[Lifespan Remaining: 2 days, 23 hours, 58 minutes.]
"That happened?"
"She was quite adamant too."
Noct bit his lips, thinking hard about the situation. On one hand, he was grateful to Noelle, who had saved his life even at the cost of her pride. But on the other...Amon now knew his secret.
Well, Noct always had an inkling that his Father knew, as when he provided the Ice Dragon’s monster core. However, now Noct couldn’t make any more excuses.
"How long have you known?" he finally decided to ask. "And if you did know...why didn’t you give me the Ambrosia earlier?"
Amon took a while to respond, glancing toward Lenia who simply sighed. "Noct. What do you know about the founder of Rexford?"
’...That’s one hell of a change in subject.’
"Arnold de Rexford. The first king and founder of Rexford Kingdom," Noct said, then remembering some information in the compendium he read when he first got here. "Oh and he established the foundations of modern magic. The incantation system, among other things."
But contrary to his thoughts, Amon simply shook his head. "The king founded the kingdom, yes. But it was actually his younger brother who established those foundations."
"His...brother?"
"Aster de Rexford. The only mage in recorded history to reach the final advancement of the Mage class. The 9-Star Sage, Progenitor of Magic," his father continued explaining. "History books usually combine the two, but only kept Arnold’s name."
"And Aster?"
"Established a house of his own. Arcadia."
Noct knew House Arcadia had produced powerful mages for generations. Anyone with even the slightest interest in the game’s lore would know that much. But something like this? Noct had no clue.
"But how does that relate to what we were talking about?"
Lenia lifted the nearby teapot, pointing at it. "Aster left more than his knowledge to his descendants. His magical potential was inherited as well. But he understood the danger of allowing that inheritance to grow unchecked."
"What danger?"
"The body must be capable of sustaining the power it possesses," Lenia poured tea into her cup until it overfilled. "If one’s magical talent exceeds its body’s natural capabilities, only death awaits."
"Yes," Amon nodded, continuing on. "Aster deliberately chose a wife without magical gifts or any other inherited powers, and instructed his descendants to do the same. Each generation was meant to dilute his inheritance until it became manageable."
"And even after all that...?" Noct muttered.
"We remained House Arcadia."
Noct looked at his father, the only 8-Star Archmage in the world. Apparently, this was what the diluted version looked like. So how strong must Aster have been?
"The restriction was preserved as a family law," Amon continued. "Marriage was to strengthen our political position without strengthening the power our children would inherit."
"The First Lady. Is that why you married her?"
"Yes. Her family offered influence, wealth, and alliances. She possessed no magical gift." Amon nodded, but it looked like he was expecting Noct to ask the obvious next question.
"But my mom was a Cleric? How did you—?"
"I loved her."
"..."
Noct fell silent, realizing what that meant. Amon had broken the generational rule and had fathered two children that he shouldn’t have. Ophelia as a cleric possessed divine power, an inherited energy that was incompatible with mana.
’Was that how Noct’s illness came to be...?’
"Then what about Elaine?" he asked. "She’s also a Mage and completely fine?"
His father frowned. "On paper she is. But actually...her starting class was Cleric."
Noct’s jaw tried to resist the urge to drop onto the floor but failed. House Arcadia, known for producing only Mages, had produced a Cleric. That would be a scandal huge enough to undermine their position within nobility if anyone were to learn of the fact.
"You inherited both," Amon said. "Neither gift gave way to the other. Your magical potential exceeded anything I had seen in a newborn, and your divine potential existed alongside it. However, it wasn’t the entire reason why you were born with this illness."
Noct looked down at his hands. These same hands that shook after too much exertion. A body that struggled to walk across a room, while somehow possessing the talent to understand spells after seeing them once.
But there was still something he couldn’t let go.
"If you knew about everything all along. Why didn’t you give me the Ambrosia sooner? Why wait now, while letting me experience eighteen years of suffering?"
"It was Pope Johanne’s instructions..."
"What?"
Amon sighed. "Truth be told. When you were born, we looked for every possible cure. And only after we’d exhausted everything, did your mother contact her old mentor again."
"That was where we got the Ambrosia," his father continued. "But she told us that we could only hand it to you on the day of your eighteenth birthday."
"I don’t get it," Noct shook his head. "Why?"
Amon shook his head. "Frankly, I don’t know. She said it was a prophecy from the Goddess Aion, a revelation that must be followed if we were to save you..."
At this point, Noct’s blood was boiling. "And you didn’t think that telling me was a good idea? Do you have any idea how much I went through to get that thing?"
Though even as the Duke of Arcadia, the imposing 8-Star Archmage allowed his son to finish, to let out all of his grievances. But after everything, he simply answered.
"I should’ve told you. But...I couldn’t."
"What? Why couldn’t you—?"
But once again, as soon as the words left Noct’s mouth, he remembered about Amon’s appearances in the game as well. As the Archmage, he had to stay in the Northern Frigid Lands, to stop the powerful monsters there from invading Rexford as well as figure out why it was the way it was as well.
It was definitely due to political meddling, that if he were to return and not fulfill his duty, his status and loyalty to Rexford would be put into question.
"I looked for cures there too," Amon shook his head. "The only thing I could find was the Ice Dragons’ core. With its trait, I hoped it could at least soothe your pain..."
Well, a part of Noct knew that wasn’t a good answer, but for some reason, he didn’t feel like getting mad at his father would change things. But before he could ask further, Lenia set her teacup down.
"Speaking of, how long until they send you back?"
"They’re trying their hardest already," Amon sighed. "I’ve been called to the capital to explain what happened in Altaire. It seems like they want a scapegoat."
If Noct remembered correctly, right now would be the time that the Rexford princes were trying their best to build power and connections. And having such a strong individual like Amon here would complicate things.
Lenia leaned back in her chair. "And Jin is already overseas on that mission..."
’That’s the other pillar of Rexford...!’
If Amon, the Archmage, was Rexford’s left hand. Then Jin, the Sword Saint, was its right. Noct hadn’t expected for his name to pop up so soon.
But seeing the worry on Noct’s face, Amon simply chuckled softly before reaching into his pocket and producing a small letter. It was stamped and closed with red wax, with an insignia that was all too familiar to Noct.
"Before all that though, you need to take care of something else."
Noct gingerly took the letter and opened it, reading the contents inside.
***
Dear Lord Noct de Arcadia,
Rexford Academy has received official confirmation that your previous medical condition no longer prevents you from traveling or participating in academic instruction.
Consequently, your medical exemption has been withdrawn. Despite this change, you have neither attended mandatory preliminary instruction nor contacted the Academy to explain your continued absence.
[Accumulated Demerit Points: 91]
[Demerit points required for expulsion: 100]
[Failure to report within three academic days will result in the termination of enrollment within Rexford Academy.]
***
"...Motherfu—"