The Superior Rebirth: A Hero's Awakening

Bound Beyond Blood

June 10th, 1810 — Moscow, Grand Empire of Russia

Several days passed.

To some, time dragged like an endless winter.

To others, it slipped through their fingers without warning.

Before the House of Ivanovich—within the grand courtyards of the Tsarigrad Citadel—the atmosphere could not have been more different.

Laughter filled the air.

Xavier stood at the center of it all, surrounded by friends he had not seen in what felt like ages. Their voices overlapped, questions flying in every direction, hands gesturing wildly as they tried to speak over one another.

"So... are we not going to talk about the fact that half your hair turned gold?" Jack demanded dramatically. "What happened—did a dragon sneeze on you? Did you shake hands with a sun god? Are we supposed to bow now? Does this officially make you the empire's 'golden boy'?"

Xavier scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"I honestly don't know," he admitted. "I woke up like this."

"That is the most suspicious answer you could have given," Sophie said flatly.

But before Xavier could defend himself—

"WAIT!" Jack suddenly shouted, eyes widening. "Hold on. We're just brushing past the bigger issue here!"

He pointed accusingly between Xavier and Teslaine.

"There's NO WAY you two are actually related. This has to be a joke."

Teslaine immediately leaned her elbows on top of Xavier's head as if it were a cushion, grinning proudly.

"Yup! And I'm the older sibling, by the way."

"As if," Xavier shot back, smirking. "You're way too childish. I'm clearly the mature one. That makes me older."

"WHAT?!" Teslaine gasped in outrage. "That's not fair! I can be silly and still be older! You big meanie!"

Xavier shrugged provocatively.

"Well, at least I act my age."

"Is that supposed to be an insult?" Xavier replied, amused.

Teslaine scrambled for a comeback—nothing came.

Xavier burst into laughter.

Which only made her angrier.

Without warning, she bit the top of his head.

"STOP LAUGHING!"

But he only laughed harder, tears forming at the corners of his eyes.

And soon, everyone else joined in.

When the laughter finally settled, Aria tilted her head thoughtfully.

"Wait... didn't Miss Victoria say Xavier's father and Teslaine's father were brothers?"

Sophie snapped her fingers. "You're right!"

Jason folded his arms with a knowing expression.

"They were already unknowingly cousins before Teslaine was adopted into the royal Ivanovich family," he explained. "Honestly, I figured it out the moment I heard her last name."

Jupiter glanced at him sideways.

"You sly fox."

Jason only responded with an unapologetic smirk.