Aiden arrived at the palace and was escorted to the throne room. When the doors opened, he saw Lord Oberon seated on his throne with his captains assembled before him.

Thamoryn stood to the Lord's right, and Katherine was among the captains present.

They had clearly been in earlier discussions before Aiden's entrance. The atmosphere also felt tense and serious.

Aiden walked forward and bowed respectfully. "My Lord."

"Aiden," Oberon acknowledged with a nod.

Without wasting time, Oberon leaned forward slightly. "I'll get straight to the point. You're going to tell me everything you know about Dragonhold's captains and their magic, alongside any other mage whose magic capabilities are notable."

The captains turned their attention fully to Aiden, waiting. They had clearly been discussing this before he arrived.

Thamoryn also looked with Anticipation, as she had given Aiden prior notice that this was going to happen.

Aiden knew the best answer was usually the honest one. He took a breath and replied, "My Lord, I can't exactly give a comprehensive answer to your questions, especially as I never attended Dragonhold's Academy."

Everyone had a shocked reaction to that claim.

Some of the captains exchanged surprised glances. Katherine looked particularly puzzled, with her eyebrows raised.

Thamoryn's eyes narrowed, she was in obvious disbelief. Aiden's understanding and usage of magic far exceeded someone who wasn't part of a magic Academy.

She stepped forward slightly. "My Lord, if I may?"

Oberon gestured for her to proceed.

Thamoryn turned to Aiden, "If you never attended their Academy, then where exactly did you learn to use magic appropriately?"

The other captains nodded, sharing her skepticism. Even Katherine seemed confused, as if trying to reconcile what she knew of Aiden's power with this revelation.

Aiden explained calmly. "As my Father's bastard and shame, I was confined to the palace mostly. So I was taught within the Keep by one of the palace's mage, Grandal."

"You were confined to the Palace with all that magic potential?" Thamoryn asked again, trying to make sense of it.

Then his father's harsh words to him raced back into his mind;

"Even if it's the last thing I do, I will abolish this law that makes it so for the king's firstborn son to be heir. You will never sit on the Wyrm Seat. Never!"

Aiden smiled then replied the Grand Magus, "You see My Father was worried about who the Heir to his throne would be. The law makes it so that firstborn sons are heirs, bastard or not. But he also had another son, his first legitimate son—"

Then Oberon interjected, "I expected more from Jarius. Favoring legitimacy of birth over an rare magic potential that could lead the kingdom. Perhaps Helena got to him"

Aiden shook his head and shrugged slightly. He was deliberately being cunning with words. He spoke truths, yes, but his truths were in the wrong order and answered totally different situations.

It was true that as a child, Aiden was confined to the Palace. But as an Adolescent? While he certainly was still barred from social events or parties hosted by the crown or other nobles, he could still leave the palace walls as he saw fit.

Additionally, the only reason Jarius said those words about wanting to abolish those laws, was because Aiden's magic potential at the time was too weak and far below expectations. Jarius would never want a son with weak magic succeeding him as King.

However, Oberon was of the notion that Aiden always had High Magic Potential.

With Aiden's method of answering, he had made them believe that he was confined to the Palace, regardless of his magic potential, merely due to the reason of being an illegitimate son.

"Go on Thamoryn" Lord Oberon asked her to continue.

Thamoryn bowed slightly. Her doubts on Aiden's confinement had also now been cleared, so she continued with another inquiry. "I suppose this Grandal must be a powerful mage then. Surely you saw his training methods and demonstration of magic"

Aiden truly didn't know the fullest extent of Grandal's magic prowess. He knew Grandal was an earth magic user, who used healing magic supplementary spells the most due to being palace healer.

He answered, "I know he uses Earth Magic. A or B rank, nothing more. He also knew the usage of supplementary spells too, but mostly used was a Healing Type Spell on me when I sustained injuries. I know nothing more"

Oberon looked displeased with the lack of useful intelligence. He wanted to know about Dragonhold captains, not some palace healer.

"So this grandal—" It seemed like Thamoryn was going to ask more questions relating to the system healer, when Oberon interjected again, "That's enough Thamoryn, it's clear that Crowley's bastard won't be of any use here"

Aiden smiled slightly on hearing this.

Oberon sat back in his throne sighing frustratingly.

Thamoryn simply bowed slightly and took a step back. The other captains paid no particular reaction except watching the whole thing.

After a brief moment,

"Very well," the Lord said. "Captains, you will return to your guilds. We will convene again two days before the war begins for final preparations and strategy. Until then, ensure your mages are ready."

The captains bowed in acknowledgment.

"You are all dismissed," Oberon announced. Then his eyes fell on Thamoryn. "Except you, Grand Magus. Remain."

The captains filed out one by one. Katherine caught Aiden's eye as she passed, her expression still puzzled but sympathetic. Aiden followed the others out, the heavy doors closing behind him.

-----

Later, after the captains had all departed, Oberon continued his private conversation with Thamoryn.

Then, in the midst of their discussion, Oberon's expression hardened.

He looked at Thamoryn directly and said, "I intend to wipe out the entire House of Crowley after this war. Including Aiden, once he has served his use."

Thamoryn's eyes widened slightly. "My Lord, with respect, he has been of use so far. His magical potential is also too great to simply discard. He could be a valuable asset to your reign."

"I understand your concern," Oberon replied coldly. "But the Crowley family has held the throne for far too long. People naturally view them as the rightful rulers. If I leave any of them alive, especially one as powerful as Aiden who is also the First born, I leave room for insubordination. For rebellion. For someone to rally around and challenge my claim." He shook his head. "No. I cannot allow that risk. I have made my decision."

Thamoryn was quiet for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she bowed respectfully. "As you command."

-----

Meanwhile, Aiden sat cross-legged on one of the floating rectangular stone blocks within his Pocket Domain.

Before him floated several system screens.

"System," Aiden said aloud. "Deduct the required XP and take all my authorities and origin magic to Deity+ rank."

[Destruction Authority upgraded to Deity+ Rank]

[Space Authority upgraded to Deity+ Rank]

[Replication Authority upgraded to Deity+ Rank]

[Host's Fire Magic has leveled up to Deity+ rank]

[Total XP deducted: 1,900,000]

[Remaining XP: 4,495,350]

"Good," Aiden nodded. "Now take me up to the next Wyrm level."

[You have leveled up]

[You have gained +3 to all stats]

[Total XP deducted: 2,500,000]

[Remaining XP: 1,995,350]

[Current Level: Level 4 Wyrm]

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