Supreme Magus

At present day, it was impossible to follow a member of the Gernoff family when he took a safe route. The security protocols were flawless and unpredictable. The Gernoffs never followed the same pattern for long and took too many detours before moving towards their real destination.

That, however, hadn't always been the case.

Back in the day, when Oghrom Gernoff was still looking for the perfect balance between acquired skills and survival rate for the training program of his children, the security protocols were laxer and sometimes ignored.

Arrogant youths and incompetent servants didn't bother hiding their traces. Oghrom killed them and those who had followed to his safe houses, but only if he could find them.

Tezka had recognized the talent of the so-called founding pillar of the Kingdom and knew Oghrom might grow to be a threat to him in the future. So the Suneater had exploited Oghrom's foolish children and associates to locate the Gernoff's strongholds back when they were still being built.

Even after Oghrom's death, Tezka kept an eye on Oghrom's descendants and a record of the secret bases he discovered by following them. Useless to say, he hadn't uncovered the location of all the safe houses but he had found many.

"I was right." Tezka cackled. "The perfect Gernoffs do have a flaw. They are so obsessed with Oghrom that they have turned the old safe houses he personally built into their main strongholds. The others are not as well developed or protected. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire

"I don't plan on messing with the Gernoffs but if they touch one of my children, I'll make their dream come true and bury them beside their beloved ancestor."

***

Verhen Mansion, a few days later.

Zinya's sudden visit during Jirni's labor and Tezka's intervention had foiled the Gernoffs' plan, but they still had managed to slip past the guards and walls of the Ernas Household.

If not for the Suneater's presence, the alarm wouldn't have sounded and the Gernoffs' intrusion might have gone unnoticed. Jirni had no idea what their goal was but she was certain the intrusion was supposed to be the opening act of the Gernoffs' offensive.

'Maybe they just wanted to probe my defences or maybe the Gernoffs would have tried to settle our score right away, if given the opportunity. I need time to rest and strategize.' Following this reasoning, Jirni had asked Lith for hospitality for a few days.

She and Orion wanted to rejoice and celebrate the arrival of the newest member of their family without constantly looking over their shoulders. Orion was already in perfect fighting condition, but missing his daughter's first days of life would have been something he would have regretted forever.

As for Jirni, she was off her game due to the fatigue from childbirth and her rampaging maternal instincts. The Verhen Mansion offered the Ernas temporary respite from their current predicament and a safe haven.

With Kamila pregnant, Elysia in her crib, and Shargein playing in the garden with Lucky, it was unlikely for the Gernoffs to make a move against Jirni. The existence of Lith's son was still a secret, but Kamila's relationship with Lith was deterrent enough.

"It's so good to have you with us, Jirni." Elina said. "I would have loved to have you as our guest in Lutia, but there's not enough space for everyone there."

Quylla, Friya, Tulion, and Gunyin followed Jirni and Dripha everywhere, each accompanied by their spouse.

"Believe me, the pleasure is all mine, Elina." For the first time in months, Jirni felt at peace and lowered her guard. "I had no idea how much I needed a break until I got it."

She could finally relax and enjoy the emotions that the sight of her newborn daughter stirred in her heart.

"How are you feeling, Elina?" Jirni asked. "Are you sleeping well at night?"

"Most of the time." Elina sighed. "I still have nightmares from time to time, but nothing that the sight of my babies can't dispel in a second. By the way, can I ask you a question?"

"As long as it's not about the Gernoffs." Jirni massaged her own temples. "Those scumbags gave me a good scare and just the thought of them makes my blood boil."

"It's about the baby." Elina pointed at the infant sleeping soundly in a crib right next to Jirni's sun lounger. "Why did you call her Dripha? When I heard you expected a baby girl, I thought you would name her after Phloria."

"So did I." Jirni nodded. "Until Orion pointed out to me how cruel and unfair it would have been to our baby girl. Now she's little and one name is as good as any other to her, but when she grows up, Dripha will hear about her late sister.

"I don't want Dripha to think she is supposed to fill the void left by my Little Flower's loss or feel in competition with the achievements of her late sister. I just want Dripha to be herself.

"That's why we chose for her a name that doesn't share anyone's initial. We wanted to give Dripha a fresh start and be her own person."

"Then you think Lith shouldn't have named Elysia after me?" Elina agreed with Jirni's reasoning but, at the same time, she felt a special bond with the baby girl due to the naming tradition.

"That's completely different." Jirni snorted. "You are alive and well. Elysia will grow up knowing you and you'll be one of her role models. Dripha, instead, will never know her big sister if not through our stories.

"It will take her years to understand how much of it is real and how much is just the rose-tinted glass of our memories."

"Jirni is right, Elina." Brinja said. "I didn't name Milla after my mother for the same reason."

The official reason for the Ernas moving to the Verhen Mansion was to spend time with their friends and introduce Dripha to her future playdates.

Valeron the Second, Elysia, Shargein, Solkar, Surin, Milla, and Dhiral had been invited along with their parents.

"And the reason I named two of my children after Lith." Selia chimed in. "I want him to be their role model. I don't expect them to go on reckless adventures like he does. Being good hunters and genius magicians is more than enough for me."

"That's a low bar you're setting for your children." Ryssa the Dryad, Marth's wife, chuckled.

"I know." Selia replied with pride. "I just want Lilia and Leran to grow into fine, responsible Mages who'll become filthy rich and maybe spoil their mother a little. I think I deserve it after everything they put me through. Speaking of geniuses…"

Shargein was carving a small figurine of Jirni from a piece of oak's heartwood. Not only did it take him but a few minutes while using solely his claws, but the figurine also bore a stunning resemblance to the original.

The only difference was that miniature looked youthful and relaxed, not like someone who would gladly sleep for a week straight and had a death threat pending over her head for months.

"Do I really look this good?" Jirni asked while admiring her own features in the figurine.

"No." Shargein shook his head enthusiastically while wagging his tail.