Talentless Heir

"My son,is utterly useless?"

Alvars says faintly, his gaze cast down.

~

The next day –Elerian Estate's Clan Hall–

"Have you heard about the newborn son of the Clan Head? Word is that he is completely talentless. He has no latent talent in wielding Ether!"

"I have also heard the whispers, but how can you believe in such baseless rumors?"

"These rumors aren't baseless, every guard and servant who witnessed the talent awakening has testified to it. The Clan Head's son is utterly useless. I mean, have you ever heard about someone being born with no talent?"

The voice said in a whisper.

Two old men were discussing while sitting on alternate chairs. These two were one of the many clan elders that were having a similar discussion in the Clan Hall.

Many were eagerly awaiting the Clan Head, to hear his conformation about the rumors.

In the 800 year long History of the Elerian Clan, not a single individual had been born completely talentless. Alf's appearance was thus an anomaly.

Being completely talentless was rare even among ordinary people, let alone in a clan full of warriors and magicians, known for their strong bloodlines. To top it all off, this child was none other than the Clan Head's son, who would inherit the Clan Head position, after Alvar retires or passes away.

A bold voice abruptly halts the discussion among the elders.

"Sir Alvar Elerian, the Clan Head and commander of the Western Armies is here!"

Announces a guard clad in green.

Hearing this, all the elders in the Hall stood up from their chairs, to pay their respects to their leader.

With a commanding presence, Alvar steps into the hall, his upright posture reflecting the might of a seasoned warrior. Dressed in dark warrior's attire, with a sword hanging at his side and a dagger strapped at his waist, he exuded an aura of authority.

He walks towards the throne, and before taking a seat, signals everyone to sit down with him.

Just as he is about to speak, a voice interrupts.

"Clan Head! I have heard that your child that you were so eager to have, ended up being a useless cripple that doesn't have an ounce of talent—is this true?"

An elderly voice speaks up, with an extremely wrinkled face and a smug expression.

Upon hearing this old man's rant, though Alvar's expression darkens, he maintains his composure.

"That is indeed true Oscar. My son is born with no latent talent, I have confirmed it with the talent awakening ceremony."

Alvar replies, without an ounce of emotion in his words.

The sly old Oscar smiles triumphantly.

"It appears you have no other option. You will have to make my grandson 'Edward' the successor"

"Who says there is no other option? It seems you are mistaken, just because my son has no talent, doesn't mean he cannot become the next successor."

Alvar replies with a cold look in his eyes.

The old man snorts arrogantly.

"Huh! If you think a weakling will be allowed to become the Clan Head, then it's you who are mistaken, Sir C-L-A-N Head!"

"Who says my son will be a weak? I plan to make him even stronger than I ever was."

Alvar responds with a smirk.

"Oho, would you look at this arrogant fool?" The old Oscar thinks inwardly.

"Have you ever heard of a no-talent becoming a warrior? How will he fight when he can't even wield Ether? He will be crushed before he can step foot in the battlefield. Such a boy is incapable of becoming the Clan Head of the strongest Clan in The Asid Empire."

Retorts the old Oscar, his frustration apparent.

The elder's remarks drew the attention of everyone present towards him, and even the few that had sided with Alvar before, started siding with the old Oscar. They all agreed that Edward was the better candidate.

Upon witnessing this scene, a frown appears on Alvar's face. He is distressed by the Elders agreement with old Oscar.

"GIVE ME FIFTEEN YEARS!"

The words echo in the Hall. Drawing everyone's attention.

"In fifteen years, if my son is not able to surpass Edward, he will be disqualified as my successor and I might consider making Edward the next successor."

"Your grandson is currently nine, right?"

"Indeed he is—so what?! You think he will be surpassed by a no-talent child in just fifteen years?"

The old voice seeming increasingly agitated.

The elders exchange glances, impressed by their leader's unwavering confidence and determination.

They start a discussion among themselves, and argue whether or not to agree with their Clan Head's terms.

After a while of silence, the majority of elders come to an agreement.

"Clan head, we have an agreement. If your son is not able to surpass Edward, Oscars grandson in fifteen years, he will no longer be the successor and Edward will automatically remain the only viable candidate due to his strong martial prowess and high talent."

An announcement is made by a representative.

Hearing this, old Oscar tries to retort, but a bold voice interrupts him.

"ALRIGHT, IT HAS BEEN DECIDED!

In exactly fifteen years, there will a duel between my son and Oscars grandson. The one who emerges victorious will become the successor to the Clan Head position."

Alvar's voice thunders across the Hall.

(A/N: Ayo, revenge? )

"Do you have any disagreements

O-S-C-A-R?"

The old Oscar barely controlling his fury, musters up a reply.

"Alright! I oblige! The duel shall be held in fifteen years time."

"Yeah, the duel will happen— provided that the brat is able to survive till then!"

The sly old Oscar start scheming in his head, a sinister smile creeping on his ugly face.

~

–Elerian Estate–Ceremonial palce–

The ragged old Man 'Durain' is cleaning the lustrous box with a cloth, when he notices something amiss.

"Wait, why is the lustrous box not glowing when I touch it?"

He wonders while cleaning the boxes top.

"Usually it would glow with a bright light and with slight warmth radiating from it."

The old man then starts inspecting the runes on the box with Ether threads, coming out of his fingers. He visualizes the Ether threads moving along the flow of Ether in the runes. But he discovers something peculiar.

"How is this possible? The box ran out of Ether!?"

The old man wonders, puzzled by this discovery.

"This should not be possible! It was filled with a massive quantity of Ether just five years ago, that should have lasted for a few more decades, even if a ceremony was to be performed every day."

He racks his brain for an explanation. Only one ceremony had been performed yesterday, yet the Ether was completely drained.

"That single ceremony should not have depleted the Ether reserves."

"Maybe that sudden fluctuation and that bright light that appeared while performing the ceremony, was somehow related to this?"

"Oh, who am I kidding! I am too stupid to grasp this situation. I should summon the Clan mages to refill the Ether supply of the Box."

The old man surrenders his curiosity to his stupidity, quietly walking to the mage quaters to summon the mages and inform them about the lack of Ether in the Lustrous Box.

Along his walk, old Durian can't help but wonder about this peculiar incident.

"I can't explain this unease I am feeling.

A single childs awakening should not have run the Ether supplies dry! That too of a talentless child—talentless?"

Old man Durain's thought process gets interrupted by a passer by mage, who inquires about his presence in the mage quaters.

"What you doing here old Man?"

"Oh! It's you Sir Thebes! I came here because... "

He instructs the mages to fill the Lustrous Box, and forgets the about his previous unease.

"Ah! I was probably overthinking it"

He disregards his previous puzzlement and proceeds with his usual duties.

(A/N: oh boy)

~

– Living quaters–Elerian Estate–

Catherine is gazing at her son's face, sleeping peacefully in the cradle, completely unaware of the uproar his birth has caused in the Clan.

"My sweet child."

She looks at him with tearful eyes, as she imagines the hardships and difficulties that await him.

When Catherine first came to know about her son's lack of talent she was absolutely devastated. She cried the whole night in sadness for her son's future.

She was aware, being born with no talent for Ether wielding, was as good as being born a cripple that will be dependent on others for every little necessity—especially in a clan of warriors—where the weak are trampled and looked down upon, while the strong rule.

"I won't let anyone hurt you. I promise it!"

Catherine makes an oath with herself.

Just when she leaves the room, she catches sight of her husband walking around the living room in deep thought.

"Dear you are back! How did the meeting go? What did you discuss?"

Catherine asks with a concerned look on her face.

"How is Alf?"

"He is currently sleeping in the cradle."

A frown appears on Alvar's face.

"It seems our son is not out of the successor position, atleast not yet"

Although slightly relieved upon hearing this, Catherine still inquires her husband about the meeting.

He gladly narrates the discussions he had with the Elders and the agreement he reached with the old Oscar.

"That sly fox! He always was after your position! Now he wants it for his grandson so that he can use him as a puppet?"

"Why haven't you gotten rid of him yet? You should have thrown him out of the clan a long time!"

Catherine couldn't contain her disgust and anger.

"Control yourself. You know I can't do that!That oldie has deep connections with various elders and has a long history with the previous Clan Head's. Throwing him out is not viable.

Rivalries between members is encouraged. Unless I have some kind of proof to prove his malicious and conniving nature, I can't take any major action or else I will lose the trust of the Clan members."

Catherine finally manages to compose herself and asks Alvar what his future course of action will be.

"I could not let his schemes come to fruition. My son has to win the duel in fifteen years, if we are to prevent that old fox gaining leadership of the Clan."

Alvar says with a determined expression.

"I am afraid, you will have to seperate from our son for a while!"

A faint voice says.

He looks at her with an apologetic expression.

Catherine's expression shifts from anger to confusion upon hearing this.

"What do you mean?"

Alvar clenches his fist and decides to tell her after a moments contemplation.

"That Oscar! He is planning somthing sinister. Our son's life will be endangered if he were to remain within the estate."

To be continued...