The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

A place to go.

Where could it be?

Tiel’s curiosity didn’t last long before she got her answer.

Karsus carried her in his arms and headed straight for Alpheus’s chambers.

Did Grandfather call for me?

Karsus gently set Tiel down.

The hem of her dress brushed against her calves as she straightened up, still holding onto his hand.

"Let’s go in."

The moment Karsus spoke, the soldiers standing guard moved to open the massive doors.

They swung open without making a sound.

"Grandfather—!"

Tiel beamed brightly, and Alpheus, who had maintained a stern expression, broke into a broad grin.

He strode toward her with quick steps and lifted her into his arms.

"Tiel, are you feeling all right? I came to check on you earlier, but you were sleeping soundly, so I didn’t wake you."

"Yes, I’m fine! Dad, Ria, Ferdi Oraboni, and Ludian Oraboni all took good care of me! Thank you for worrying about me, Grandfather."

At the mention of the word Dad, Karsus and Alpheus exchanged glances. A small, knowing smile played on both their lips.

Alpheus patted Tiel’s back gently, speaking in a coaxing tone as if comforting a much younger child.

"That’s good, but you must never do something like that again. I trust Karsus has already told you as much."

"Yes, don’t worry!"

Tiel answered confidently, nodding with vigor. Her golden eyes gleamed with life.

Seeing that, Alpheus let out a hearty laugh, completely disregarding his usual dignified demeanor.

"All right, then. I won’t worry."

Alpheus began walking slowly.

Karsus followed quietly behind.

And the place where Alpheus stopped was—

"Tiel."

—right in front of the enormous bookshelf that covered an entire wall of the Lord’s chambers.

Tiel tilted her head in confusion.

There are so many books...

No matter how high she looked, the shelves seemed endless.

So being the family head means you have to read a lot of books!

Still nestled in Alpheus’s arms, Tiel stared in awe at the elaborate covers filled with unfamiliar, difficult letters.

"Press this book."

Alpheus pointed to a particular book with an unassuming cover.

It looked like it was bound in old, worn leather.

Tiel nodded and reached out with her tiny hand.

Normally, with her height, there was no way she could reach the book—but since Alpheus was holding her, she was able to press against its spine without any trouble.

Click.

The moment she did, a mechanical sound rumbled from behind the bookshelf.

Startled, Tiel instinctively burrowed deeper into Alpheus’s embrace.

Alpheus chuckled and patted her back reassuringly.

Clunk! Thud, rrrrrumble—.

The bookshelf continued making strange mechanical noises for a while before it finally slid open.

Tiel’s eyes grew wide at the sight of something she had never seen before.

A hidden chamber was revealed beyond the bookshelf.

"Wow..."

"This is a secret room that only the head of Asterian knows about," Alpheus explained.

"The entrance can only be opened by someone of Asterian blood."

He took Tiel’s small hand in his own.

Tiel looked down at her hand in wonder.

Only those of Asterian blood...

"A paternity test won’t be necessary, then."

Alpheus smiled knowingly.

Tiel shyly nodded.

Just now, Asterian itself had acknowledged that she was of its bloodline.

Asterian has accepted me.

That means I really am their child.

A smile spread across Tiel’s lips.

All the worries that had plagued her for so long melted away in an instant.

Alpheus carried the smiling child into the secret room, with Karsus following silently behind.

The hidden chamber was not what Tiel had expected.

Unlike Alpheus’s lavish and elegant quarters, the room was shockingly bare.

No—calling it empty would have been more accurate.

Smooth stone walls stretched around them, devoid of any decoration.

Tiel looked around curiously.

In one corner of the massive room, heaps of gold bars and gemstones were piled carelessly.

In the center of the room stood a small pedestal.

Yet there were no lights—no torches, no candles, not even remnants of a burned wick.

It was pitch dark. Almost too dark to see properly.

Alpheus walked forward with steady steps and set Tiel down beside the pedestal.

"Tiel."

"Yes, Grandfather."

"This place has been passed down within the Asterian family for a very long time. It was created for those who manifest the legendary Light Ability."

"A place for people with the Light Ability...?"

"It was built for the legendary light."

Alpheus nodded.

After a brief pause, he began to speak of something he had never told her before.

"Most people believe there are only two legends about the Light Ability."

The two stories passed down through generations in both Asterian and Nestian.

"But in truth, there is a third—one that has been hidden."

"A hidden legend?"

"Yes."

Alpheus brushed a hand over the altar, wiping away a thick layer of dust. His palm darkened with grime.

Tiel, unable to stand it, grabbed his hand with both of her small ones.

"Grandfather, your hand is dirty...!"

"It’s fine."

Alpheus smiled as he pulled out a handkerchief. He carefully wiped Tiel’s hands clean before doing the same for his own.

Then, in a solemn voice, he recited the legend.

"Asterian and Nestian shall reclaim their true power alongside the glorious light."

Unconsciously, Tiel repeated the words after him.

"Alongside the glorious light... shall reclaim their true power?"

At that moment, Karsus, who had been standing silently, finally spoke.

His gaze fell upon the small girl. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Tiel, this may not apply to you, but both Asterian and Nestian suffer from Madness."

"...Madness?"

"Yes. It’s an ancient curse. When an individual uses too much of their ability, the power spirals out of control, attacking the wielder from within until it consumes them entirely."

At Karsus’s words, a realization dawned on Tiel. Her eyes widened.

"So that’s why Ferdi Oraboni—!"

"Exactly. That was why Ferdi lost control. And normally, there is no way to calm Madness. It only ends when the afflicted destroys everything around them... and ultimately themselves. The only reason Ferdi is still alive is that he is young and not yet strong enough to completely destroy himself."

A hereditary affliction—passed down through their bloodline.

Tiel slowly looked down at her hands.

"There’s no way to calm it?"

But I did...

Ferdi’s flames had undoubtedly shrunk within her embrace, like a gentle lamb.

Karsus, noticing her bewildered expression, crouched down to meet her eye level.

"Tiel, that’s why you are special."

"...?"

"The glorious light refers to the Light Ability. And reclaiming true power... means curing the Madness."

Karsus extended his hand to her.

As if drawn in, Tiel placed her small hand atop his. Her pale fingers contrasted starkly against his large, calloused palm.

"Tiel, this altar is meant for those with the Light Ability."

Karsus gently guided her toward the pedestal.

With her lips pressed together, Tiel nodded and stepped forward.

"Go on."

Alpheus’s voice was warm.

Taking a deep breath, Tiel placed both feet onto the pedestal.

And at that moment—

The pedestal sank.

"Ah—!"

Startled, Tiel collapsed onto it, her dress billowing around her.

Thud... Rumble, click—!

Mechanical sounds echoed through the hidden chamber.

Karsus and Alpheus held their breath, watching intently.

"Huh?"

Then, a small light flickered in the palm of Tiel’s hand.

Her golden eyes glowed in the darkness.

The tiny flicker of light gradually grew larger.

Tiel blinked slowly.

The orb of light circled around her at the same steady pace as her breathing.

A delicate trail followed behind, morphing into the shape of a fish’s fin.

"...Dad."

Shocked by the sudden phenomenon, Tiel barely managed to call out.

It was a word she had always wanted to say, yet had never dared to.

A word she had swallowed down, even when the longing burned inside her.

"...Yes, my child."

Karsus answered gently.

Tiel’s round eyes brightened, and a radiant smile blossomed on her face.

The light swirling around her continued to expand.

Before long, it grew so vast that it filled the entire chamber, illuminating every corner.

But no matter how bright it became, it didn’t hurt to look at. It wasn’t blinding.

Because Tiel’s light was not that kind of light.

It was a warmth capable of enveloping the entire world.

And then—

The smooth stone walls of the chamber began to glow.

Tiel instinctively withdrew her ability.

Her light faded, but the stone walls remained illuminated, shimmering softly.

Karsus, Alpheus, and Tiel watched in silence as the hidden chamber underwent its transformation.

And then—

Swish...

"...!!"

The glowing walls revealed ancient inscriptions, slowly appearing before their eyes.