Under the cover of night, the Blackrock Lord's Mansion resembled a slumbering beast, with most of the area asleep, broken only occasionally by the rhythmic footsteps of patrolling guards.
But in the east wing of the mansion, in a room belonging to the eldest son, Allen, filled with various mechanical blueprints, metal parts, and unfinished models, the warm glow of a magic lamp shone.
The windows were completely covered by thick velvet curtains, isolating the inside from the outside.
A top-secret meeting of four young "parliaments" is being held here.
"I'll say it again, this is too...unreal."
Allen leaned against the workbench piled with tools, unconsciously twisting a delicate gear in his hand, his brow furrowed.
"My father... looks exactly like the portrait, even younger than in the portrait?"
He couldn't find a more suitable word to describe the feeling; it wasn't simply about youthful appearance, but a strange state as if time had stood still for him.
“It’s not that I’m young, Allen,” Lillian said, sitting gracefully in the only relatively tidy armchair in the room, her long silver hair shimmering under the light.
She inherited her mother Nazra's calmness and keenness, her fingertips lightly tapping her chin. "It's...unfathomable. Did you feel it? The aura he exudes when he stands there is like...like that ancient and majestic feeling deep within the Great Cathedral of Radiance, but it's different, more restrained, more...terrifying."
She used the word "terrifying," but her voice carried a barely perceptible hint of excitement and curiosity.
Little Loy sat cross-legged on a carpet covered with animal skins, his bright black eyes wide open, sparkling with a mixture of shock, curiosity, and a little fear.
"Ten years! The mothers say Father went to do something very important. What kind of job takes ten years? And in a place where even time seems to be different? This is more amazing than the most outlandish adventure legend!"
He looked at his younger sister, Eileen, who had been sitting quietly on the soft stool by the window. "Eileen, you have the keenest senses. When Father came back, did you sense anything special?"
Eileen, the blonde girl who looked like a delicate doll, rested her hands quietly on her knees and nodded gently upon hearing this, a glimmer of light seemingly flowing in her blue eyes.
"Hmm...it's complicated. When my father approached, I...I felt as if I simultaneously felt the warmth of the sunlight on my body, and...the quiet, deep coolness of being alone in the garden late at night. They were mixed together, which was strange, but not unpleasant."
She struggled to find the words to describe that mysterious sensation. “And when Father looked at us, I seemed to ‘hear’ some subtle… sounds? Not real sounds, but like many, many tiny points of light and shadow flowing and combining in a very orderly manner…” She shook her head in confusion. “I can’t explain it.”
"Light spots and dark spots? Orderly flow?"
Allen sat up straight. As the child with the greatest talent for mechanical and energy structures, he immediately grasped the key information: "Like... some kind of extremely precise energy circuit or... the manifestation of laws?" He was startled by his own guess.
"The laws are manifesting?"
A glint flashed in Lillian's eyes. "Eileen's perception has always been accurate. If that's the case, then what Father has experienced in the past ten years is probably far beyond our imagination. You all saw the attitude of Uncle Aster and Grandpa Narosh towards Father; it was a deep-seated awe. It wasn't just loyalty to the lord, but more like awe for... some higher being."
A brief silence fell over the room.
All four children were processing this astonishing conclusion.
Their father, the legendary lord of Blackrock Territory, seemed to have accomplished more than just a long and arduous task; rather, he had... achieved a leap in the very essence of his being.
"So what should we do?"
Roy broke the silence, his voice brimming with youthful eagerness, "Father's back, everything's different! Shouldn't we do something? Like... ask Father about his experiences over the past ten years? Or... show him how much we've grown?"
He looked at his still not very strong arms and felt a little discouraged. "However, compared to someone like my father, our little progress is probably like a firefly compared to the sun."
"We cannot act rashly, Roy."
As the eldest sister, Lillian displayed a composure beyond her years. "Father has just returned and has so much to say to the mothers. He also has countless matters to attend to in the territory. If we were to disturb him now, it would not only be inappropriate but might also seem very inconsiderate."
“Lillian is right.”
Allen agreed, stroking his chin. "But we really can't do nothing. Father's return means huge changes are coming to Blackrock Territory. We must adapt as quickly as possible and... demonstrate our value as his children."
He looked at the mechanical models filling his room, his eyes blazing with determination. "Perhaps we can start with our respective areas of expertise? Let Father see that even in the ten years he's been gone, we haven't wasted our time, and we're now capable of sharing some of his responsibilities."
Eileen added softly:
"And the mothers... they waited for their fathers for ten years. We should also be more considerate of the mothers and let their fathers know that this family is still well protected and full of warmth even after he left."
This suggestion was unanimously approved. Family cohesion is always the top priority.
“So, the action plan is as follows,” Lillian summarized, sounding like a little strategist. “First, maintain a low profile and observe in the near future, without actively disturbing Father and Mother’s reunion, but be ready to respond to any call from Father. Second, each of us should hone our skills, whether it’s martial arts, magic, machinery, or handling government affairs, we must be at our best. Third, be more considerate of Mother and maintain the warmth of the family. Fourth…”
She paused, a sly glint in her eyes. "We can 'accidentally' let Father see our efforts and achievements. For example, Allen, could we 'accidentally' let Father see the blueprints for your improved crossbow? Roy, haven't you been researching ancient energy runes lately? Perhaps we could 'just happen' to ask Uncle Astaire about some related questions when Father happens to be passing by?"
Allen and Roy's eyes lit up; they immediately understood their sister's intention. This was a subtle and understated way of showcasing herself.
“As for Eileen and me,” Lillian looked at her sister, “we will assist Mother with some of the affairs of the territory, so that Father can see our composure and attentiveness.”
The four children's secret meeting lasted a long time, as they discussed the details and planned how to find their place and prove their worth in front of their seemingly legendary father.
Outside the window, the night grew deeper, but the four young hearts inside the room were filled with unprecedented motivation and a touch of nervous excitement because of their father's return and their expectations for the future.
They knew that their peaceful life was about to end, and a more turbulent era, led by their mysterious and powerful father, was slowly unfolding.
And they, as the children of Lind Truk, could not simply be bystanders.
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