He reached them in a minute and after another suffocating hug from his stepmother he stepped in the car and they drove off.
The car ride was fairly silent, the silence only being broken by the humming of the engine and the piercing gaze of Aegon's stepmother.
She held her hands together and raised them never her heart, closely observing Aegon in a look that seemed unnecessarily caring.
'What the hell is with this lady?'
He thought but decided to make conversation with her to ease her soul.
"So... What were you doing before this?"
He asked while scratching the back of his head, not knowing anything else to say.
She drew a long breath.
"Oh nothing much sweetie, just home alone trying to keep the house in order while your father travels the world with his unending list of whores."
His face visibly contorted at her remark but she said it in a time that was so casual it was probably general knowledge.
"Sooo," he tried watering down her words, "... He won't be around for a while?"
"Sweetie, between me and you, I'm not sure we're gonna see your dad again for while... But enough of him, how was the trial, what faculty did you awaken and what was your affinity?"
'Arrgh. Again with this goddamn question, I have enough problems on my hands as is it.'
He turned to the window, watching the changing scenery as he answered.
"Replication under Aether Studies."
"Ohh."
She said in such a tone you think that she just heard he got a million Royals but it was from an inheritance.
She waved him off.
"It doesn't really matter, useless awakening or not, once you get to the Adept rank and trials are no longer mandatory you'll stop at once and return home. Come back and take over the business."
But it wasn't that simple, the system had made it explicitly clear that he would have to keep going through trials until he surpassed Paragon.
'And I have no idea what the ranks are anyway.'
He thought but chose to go another direction.
"So, How's the business going anyway?"
He asked.
"Sweetie, you know how it is, a little rise and a little fall."
She said vaguely.
Aegon just slowly shook his head, spoken like a true housewife who knew little to nothing about what the business actually entailed.
"..."
The mindless back and forth chatter merged into minutes and then hours, before they could both realise it the car stopped before a towering golden gate.
The gate remained for about five seconds before—
~Bzzrt.~
A sound emanated from the gates as the creaking iron opened up and granted them access into the estate.
Aegon's gaze stuck out his window as his mouth hung open in awe.
The estate was nothing short of magnificent.
From the miles of trimmed hedges and lawns to koi ponds, a water sculpture fountain and lampposts lined up the polished stone driveway that led to the garage.
But even from far away the mansion hung at the centre of it all like an omen or maybe a miracle... Sunlight glimmering off the windows.
The stone driveway created a slight rumble as tires bounced subtly.
The car finally came to a halt in front of the main entrance doors.
Before he could move a finger, the guards or workers sprinted towards the car and slid the doors open for them.
He stepped out of the car, mouth still agape, he eyes started from the bottom and trailed to the top.
Sleek lines, expansive glass walls, minimalist geometry— a beautiful blend of concrete, steel and natural stone.
'Oh my God, I'm actually rich!'
She grabbed him by the wrist and guided him into the house.
They stepped in together, Double-height ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and floating staircases opposite each other.
Plush couches at either side and beyond massive flat screen TV that was practically the wall itself.
~Flick. Flick.~
She snapped her fingers.
Immediately two maids hurried towards her, dressed in the classic maid outfit yet with skirts so high you think they were suggesting.
'So I guess the author's dirty mind affected a little bit of everything.'
He sighed internally but said nothing.
His stepmother spoke in a voice that suggested she'd done this way too much.
"Young master Aegon here just survived his awakening trial."
They both gave a slight bow towards Aegon and spoke in unison.
"Congratulations, master Aegon."
His stepmother continued.
"So now as you can suggest he's tired and hungry so I need you two to prepare his favourite dish while he freshens up."
They bowed again before running off.
Then his stepmother turned to him.
"Alright, take a bath, rest and when you're ready you come down for dinner."
"Alright."
He said as he proceeded up the stairs, not being sure which was his room.
He finally got to the second floor, where five doors stood in front of him.
He raised a hand to his chin, this was going to be a lot more complicated than he thought.
He proceeded to enter all the doors one by one until—
He found it.
The third door.
It was definitely his room, evident from the messy heap of clothes on the bed, the closed curtains and a smell that could only have been described as 'boy smell'.
He walked in and immediately locked the door behind him, leaning against the door and looking at his room.
He opened the curtains letting the sun kill the stench of desperation and sadness. Clearing out the bed and taking a shower.
He stepped out of the shower and caught a reflection of himself in the mirror.
He couldn't ignore it.
Even after the awakening trial was successful. It had given him more defined muscles, better vision, higher cheekbones and maybe even added an inch or two.
But yet, even after all that, he still looked utterly pathetic.
From the ghostly pale skin, weirdly cut hair, slender to almost skinny build— he looked like someone who'd been suffering his entire life.
But the worst part was— he was fucking rich, he was richy rich and yet it was all going to waste in someone this sad.
He sat at the edge of the bed, and drew a sigh whilst still staring at himself.
"Arrrgh! I tried my whole life to avoid being the person who would be the subject of bullying but look at me."
He gestured his hands towards his reflection.
He rubbed his temple.
"I went to the gym... Or at least I tried to. I at least had an average body but come on, what the fuck is this? No wonder he has a douche as his best friend."
He angrily stood up.
He reached the window of his room. Staring out while he said.
"Alright 'Aegon Dhalar', how are we going to change your sad sad pathetic life?"