridden for 18 years? Where were they when we were being bullied by the rich? You say I am the heir, fine but if they want me, they should come and beg for me. I don't need them for anything. I already got family and friends who are more than enough."
Trevor nodded quickly; his expression resolute. "Me too."
Madeleine's smile returned, this time warm and proud. "That's what I wanted to hear," she said softly. "And I promise, I will teach you everything I know. But understand this: the road ahead will not be easy. You will face trials that will push you to your limits and beyond. You will have to make sacrifices and face truths that may shake the very foundation of who you are."
The room fell silent again, the gravity of Madeleine's words sinking in. Finally, Carmen spoke, her voice calm and steady. "Master is right. The journey will be difficult, but it will also be worth it. You have the potential to shape the future of Anbord—don't squander it."
"And to you girls who have decided to be with my sons, welcome to this family. You may call me mother. No master or such titles. If you don't know, bonding with a vampire especially on from the Smith clan is the same as marriage. So, whether you like it or not, you are already part of the family." Madeleine said with a smirk towards the girls.
"And what about Andriel?" Emily asked.
"Ethan will deal with her. She's his soulmate after all." Madeleine answered in a teasing tone.
Ethan who was shaken to the core by this revelation appeared calm on the surface but on the inside, he was in a storm and the system wasn't helping. Two of the quests under the main mission had been completed, meaning that all this was true.
All he could do was just hope nothing dramatic would happen soon.