"What happened?" Elmsworth asked, surprised by Seraphina's reaction.
She told him that Valerius was feeling unwell and had gone to his room to rest.
Elmsworth gritted his teeth, his fear seeming to come true.
He didn't say anything and walked towards Valerius's room, with Seraphina following.
When they arrived, they saw Valerius muttering incoherently.
He was saying strange names like 'Adrian,' 'Jessica,' 'Ron,' and so on.
Elara was putting a wet cloth on his forehead.
A maid secretly watched all of this from behind the door and rushed to Cassian to tell him what she had seen.
Elmsworth sat on Valerius's bed, next to him, and put his hand on his son's head. And for the first time, everyone saw the head of the Thorne family cry.
"Forgive me, my child," he sobbed, "It's all my fault. My misfortune has affected you as well, ruining your life! Forgive me, I am the reason for all your pain and misery! Forgive your worthless father!"
Seraphina grabbed his shoulders and broke down in tears. Eldred Alsnow coughed to get their attention and suggested seeking help from the Temple of Meni.
Elmsworth nodded and then called a guard to bring the best healer available at the Temple of Meni.
However, a voice came from behind the door.
It was Cassian.
He assured them that he had already called for help from the temple.
Seraphina wasn't pleased with this idea, but she didn't object.
After a while, a priest arrived.
But he wasn't a priest from the Temple of Meni.
He was the High Priest of the Temple of Sol, Aelius Caspian.
Unlike the priests of Meni, who focused on healing, the priests of Sol were more focused on purification, exorcism, and inquisition.
However, Aelius already had a connection to Valerius.
He was the priest who had personally come to bless Valerius at his birth and later when he was found to be like a senseless, soulless husk.
Elmsworth glared at Cassian for bringing Aelius but didn't voice his displeasure to avoid insulting the High Priest of the Temple of Sol.
However, Aelius sensed Elmsworth's displeasure and calmly explained, in a reassuring voice,
"Cassian asked me to come because he feared Valerius was possessed by a ghost.
While I was looking for other priests for an exorcism, I overheard his plea and decided to come myself to check on the boy, for I have always felt a personal connection to him."
Elmsworth and Seraphina nodded and agreed to let Aelius examine Valerius. The poor boy had calmed down by now.
At Aelius's request, Elmsworth carried Valerius in his arms and approached the High Priest. Aelius placed his right palm on Valerius's forehead and was surprised.
He stepped back from Valerius.
Cassian was excited and asked the priest, "Is it a demonic possession? Is that what startled even the High Priest of Sol?"
Aelius rebuked Cassian sharply, "Do you think," he said in a commanding tone, "there would be a demon that can make me step back in fear, and I could not detect it's presence before coming into contact!"
Cassian mumbled, "Sorry your Holiness. I did not mean that!".
Aelius turned to the parents and said gently,
"Do you remember, Lord and Lady Thorne, when I first observed the child, I said he was like a mechanical toy, or a simple animal, without a soul?
Well, rejoice, for it seems your son has become normal.
He has regained his soul!"
Cassian, desperate to argue, spoke up, "But you said this empty husk of a body would attract dark creatures to possess him, in the absence of the original soul! What if it is demonic possession?"
Aelius turned back to Cassian and said in a cold, commanding voice, "You think the High Priest of the Church of Sol, who has trained in Aldon in the art of exorcism, cannot detect a demonic possession? Am I right?" Cassian mumbled something, but his words were too quiet to understand.
Aelius turned to Valerius's parents and explained, "The world is full of mystery. The gods work in mysterious ways. The soul that had departed the body has returned."
He pulled out an amulet from under Valerius's blanket, "I had placed this amulet on young Thorne to protect him from demonic influence. Now that his soul has returned, it is no longer needed."
"Then why does he have a fever?" Seraphina asked, her voice filled with concern.
"After eighteen years, the soul has returned. It will take time for him to adjust. So, there is no need to worry. And it's likely the boy has been under a great deal of stress today, which has affected him emotionally and worsened his condition." Aelius assured her.
Elmsworth asked, "Your Holiness, will my son now be able to wield magic?"
Aelius closed his eyes for a moment and then ran his hand over Valerius, from head to toe.
Then, in a thoughtful tone, he replied,
"Your son's soul is not ordinary. He radiates a strange energy.
It is neither demonic nor purely divine, but something... stranger.
However, I cannot sense any magical ability within him.
As I told you before, if no one in the family has the magical ability in their bloodline, it is nearly impossible for the heir to have it without divine intervention.
He does indeed have an abundance of strange energy, but I doubt he can cast magic."
Seraphina shook her head, "We have our son back. That is enough for me! I don't care if he never learns to cast magic!"
Elmsworth agreed, "Indeed!"
After exchanging further pleasantries and receiving a generous donation for the church, Aelius left, escorted by Cassian at Elmsworth's request.
Elmsworth ordered Eldred to contact Gavril and tell him to prepare for a ball next week to celebrate the recovery of the heir of the Thorne household.
Everyone should know that the Thornes are not finished. They are back in business. The heir of the Thorne family has returned.
Elmsworth suddenly expressed his desire to sleep with his son and wife. Seraphina agreed, and the two slept on either side of Valerius in his bed. They wanted to sleep with their ailing son after so many years.
But little did they know that more troubled times were ahead.
A light flickered ominously in Valerius's room that night.
And a shadow was growing larger, though no one seemed to notice.