Re Extra' Legendary Proclamation Of Tyberius The Bastard

Yeah, he had been more than right to renew his goal, accumulating enough merit to earn the lord's recognition and, with that, a claim to succession.

That is without a doubt the definite right way to go.

Why had he thought that way?

The moment he stepped into the grand library of the Arkwell estate, he realised just how much knowledge this place held. Tyberius did what he could, devouring what little his young mind could grasp.

"Okay, knowledge amassed. Time to head home, Greta," he announced, closing the book with a gentle thud and returning it to the shelf.

He had managed to absorb fragments of several topics: the world's background, bits of ancient history, though sparse, and the intricacies of his homeland, where he now resided.

From the world history he read, he learned that the known world was divided into realms, each ruled by different races, or rather populously populated by different races.

"Young master, wait up! You might get lost without me!" Greta called out, hurrying after Ty as he exited the library.

The realm they lived in was called Aldrion, the Heartland of Kings. Dominated mostly by Humans, Aldrion is bordered by several powerful regions:

To the east lay Nareth, a kingdom marked by rigid rule and the king's absolute authority.

The central region of Aldrion is a melting pot, a neutral zone where people from various kingdoms and territories gather. It is also home to the continent's most prestigious academy, known to admit only the most gifted prodigies and noble legacies. Royals and elite families fought for direct admission into the institution.

'Would be cool if I could go there,' Ty mused.

Entry into that academy would mean exposure to people from every walk of life. He could witness true magic, and most importantly, gain prestige, which would bolster his chances of being recognised by the lord and named an heir.

But...

'Forget it. I should worry about growing up and surviving here in the North before fantasising about the outside world.'

To the south was Eldarune, a nation under the leadership of a monarch and his circle of ministers, devoted to upholding strict order.

The West held Viremont, a land revered for its vast commercial wealth. Merchants flocked there, and although a king ruled in name, power was firmly in the hands of the rich.

But in the North, his home is ruled differently. Power here was split among four noble houses:

House Arkwell (Far North)

House Halbrant (Northeast)

House Esmorath (Northwest)

House Alvethorne (Southern North)

Though decentralised, Northern power was far from weak. In fact, it had repelled threats that the centralised governments of other regions couldn't.

There was even a time when the kingdom of Nareth tried to annexe the Northern Plains, aiming to plunder its resources and claim its territory. The campaign ended in humiliating defeat for Nareth. The Northerners not only repelled the attack but drove the invaders back across their border. The records spoke of it as one of many victories that elevated the North's status as a superpower despite its fragmented leadership.

"Much of why the North remains unconquered is thanks to its ongoing conflict with the Demi-Kin," Ty muttered, walking down the stone passage, Greta trailing behind.

Despite only walking the route once before, he had already memorised the way back from the library.

'During character creation, the Demi-Kin were among the playable races and from what I saw? They looked pretty damn strong.'

Alongside Humans, the Demi-Kin dominated the population in the Northern Plains. However, the two races had long been enemies, with skirmishes and wars frequent across their shared territories.

For now, Humanity had managed to keep the Demi-Kin at bay, thanks largely to the military might of the Four Great Houses, who served as guardians of mankind in the North.

"As for me, I have nothing to wo—

Ty collided with something or rather, someone immovable. The impact jolted him back a step, though he managed to remain standing.

"Watch your path, would you? Felt like I rammed into a pillar or something," Ty muttered, rubbing his forehead.

"My Lord!" Greta gasped, immediately dropping to her knees and bowing so low her forehead kissed the stone floor.

"Lord...?" Ty repeated, looking up.

'Holy fuck, he's handsome.'

That was his first thought upon seeing the man Greta referred to.

His long, silky hair shimmered in shades of midnight blue. He wore a perfectly tailored noble's ensemble that complemented his tall, commanding build, neither overly muscular nor frail. His face? Striking enough to steal a maiden's heart with just a glance.

And his height, six feet, three inches, towered over Tyberius who at barely four years old and just over three feet tall, felt like a mere insect before a colossus.

'This... is the Lord? My father?'

He didn't know what to say, didn't even know if he should speak. Earth's customs were useless here, so he defaulted to a timid bow, unsure of how long to hold it.

"Blue hair? Whose bastard are you?"

The lord's voice cut through the air, low, cold, and razor-sharp.

'Bastard? Is he asking for my mother's name?' Ty wondered, bristling internally. The tone was insulting, but this was a Lord. His father. Who was he to question the man's words?

"I don't know my mother's name. But I was told I'm the fourth son of House Arkwell," Ty replied, head still bowed.

Every instinct told him to look up, but something about the lord's oppressive aura kept him rooted.

"Fourth son?" The lord echoed, as if fishing through memories.

"That would be Miranda, my lord," came a second voice, male, refined, gentler though still deep.

"Who?"

"The maiden who died during childbirth, my lord. She succeeded in delivering the child. Tyberius, I believe was the name?"

The man turned to Ty for confirmation.

Ty finally looked up, meeting the eyes of a middle-aged man with modest features. He wore a formal outfit, marking him as someone of administrative rank.

"Y-Yes, that's my name," Ty confirmed.

He had always known his status as a bastard son rendered him insignificant, but for the lord not even to remember his name, or the woman who gave birth to him? That pierced deeper than he had expected.

Disappointment didn't begin to describe what he felt.

Lord Gaius gave Ty another look, longer this time. His gaze scanned Ty's frame, analysing the child who had taken a full-body collision with him without falling. Not even most adults would've remained standing.

Whatever thoughts crossed his mind, he did not share them. Turning without a word, he began walking away, his civil assistant following closely.

"Interesting," Gaius muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else.

And just like that, he was gone.