As Adam''s mind turned dark after several days of overexertion, Nova hurriedly lifted the kids.


    "Why are you so heavy?" She eximed, putting Julius on her back and carrying the light girl under her arm. Then, struggling with the added weights, she took slow steps towards Adam. Yet, her lips curled into a cheerful smile.


    After reaching him, she gently dropped the kids on the ground amidst sshing sounds before cupping her hands to collect water. "Wakie, wakie, I have water!" She said, dropping a few cold drops on the boy''s face.


    "Mhhh," Julius made groggy sounds in response, his eyelids gradually opening. Sparkling, precious liquid greeted them a secondter, causing his parched lips to quiver on his pale face and his hands to tremble. Every cell in his body yearned for it. Unfortunately, he didn''t have enough strength to drink alone.


    "Drink slowly," advised Nova, noticing the desire in his eyes before helping him take a few controlled sips.


    "AHHHHH," the boy moaned in bliss after feeling the cool water irrigate his dried body, reigniting his fading vitality. After recovering a fraction of his energy, he grabbed Nova''s cupped hands, forcefully pulled them to his mouth and tookrge gulps in jubtion.


    "Hahaha. You can drink yourself now," giggled Nova, happy to see him recover before repeating the same actions with Morgane a few secondster.


    With reddened cheeks, the short girl muttered, "Thank you for saving me."


    However, to her surprise, Nova shook her head and pointed to Adam, hints of worry shing in her eyes. "He overtaxed himself to save you. I only brought water to your mouths," she said, walking to the ghost, her eyes reflecting a gentle light.


    "Big bro!" Julius screamed in panic, finally diverting his eyes from the water. Then, with trembling hands, he ran to Adam and hugged him. "What happened to him?" He asked, fear gripping his heart.


    "I''m not sure. But his soul isn''t in danger," replied Nova with a bitter smile. "We should let him rest for a day. I''m sure he''ll recover rapidly."


    Julius nodded, hoping she was right. However, an emotion she rarely felt took root in his heart.


    ''It''s those damned royals'' and the Ashford family''s fault! They are hunting us like rabid beasts for their own benefits,'' he thought, clenching his teeth in rage, causing his Qi to boil in his meridians. Five colored lights soon danced in his eyes as he momentarily failed to control his anger.


    As Julius struggled to restore harmony in his mind and body, Alexander and Reynard paced ufortably before the Ashford mansion.


    "Are you sure joining uncle is the best idea? Can''t we create our own faction instead?" asked Alexander, his heart heavy.


    "We won''t have enough time. His has many supporters working in the kingdom''s shadows. Even if he is not the best candidate on my list, I''m willing to join him as long as he doesn''t insist on being crowned king," Reynard responded, concern shing in his eyes as he knocked on the door.


    A few secondster, a smiling butler opened it, his bald head reflecting the sunlight as he said, "Long time no see, little lords. The Marquis is waiting for you in the conference room. Please follow me."


    The duo gazed at the old butler, reminiscing about the tender memories of their stay in this residence before smiling back. "Lead the way," said Alexander.


    Two minutester, they entered the luxurious room where Gabriel sat, his head resting on the back of his hands. Smirking, he asked sarcastically, "To what miracle do I owe the visit of my dear nephews?"


    "We left Thorian''s side," said Reynard, pulling an engraved mystical chair and sitting. Then, he continued, "We thought about it for a week. Your faction has the most chance to overthrow his rule."


    "Humph. I asked you to join me thirteen years ago, but you refused. Why should I ept you now?" Gabriel asked, gazing at the duo disdainfully.


    Shocked by the harsh answer, Alexander took a second to rpose himself before saying, "Thorian changed too much. Under his brutal and foolish rule, the country won''t survive the uing war." After a brief pause, he resolved himself, adding, "We have information he never shared with you, especially concerning the baby fiasco happening right after you left your functions."


    "Oh? I kept a few in my cells. They don''t seem to be anything special, though," revealed Gabriel, causing the duo to frown.


    How many summoned did his faction keep to examine? They wondered, an icy shiver running down their spines. They knew Thorian gave orders and did nothing most of the time, but not that other nobles dared to falsify reports tantly!


    After a deep breath, Reynard asked, "How many do you have in total?"


    "Counting every noble in my faction? Around two thousand five hundred," Gabriel snickered, wondering what he had failed to discover about those useless brats.


    However, before he could think about it, his two nephews suddenly rose, the sound of chairs crashing on the ground apanying their abrupt movement.


    "You collected a third of the summoned?!" They yelled simultaneously, their eyes bulging in shock.


    Then, they exined everything they knew, causing Gabriel''s eyes to glow in joy. However, a deep frown soon covered his forehead.


    ''Is the boy one of those aliens, too?'' He pondered, tapping his finger on the table. It seemed usible, but why was he so different from the others? ording to his daughter, he even awakened a talent, something impossible since they all had a dormant one already.


    Yet, his birth date aligned perfectly with the others. ''What is happening?'' he thought, wondering if the seer he consulted in the past had lied to him. But, again, everything seemed interconnected.


    After two minutes of tense silence, he opted to uncover the truth using his nephews'' hands. "I''ll ept you if you help my failure of a grandson catch the boy apanying your dear princess," he dered, wanting nothing more but to resolve the confusing questions he raised.


    After all, Nathan was his only blood heir. Even if he had an army of summoned, his desire was for his family to sit on the throne. To do that, he needed a strong mage, not this disappointment who couldn''t use mana in any way or form.