"I'll think about it, kid," Isaac said, "but for now, remember you're staying with me tomorrow. Rhea will show you where we live. I have some important matters to attend to."
With that, Isaac walked past Aiden.
"I know it'll be a problem if I ask," Aiden muttered under his breath.
The next day, Peter woke up feeling refreshed. He let out a loud yawn, earning side-eyes from Aiden, Marcel, and Cedric, who had risen earlier.
"What?" Peter asked, stretching his arms and heading toward the bathroom. "Time for a shower."
Marcel and Cedric gathered their bags, ready to head home to Anchiron Village. Meanwhile, Peter finished freshening up and began packing his gear.
Marcel hugged Aiden, who smiled in response. Cedric followed suit, whispering a heartfelt "thank you" that left Aiden slightly puzzled. With their goodbyes exchanged, Marcel and Cedric bid Peter and Aiden farewell and left the room.
Peter turned to Aiden with a grin. "Well, it's just me and bro." Aiden's face scrunched in confusion. "Bro?" he asked. Peter chuckled and playfully punched Aiden's shoulder. "Short for brother."
Before Aiden could ask more, Pelia kicked the door open. "Pelia!" Aiden exclaimed, smiling.
Peter's eyes widened. "You can't knock?!" he shouted. "I've been waiting outside for hours! What did you expect?" Pelia retorted, her voice rising.
Aiden stepped in, wrapping his arms around their shoulders. "I'll miss you," he said softly, eyes closed.
"Me too," Pelia muttered.
Peter's mischievous grin returned, and he wiggled his eyebrows. Pelia punched him, and the two launched into their usual bickering. Aiden backed away, watching with a warm smile as their playful fight continued.
***********************
Daniel Lanchester approached a sleek carriage, its polished wood gleaming in the light. He entered with a calm, composed expression, the door closing softly behind him. Inside, his mother, Selene Lanchester, sat poised in a red dress, a golden necklace glinting at her throat. Her dark hair was styled impeccably, and she smiled as Daniel settled in across from her.
"You look well," she said, her voice warm and measured.
Daniel's gaze drifted to the window, his voice neutral. "You too, Mother."
Selene's smile never wavered. "Your father has arranged a family dinner for tonight. I thought you'd want to know."
Daniel's tone turned sarcastic. "I'm sure he's eager to discuss the Henderson estate now that there's no heir. More wealth for him to acquire."
The smile on Selene's face faltered for a moment, before she regained her composure. "Your father cares about you, Daniel. He always has."
Daniel's laughter was low and humorless. "I doubt that, Mother. If he truly cared, he'd have been there for me instead of disappearing for years at a time. Two years, six years, or maybe more. It's all the same to him, isn't it?"
His fist clenched in his lap, the tension in the carriage palpable. Selene's eyes locked onto his hands, but she said nothing, the silence between them heavy with unspoken words.
Selene gestured to the carriage's luxurious interior. "He's always busy, yes, but all this wealth? It's his doing, and his ancestors'. He worked tirelessly to build our family's legacy, making him the richest Lanchester in history. All of this is for us, for our future. When you take on more responsibilities, you'll understand."
Daniel considered her words, but a part of him couldn't shake the feeling that his father's relentless pursuit of wealth came at a steep price – his family's time. Why couldn't he take a break and be there for them? Daniel pushed the thought aside, deciding to focus on how he'd spend his time at home instead.
The carriage led them to the west side of the Atlantian Kingdom, where the noble families resided in grand estates that rivaled the king's palace. Upon arrival, Daniel entered his sprawling home and made his way to his room. He dropped his bag on the floor and collapsed onto his bed, letting out a tired sigh. A soft knock at the door interrupted his relaxation.
"Don't worry about me, I just want to sleep," Daniel called out, not bothering to get up.
"Yes, my lord," the maid replied, her voice gentle. She bowed and backed away, leaving Daniel to rest.
Selene oversaw the preparations for the family feast, her smile growing as the maids assured her everything was ready. "Good, I want everything to be perfect," she said, her voice filled with anticipation.
Meanwhile, Peter shook Aiden's hand before pulling him into a tight hug. "Take care, man," he said, before releasing Aiden and heading out of the room.
Pelia touched her glasses and hugged Aiden, who smiled warmly in response. However, her grip was a bit too tight, and Aiden's smile faltered. "Ehm... Pelia, you're choking me. I think I need to breathe," he said, his voice muffled.
Pelia quickly released him, her eyes wide with apology. "Oh, sorry! Forgive me?"
Aiden chuckled and reassured her, "It's all good."
As they said their goodbyes, Aiden escorted Peter and Pelia to the gates of Zeru Academy. "Till we meet again, bro," Peter said, grinning, before he and Pelia turned to head towards their hometown of Witherland. Aiden watched them go, a smile on his face as he waved goodbye.
Aiden's eyes flashed blue, and a torrent of blurry images flooded his vision. He clutched his head, the pain intense as the visions assaulted his senses. He stumbled, his knees buckling as he fell to the ground. The images vanished as suddenly as they appeared, leaving Aiden panting and disoriented.
He struggled to catch his breath, his mind reeling. This wasn't the first time this had happened – he'd experienced similar episodes during his Yaijuu hunt training. But he still had no idea what it meant or why the visions were always so blurry. "What's happening to me?" he thought, frustration and confusion swirling in his head. "Why can't I see anything clearly?"
As students dispersed from Zeru Academy, heading to their respective towns, Aiden slowly got to his feet. Rhea approached him, their bags in hand, and gestured for him to follow. Aiden nodded, his mind still reeling from the strange episode. "Whatever this is, I need to figure out what's happening to me," he thought to himself, determination etched on his face as he walked alongside Rhea, leaving the academy behind.