Just then Draven appeared among them. He had just returned from his talk with Morpheus. He walked towards them as everyone bowed towards the King. Draven looked at his mate with the same flat gaze which then moved to Aureus. "Aureus, there is someone you need to meet first before visiting your clan."
Aurus nodded. "Anyone related to my mother?"
"He is your uncle, your mother's older brother. You must have many things to talk about."
Aureus could not deny it. He could not wait to know more about his mother but was also curious to see other family members. Maybe his grandparents? Though it was strange and awkward, he wondered how they would react upon seeing him.
"When can I meet him?"
"He will be here soon," Draven said as he raised his head up to look at the sky. He knew Morpheus would not just sit idly after he got to know about the existence of his nephew. and must be hiding in the sky, watching them until he received a sign that he could come down..
Aureus looked up as well as he spotted someone of his kind flying behind the clouds. It was barely a small dot, but given his sharp eyesight, he found it. The winged man landed next to Aureus, his gray eyes unable to pull away from the young man the entire time. Morpheus had even seemingly forgotten the existence of Draven and the rest the moment his sight caught the form of the golden Divine Eagle from the sky. When he saw Draven and the young eagle turn in his direction, Morpheus' body moved on its own and sped towards the palace wall as if he was racing against the wind.
'Myra's son…'
The young eagle was beautiful in a neutral way, his facial features a strong resemblance to his sister's. It was not simply the color of his hair and eyes—it could be seen in the shape of his eyes, the tall nose, even that exquisite balance of sharpness and softness in his expression. Though Aureus was a handsome and well-built young man, he was on the leaner side, having strongly inherited the delicate features of his mother. At first glance, one would even think he was a younger Myra in masculine form.
On the other hand, Aureus felt a strange sense of familiarity despite seeing the gray eagle for the first time. He was obviously a stranger, but he felt as if this man was someone he could depend on.
'He doesn't look like Mother…'
Though Aureus was merely a child when he lost his mother, he could still vividly remember her face. Morpheus and Myra were siblings, but Morpheus strongly inherited the valiant and muscular appearance of their father, the former Chief of Shapeshifters, while Myra had a softer, sunny look that resembled their mother.
Aside from the faint similarities in the shape of their mouth and eyes, the siblings look nothing alike.
'But that lopsided smile, Mother used to smile like that whenever she saw me coming back from playing…'
The resonance in their blood was undeniable. Not to mention, the warm though complex gaze the gray eagle had for him helped Aureus feel less nervous.
"I will leave you two to talk," Draven said as he looked at Ember. "Shall we?"
Ember nodded, and together with her servants, they followed Draven as they walked away from the two shapeshifters. Even Erlos gave a small bow in their direction before following his master's departure.
Morpheus and Aureus were left on their own. Both didn't know how to initiate their talk.
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