Chapter 3: The Banquet
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The soft hum of flickering lanterns filled the vast library, their warm glow illuminating the rows of books that seemed to stretch endlessly. Kael sat motionless on the cold stone floor, his legs crossed and his breathing rhythmic. His earlier attempts at sensing the faint pulse of energy had sparked a fire within him—a tantalizing glimpse of possibility that he was determined to grasp.

"Steady," Kael murmured to himself, his voice barely audible. He envisioned the intricate network of pathways running through his body, the imagined channels where this soul energy might flow. His brows furrowed as he tried to concentrate, feeling the flicker of something just out of reach.

The creak of the library doors shattered the silence, and Kael's focus dissolved like mist under the sun. He opened his eyes, his irritation masked by a calm expression as a servant approached him with hurried steps.

The young girl, barely older than fourteen, bowed respectfully, her hands clasped in front of her. "Young Master Jin, the banquet is about to begin, and the guests have already arrived. The Duke has requested your presence."

Kael straightened, brushing the faint dust from his tunic. His gaze lingered on the servant for a moment, her anxious demeanor reminding him of the invisible lines that separated them—the son of a Duke, no matter how disregarded, and a servant bound by duty.

He often found himself forgetting the weight of his new identity, as the remnants of his past life clung to him like an indelible shadow. Accepting this new identity had been anything but simple. The echoes of his past life felt inescapable, etched into his very being. In that life, he had been someone else entirely.

Now in this world, he bore the name of Jin Pendragon, the illegitimate son of Duke Pendragon.

(From now on, the story would address Kael as Jin)

"Very well," Jin said with a nod. "Lead the way."

*****

The grand hall was a symphony of light and sound. Chandeliers adorned with crystal prisms cast a dazzling glow over the polished marble floors, while the murmur of conversation mingled with the soft strains of music from a quartet in the corner. Nobles moved in graceful arcs, their laughter light and practiced, their words veiled with layers of meaning.

Jin entered with measured steps, his gaze steady as it swept across the room. Heads turned toward him, whispers flitting between clusters of nobles.

"There he is," a portly man muttered, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The boy has quite the air about him, doesn't he? For a child of such... circumstances."

"He carries himself like a prince," another remarked, her tone both admiring and bitter.

Jin approached the Duke, who stood at the far end of the hall, surrounded by a circle of nobles. The Duke's towering figure was unmistakable, his presence commanding even in silence. Kael inclined his head respectfully.

"Father," he greeted, his voice steady.

The Duke barely glanced at him, his eyes flickering briefly before returning to the conversation at hand. "Jin," he acknowledged, his tone curt, almost dismissive.

The nobles around him shifted, their gazes darting between Jin and the Duke. One, a rotund man with a gold-trimmed doublet, stepped forward with an exaggerated smile. "Ah, Young Master Jin," he said, bowing slightly. "It is a great honor to meet you. Your demeanor is most... striking for one so young."

Jin met the man's gaze with a small, polite smile. "You are too kind, Lord Erith. I am fortunate to have your presence here as well."

Another noble, a woman with eyes as sharp as daggers, tilted her head. "Such poise in one so young," she mused, her lips curving into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Tell me, do you enjoy these gatherings, Young Master?"

Jin's expression remained calm, though he could sense the disdain hidden beneath her polished words. "I find them enjoyable," he replied evenly. "There is much to be learned from the nobles like myself, Count Margaret."

The woman, Count Margaret arched a brow, surprised by the maturity of his response, though a flicker of irritation crossed her face upon hearing what Jin addressed himself as.

As the evening progressed, Jin continued to exchange pleasantries with the nobles, each interaction sharpening his understanding of the game they played. Their words were honeyed, their gestures calculated, and Jin could feel the undercurrent of disdain they tried to hide. He knew they saw him as an inconvenience—a reminder of the Duke's indiscretions—but they masked their contempt with smiles, unwilling to risk alienating the Duke or his heir.

The banquet unfolded as expected, the nobles weaving their intricate dance of power and politics. When it finally came to an end, the servants began bringing out the gifts—an annual routine for Jin's birthdays. Ornate boxes and parcels were presented to him, each containing treasures meant to impress.

Jin thanked each noble graciously, though his interest was fleeting. His mother's gift, however, immediately caught his attention.

Lady Lira approached him, her soft blue gown flowing like water as she carried a small package. Her smile was warm and genuine, a stark contrast to the calculated gestures of the other guests.

"This is for you, my dearest Jin," she said, placing the package in his hands.

Jin unwrapped it carefully, revealing a leather-bound book titled The Advanced Theories of Soulbound and Soul Beasts. His breath hitched as he traced the embossed title with his fingertips.

"I thought you might like it," Lady Lira said softly. "When I heard you were in the library earlier, I realized how curious you must be. You've always been so thoughtful, so composed. I thought this might suit you."

Jin looked up at her, his expression unreadable. "Thank you, Mother. This is... perfect."

Lady Lira's smile widened, though her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She placed a hand on his cheek, her voice trembling with emotion. "You are special, Jin. Never doubt that. I am so proud of you."

Jin's chest tightened at her words, the sincerity in her eyes piercing through the walls he had built around himself.

'Is this what she meant by receiving warmth from others?' Jin pondered, his thoughts drifting to the past. Xira had once told him that others could offer him warmth beyond what she gave, though he had dismissed the idea at the time.

After all, in that godforsaken world, she had been the only one who cared for him.

But now, something stirred within him—a faint realization.

'Maybe... having a mother isn't so bad after all.'

A slight smile tugged at his lips, catching his mother by surprise. Her eyes softened with emotion as she embraced him even tighter, as if to shield him from every hurt he had ever known.

The Duke, however, remained aloof, offering neither gift nor acknowledgment as the evening concluded.

*****

Later that night, Jin walked beside his mother through the quiet halls, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder. She glanced down at him, her expression soft but heavy with unspoken thoughts.

"Jin," she began, her voice trembling slightly, "I want you to know how proud I am of you. You are so strong, so wise beyond your years. I sometimes wonder if I deserve such a son."

"You are everything I could ask for, Mother," Jin replied, his tone gentle but firm.

Her steps slowed, and she turned to face him fully, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Your father..." she hesitated, her voice faltering. "He may not show it, but he loves you. He has his reasons, Jin. Please don't hold it against him."

Jin met her gaze, his calm mask unbroken. He knew the truth—knew it in the way the Duke barely acknowledged him, in the way his mother bore the brunt of society's scorn for her son's illegitimacy. But he also knew how much it would hurt her to hear him say it.

"I understand, Mother," he said instead, his voice steady.

Lady Lira stopped, turning to face him fully. Her hands rested on his shoulders, and her eyes searched his face. "Do you, Jin? Do you really? Because I know he can be... distant. But you mustn't think it's because of you. You are everything to me, my darling boy."

"I know," Jin replied gently. "And that's enough for me."

His thoughts of the Duke being his father had long since faded into oblivion, buried under the weight of indifference and neglect. Now, his mother occupied a sacred space in his heart, a bond forged not by obligation but by the genuine warmth she offered him.

A warmth he hadn't felt from anyone except his lover, Xira.

Her lips trembled as she pulled him into an embrace, holding him tightly. "I love you, Jin, my dearest son," she whispered, her voice breaking. "More than anything."

Once his mother had fallen asleep beside him, Jin carefully slipped out of bed, moving with the precision of a shadow. He settled onto the floor, crossing his legs as he resumed his meditation.

His thoughts were sharp and focused, dissecting the day's events as he meticulously mapped out his path forward. "Strength…" he murmured, his voice low but resolute. "I must regain the strength I wielded in my past life—and if possible, surpass even that."

In this mystical world, strength was not just a luxury but a necessity. While his sharp mind was an undeniable asset, capable of outwitting adversaries and navigating intricate schemes, it alone would not be enough. This world held dangers beyond mere intellect, threats that demanded power—raw, unyielding, and undeniable.

And to attain his ultimate goal—the unraveling of the mystery behind why he was brought into this world and the fate of his beloved Xira. Her name lingered in his mind, a bittersweet echo of the life he had left behind.

"I'll find the answers," Jin whispered to himself, his voice firm. "No matter what it takes."

He began his nightly regimen, moving through a series of exercises with mechanical precision—push-ups, sit-ups, stretches, each repetition pushing his body toward its limits. The faint glow of moonlight through the window bathed him in silver as sweat dripped from his brow.

"This is just the beginning," Kael whispered to himself, his voice resolute.

The faint pulse of soul energy still lingered in his mind—a promise of power yet to come. And as the hours passed, Kael worked tirelessly, the determination in his heart shining brighter than the stars above, before succumbing to fatigue and falling asleep again in his mother's arms.

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