Corallia

"It's almost done, young lord"

I stood there while Collete tugged at my white shirt for the fifth time, making sure every button was perfectly in place. My reflection stared back at me in the mirror, dressed up like some noble heir. The dark overcoat was fitted, way too formal for my taste, and the shirt was stiff enough to make breathing feel like a chore.

Collete kept adjusting little things—my collar, the cuffs, the coat—as if one wrinkle would be the end of the world. She properly brushed my Auburn hair, so that no wrinkles could pop. I wasn't used to this, being dressed up like a doll. 

"It is done," Collete declared, moving herself away from the mirror.

I analyzed my looks and I gotta say that I look fucking handsome man, why was I not like this on Earth? I could've gotten everyone with their mouth agape on the streets. But back on Earth, I was... you know average. I did not particularly stand out in social gatherings of friends and families. I did not socialize with others.

The few people I did talk to were my little brother, uncle, and aunt. However, the situation was different when my parents on Earth were alive. And not to say that this is a stereotype but I was a student majoring in Computer Science so..... you know what never mind. It does sound like a stereotype now because I used to play Counter-Strike.

"Thank you, Collete, I appreciate it" I thanked her for her great sense.

"Of course," She bowed and gestured towards the door, "His Excellency is waiting for you"

I shook my head at her gesture and went out of my room. Yesterday the letter that came from The Duke Of Corallia, Edgar Corallia, absolutely infuriated my mother. 'She might still be angry' Thank god father decided against bringing her along or else hell would've broken loose.

But still what I cared about more was the absurd behavior of Lucian before his disappearance. I mean how did he know me? That question can be answered easily and I know the answer, it is none other than Hector or should I say Arkansas.

He is the one pulling the strings, I don't know what he wants from me or why did he do such a thing to this Lucian but I feel like I am going to be jumbled up in some bad mess. The worst part is I don't have the memories of the previous soul. Lucian might've found out something. Something that made him go crazy or from the story I heard, he was rushed about something that was related to me and Arkansas.

"You are here?" My father's icy voice broke me out of my thoughts, "Let's get going then."

"Yes,"

The chauffeur held the door open of the mana car for the both of us. Yes, this was not completely a medieval world, cars existed that looked like they were being pulled out of the 1920s. Cars were mostly owned by the Nobility, not the common folks. This particular pristine white car that had the symbol of the Whiteclark duchy painted on it, looked like the Ford Model T. 

These cars operated differently from Earth. Instead of Petroleum or Diesel, they ran on mana energy. I've read about this in the magical engineering books but a question still lingers. If they had cars then where are the guns? Well, before you can reload a spell in the gun, you will be killed by a spell casted by mage. As storing mana in the body was more efficient.

No matter how you look at the whole situation, forming a mana core was more beneficial than shooting mana bullets and there were spells catered around bullets just like one of my wind elemental spells- Wind Lance. Although not bullets, it is a good ranged attack spell which is very fast and precise and also one of my favourite spells.

I stepped into the car next to my father. The moment I sat down, I couldn't help but take in the luxury around me. The seats were made of soft leather, the kind that you could just sink into, and the interior was lined with gold and silver accents. Little details like the gilded handles and silver-trimmed windows gave everything a polished, noble feel.

After ensuring our comfort, the chauffeur started the car engine. Inside the car, the atmosphere between me and Arin-my father was not a warm one I'd say. He was busy in his own thoughts and as for me, I was busy looking out the window staring at the view of the city outside. It was a city under the Whiteclark Duchy named Cairnwall.

It was popular for its wholesale markets and trading hubs. The Whiteclark Duchy was one of the most important states in the kingdom of Calonia. It shared borders with the Blackthorne Forest, from which most of the resources were gathered. It also had a port, allowing a connection between the Summersault Isles, an island located to the Northwest of the Atlan continent.

The port city was far and we are actually headed in the opposite direction now, towards the east. There was the City of Vallancia, the main city in the Corallia Duchy and where the estate of the House Corallia stood. 

I actually feel bad.... for myself because instead of training I now, have to deal with engagement issues. I should deal with things here faster, I am pretty low on time. Two years for the academy and One year from now I will start my journey to explore the continent of Atlan as a Mazekin or adventurer. I have to grow stronger till then.

"Lucian," my father's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Yes, Father?" I turned to him.

"I need to ask you something," he said, his tone quieter now, like it was something important.

"Sure, ask away."

He hesitated for a second, his eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing the question. "Have you awakened our Bloodline Blessing?"

"..."

Bloodline Blessing? What is that? The current books I read mentioned no records of such blessings. Usually, the blessing is a divine boon given by the gods to the "Mortals". I emphasized on "Mortal" because not only humans but even the elven race, orcs, and the dwarves can receive such blessings. The people receiving blessings are rare to find.

"Father, if it's not too much trouble, could you tell me what a Bloodline Blessing is?" I asked, genuinely curious. It was something I had heard for the first time.

He looked at me for a moment, clearly surprised by the question. "Bloodline Blessing," he started, pausing to gather his thoughts, "It's a blessing given to our ancestors by the Gods. It's passed down through the family line."

I leaned back slightly, trying to process that.

"For us," he continued, "we have the blessing of the Wind God Tempest."

"..."

"Can you at least say something?" He sounded a bit exasperated, breaking his tone of indifference.

I hesitated for a second, unsure of how to respond. "Uh, no, Father, I haven't seen any signs of it yet."

He raised an eyebrow. "Do you even know what the signs are?"

"..."

Wow, that was embarrassing, well can't blame myself for that. I had no idea and it was not mentioned under the topic of blessings in the divine magic book series. But it sure makes me happy because I can get more stronger if I can unlock that ability. 

'Wind God Tempest, huh'?

As our journey for the Corallia Duchy continued, my father explained to me the signs of the blessing awakening-I might feel a sudden surge of wind power in my body, or my mana core upon using might consume more mana. These were signs he told me to watch out for. We talked about it for hours, it was a proper father-to-son conversation with him since I arrived in this world.

It still makes me feel bad, he clearly cares for his son. He might show an icy demeanor towards his son but if he had been controlling Lucian, he would've already started his knight training without me asking for it. Well, it was because Whiteclark believed in the sword.

Instead, he allowed Lucian to study magic and pursue his goals and I could tell from that he cared for his son more than his honor or duchy. He was also worried about Lucian when he disappeared two weeks ago while he was at the Royal Capital. He immediately sent out his knights and left the Royal Capital as soon as he could.

Regarding the engagement issue with Corallia, he was not angry because it hurt his honor. No, it was for me-his son- as the previous Lucian loved Vivianne. He knew that his son would be heartbroken, even though I had no memories of Vivianne or them. They still did not want the engagement gone. However, that is not what I want- I don't want to be engaged again.

"Your Excellency and Young lord, We have arrived at the city of Vallancia" The Chauffeur spoke up, signaling our arrival. 

I looked out the window, observing the bustling streets below. People moved in every direction, chatting and laughing as they went about their business. Vendors called out from their stalls, while children darted through the crowd, their laughter adding to the lively atmosphere. There were people from all walks of life—merchants, travelers, and nobles alike, blending into the city's vibrant flow. Between the tall buildings, narrow alleyways peeked out from the shadows, offering hidden paths and quieter corners. The city pulsed with energy, every part of it full of life.

As we traveled down the road, a massive mansion came into view, standing apart from the other buildings. The property was expansive, surrounded by high stone walls topped with sharp spikes, clearly marking its boundaries. The golden gate at the entrance was covered in intricate patterns, a display of wealth and status. But what caught my attention most was the flag hoisted above the gates—its rich teal color stood out, with golden lines forming the shape of a sea serpent. It was unmistakably the emblem of the Corallia family.

The guards at the golden gates pulled them open, allowing our car to glide through. The mansion was surrounded by a sprawling garden, filled with blue flowers I didn't recognize—not that I'd know much about plants anyway. In front of the mansion, a wide circular driveway curved around a large fountain, water cascading gently in the center.

Our car came to a halt at the entrance, where a butler stood, dressed in a sharp black suit. His hair was streaked with white, and the wrinkles lining his face hinted at his age. With a practiced motion, he reached for the handle and opened the door. My father stepped out first, and I followed close behind.

"Welcome, Sir Arin Whiteclark and Young Sir Lucian Whiteclark," the butler greeted us with a respectful bow. "The Duke and his daughter have been eagerly awaiting your arrival."