In front of the mansion's grand entrance stood a man with silver hair. He appeared to be in his early sixties, his dark blue eyes brimming with pride and quiet scrutiny. There was a sharpness to his gaze, the kind that came from years of attentive service. He wore a perfectly tailored suit—immaculately pressed and without a wrinkle in sight—and a gleaming monocle rested on his left eye, completing his dignified appearance.
"Welcome back, Lord Luka and Lady Celest. I trust your journey to the Ovatos continent was pleasant?" the man asked politely as he pulled open the enormous twin doors of the mansion.
"Thanks, Bradly. It went well," Celest replied warmly before glancing down at Adam. "Also, prepare a room for Adam. He is our son."
Bradly's face twitched—just slightly—but the movement didn't escape Adam's keen eyes.
He must be just as surprised as the others, Adam thought to himself.
"I shall prepare Lord Adam's accommodations immediately," Bradly said with a respectful bow before turning and disappearing into the mansion.
Now alone at the entrance, Luka, Celest, and Adam paused before stepping inside.
Adam lingered at the doorway, taking in the grandeur of his new surroundings. The floor beneath him gleamed with pristine white tile, reflecting the light pouring in through the entrance. Directly ahead lay a spacious hall adorned with elegant decor—chandeliers hanging like crystal blossoms from the high ceiling, finely framed paintings, and intricately mounted swords lining the walls like silent sentinels.
Wow, this is incredible, Adam thought, his eyes wide with amazement.
Two sweeping staircases made of finely polished stone curved up from either side of the entrance hall, meeting at the second floor in a graceful arc. Their smooth surfaces caught the afternoon light streaming in from the tall windows, adding a soft, golden gleam to the otherwise cool interior.
Adam stood quietly for a moment, trying to take in every detail. A quiet sense of awe settled over him. The air was fresh, touched with the scent of lemon polish and the faint aroma of blooming garden roses carried in from the open windows. He had never seen anything so grand.
"Adam, would you like to look around?" Celest asked gently.
Look around? Of course I do! I've never seen a house this big and extravagant.
"I would love it, Mother!" Adam replied with uncontainable excitement.
"Alright then, I'll show you around," Celest said with a bright smile, extending her hand toward him.
"I'd love to help with the tour as well," Luka added quickly, stepping forward.
I need to find a way out of doing any paperwork today… I really don't feel like working right now.
Celest turned to Luka with a cold but amused look. "Dear husband, don't think about escaping your duties. You've been gone for a year, and I'm certain there's plenty of work waiting for you."
Luka sighed dramatically. "Okay…"
His shoulders slumped, defeated.
Why is my wife so cold sometimes? he thought, though a trace of a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Lets go Adam." Celest said tugging Adam away with a bright smile.
Luka remained standing at the grand entrance, watching them go with a calm nod.
Turning left, Adam and Celest made their way through a series of wide hallways. The walls were lined with beautiful wall sconces and tapestries, some bearing the same mysterious crests Adam had seen earlier. The mansion felt alive with a quiet elegance, sunlight streaming through the tall windows, casting warm beams of light across the polished stone floors.
Eventually, they arrived at a decently sized wooden door. The wood was a rich, dark hue, finely carved and polished to a smooth finish. At the center of the door was a crest—two utensils, a fork and knife, crossed to form an 'X.'
"I definitely know what this is. It's either a kitchen or a dining room. Why else would there be a fork and knife?" Adam thought, eyeing the symbol with curiosity.
"This is our first stop, Adam—the dining room," Celest said with a warm smile as she opened the door.
"Knew it." Adam inwardly thought
Adam stepped inside, following just behind her.
The dining room was simpler than he expected, but no less elegant. High above, banners hung from the ceiling, each displaying unfamiliar crests in deep, regal colors. Sunlight filtered in through arched windows, illuminating the long rectangular table made from fine oak. Dozens of matching chairs surrounded it, their designs subtle yet refined.
Celest walked slowly around the room with Adam at her side.
"Every day, we'll have our meals here—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But if you get hungry, since I know you like to train a lot, you can always ask Bradly or one of the maids to bring you a snack or even a full meal."
"Okay, thank you, Mother," Adam said, his face lighting up as he gave Celest a sudden hug.
Celest's heart melted. "Oh, I love this cutie so much. He's just too adorable," she thought, returning the hug with a chuckle.
"Mother, is Bradly that old guy with the silver hair we saw at the entrance earlier?" Adam asked as he pulled away.
"Yes, that's him. Bradly is the head butler. He manages all the maids, staff, and sometimes even handles paperwork. He keeps everything running smoothly."
"Wow. Bradly sounds like a unicorn of a butler," Adam said, impressed.
Celest laughed softly, her jet black hair catching the warm light of the hall. "He really is. Alright, let's go somewhere new."
As they stepped out of the dining room, the soft click of their footsteps echoed gently against the smooth stone floor. Celest tapped a finger to her lips in thought. "Where should I bring Adam next? His room isn't ready yet... and the training grounds should be saved for last... Ah! Of course—the library. Adam loves learning."
An almost mischievous smile crept onto her face.
"Follow me, Adam," she said with a teasing glint in her eye.
They strolled down a corridor lit by afternoon sunlight streaming through tall, arched windows. The walls were lined with tapestries depicting great mages and legendary battles. Every few feet, the soft flicker of enchanted torches added a warm golden glow to the quiet elegance of the space. The atmosphere was tranquil, almost reverent.
After turning down another corridor, they arrived at two grand double doors made of rich mahogany, intricately carved with swirling arcane patterns. The air felt heavier here, filled with the weight of knowledge waiting just beyond the threshold.
"Alright, we're here," Celest announced with a small grin.
There was no doorknob—just engraved wood bearing elegant runes. With a simple wave of her hand and a quiet whisper, the double doors creaked open slowly, revealing the vast chamber beyond.
Inside was a breathtaking library. Towering bookshelves stretched up to the high ceiling, packed with leather-bound tomes and ancient scrolls of every size and color. A grand glass dome above allowed warm afternoon sunlight to pour in, casting golden beams across the room. The light danced on floating dust motes and bathed everything in a soft, almost sacred glow. Cozy reading alcoves lined the walls, each one fitted with cushioned chairs and brass lamps. Near the center of the room stood a massive enchanted globe, its surface shimmering with slowly rotating continents and oceans.
Adam's eyes widened, his mouth falling slightly open.
"Wow... this is incredible," he breathed, nearly whispering.
Celest smiled, watching his wonder with quiet pride.
A pair of sweeping staircases curved up from either side of the entrance hall, meeting at the second floor in a graceful arc. The steps were carved from fine, polished stone, smooth at the center from decades—perhaps centuries—of use. The architecture radiated history and reverence, a perfect match for the library's timeless atmosphere.
For a moment, Adam stood in place, completely captivated.
Celest let him take it all in before stepping closer.
"Adam, would you like to look around?" she asked gently, her voice soft in the echoing stillness of the room.
Adam nodded eagerly.
"You're part of the family now," Celest continued warmly, "so you can come here anytime you want to study. We have books on magic crafting, magic circles, spell casting, continents, and much more."
Adam's heart leapt at the thought.
Wait... I can already start learning more? That means I won't need Celest's help forever—I can study magic on my own too!
They spent a few minutes strolling between aisles, Adam's head swiveling as he tried to take in everything at once. Celest pointed out a few key sections, and Adam made silent mental notes of the titles he glimpsed along the way.
Later
Eventually, they made their way back to the entrance.
"Alright," Celest said with a smirk, placing a hand on the large door, "our last stop."
She gave Adam a knowing look, one that promised excitement.
Adam followed close behind, curiosity brimming once more.
They retraced their steps through the grand hallway and out into the main entrance once again.
'Why are we back at the entrance?' Adam wondered, his brow furrowing in confusion.
Instead of stopping at the threshold, Celest pushed open the front door and stepped outside into the sunlight. Adam followed her, blinking as the brightness hit his eyes.
"Mother, where are we going?" he asked, puzzled by the sudden change in direction.
Celest didn't answer right away. She glanced back at him with a massive smirk curling across her lips.
"You'll see," she said teasingly.
Her tone, paired with the glint in her eyes, only deepened Adam's curiosity.
They walked down the wide front steps of the mansion and onto a gravel path that led through a stretch of open grass. The air was warm and filled with the scent of flowers and distant pine. Birds chirped from the trees that bordered the estate, their songs blending with the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze.
As they rounded the side of the mansion, a sprawling courtyard came into view.
Adam's eyes lit up with awe.
The training grounds.
The courtyard was vast and ringed with trimmed hedges. Stone rings were etched into the ground for sparring, each large enough to host two or more fighters. Weapon racks lined the sides, filled with everything from polished wooden practice swords to gleaming steel blades and spears. A few training dummies stood near the edges, already marked from previous sessions. On one end, there was even a small raised platform with benches—clearly meant for spectators or instructors.
It was unlike anything Adam had seen before.
His heart began to pound with excitement.
Celest walked ahead, her boots crunching softly on the gravel, then turned to face him with a proud smile.
"This," she said, sweeping her hand toward the courtyard, "is where you can train your body to match your magic—practice swordsmanship, magic, or both whenever you like."
Adam stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the sprawling courtyard that stretched out before him. Sunlight bathed the area in a warm glow, casting long shadows across the carefully maintained stone tiles. His eyes widened with wonder as he took in the sight—rows of weapon racks lined the edges, each holding swords, spears, staffs, and even shields of varying sizes and designs. There were also rings—flat, sand-covered circles bordered with stone, clearly meant for sparring.
"This is sick," Adam whispered under his breath, his heart pounding with excitement. "I get to practice magic and swordsmanship here."
For the next several minutes, Adam darted around the courtyard like an excited puppy, examining each weapon rack, peeking into the sparring rings, and even lifting a wooden practice sword just to test its weight. He ran from one spot to another, his enthusiasm boundless.
Celest followed close behind, her steps light as she watched him with a glowing smile.
'He's just so cute. Look at how happy he is,' she thought, placing a hand over her chest, feeling her heart swell. Seeing Adam this excited, this free, made all the hardships worth it.
Just then, from the edge of the training grounds, the familiar voice of Bradly called out.
"Lady Celest, I have prepared Lord Adam's room," he announced with a respectful bow.