[: 3rd POV :]

The hall had barely recovered from the thunderous emotions of Daniel and his mother’s reunion when a chill swept through the grand room.

The nobles, still reeling from witnessing the miracle of mother and son reunited, stiffened as their eyes fell on Jivian Valcroft.

He had collapsed to his knees, pale, trembling, eyes wide with terror.

His arrogance had been stripped away in an instant, replaced with raw, animalistic fear.

No words could leave his throat.

Every muscle in his body screamed to flee, yet he remained frozen, as though the very air had conspired against him.

Daniel’s gaze turned cold.

Violet eyes, glowing faintly under the chandelier light, locked onto the man who had dared to try to enslave his mother’s soul.

The silence was deafening.

Even the tiniest sound of a dropped wine glass seemed amplified as the room collectively held its breath.

"You... tried to manipulate her,"

Daniel said softly, voice calm but heavy with an intensity that made the blood in the room chill.

Jivian’s lips trembled, but no words came out.

He had always been confident, always believing that power alone could bend others to his will.

But now... the one person whose very presence made his blood run cold stood before him.

A boy, maybe, but now something far beyond human reckoning.

Daniel raised his hand slightly, fingers curling as if gathering the weight of all his fury into a single motion.

The air shimmered around him.

The soft light of the chandeliers bent and warped subtly, almost as if reality itself recoiled in anticipation.

"Do you even understand what you have done?"

Daniel’s voice cut through the hall like a blade.

"Do you even comprehend the gravity of trying to enslave my mother’s soul?"

Jivian stammered, desperation in his eyes.

"I-I... I... I... didn’t—"

Daniel shook his head slowly, his expression hardening.

"No. You do not get the chance to explain. There is no excuse"

"There is no mercy for someone who attempts such an atrocity."

The air thickened as Daniel extended his hand, violet energy beginning to swirl around his palm.

The faint pulse was like a heartbeat of darkness, yet impossibly precise, cold, and absolute.

The nobles gasped, moving instinctively backward.

Even the palace guards, some of the most disciplined warriors in the realm, instinctively drew their weapons, but a single look from Melira froze them in place.

His aura was suffocating, an invisible barrier of inevitability.

Jivian whimpered, his mind screaming, yet no spell, no noble blessing, no bloodline skill could save him.

He was trapped, a moth before a star that devoured light itself.

Daniel’s voice dropped, softer now, almost pitying.

"I will not let you harm her. I will not allow you to hurt anyone else with your treachery. This... ends now."

And with that, the air around him imploded, a silent, crushing force that bent the edges of reality.

"Oblivion Pulse."

The words were soft, almost ceremonial.

And yet, the result was apocalyptic in its precision.

A beam of violet-white annihilation shot forth from his hand, striking Jivian directly.

For a brief, frozen moment, the world seemed to pause.

The glow reflected in the eyes of every noble, every ruler, every witness.

Time itself seemed to hesitate.

Then Jivian’s body disintegrated.

Not a scream, not a drop of blood, nothing remained.

It was as if the man had never existed, erased from the world by the sheer force of Daniel’s will.

The air where he had knelt shimmered and then fell into complete stillness.

The faint scent of ozone and mana lingered.

The hall was silent for a long, suspended moment.

Even the guards and nobles dared not breathe.

Then Daniel slowly lowered his hand, violet eyes returning to their gentle glow.

His gaze turned to his mother.

Melira’s hands trembled, tears cascading down her cheeks, her breath shaky, yet she did not speak.

She could only watch with pride.

She stepped forward, trembling, wrapping her arms around him once more.

This time, there was no fear, only the overwhelming relief of having her son return not just alive, but capable of protecting himself from the world.

Caelira, Rika, Kiel, and Manork moved closer, forming a circle of quiet support around the two.

Even Lilith, had a small, approving smile despite the horrific spectacle that had just occurred.

The nobles slowly exhaled, some falling to their knees, some whispering prayers of awe.

"The Hero Daniel... the Son of the Empress... a living legend..."

Melira lifted her head, her hands cupping Daniel’s face.

"You... you are truly my son. And now... now we are together again."

Daniel smiled faintly, brushing the tears from her cheeks.

"Yes, Mother... and I will not leave you again."

For a moment, silence reigned.

The hall was heavy with awe, grief, relief, and wonder.

Then, almost imperceptibly, Melira’s eyes brightened with renewed energy.

She drew in a deep breath, as if drawing life itself from the moment.

"My birthday..." she whispered. "We... we were supposed to celebrate... not..."

Daniel’s hand rested on her shoulder.

"Then let’s celebrate, Mother. Today... we celebrate life, reunion... and the end of those who threatened us."

The nobles, sensing the shift, quickly began to rearrange themselves.

Servants hurried forward with trays of delicate dishes and golden goblets filled with wine.

The musicians slowly resumed their instruments, now playing a soft, uplifting melody that filled the hall with light and warmth.

Caelira stepped forward, taking Melira’s hand gently.

"Let’s begin the celebration,Melira," she said, her voice steady but soft, brimming with pride and relief.

"Today is not just your birthday... it is also the return of your son. A day of miracles."

Rika and Kiel flanked Daniel as he moved closer to his mother, their presence grounding him in the chaos of emotions that still roiled within.

Manork’s deep, reassuring voice carried over the hall,

"Eat, celebrate, laugh. This day... belongs to you, Empress. And to your son."

Melira’s gaze softened, a smile breaking through her tears.

"Yes... let’s celebrate. Not as rulers and nobles, but as family... as mother and son."

The hall erupted into gentle applause.

Nobles who had watched in disbelief now cheered, their voices carrying joy that had been absent for far too long.

The tension of the attempted assassination and the deadly power display gave way to an overwhelming sense of relief, celebration, and reverence.

Servants brought forth the first course, exquisite dishes prepared with care and magic-infused presentation that shimmered with elegance.

Daniel found himself seated beside Melira, the warmth of her presence steadying him.

They ate together slowly, savoring each dish, each taste, each fleeting moment of peace that had been denied them for so long.

Caelira and Rika flitted between serving and ensuring the mood remained light, whispering jokes and anecdotes that drew soft laughter from Daniel and his mother.

Kiel, ever the loud one, found humor in even the smallest things, while Manork’s quiet smiles punctuated the evening with warmth.

Even Lilith, allowed herself a faint smile as she watched the reunion, the quiet joy, the healing of wounds that had been inflicted not by swords or monsters, but by absence and separation.

As the evening continued, the grand hall filled with music, laughter, and light.

The story of Daniel’s return spread among the nobles, but it was no longer just a tale of power, it was a story of reunion, of hope, and of the indomitable bond between mother and son.

Melira raised a glass, violet eyes glimmering with tears and laughter alike.

"To my son... Daniel. To life, to hope, and to the family we are finally whole enough to be."

Daniel met her gaze, his voice steady but soft.

"To family... and to never leaving each other again."

Glasses clinked, and the hall seemed to shimmer with magic, not the destructive kind that had obliterated Jivian, but a warm, gentle light that seemed to embrace every soul present.

For the first time in years, Daniel allowed himself to relax fully.

The battles, the horrors, the blood and fire, they were behind him.

In this hall, surrounded by those he loved, he could finally exhale, finally rest.

Melira’s smile widened, the first genuine, unguarded expression of peace in years.

"You’ve given me back my son... my heart... my life. I cannot thank the heavens enough."

Daniel shook his head gently.

"It is not the heavens I must thank... but you, Mother. For never giving up"

"For waiting. For believing in me, even when the world told you to stop."

Soft laughter, interspersed with tears, filled the hall once more.

The music rose, the lights glimmered, and for the first time in a long time, there was nothing to fear, no Jivian, no Zero Organization, no monsters.

Only family, love, and the fragile, beautiful moments of life reclaimed.

The celebration went on long into the night. Stories were exchanged, laughter echoed, and every person in the hall felt the weight of history, the pain of separation, and the joy of reunion.

Daniel’s presence, his quiet strength, and his unyielding love for his mother transformed the grand hall from a palace of politics into a sanctuary of hope.

As the candles burned low, Melira and Daniel sat together, hands intertwined.

No words were needed.

Finally, Daniel leaned back slightly, eyes softening as he looked around at the family he had found anew.

"Thank you... all of you. For waiting for me. For protecting me. For being here when I finally returned."

Caelira smiled, voice tender.

"No... thank you, Daniel. For surviving. For coming back to us. For showing that even after all darkness, light can return."

Melira pressed a gentle kiss to Daniel’s forehead. "Welcome home, my son. Truly... welcome home."

And in that hall, beneath the flickering chandeliers, the soft music, and the gentle glow of magic, the Universe itself seemed to sigh in relief.

The Empress’s birthday was no longer a celebration of age or rulership, it was a celebration of reunion, of life returned, of hearts healed, and of the boy who had become more than a hero... Daniel, finally home, finally at peace.