"Mother dearest, are you sure we are in the right place? Where is this Sir Silva you spoke of?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Be patient, son. He may be a busy man, but he never forgets his tasks," she replied with that same tone of admiration.
Adonis couldn't help but find it odd. "Mom, you seem to admire him very much. Why is that?"
Adelaide replied calmly, "I will tell you later. This is not the right time or place."
Adonis didn't bother to pry further. A while later, he saw three figures emerging from the castle: a girl, a boy, and a tall man.
The girl and the boy were nearly the same age as Adonis. His first guess was that they were his half-siblings, but he quickly realized he was wrong. They didn't have red hair, nor did they resemble his father in any way. The girl's hair was silvery, much like the tall man's, while the boy had striking blonde hair.
To his knowledge, none of his half-siblings had hair colors other than crimson. After all, crimson red hair was said to be the defining trait of the Kingsbane family.
Unfortunately, Adonis lacked that trait entirely due to his mother's commoner background and a "null" heritage. That was also why he was never fully accepted as one of the Duke's progeny.
'Maybe that's why that old man doesn't want to accompany me to my Awakening Ceremony,' he sighed internally. '
Anyway, it's not like I care. He's nothing more than a frequent passerby in this life. '
The silver-haired man seemed to notice the cold indifference, or perhaps the faint trace of disgust, in young Adonis's eyes.
He stopped right before Adonis, looking incredibly tall and sharp. His sharp blue eyes locked straight onto the boy's.
"What? Are you angry that your father isn't accompanying you to the ceremony? Do you feel slighted that he isn't here for what you think is the most important day of your life?"
Adonis met the man's sharp gaze calmly. He wasn't like other children who would be so easily intimidated. He didn't flinch, nor did he look away.
Instead, he shook his head and replied calmly,
"You're wrong, Sir Commander. If Lord Father chooses not to attend, then that is his decision. Anger would be pointless."
The silver-haired man's brows lifted slightly, as if he had not expected such an answer at all.
"Oh?" he said, folding his arms. "That is not how most children would respond. Many would cry, complain, or cling to false hopes."
Adonis didn't panic in the slightest.
"Hope that relies on others is fragile. If today is important, then it is important because of what I will face, not because of who stands beside me," he replied smoothly.
For a brief moment, silence ensued between them. Adelaide and the other two didn't interrupt either.
"You speak as though you have already accepted disappointment. That is not a normal mindset for an 18-year-old."
Adonis lowered his eyes slightly, not in submission, but in composure.
"Disappointment is only painful when expectations are misplaced. I learned that early."
The silver-haired man studied him closely, as if trying to peel away layers that should not exist on such a young boy.
"Hmph," he finally scoffed. "So you are prepared for failure as well?"
Adonis looked back up. "Prepared, yes. But not afraid of it."
He paused for a second before adding, "Whether I awaken weak or strong, the result will not change who I am. I will adapt."
That answer earned him a long, scrutinizing stare.
"..."
"Interesting," the man muttered at last. "Most nobles raise fragile glass children. You, however, seem carved from something sturdier."
He straightened his posture and then turned toward Adelaide,
"Lady Adelaide, you have raised your son well. I can see that he possesses the temperament of a true Swordmaster."
Adelaide smiled proudly, "Thank you for your gracious praise, Sir Silva. Adonis is my pride and my reason for living. Please look after him at the church."
The man replied after bowing a little,
"Do not worry, my lady. I shall ensure that everyone returns safely. I vow this upon my title of Dawn Breaker."
Only then did the man's identity become clear to Adonis.
'So he's the level 60 knight commander… No wonder his presence feels so sharp. I need to be careful not to reveal too much,' Adonis thought inwardly.
His gaze then shifted toward the curious duo, wondering about their identities.
However, the commander allowed no time for idle thoughts.
"Very well, Young Lord Adonis. Come with me. I would very much like to witness how your future unfolds."
As he finished speaking, Silva Henryson placed a hand over his heart, effortlessly summoning a shining silver sword.
Adonis and the duo watched the blade with feverish glints in their eyes.
"Uncle, is that your famous Dawnbreaker sword?" the boy beside the silver-haired girl asked excitedly.
"The one who said to cut through darkness itself?"
Before the commander could respond, the girl spoke in a proud tone.
"Of course it is! It's the very same one. My papa's sword can cut through anything. He can turn day into night and night into day!"
"Silvy!" Commander Dawn admonished her lightly, clearly aware of her exaggeration.
Silvy stuck out her tongue and promptly sealed her mouth. Even so, it was obvious how proud she was of her father.
Commander Dawn then turned to Adonis and Nabi.
"Don't listen to her nonsense, you two. She has a habit of overestimating everything. Let alone me, not even someone at level 70 or 80 could truly turn day into night."
Adonis and the boy named Nabi exchanged a brief look but said nothing.
"Come on now, Papa. Don't make me look so bad in front of them," she protested, puffing her cheeks slightly.
Instead of replying, Commander Dawn calmly lifted the silver sword and thrust it toward the ground.
"Come forth, Alohim!" he commanded loudly.
Instantly, under the stunned gazes of Adonis and the others, radiant light burst forth from the ground.
From there emerged a magnificent white Pegasus. Its wings unfurled as it released a thunderous neigh that shook the very foundations of the castle.
Servants in the garden froze mid-step, while maids in the hallways paused and turned toward the source of the sound.
As soon as they saw the Pegasus, their expressions turned to awe.
"Oh my… it's Commander Silva's Sword Soul. It's really beautiful," one of the maids whispered in amazement.
The Pegasus stamped its hooves, divine light rippling across its body, as it lowered its head slightly toward its summoner.
Silvy's earlier embarrassment vanished instantly, replaced with pure pride as she straightened her posture.
Adonis gazed at it quietly, his eyes reflecting the majestic figure before him.
"A manifested Sword Soul… so this is the power of a true knight commander," he thought, turning serious.
As the game developer himself, he knew not everyone could do what Silva Henryson had done. Not so casually, at least.
The man's power felt insurmountable.
And unforgettable.