Aethereal Kin

The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning. The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place, and I couldn't believe I hadn't seen it sooner. The glasses—I had never used them on myself. That was the missing link.

"Galen," I said, turning to him. "I need you to look through these glasses and tell me what you see."

Galen took the glasses, his expression a mix of curiosity and confusion. He put them on and looked at me. His eyes widened in shock, and he stumbled back a step.

"Your Hi—... I mean.. your mana capacity... it's... it's 22563," he stammered, his voice trembling. "But what does the ∞ mean?"

A surge of excitement and confirmation coursed through me. "It means infinite. My potential is limitless, and it turns out that Renaud and his family... they share the same trait as I do," I said, my mind racing with the implications.

"Galen, write down what you see." He quickly jotted down the numbers on a piece of paper and handed it to me. Seeing the numbers written out confirmed my suspicions. Renaud and his family shared the same Aethereal Kin bloodline as I did.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. Could I trust Renaud? The stakes were high, but the potential benefits were immense. If I could train them, they would be invaluable allies.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to reveal the truth. "Renaud, there's something you need to know about your lineage," I began, my voice steady. "Your family and I share a unique heritage, one that dates back centuries."

Renaud looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Our lineage is a direct descendant of the Avaloria bloodline," I explained, recounting the rise and fall of Avaloria.

"Once a great kingdom, Avaloria was known for its elite soldiers and advanced rune technology. The Aethereal Kin of Avaloria were renowned for their ability to absorb aether from slain beasts, growing stronger with each victory."

I paused, letting the gravity of the story sink in. "The Avaloria name was changed to Eisenhart, and the bloodline continued in secret, waiting for the day we could reclaim our heritage. My direct ancestor, André Avaloria, was the captain of the Aethereal Kin. He survived the fall of Avaloria and ensured our bloodline endured."

Renaud listened intently, his expression shifting from confusion to awe. "But what happened to Avaloria?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and sadness.

"Betrayal," I said, my voice heavy with the weight of history. "Geoffrey Aethoria, an ambitious duke from 900 years ago, sought power above all else. He forged an alliance with the Holy Church, branding the Avaloria royal family as heretics. The kingdom fell, and the surviving Aethereal Kin were forced into hiding."

I recounted the tragic tale of King Arnault Avaloria and how Duke Geoffrey Aethoria and his ruthless ambition and betrayal orchestrated the downfall of our bloodline and the eventual collapse of the kingdom. The once-mighty Avaloria was reduced to ruins, and the royal family was executed.

"But not all was lost," I continued. "Some of the Aethereal Kin, including André Avaloria, survived. They scattered into the wind, living in hiding and waiting for the day they could reclaim their rightful place. The Eisenhart name became a testament to their resolve and strength, and they found refuge in the southern part of the country, living as low-ranking nobles under the protection of loyal vassals like the Count of Velrois."

Renaud's eyes widened in realization. "You mean... we're part of that bloodline?" he asked, his voice trembling with emotion.

"Yes," I replied, my voice brimming with conviction. "This knowledge brings immense responsibility and untapped potential. With it, we have the power to reclaim our heritage and safeguard those we hold dear."

I thought about my past life on Earth, the countless web novels I had read, and the anime I had watched. This situation was eerily familiar, yet exhilarating. I had the chance to shape our destiny, to train and unlock our full potential.

Renaud looked at his children, his eyes filled with a newfound determination. "I'll do anything to protect them," he said, his voice steady and resolute.

"Then join me," I said, extending a hand. "Together, we can train and unlock our full potential. We can reclaim our heritage and ensure that our lineage never falls into obscurity again."

Renaud hesitated for a moment before taking my hand, his grip firm and steady. "I'm in," he said, his voice filled with resolve.

---

As I looked at Renaud and his children, I couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility and excitement. The revelation that they shared the same Aethereal Kin bloodline as I did opened up a world of possibilities. But it also brought with it a heavy burden. I had to decide whether to bring them along on our next expedition or send them to the safety of the Velrois domain.

'Bringing them along could be risky, but it could also make them stronger. The ruins are dangerous, but the potential rewards are immense.'

I turned to Renaud, my expression serious. "Would you like to come with us?" I asked, my voice grave. "I must inform you of the dangers. We will be exploring a hidden ancient ruin that may be filled with monsters."

Renaud listened intently, his face reflecting a mix of fear and determination. I continued, my voice tinged with the memory of past tragedies. "On my first expedition, all of my men were killed. Only Galen survived. It might happen again, but this time is different. I am far stronger than before."

The room fell silent as the gravity of my words sank in. Renaud looked at his children, then back at me, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. I could see the internal struggle in his eyes, the fear of loss battling with the determination to protect his family.

'He's been through so much,' I thought, remembering the countless stories of heroes who had risen from the ashes of tragedy. 'But he's strong. He's a fighter. And with the right training, he and his children could be formidable allies.'

Finally, Renaud spoke, his voice steady and resolute. "We will go with you. The three of us can fight. Now that Agnes's illness is cured, I can tell you with pride how strong my children are."

His words carried a determination that echoed through the room, a resolve forged from the fires of their recent ordeals. Renaud's eyes gleamed with a fierce pride as he looked at his children, no longer just survivors but warriors ready to face whatever lay ahead.

I raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Your children can fight?"

Renaud nodded, a hint of pride in his eyes. "Yes, they've had to learn to defend themselves in the slums. Andre is particularly skilled, and Agnes is not far behind."

'Impressive,' I thought, a plan beginning to form in my mind. 'With their Aethereal Kin bloodline and some training, they could be incredibly powerful.'

"Alright," I said, my voice filled with determination. "We'll train together, and we'll explore the ruins as a team. But we need to be prepared. The ruins are ancient and filled with unknown dangers."

Galen, who had been silently listening, spoke up. "Your Highness, are you sure about this? The ruins are treacherous, and we don't know what we'll face."

"Your highness?" Renaud's eyes widened in shock at Galen's address. The revelation hung in the air, heavy and unexpected. I took a deep breath and began to explain.

"My ancestor, who coincidentally shares the same name as your son, Andre, was once the closest to the throne after the crown prince. I carry the legacy of our bloodline, and my quest is to prevent Geoffrey Aethoria II from ascending the throne and to reclaim our rightful place."

Renaud listened, the gravity of my words sinking in. The realization of the royal bloodline standing before him filled Renaud with awe and purpose. Overwhelmed by the significance of the moment, he dropped to one knee, his head bowed in reverence.

"I swear my loyalty to you, Your Highness," Renaud declared, his voice steady and resolute. "I will stand by your side and fight to restore our birthright."

'I admire his determination,' I thought, feeling a surge of gratitude for Renaud's unwavering loyalty. 'With him by my side and his children joining us, we have a real shot at this.'

"Alright," I said, my voice filled with resolve. "We'll train together, and we'll explore the ruins as a team. But we need to be prepared. The ruins are ancient and filled with unknown dangers."

Galen sighed, a mix of exasperation and loyalty in his eyes. "Very well, Your Highness. I'll follow you to the ends of the earth if need be."

'Now that's the spirit!'I thought, feeling a surge of gratitude for Galen's unwavering loyalty. 'With him by my side and Renaud and his children joining us, we have a real chance at this.'

I turned back to Renaud, my mind already racing with training plans and strategies. "We'll start our journey tomorrow. I'll teach you everything I know about martial arts, aether manipulation, and strategy. We'll need to be at our best if we're going to survive the ruins."

Renaud nodded, determination burning in his eyes. "We're ready. Whatever it takes, we'll do it."

The road ahead may be fraught with danger, but with our shared heritage and unwavering determination, we would face any challenge head-on.