Waiting was an exceedingly tedious and painful affair, especially when you had entrusted your entire safety to someone else.
Fortunately, this ordeal was nearly at its end.
Through his own perceptiveness and the influx of information from the outside world, Leylin knew that the time of his birth was fast approaching.
Moreover, throughout the long period of gestation, he had sensed the intrusion of a transcendent energy.
It was a pure white positive energy, suffused with restorative and vitality-enhancing properties.
With his handful of prior experiences, Leylin instantly recognized what it was — "A Blessing spell from the priests of the gods? Good! Very good!"
Such blessings were tremendously beneficial to a developing fetus, so Leylin naturally accepted them without the slightest reluctance.
What pleased him even more was that a family capable of repeatedly requesting a priest's blessing was certainly no ordinary commoners. With a superior environment, his odds of a safe delivery had improved considerably.
A distinguished birth could even provide him with a better starting point.
After all, those of higher standing invariably enjoyed more opportunities than those below — an almost unbreakable law of the world.
Just as Leylin was mulling this over, he felt the sensation of the outer membrane rupturing, followed by a flood of strong, raw smells that filled his nose and mouth.
"Oh!!! He's coming out..."
At that same moment, within a vast manor estate, screams and panicked cries erupted from the central master bedroom.
On the brilliant velvet carpet, the young nobleman from earlier was pacing back and forth in visible distress.
His fingers had gone white from clenching so tightly.
"Don't worry! He has surely been blessed by the gods — he'll be born without trouble..."
Standing beside the young man was a priest in white robes, speaking in a gentle, reassuring voice. Gold thread glinted at his sleeve cuffs, and a distinctive holy emblem adorned his chest.
The badge was shaped like a thick tome inscribed with mysterious symbols, signifying that this priest was none other than the regional bishop of the God of Knowledge.
Ordinarily, a man of his standing would have no need to come in person, but this noble family were devout followers of Ogma, the God of Knowledge, and a pillar of the church's support in this region. Now that the family's direct heir was about to be born, he could hardly not attend.
"Thank you, Bishop Tabris! The Faolan family will forever uphold the teachings of the God of Knowledge..."
The young man barely managed to suppress the anxiety on his face.
Just then, a loud, clear cry rang out from the bedroom, freezing the young man's expression.
Immediately afterward, several maids and matrons hurried out with congratulations: "He's born! He's born! A healthy little young master!"
"What? Let me see!"
The young man's face was filled with elation as he took the infant from the matron's hands. The baby still bore the mark of the freshly severed umbilical cord on his belly, yet his limbs were sturdy and thick. His blue eyes were as deep as the ocean, carrying with them the stirring power unique to new life.
At that moment, the baby was wailing at the top of his lungs, leaving the young man at a complete loss for what to do.
"What a robust child! The deity shall surely bless you!" Talbris wore a kindly smile as a soft, white radiance brushed over the baby's head, its divine calming force lulling the infant into a deep slumber.
"Please allow me to donate one hundred gold coins to the church, as a token of my humble reverence!"
The young man addressed Bishop Talbris, and the words immediately froze the bishop's expression before his smile only broadened. "Your devotion shall surely be known to the deity. I will personally bestow a blessing upon the child afterward…"
Originally, the bishop had intended to personally preside over the child's baptism and even serve as the infant's godfather, thereby deepening the relationship with the Talbris family even further.
But now? With a hundred gold coins on the table, that seemed quite satisfactory as well — after all, that was a considerable sum.
"Nobles are cunning and greedy; they would never completely cut off all their retreats…"
Talbris suddenly recalled the lessons he had received in his past and gave the young man a long, knowing look, though no trace of anger surfaced on his face.
After all, ever since he had devoted the rest of his life to the great Ogma, the emotion of anger had seldom appeared within him.
The great God of Knowledge taught his followers and priests that they must maintain rational thought at all times — and anger was, precisely, reason's greatest enemy.
And so Talbris continued to conduct himself with impeccable grace. After exchanging a few warm pleasantries with the young man, the bishop finally made motions to take his leave.
Just before departing, the bishop seemed to recall something and asked as if it had only just occurred to him.
"Oh! I don't believe I've caught the young master's name?"
"Lei Lin! Lei Lin Falan!!!" The young man said with great delight. "It was his mother who chose the name!"