Important!
There's a poll in my profile page, and it's for you guys, my dear readers.
Pls do vote, if you have some time.
It's related to how all my stories will be from now on.
'Thoughts'
"Talking/English"
"Talking/Foreign language"
"~ Parsel Tongue ~"
[… Moon Cell talking in his head …]
…
The First True Step
…
[… Afternoon …]
Within a vast meadow was a small forest of white trees with silver, pink, and gold leaves.
A small hill with a giant white tree was in the center, and under its tall stature was a seven-year-old boy, lying on his back.
Such nice weather was a bit rare in England, especially in a remote location, and while most would be pleased and savor the peaceful view of white fluffy clouds drifting lazily with the air, the young child was not at peace as he was found himself glaring at the skies as if the heavens had offended him in some way.
The source of his ire?
Well, he was musing over issues that a child of his age doesn't usually have, much less even think about.
The boy in question was none other than Hadrian Rey von Schweinorg, a former king of light, a magician of four True Magics, and the sole inheritor of the Moon Cell. (1)
He had numerous titles under his belt, most of which were bestowed upon him by weird people, but that was unimportant.
It had been seven years since he was reborn in this world, and he still found himself wondering whether to be grateful or curse his dubious luck.
And in this world, he was bestowed with a new name, which was Hadrian Rey von Aelrheit.
…. at least his first name remained the same, a small mercy he supposed.
But the rest that came after remains a mixed bag of both good and bad.
The first of which was that he was, once again, closely related to the founder of the Second True Magic, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg.
Or as he was now known in this reality, Zelretch von Aelrheit.
The man was his grandfather once again, although he seemed to be fond of his previous name since Hadrian learned that the old magician uses it as an alias from time to time.
How did Zelretch end up here? Well, the old man gave him a short but interesting story.
As a practitioner of the Second Magic, one of his grandfather's abilities was to connect his soul through jewels, and when he passed on the Lord seat of the Schweinorg household and the Kaleidoscope to Hadrian, he decided to move on and visit other worlds that piqued his interest. Passing on his true magic to his heir does not technically mean he was bereft of his abilities, just as the old man had proven to him once more.
Zelretch took an interest in this world due to its varying differences from other realities that he had visited before, extending his stay for a while out of curiosity.
Then, one thing led to another, Zelretch met the Gaia of this world and became friends with her, particularly with the latter requesting his assistance after she discerned his eccentric yet lawful nature.
Years went on, and the old man met the alternate counterpart of his late wife in this world.
Long story short, his grandfather pursued her, and the two have been happily married for more than 20 years. They had one child, and that was Hadrian's mother (in this life), Ava von Aelrheit.
Hadrian wondered why his grandparents did not pursue having more children, then he remembered that his grandfather was a magus. Not just any average mage, but one of the Wizard Marshalls of one of the ancient magical organizations in his previous life. The saying 'old habits die hard' stands true for most people, more so for those with a magical lineage – particularly his grandfather.
The old man most likely deduced that it would be difficult to choose an heir if he had more than one child, therefore settling down with raising one child.
His grandmother seemed content with his decision well, seeing as she accepted his grandfather's reasoning without much issue.
His mother, on the other hand, was different and had two children, one of which was Hadrian himself, and the other was his little sister, Elsa Faye von Aelrheit.
Feeling a heavy weight creeping into his chest at the thought of his mother, Hadrian closed his eyes and moved his thoughts back to his grandfather.
Of course, given his eccentricities and character, being related to him was both a good and a bad thing, if not the only matter that was truly a point of contention among everything else.
Hadrian respects the old man and cares for his well-being, but he cannot deny that his grandfather has quite the track record of being a trouble magnet and being the source of trouble itself, sometimes.
A trait that he inherited from the old prankster, according to some of his retainers.
Nothing more needs to be said on troublesome matters related to his grandfather.
On the other hand, having the old man in his corner again would be a great advantage for him in this life, just as it had been in his previous life.
Even if he was bound to be dragged into Zelretch's usual antics… again.
CRUNCH
*CRUNCH
The sound of grass being stepped on cut through his thoughts, prompting Hadrian to open his eyes and look at the source of the footsteps.
Tilting his head to the upper left, Hadrian saw two men walking calmly toward his location.
Said two men were opposites of each other, yet remarkably the same in others.
The first in front was a tall and slender man with pale skin, red eyes behind black-framed glasses, and bright crimson hair, worn in a low ponytail that extended to his mid-back.
He wears a black dress shirt with long sleeves, a white vest, and a black ascot with a red gem. Over this, he dons a white coat with a crimson interior and gold details decorating the neck, shoulders, lapels, and around the cuffs. Lined at the lapels of the blazer starting from the waist down and around was a thin black fur. He wears white pants, which are embellished with chains, while a bright crimson-orange gem with gold ornament was tied to his belt, a gift Hadrian had given to him a long time ago. He also wears cuffed, dark brown boots, and a pair of black and red gloves.
Following behind him was a man who shared a similar physique as the former, tall, and slim, but had a darker complexion, dark brown eyes covered by clear spectacles with thin metal frames, and short shaggy black hair.
He wears a black dress shirt with long sleeves, a white vest, and a white blazer with silver cuffs over the former. He wears white dress pants with a black belt, and a pair of dark brown shoes. He wears a few notable accessories: a watch around his left wrist, two varying bracelets on his right wrist, and a silver brooch with a blue jewel pinned at the lapel near his heart.
What made them seem similar (at least, in his point of view) were the expressions they wore, the way they moved, and behaved.
The two moved elegantly and calmly. They both have a relaxed yet dignified aura. They even wore similar stern and uninterested expressions, but upon the sight of Hadrian, their eyes gained a soft and light tint to them: clear indications that the two were pleased to see him, given how their faces brightened somewhat and the pace of their walk seemed faster than before. Like the former, he wore a pair of gloves, but his were white instead of black.
The man with long red hair was the first to reach Hadrian, followed by the black-haired man a close second.
"Young master, I greet you." The red-haired man said with a smile, kneeling and bowing his head as he did so.
The second mirror his actions, silent but unhesitant to show his respect to Hadrian with his movements alone.
While Hadrian looked calm and relaxed, their actions did not please him at all.
He had told them, along with the others, not to debase themselves in a subservient manner nor to be too formal with him, yet it seemed that he was only wasting his breath each time.
Biting the inside of his cheek at the unnecessary display of their mutual respect for him, Hadrian decided to ignore them kneeling in front of him and sat up from his position with a sigh.
"Diluc, Arjuna." Hadrian said by way of greeting, nodding to the two men. "What brings you two to interrupt my break?"
The red-haired man, Diluc, raised his head but did not move from his kneeling position.
"I beg your pardon, my lord." Diluc said, expressing a bit of regret. "For interrupting your short rest."
"… sorry." The dark-skinned man, Arjuna, muttered a quiet apology.
Hadrian shook his head, breathing another sigh before turning to the two men again.
"It's alright. Just tell me the reason." Hadrian said calmly.
"Lord Zelretch wishes to see you." Arjuna spoke, soft in tone but audible enough to be heard, earning Hadrian's questioning gaze.
One of Hadrian's brows lifted at the announcement, then his face smoothed into its usual calm and regal façade that hinted nothing of his inner thoughts.
"And just when I was wondering what he was up to…" Hadrian muttered, waving off the confused glances that Diluc and Arjuna shot at him.
With a huff, he placed his hands on his knees and stood up.
"All right then, lead the way." Hadrian said, making the two nod and proceeding to do as he asked.
For a moment, Hadrian watched in silence as they slowly descended the hill.
Then, he turned and gazed over his shoulder, zooming in on a white marbled gravestone located under a white tree of the same kind he was standing under, albeit smaller in size and height.
The grave was located just a few kilometers away from his position, reachable via stairs that lead down to the ground level of the hill.
Feeling a heavy weight in his chest creep up again, Hadrian's bright blue eyes softened at the sight of the tombstone, looking melancholic as his eyes read the name.
An unexpected breeze hit him from behind, ruffling his hair and clothes slightly. The breeze was gentle and a bit cold, but Hadrian did not mind the cool sensation.
Closing his eyes for a moment, Hadrian took a deep breath, exhaling through his nose.
Opening his eyes again, his hands formed into fists before he placed them inside his coat's pockets as he turned on his heel and followed the two men, who waited for him at the bottom of the hill.
…
…
…
Back at the tombstone, a name was carved on the smooth marble, written in an elegant cursive and of molten gold.
…
In loving memory of…
Ava von Aelrheit
Dearly missed by family and friends…
Never forgotten…
…
A strong wind flew by, showering the grave with silver, pink, and golden blossom leaves.
The boy paid his respects, just like he did almost every other day, and the forest was silent once more.
…
…
The trek downhill was peaceful.
Hadrian savored the soft breeze brushing against his skin as he followed Diluc and Arjuna.
And by the slight smiles that the two are wearing, they too enjoyed the companionable silence.
"MASTER!"
…
…
…
Well, until someone called him from a distance.
'It was good while it lasted…'
Hadrian sighed, spotting a familiar figure rushing towards him.
Due to the latter's exceptional condition, the distance was covered in less than a minute.
The figure in question was a young man with black and white hair and blue eyes. He was tall, around 5'9, and had a light complexion, bearing European features, hinting at his heritage that was somewhere between French and German. He was a carefree-looking young man, wearing a light beige shirt with long sleeves and blue suspenders over it, a pair of loose brown pants, and black and white dress shoes.
The expression on his face though, was not what a carefree-looking person would wear.
"MASTEEEEEEEEEEEEER!" The retainer, Charlemagne, cried out.
Hadrian slowed to a stop, looking on as his retainer hurried to him.
The two retainers, Arjuna and Diluc, standing on either of his sides had different reactions.
Arjuna squinted his eyes, looking stern.
Diluc pinched the bridge of his nose with an exasperated sigh, before also looking at his fellow retainer with a stern expression.
Charles paid them no heed, however.
The retainer's utmost attention was on his Master, who took note of the former's distressed appearance with a quick glance.
Hadrian didn't know whether to feel amused or concerned of what he was about to hear.
"Master! There you are!" Charles exclaimed, looking a bit frantic.
"…yes, Charles?" Hadrian answered after a slow blink, idly wondering what troubled the usually trouble-making retainer.
"Trouble! There's trouble!" Charles announced, waving his arms wide for emphasis.
"Trouble?" Arjuna muttered.
Hadrian merely raised his brow.
The magician doubted it was serious.
The entirety of the property was protected by a Bounded Field (magic barrier) made by Zelretch himself.
Diluc though, seemed to have an idea of what Charles was talking about.
"It's those two again, I take it?" The redhead male guessed in a monotone.
Charles blinked, slightly taken aback.
"Eh, yeah. How'd you know?" The dual-haired colored retainer asked.
Diluc sighed, scratching the side of his head out of irritation.
"Since when did they ever NOT cause trouble?" The redhead retorted.
"Eh…" Charles paused, then nodded with a sheepish chuckle. "True, true."
Hadrian opened his mouth to speak –
BOOM!
– but was interrupted by a loud explosion that occurred in the distance.
In unison, four heads snapped in the direction of where the noise came from.
… only for the four to stare in shock at what they all saw.
"Oh my go–" Charles cut himself off as he stared at the damage in surprise.
"Agh…" Diluc groaned, face-palming.
Hadrian briefly closed his eyes with a loud sigh, shaking his head.
The portion of the estate's roof, the same estate given to him by his grandmother as a gift and for all of them to live in, was now missing.
Blown off to pieces to who knows where.
The cause of the explosion could only be inside the building, right where the damage was.
And sure enough –
SWAAAK!
BOOM! BOOM!
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The sound of water gathering in one area, followed by loud impacts and gunshots cutting through the air, was heard in the distance.
"Those idiots…" Diluc muttered under his breath, reddish brown eyes glaring in the direction of the commotion.
"Ah, they've really done it now." Charles complained, scratching the side of his cheek.
Arjuna didn't speak.
The dark-skinned retainer only took out a pair of white gloves from his left pocket and proceeded to wear them with a stern expression.
Hadrian sighed.
"Let's go before they destroy the estate even more."
With that said, Hadrian led the three men to the estate.
It did not take long for them to arrive.
Under a minute, the quartet arrived at the scene of the incident.
"Ugh… man." Charles complained, one hand on his forehead as he and they others looked at the damage.
A large portion of the roof by the kitchen area was gone, and in its place was a hole, big enough to fit five to seven people.
Puddles of water were everywhere, staining the carpet covered floor with mixed dirt and grime from the dust and crushed debris.
Twelve or thirteen feet away from them were two people fighting, ignoring everything else around them.
The idiots are too occupied in battling each other to even notice their presences, and the glares directed at them.
PAT PAT PAT
PAT PAT PAT
PAT PAT PAT
Their attention was diverted to the left, however, as the sound of rushing footsteps entered their hearing range.
Hadrian, Charles, Arjuna and Diluc turned their gazes just in time to meet a crowd of little bodies come into the room.
They were small, around the age of 10–11 years old. Some were dressed in a loose-fitting school uniform and glasses, some wore chef attires, some wore medical uniforms, others wore mechanic overalls, but most wore white sailor uniforms with blue linings. What was even peculiar was that they all share similar features: light pale blonde hair and turquoise-colored eyes.
And in their midst, one stood out from the rest.
It was a young man, somewhere around 13 – 15 years old, bearing a pale blonde hair with twin thin locks that fell behind either of his shoulders and colored in deep blue highlights almost halfway up from the tips. He was taller than the others, but like most of them, he also has a light complexion, a pair of calm turquoise eyes, and delicate features.
He was dressed in a white marine style uniform with long loose sleeves, a white turbine hat decorated with a thin white feather with a deep blue tip and a gold ornament to hold it in place at the top center, a pair of black shorts with dark blue leggings underneath, and black shoes with high heels. His top navy uniform came with gold buttons, and black epaulets on both shoulders. He wears a black belt with silver highlights at the edges and pouches.
The only tall newcomer in a navy uniform surveyed the area with a quick glance, only stopping once he took notice of them before moving in their direction.
"Master, you're here." The retainer, Captain Nemo, said in relief.
"Captain! Brought Master as you requested!" Charles cut in with a grin, looking a bit proud of himself.
At his announcement, more than half of the "children" in navy uniforms, mechanic overalls, and medical uniforms rushed over and formed into a line beside the cheeky retainer.
"""Greetings, Master!""" They all greeted him with a salute.
Hadrian chuckled at the sight.
"… Hello." The magician returned with a slight smile, delighting his small audience.
While his smaller counterparts are charmed by his liege, Captain Nemo looked at his fellow retainer with a slightly strained expression, unsure of how to react to the cheeky retainer's words and carefree attitude.
"Er, yes, thank you, Charles." Captain Nemo said with as much grace as he could at that moment.
"Hehe!" Charles merely grinned back, sending the former a thumbs-up.
The navy retainer then turned to his liege, who looked up from his small gathering of audience just in time.
"Captain." Hadrian greeted with a slight nod.
"I'm glad you're here now, Master." Captain Nemo began, taking a deep sigh before meeting his Master's gaze. "But, as you've seen by now, we have a problem."
"Hm, yes, I can see that." Hadrian answered dryly, glancing around briefly before turning back to the navy retainer. "What happened with those two this time?"
"Err, those two –" Captain Nemo looked over his shoulder to where the two instigators of the estate's minor destruction are still duking it out. "Well, I'm not exactly sure why they're fighting since I wasn't here earlier. But –"
"Buy me a hundred boxes of can sodas, asshole! That's the least you can do after messing with MINE!"
"In yer dreams, ya stupid ginger!"
"COMPENSATE!"
"Fuuuuaaaack you!"
"ARGH!"
SCHWAAACK
BANG BANG
The two started fighting again after a brief exchange.
The sound of water gathering in the air in contrast to the sharp gunshots echoed in the room.
The onlookers on the side watched the scene with dry expressions.
Captain Nemo slowly turned his gaze back to his Master.
"… that's why." The retainer ended with a light shrug.
"Those idiots…" Diluc groaned, letting out an insufferable sigh.
"All this for soda?" Charles sighed, shaking his head.
Arjuna clicked his tongue in disapproval, sternly looking at the two battling from afar.
Hadrian merely let out a sigh, then spoke up.
"Diluc."
The long red-haired retainer stood in attention, turning his body and putting a hand over his heart as he bowed his head in deference to his liege, watching intently as the others beside him.
"Yes, Master?"
Hadrian looked at the mess, the two retainers fighting, then slowly turning his gaze to Diluc.
No words needed to be said.
It was clear what was the order, and the retainers nearby knew it.
Diluc, who was the sole recipient of the magician's gaze, was more than happy to follow the unspoken command.
"It shall be done." The redhead said resolutely.
Diluc rolled his sleeves up to the elbow as he slowly moved in the direction of where the two troublemakers were fighting.
Midway through, flames appeared around his right hand, forming into a shape, before a great sword materialized from it.
Diluc grabbed the handle, pulled his shoulder back, and threw the great sword in the area between the two idiots just as they were about to clash again.
BOOM
The sound of the giant weapon landing in between them and its sudden appearance startled the two retainers out of their focus on each other.
They blinked at the great sword, then turned their bewildered gazes to Diluc's approaching figure.
The stern expression on the retainer's face made them queasy.
SWISH
That was the sound of Charles moving in a flash, like a hawk gliding through the wind.
"Haaah, you guys are in trouble now." Charles commented with a slight shake of his head as he stood beside Diluc, who dismissed the sword with a wave of his hand and was now glaring at the two culprits of the situation.
"Um…"
"Ey yo –"
"Save it." Diluc cut through in a sharp tone. "You idiots went too far now."
The two instigators opened their mouths, but fell silent as Charles and Diluc merely pointed their thumbs over their shoulders, leaning to the either of their sides to show who was behind them.
In unison, the two retainers looked, stared, and sweated as their eyes zoned to that one familiar figure standing a mere distance away from where they were.
Hadrian, who met their shocked gazes, gave them a smile that only made the troublemakers gulp down their saliva.
The smile itself radiated warmth and utter charm; small dimples can be seen on either sides of his cheeks.
To those who can sense magical energy, they can feel the slow and steady rise of their liege's irritation along with his magic.
A punishment was in bound, and a beating from their fellow comrades was inevitable.
'… we're dead.'
…
…
[… 5 minutes later …]
Hadrian huffed as he stared down at the two troublemakers kneeling before him.
After a thorough scolding and a few slaps on the back of their heads from Diluc, the redhead made the two kneel on the dirty ground in front of their liege.
On the left was young man, around the age of 17-18 years old, with short chestnut-colored hair, lively deep blue eyes, and a lean, muscular build. He wears a white shirt with long sleeves that are rolled up to his elbows and a red tie that was tucked into a gray vest, dark gray pants with a black belt, and a pair of black shoes. He was also wearing two notable accessories: a pair of black gloves, and a blue gem that was attached to the belt.
He might appear innocence, but this young man was actually one of the most mischievous people Hadrian had ever met.
On the right was another young man, but a stark contrast to the one before. He has a dark complexion (lighter than Arjuna's, but still dark in tone), short black hair, bright amber eyes, and much like the others, a lean, muscular physique. He was dressed in a white shirt with sleeves and a few top buttons undone, black pants, and black shoes. He has an average appearance, but his facial expression implies his rough nature.
Simply put, he looks more like a thug from the streets than someone living in a castle and under the service of an aristocrat.
In Hadrian's personal opinion, that simply made his retainer unique.
'And given his origins, I could hardly blame him for his rough nature…' Hadrian mused.
Still though, this particular retainer also has a mischievous side to him, considering what happened earlier.
Root knows how many times his moments of mischief caused them to be in dangerous situations in the past.
Snapping out of his thoughts, the magician focused on the present.
"So… would either of you like to inform me of what just happened here?" Hadrian began.
The two kneeling retainers blinked.
Then, turned to each other in a split second.
Both of their eyes narrowed, and their gazes snapped back to Hadrian, who only watched their interaction with bemusement.
"This bastard started it! I was just minding my own damn business –"
"NO, this ass started it! He did something to my drink!"
"– and he just attacked me out of –"
"Jesus! One at a time before I smack the shit outta you two again!" Diluc interrupted hotly, knocking his open hand back.
The two retainers stopped immediately, leaning away with grimaces as they warily looked at the irate redhead standing a few feet away from them.
Charles and the others also took a (subtle) step back, as they can feel a strange rise of heat literally permeating from their fellow retainer.
The only one who didn't move an inch was Hadrian, who glanced at Diluc after he spoke up.
The magician turned his calm gaze back to the kneeling retainers.
"So, you –" Violet eyes rested on the ginger head. "– attacked him –" Then, to the thug-looking retainer. "– because he did something to your drink? Was that it?"
"Yeah!" was the ginger head's response.
"Nope." Was the dry response of the thug.
But unfortunately for the latter, Hadrian already knew who was lying.
Hadrian stared at the dark-haired retainer for almost a minute, making the latter look away whistling.
"AM, why did you do that?"
"Did what? I'm only defending myself!" The dark-haired retainer, AM, said in defense.
"You know what I'm talking about." Hadrian said dryly.
"No, I don't know what that is." The dark-haired retainer was stubborn, digging his heels into the ground as he kept looking away.
"You do realize who you're talking to, right?" Charles added his two cents in, a cheeky grin on his face.
"… you shut the hell up and stay out of this, motherfucka." The thug-like retainer cursed/whispered to the other.
The cheeky retainer only giggled in response.
Hadrian's stare didn't let up, boring down on AM even more.
"Lying is useless to me." Hadrian's violet eyes narrowed, causing the retainer to sweat at the subtle pressure. "You, of all people, should know that."
"Yeah, I know –"
"Why do it then?" Hadrian cut in.
The dark-haired retainer let out an insufferable sigh.
"… he ate my dessert." AM revealed through gritted teeth.
Hadrian raised a brow, prompting the retainer to speak more on the subject.
"This motherfucka –" AM pointed at the retainer kneeling beside him.
"OI!" The ginger head looked mighty offended, of course.
"– ate my dessert, which I specifically hid somewhere in the fridge so ONLY I can eat it." AM finished with a righteous huff.
With a hum, Hadrian nodded and turned to the ginger head.
"What's your defense on that, Childe?"
"He put hot sauce on my coke!" The ginger head, Childe, countered.
"It was mild, why you being goofy?" AM said boredly, idly picking his left ear with a pinky finger.
"MD Plutonium ain't mild!" Childe countered hotly. "I literally had to drink magic infused water to flush that abomination out of my system!"
His words garnered a few gasps from the audience of their spat.
Upon closer inspection, Hadrian can see Childe's puffy lips and face too red than normal.
"Oh damn!" Charles gasped, then turned to AM in disbelief. "Come now, AM. That was too much."
"Clearly it ain't enough since this goofy ass still standing." AM shook his head, unrepentant. "Sides, he deserves it, and I'm gonna die on this hill, if I have too. Fight me if you want."
"Ey now tha–" Diluc began, trying to step in.
But it was too late.
"How bout I help you throw your useless body into a deep hole?" Childe offered (threatened) with a sweet smile. "That way, Master won't need to waste a pound of his money buying you a coffin!"
"Don't act coy, ya goof. You started it by eating MY cheesecake before!" AM accused, glaring.
"No, you did it! You ate MY shortcake before, ya ass!" Childe wasted no time to return it.
"BITCH WANNA GO!"
"GLADLY ASSHOLE!"
THWACK
THWACK
The two punched each other at the same time.
Both felt the impact of the other's punch and nearly got knocked out.
"Whoo! Awesome!" Charles cheered, clapping enthusiastically.
"… seriously?" Diluc groaned, face-palming.
Standing on the right side of his master, Arjuna merely glanced at the two troublemakers, shook his head in disapproval and sighed.
Hadrian stared blankly at the two idiots fighting again, wondering if he should just leave the matter to Diluc and go to his grandfather's office.
Then…
'Umm…' Captain Nemo's voice appeared in his head via telepathy (an ability that a Master and Servant share via familiar bond/contract).
Looking at the Servant in the corner of his eyes, Hadrian noticed the captain looking flushed for some reason.
'What is it, Captain?' Hadrian asked via mental link.
The captain didn't spoke for a moment before…
'… I did it.'
'…'
Faced with a quiet confession, Hadrian merely sighed and looked up at the blue sky.
'Hmm, nice weather…'
THWACK
THWACK
…
…
[… Minutes later …]
After instructing Diluc to relay his punishment to the two, Hadrian left the estate.
Charles opted to stay behind, who was more than happy to follow his command to help Diluc in cleaning up the two's messes.
Childe and AM would still be the ones who would do the majority of the labor and cleaning, but the damages to replace the materials they destroyed with their antics will be paid out of their paychecks, much to the two retainers' dismay.
The only one to accompany Hadrian to the castle lord's office was Arjuna, who shadowed after his Master a mere two steps behind.
Upon arrival at the entrance, Arjuna opened the doors for Hadrian, who nodded in thanks before stepping foot inside.
The office was grand, as expected of a Wizard Marshall.
The room was spacious, with a high ceiling and a second loft located on the other side, which was filled with bookshelves dedicated to his grandfather's books and research tomes. Hanging from the ceiling was a medium-size chandelier decorated with jewels and valuable metals. On the ground floor was a pair of cushioned black chairs with a small coffee table in the middle, and in front was a polished wooden desk and a black leather armchair.
Seating behind the desk was an ageing gentleman with aristocratic European features.
Said old man was dressed in a dark gray custom-fit suit, with gold details and a few ornaments here and there, and a pair of white gloves that covered his hands. He has short blonde hair that was graying at the sides, currently pushed back with a few strands falling over his eyes. He has a pair of bright crimson eyes with slit irises, and broad shoulders.
Despite his somewhat ageing appearance, the man has broad shoulders and a fit body that belied his true age.
This man was none other than the (in)famous Wizard Marshall of the moonlit world, Zelretch von Aelrheit.
And although Hadrian calls him 'old', Zelretch actually has the appearance of a man coming in his late 20's.
He was still old though, and his grandfather prefers to refer to him as such.
The old man smiled in amusement as he looked up from the document he was in the middle of signing.
"There you are! I was about to come get you." Zelretch said by way of greeting.
"I tried to come here as fast as I could." Hadrian said with a sigh, then gestured silently to the chair with a questioning look.
"Seat yourself, enkel." Zelretch permitted with a smile, then gave Arjuna a nod of acknowledgement, who nodded back as he stood beside his Master's chair.
The Wizard Marshall paused, blinking as he looked around.
"Wait, where's your usual entourage?" Zelretch asked with a raised brow.
Arjuna closed his eyes briefly, huffing.
Hadrian chuckled nervously, looking away as he leaned back on his seat.
"… They're on cleaning duty right now." The younger magician answered without much elaboration.
"Cleaning duty? Did something happen?" Zelretch probed, blonde brows meeting in the middle. "Now that I think about it, I think I heard an explosion outside."
"It's just Childe and AM up to their usual antics again." Hadrian waved his curiosity away.
Zelretch simply raised an eyebrow at that.
"Now, I'm curious…" The old magician muttered.
Upon hearing that, Hadrian was quick to redirect his grandfather's attention onto important matters.
Root, even Arjuna, who was usually stoic in most situations, twitched at his grandfather's words from where he stood.
"Opa?" Hadrian called gently.
"… Hm?" Zelretch languidly turned his gaze to him, clearly distracted.
"Why did you call for me?" Hadrian asked, inwardly relieved when the crimson eyes looked focused as they met his gaze.
"Ah, that." Zelretch blinked, then leaned back into his seat. "I called for you due to a client's request, and to debrief you on your next mission."
"What kind?" Hadrian inquired, curious about the details.
"An overseas kind of assignment. Without your retainers." Zelretch announced with a sparkling smile that showed off his fangs.
"… What?" Hadrian asked in surprise.
And it wasn't just him either.
Arjuna looked like he wanted to step forward and grab Zelretch by the neck of his shirt for answers as well.
They better be reasonable ones too, considering the stern look in his dark brown eyes that was typically reserved for those foolish enough to earn his irritation.
Hadrian had gone along his grandfather's shenanigans in the past before, survived and lived through many of them, so this was hardly the first unexpected case.
Still, this would be his first overseas assignment (in this life), and solo at that.
Having listened to numerous accounts of Zelretch's past ridiculous encounters in this reality, Hadrian does not exactly know what to think.
On one hand, a part of him was a bit excited at the prospect of undertaking a solo mission in a world that was familiar yet relatively new to him.
On the other hand, the other part (the mage, Master, and magician) was wary of venturing outside without his retainers nearby.
Sure, he has a method of teleporting them to him in an instant, but they come at a cost that Hadrian was not yet ready to meet without certain precautions.
Mainly, such methods require a hefty amount of his magical energy.
And due to his current condition, he can only summon one (or two, at worst) of his retainers to his side, not all of them at once.
A weakness that can only be remedied by time.
Or… he could find a different method later on.
It was food for thought.
"I said you have a solo ov–"
"I heard you the first time. What I want to know is why? Why now? And why me, specifically?" Hadrian elaborated, feeling slightly bewildered.
The timing was strange.
It was too sudden.
Hadrian knew the older magician had grand plans in store for this world.
Zelretch told him about them in the past before, after all. And the old man spared no expense informing him of what he found during his travels in this reality.
Humans. Mutants.
Gods. Aliens.
Celestials.
There was a lot of information to digest, but the main point of his discovery was that the supernatural was very much active in this reality, unlike where they originated.
And if the supernatural still exists, so does magic.
With magic's strong vigor comes Gaia's existence. And with her existence, the planet continues its manufacture of mana.
Mana (the raw magical energy produced by the planet via oxygen) was the earth's breath, and as long as it is in abundance, then the planet's lifespan was assured to last for many centuries ahead.
Hadrian had been happy when he was told of that.
Granted, there are other elements that were a tad concerning (humans, mutants, gods, aliens, etc.), but at least the situation was not dire as it was before.
The planet was healthy, and his family were here.
Those two alone make this current life of his worth living.
Which brings him to a question…
Why was he chosen for this mission when there are others in his grandfather's employment who can do it instead?
AEONS, a hidden security organization comprising of talented and loyal individuals under his grandfather's command, was founded by Zelretch for this very reason.
Seeing the inhuman crimson eyes glinting with mischief, Hadrian's amethyst eyes narrowed.
"… what are you up to?" Hadrian gave the old magician a mild glare as he spoke.
Far from being intimidated, Zelretch simply chuckled and lifted his hand in a surrendering gesture.
"Nothing unscrupulous, enkel. I assure you." The old magician smiled, which does not instill confidence in Hadrian. "It is because of my sche- ahem! Plans for the future. I've told you before, but this world is headed to a future crisis if we don't prevent or fix certain elements that are highly possible to occur in this dimension."
"You cut yourself off just now…" Hadrian deadpanned.
"No, no, that was just your imagination." Zelretch tutted, smoothly denying his way out. "You should lay off the books and go outside more. This request just came at a perfect time too! Go and be free, touch some grass, as the younglings like to say these days. Satisfy every carnal desire you have, if you know what I mean."
"…"
Hadrian didn't say anything.
But the silence and accusing stare are loud enough to inform Zelretch of his thoughts.
Damn old man just playfully waggled his brows and chuckled openly at his face.
Still, as Hadrian mused deeper, assigning him to an overseas mission does have merit.
Ever since the old man discovered that he was his grandson from their past lives, Zelretch had always kept him up to date on recent events of what occurs in this reality.
But hearing and seeing are two different things.
In addition, Hadrian prefers to form his own opinion on matters of importance than to rely on the words of others.
Perhaps… that was why his grandfather is passing this mission unto him instead of relaying it to others.
Hadrian sighed, breaking away from their impromptu staring match.
"… who's the client?" the younger magician asked.
Zelretch grinned, feeling victorious.
"Oh, just an acquaintance of mine. No need to worry your pretty little head over it." The old magician assured him.
Hadrian raised a brow.
"Local?" He asked next, subtly inquiring if the client originated from this reality.
"Ja (yes)." Zelretch confirmed with a nod.
"Mundane?" A specific term that magi use to describe a 'human'.
"Ja."
Now both brows went up.
"So… you're assigning me on a mission that was requested by a mundane?" Hadrian asked slowly.
"An assignment, enkel." Zelretch said with a firm nod, which only looked amusing on him since the man was rarely ever serious in any situation.
"In the form of a request, yes. That aside, I do not see how this mundane task would assist your plans. I mean, I understand if your interest happens to coincide with what the client wants, but isn't it better for this to be handled by one of the Enforcers under your employment?" Hadrian pointed out, raising one brow.
Enforcers are one-third portion of AEONS's military forces.
Members of that division are responsible for searching and gathering information on supernatural anomalies around the world.
They are also usually the ones to tackle missions from local clients, whose requests are personally screened and approved for legitimization by the High Council.
Which left him to wonder if he was specifically approached for it.
Under normal circumstances, he would accept, but he cannot help but feel there was a reason behind his grandfather's motive.
True enough, when the old man spoke again, his suspicions were confirmed, and Hadrian found himself surprised by the answer.
"Yes, true, a few of my Enforcers can easily take care of this, but I want you to handle it." Zelretch explained, continuing when he noticed the younger man's questioning expression. "And the reason for this is because I plan for you to build a specific reputation using a different identity."
"What kind of reputation?" Hadrian asked with furrowed brows.
"The intimidating kind." Zelretch answered with a dark grin. "The kind that these mundane pests (criminals) would be afraid of just by hearing your title or name, and they would piss themselves right after."
"Okay…?" Hadrian drawled, sensing that there was more to it.
"Well, that's part of the reason why." Zelretch added in afterthought. "The other is because AEONS needs an adorable masco– I mean, a fearsome representative! The one that will make our shoddy enemies' quake in their boots and froth in their mouths in fear from hearing the name of our company's best! The one that will make women swoon and surrender their panti–"
"I got it. No need to elaborate more on that." Hadrian grunted in an interjection, massaging his forehead to relieve himself from an annoying headache.
Better to interrupt his grandfather as soon as possible before he goes completely off the rails with his eccentric-filled speeches.
"Ahem. Apologies, but what I mean to say is that it's better to have an alternate identity on hand since you plan on revealing yourself to the public in the mundane world once you begin constructing your own company in the future. If you take on this request as yourself, then your reputation might besmirch the image of your company before it could even begin. Most humans are not exactly as understanding as your mother and your grandmother, and they (humans) often regard someone with a blood-tainted background with suspicion and ridicule. You should know this from experience." Zelretch pointed out.
"That's true…" Hadrian conceded to the reasoning with a small thoughtful frown.
While he and his family were fond of humans due to their relatable connection to them, they were not blind to their faults.
The time of the witch hunts was still a horrendous and unforgettable event that forced their family to move away from areas populated by mundanes (normal humans), along with the fact several of the Schweinorgs' loyal and benevolent allies had gotten killed during the witch hunts had simply cemented their resolve to maintain minimal contact with locals as little as possible.
The ones in AEONS understood the family's reasoning and could not exactly begrudge them for it, despite their mundane origins.
Glancing to the side, Hadrian briefly met Arjuna's gaze, who only gave him a nod.
With his retainer's approval (not that he needed it, but it was nice regardless), Hadrian turned back to his grandfather.
"Then, I'll go abroad under a disguise and gather infamy by hunting down vermin? Got it." Hadrian nodded, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Ah, no, some future requests might be different from this. Some might be retrieval, capture, and so on." Zelretch corrected.
"How should I approach this? Mundane methods or can I use some of my abilities?" Hadrian asked with a raised brow, looking at his grandfather whose expression became thoughtful.
"Well, the client didn't say anything about restraint, so there should be no issues if you went with both. Of course, it goes without saying, but do try to be subtle when it comes to using your abilities while in public. We don't want the mundanes to get too curious should they catch you in the act, enkel. You can never be too careful with mundanes and their little toys." Zelretch advised with a shake of his head.
Nodding in acceptance, Hadrian asked next.
"And how long will this operation take?"
"Give or take, three to four years?" Zelretch stated, unsure.
Hadrian blinked.
"Why would it take that long?" the young mage asked, incredulously.
"As I mentioned before, this assignment won't be the last. After this assignment, there will be another client who will forward another task for you." Zelretch said.
"Why so soon? I only joined AEONS a year ago, and those weren't even field missions." Hadrian added, frowning in thought.
"Ahahaha, that might be my fault?" Zelretch admitted with a grin, looking rather shameless.
"Explain." Hadrian said, tone soft yet commanding, nonetheless.
Sensing his dear grandson's irritation was mounting high, Zelretch was quick to follow.
"Do you recall that time I was away a few days ago?" The old magician started.
"You were at a social gathering, yes." Hadrian said with a small pensive frown.
"Hm, yes." Zelretch nodded with a smile, unbothered by the piercing gaze his heir directed at him. "I was with some friends, talking and making friends –"
"Politicking, you mean." Hadrian interjected in a deadpan tone.
"That too!" Zelretch chuckled, amused that he was easily seen through. "As I was saying, during one of those talks, I may or may not have mentioned you and your recent accomplishments for AEONS. Then, one of my friends aired some of their grievances to me and asked me for help, particularly if YOU agree to take on their request. Many of them have heard of your punctuality and professionalism in completing your assignments, even though you have only begun taking missions recently. One client in particular, the one who will send your next task, seems to have high expectations for you. They look forward to seeing your work and they are more than willing to provide anything you will need to accomplish their request."
"And now here we are." Hadrian grumbled, massaging his forehead to ease the headache.
"And here we are!" Zelretch cheered with a large grin, as if he was not at fault for his grandson's predicament.
Hadrian glared at the old magician, who remained unbothered and only laughed at the expression on his face.
"Come now, enkel, it won't be that bad. Think of this as a sort of vacation. You get to be away from home and have plenty of free time to be on your own. Travel the world, if you like. Indulge in all kinds of carnal pleasures! Just have fun. Root knows you need it. Oh, and as for the pay, it is five million euros for this target. Two million will be sent to you in a package as a down payment in your designated living quarters in the hotel. The rest will be sent to an untraceable bank account that the logistics department has prepared for you beforehand, so you can just withdraw the cash whenever you like after the mission is dealt with." Zelretch informed him with a small grin.
"I see. Can I call for assistance during this long-term operation?" Hadrian asked, a thoughtful look on his face.
"Cleanup and equipment delivery, yes. Though I doubt you will need both given your stellar abilities. Direct assistance with either an Enforcer or Hunter would depend on the situation you will encounter." Zelretch clarified, then added. "Oh, and the client also said that whatever materials or money you find in the target's hideouts, it's yours to keep. This is a perfect task for your other identity to gain infamy in the mundanes' underworld circles, so have fun and take your time, ok? But not too much time since this is still a mission, and we do have a reputation to upkeep when it comes to clearing out assignments before the deadline is near."
"Right, then I only have one question left. How am I going to take this mission when I have the body of a six-year-old?" Hadrian asked with a pointed look.
As if expecting the question, Zelretch gave him a bright grin that showed off his fangs again. (2)
"My, enkel, you should know that when there's a will, the Kaleidoscope will always find a way."
Hadrian should have known that his grandfather was always prepared for every mission.
…
…
[… A week later …]
To say that his sudden departure was well received was an understatement.
His grandmother and little sister were not pleased, which was expected.
His grandmother gave Zelretch, her dear husband, a scolding of his life, and a cold shoulder for 3 days straight.
His little sister also threw a fit and gave their grandfather less of her usual attention, obviously mad at him for sending him away.
Attacked on both sides, the old man never looked more miserable than those few days.
But they were pacified when he reassured them that he would maintain contact with them four or five times a week, and it helped ease their discomfort when Hadrian spent half of the remaining week with them.
His uncle/godfather had yet to be informed of his departure, due to the former's busy schedule these days, but he was personally notified by Zelretch via videocall.
The old man did not go over the specifics of the mission, but his godfather was at least made aware of its importance to the old magician's grand schemes in the future.
Of course, his uncle was not pleased, but he understood and could only sigh in defeat.
The retainers, on the other hand, were of a different matter.
"… Solo mission?"
"We can't come with you?"
"What! WHY?!"
… were their reactions to his announcement.
After a lengthy explanation of the mission's importance, in an unusual display of camaraderie, Charles, Childe and AM marched up to his grandfather's office to make their displeasure and protests known.
With weapons in their hands.
… only to return with bruises, red marks, wet, and suffering a humiliating defeat by the Wizard Marshall, whose villainous laughter can be heard all the way from the latter's office.
The trio looked like they'd been molested by something.
Their clothes were ruffled, and they had translucent slime on some parts of their bodies.
When questioned, the trio would not budge, preferring to maintain their silence and glare venomously at a certain magician from a far.
Zelretch was of no help either, only grinning that grin of his (the cheshire kind) and mentions of 'no comment' here and there.
Hadrian figured the old magician did something humiliating to them that caused the usually headstrong trio to admit defeat and fume in silence.
A typical outcome when it comes to the old man, he supposed.
One doesn't win against the infamous King of Pranks. And even if you do win somehow, you'll still feel like you're the one who lost.
Hadrian knew this from personal experience.
Even so, the retainers still wanted to accompany him, regardless of Zelretch's permission or not, but Hadrian managed to convince them to stay.
Honestly, they would be more of help here than with him out there.
It would also ease his mind that they are at home, maintaining the safety of everyone inside.
With Arjuna and Diluc reigning over their fellows, they would be fine and occupied every day.
And finally, he visited his mother, seeing as it might take a while for him to visit her resting place again before he left that day.
Four years was quite long, after all, and he figured that he would not be home during those years once the assignment began.
All in all, his departure was not all bad.
His little sister teared up, but Hadrian managed to console her by telling two of his familiars, Ryu and Fou, can stay at her side in the meantime.
One of his familiars, Maya, did not want to be left behind. Even followed him everywhere he went within the castle, quietly aware that he would not be living with the family for quite some time.
Left with no choice, Hadrian surrendered and took her with him.
It was fine to take her with him since Maya was the most normal looking among his familiars, which his grandfather approved.
With his affairs settled and in order, Hadrian left home for the first time in this reality.
And so here he was, after several hours of flying, the private jet has finally landed at the soil airport of Moscow, Russia.
The Wizard Marshall deemed the idea of having him fly over to Russia via economic class was unsuitable for someone of his stature and an unnecessary hassle, so his grandfather ordered some of his men to prepare one of the private jets in their private hangar (which was near AEONS's headquarters in England) for him to use during the assignment.
Hadrian found the entire thing wholly unnecessary since he has various modes of transportation to teleport to any location, regardless of the distance.
Perk of his past origins, he supposed.
No matter, the young magician went with his grandfather's plan, troublesome as it all had been, and was now being escorted via car to his designated temporary living quarters.
Looking to the window, Hadrian saw his appearance reflected on the tinted glass and he quietly sighed.
Instead of a child-like appearance, staring back at him in the reflection of the tinted window glass was a young man of 17 years old. Despite being seated, he was tall, with a good above-average height of 5'9, and a snow-white complexion. He has a slim but perfectly proportional athletic physique, an oval-shaped countenance, a well-defined nose, and a sharp jawline.
Previously, he had slightly wavy black hair and amethyst-colored eyes.
Now, with the help of an enchanted ring (that he made before his departure), Hadrian has short ash gray hair that was (still) a bit wavy and a pair of almond-shaped bright cyan eyes.
He left most of his facial features untouched by the effects of the glamour, considering that he only needed to change the color of his eyes and hair. Everything else was how his body would mature as he grew older over the years. His current appearance was far away from his original description, yet close to the one he had in a previous lifetime.
He does not know why, but this kind of color scheme made him feel nostalgic yet strange at the same time.
Then, an amusing thought came to mind, one that caused his lips to turn upwards into a faint smile.
For some reason, he found it rather ironic that his current disguise would soon be known through future infamous deeds in this dimension, whereas it was the appearance eerily similar to a king of light that many locals of Eos had once respected and acknowledged. On one hand, his current appearance was close to his original form. At least, whenever he uses the power of Lucis.
On the other, it was still disgustingly perfect, unbearably so.
Hadrian was aware that it was the fault of Lucis Caelum' magic, but he still would have liked to have a different appearance. That all went down the drain when his grandfather insisted that he leave his face as it is, something about how his appearance will augment the effect of his presence upon others.
Whatever that means…
Thinking back, Hadrian recalled the stares and whispers that followed his wake whenever he was in public, making him wonder if it was a good idea to follow through with his grandfather's advice.
Still, it also happens to be the face that he shares with his late mother in this life, with the obvious exception of bearing hints of masculinity here and there.
So, while he was a bit disgruntled, it was not all that bad.
His attention, however, was on the floating blue window screen that was only visible to his eyes.
…
[… Notice ...]
Due to the effects of the aging potion, your body has grown into that of a young adult.
However, going against the natural order of nature in one's growth, such action is not without consequences.
At your current state, the activation of magic circuits at full capacity is not safe, nor recommended.
Doing so will incur a few negative side-effects.
Proceed with caution.
Magic circuits currently available:
(45/150%)
Side-effects:
Dizziness
Internal bleeding
Torn muscle tissues
Ruptured blood vessels
…
With a wry smile, Hadrian absorbed the contents of the notice.
Earlier, he had ordered the Moon Cell to do a thorough scan of his body now that it had grown to a young adult, thanks to the custom aging potion that his grandfather made for him.
Before, there was not much he could do magically, especially since his body was still technically too young to meet some of the conditions of most mid to high tier spells. Magic was often strict like that, seeing as the body was literally a vessel to contain the soul. And as the body grows, so does the number of magic circuits available that a mage can use at their behest.
The most he could cast in that state were the low and a quarter of the mid-tier spells he had in reserve.
That was one of the downsides Hadrian had discovered early on after experiencing a few reincarnations.
Granted, he can still cast all of his spells, even the special ones in his repertoire, but he had to be careful and efficient as the rate of spells he could cast in succession affects his stamina more than the cost of magical energy.
Since his body was still that of a young child's, the amount of high tier spells he can cast was only 3-4 times per 5 minutes. While it might sound sufficient for most, it was not ideal in a fight, considering most battles occur at a fast pace, seconds even. Fortunately, his retainers were always there to accompany him and preferred to do the fighting in his stead (except for one in particular), so Hadrian does not have much trouble on that front.
Now, after consuming the aging potion, Hadrian had been curious as to what the situation was now.
And after a minute of thorough scanning, the result was right in his face.
The potion was a success (as it was expected, given his grandfather's skills), and there were no side-effects upon consumption.
The issue lies with the availability of his magic circuits.
'Hmm… even with an ageing potion, the amount is only this much?' Hadrian mused, closing his eyes as he leaned back against his seat and crossed his arms over his chest.
Before taking the potion, the amount of circuits he could use was only at (21%).
Now, it had jumped to (45%), and while it was a good thing, the change was not that significant.
Hadrian had expected it to at least reach around (50%), but he supposed that was wishful thinking.
The side-effects were also a concern, but it was not outside of his expectations.
He had taken an aging potion several times in the past, and it was no different now. Hence, why he was not that surprised by the result of the scan.
The side-effects would only be a problem if Hadrian was in a dire situation where he had to go over the limit of magic circuits of what the MC had recommended for him to use. And if there comes a moment where he needs to cross that bridge, he would do so without hesitation. But he would need to be careful and efficient in what follows after that.
Ten percent of his magic circuits were at a passive-active state. This was due to his contract with his Servants. They may not be many in quantity, but their quality as Heroic Spirits was something that even the most talented or powerful mages could not handle or meet the demands. The cost was usually a lot more than that before, but after the war and the Moon Cell's decision to reside in his soul, the drain had lessened greatly ever since. (3)
The Moon Cell helps tremendously in lessening the burden of the Servants' existences on his magic reserves and the continuation of the contract, along with accumulating some prana (magical energy) on the side in the case there was an emergency for the Servants borrow more from him during battle. His Servants were given physical bodies (the kind almost similar to elite Homunculi, thanks to his grandfather's assist) to avoid draining his magic circuits, but the (10%) was still required to maintain the continuation of contracts between him and the Heroic Spirits he summoned.
Thus, only (15%) of his magic circuits were available for use at the moment.
He was in a bit of a handicap, true. But it was nothing new to him, as he had already gone through worst conditions in the past.
'Time would fix that issue for me, I suppose.' The magician in disguise thought as he stared out the window. 'My body just needs to adjust.'
His musing came to a halt as he felt the car slow to a stop.
Hadrian turned his head to the front, just in time to see his escort, a Caucasian man of 20 years old with dark brown hair and brown eyes, open the door for him to exit.
"Young master, we've arrived at the hotel." Luka Azarro, a young and talented Enforcer from AEONS and his temporarily assigned chauffeur/aide, announced with a small smile.
"Thank you, Luka." Hadrian said in response, stepping out of the car.
Walking a few steps forward, Hadrian adjusted the shoulder strap of the dark brown duffel bag as he looked up at the tall structure before him.
In bright yellow signs, the name 'Crown Plaza' stood out in the heart of Moscow, Russia.
The hotel was large and tall, and seemed to be a mix of old and modern architecture. Even with the other hotels nearby, this one stood out from the rest due to its large size and its lively, bustling crowd of customers that went in and out. The people visiting also looked well-dressed and wealthy, a telltale sign of what kind of elite clients this establishment caters to.
This was also within expectations, given that his grandfather was the one that had this hotel to be built.
One cannot hope to land a room in Crown Plaza if they do not have a couple of million stashed in their bank accounts.
Since the hotel belonged to his grandfather, it was not difficult for the old magician to convince the staff to keep the penthouse suite in reserve for him to use during his stay in Moscow.
'Not that any of them would be able to refuse…'
Hadrian snapped out of his thoughts when Luka began to lead him up the small staircase, his other luggage in hand, along with the black and white crate Maya was in.
Being no stranger to cold weather, he ignored the small white puffs of mist that would appear whenever he exhales.
The warmth that enveloped him as he followed Luka inside was a welcoming experience, but he did not expect to be greeted by a sight of a group of people standing in two rows and facing toward him. And judging gold tag names and sharp uniforms, the group in question was the head staff of the hotel.
He had told Luka to guide him inside the hotel through the back entrance to avoid attention, but it seems the head of staff in the hotel had heard of his incoming arrival and had prepared to greet him.
Standing ahead of the group was a man in a black formal uniform, who stepped forward with a smile and gave a small bow towards him.
"Welcome to Moscow's Crown Plaza, young master. My name is Lionel, the head manager of this wonderful establishment." He said in a calm and smooth tone, fluently in English at that.
"Thank you. I'm Hadrian, as I'm sure you're aware by now. This is Luka Azarro, my escort and chauffeur. That's my cat, Maya, who is currently inside her crate." Hadrian returned with a polite smile, gesturing to the others with his hand as he introduced them respectively.
With a nod of acknowledgment, Lionel turned to his staff and began setting out orders.
"Andrei, please help Luka carry the luggage up to the penthouse." Then, smoothly, he turned to Hadrian with an amiable smile just as the bellboy took some of the luggage that Luka was carrying, lessening the burden on his escort. "Young master, please let us escort you to the designated floor."
"Sure."
With that said, the four of them (plus Maya) headed to an area where a large elevator was waiting for them.
There was a lobby where other six elevators were located nearby, but Hadrian suspects that this one was exclusive to the penthouse, which makes sense since it was isolated from the rest to prevent others from using it. His suspicion was further cemented when he noticed Lionel take out a platinum card, and punch in some numbers on a keypad, before offering the card to him.
"We have heard of your purpose of visit from Lord Aelrheit. Thus, we have prepared this suite for you to make your stay here in Moscow as comfortable as possible. You also do not need to worry about the staff. None shall be allowed to enter the suite without your permission. This elevator is the only way to enter the penthouse and it is being monitored daily by a group of guards, who are AEONS's Enforcers in disguise as our security staff, to further ensure your safety and privacy are undisturbed. Here is your key, young master." Lionel informed him as he handed the card to Hadrian, who took it and placed it in his pocket.
"Then, Luka?" Hadrian turned to his chauffeur, who looked at him in turn. "I'll leave it to you to monitor the staff if there's a need to clean the penthouse during my stay here. Make sure to be present while they are performing their tasks and that they sign the contracts before they enter the penthouse. Choose three or five maids that can be trusted in the hotel's staff, they should be enough to clean the suite."
"It shall be done, young master." Luka said with a slight bow of his head.
"Oh, and Lionel? Call me Rey during my stay here." Hadrian instructed.
"As you wish, young master Rey." Lionel followed his wish without issue, also bowing his head in deference.
Hadrian gave the man an exasperated glance, which (to his credit) Lionel received with a calm and unbothered demeanor.
Truly, his grandfather had an eye for people, and he also happened to pick the ones who seemed just as stubborn as the staff back home.
'I wish they'd stop with the formalities…' Hadrian grumbled in his mind.
Even in his past lifetime, he had never been comfortable with people being too polite around him and abasing themselves merely due to his status as the crown prince of Lucis. It had become even more unbearable when he ascended the throne and people started to address him as the King, but Hadrian held his displeasure in a tight lid as his subjects would be depressed when he displayed his annoyance openly.
And he did it only once, too.
After that, he never did so again as he felt bad almost right after he saw their stricken and tearful expressions.
The homunculi may not be his subjects, but they are quite sensitive to the moods of his family, him included.
Hadrian recalled the time when his little sister cried due to a tear in the seams of her rabbit plushie.
The female homunculi attending to her were taken aback by her sudden change in mood, they were all flustered and did not know how to appease her. Even the head maids were in a tizzy, and the two were forced to call for him for help in the end, seeing as he (in their perspective) was the only one who can pacify her due to his close bond with her. His grandparents were also not at home at that time, so he was the only option.
Which he did eventually, and peace returned to the household.
The lesson of the event had taught him how sensitive the homunculi were around him and his family.
Root knows how the homunculi would react if he showed his displeasure openly while around them.
Huffing in resignation, Hadrian stared forward, idly gazing at the slightly blurred image of the person behind him reflected on the glossy surface of the doors.
The bellboy at the further back was quiet, but Hadrian was assured by Lionel that he would keep silent of anything he sees or hears while in his presence.
Everything that was under his grandfather's purview was always handled with a strict eye and an iron fist, after all.
Several minutes later, Hadrian now stood at the grand foyer of the penthouse, with the three others having just departed after bidding him a good night.
After letting Maya out of her crate (let her stretch her legs and all), Hadrian set out to explore his temporary headquarters.
But not before leaving his formal shoes by the foyer and using a pair of white slippers that were (obviously) prepared for him. He was just outside earlier, and it would be bad manners of him to not change his footwear while walking upon the marble floors and carpet-covered ground that the maids had meticulously vacuumed and cleaned before his arrival.
The penthouse has two floors. The first consisted of a dining room, a large kitchen, a spacious lounge, a medium-sized pantry space, a private gym, and a two-floor library with a black grand piano. The second has the master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, three guest rooms with their own bathrooms, one empty room located across the master bedroom, and a lush spacious study with a few bookshelves and a secret room compartment (to hide the weapons or other material objects worth valuable, he assumed).
Connected to the first floor, there was a pair of dark tinted glass doors that leads to an outdoor area with great ample space that has a glasshouse-inspired pavilion with a large indoor pool.
Interestingly, the pool was equipped with reinforced glass that can be controlled to cover the topside of the pool via remote control, allowing people to stand atop the pool without fear of dropping into the water. It has some other interesting features as well, but he would explore them later. He was notified that other branches of the hotel from around the globe were also equipped with the same glass pavilion, so he was in no hurry to see it.
Nearly every room in the penthouse is well-furnished, thoroughly cleaned, and ready for use by its occupant.
The pantry was not stocked yet, but at least the twin-door fridge has refreshments and there was food in microwaveable containers (covered in tin foils) ready to be eaten.
'I suppose I'll just stop by the market and buy some ingredients later on.'
Having been nurtured as a mage, a small amount of paranoia led him to have the alien artifact freeloading within his soul to scan the entire floor for any hidden cameras or bugs, which turned out to be unnecessary as the only ones that he found were on the elevator. The entire two-floor penthouse was devoid of any suspicious tools, meaning that it was secure as it can be for a non-magical living space.
Picking up his duffel bag (sans his other luggage, which Luka had already placed in the master bedroom for him), Hadrian went upstairs and inside the master bedroom, Maya following him in silence.
He placed the duffel bag on the bed, smiling when Maya meowed softly at him. He picked her up in one arm, and then the silver briefcase with his other free hand. Exiting the bedroom, he made his way to the empty room from before. Looking around, the room was decent enough in size to become a temporary workshop. It would be a bit of an issue if he was a simple mage, but fortunately, in this case, he wasn't.
With a snap of his fingers, six shelves, five trunks, two large black suitcases, and two large moveable counters appeared in a beautiful display of silver and blue ethereal lights and wisps of dust.
The objects were placed in an organized manner as soon as they materialized into reality, as if they had already been moved to their current position.
The three shelves were filled with books, tomes, and journals clad in black leather, two shelves were filled with jar-filled ingredients for potions and alchemy, and one shelf was filled with much equipment (such as glass vials, beakers, and small cauldrons, etc). The shelves were made with a built-in sliding glass panel, which was enchanted to keep the objects secured and situated in their place.
It would take a few Gandr shots (powered by a small amount of true magic essence) to break through the protections that he left on the shelves and their glass panels.
The trunks were also filled to the brim with objects of his liking, such as gemstones charged with elemental spells (in two trunks), large ingots of valuable metals (gold, platinum, orichalcum, adamantite, etc) in another two, and the last was filled to the brim with potion vials of different sizes and contents. While these items and equipment were not all the ones he owned and used regularly, they were enough to suit what he might need in the future. (4)
The two large black suitcases are where his equipment (armor, weapons, other essentials, etc) were stored, including the one he brought with him.
Walking up to one of the counters, Hadrian placed the briefcase on top of it.
"I'll set these up later on."
Maya purred, making Hadrian smile as he felt her nuzzle the side of his chin.
"Let's go see the outdoor space, huh, Maya?" he asked, smiling.
"Mroooow…"
Seeing that as a sign of her agreement, Hadrian turned on his heel and walked out of the room but stopped just as he was about to close the door via telekinesis.
"Hmm, I should put this room under Fidelius. Most of my stuff is important, even though I can just duplicate all of them with magic and the MC's (Moon Cell) help…" Hadrian hummed. (5)
With a thoughtful expression, Hadrian resolved to do just that as he closed the door behind him and made his way down the stairs and to the outdoor space.
Not wanting his familiar to get cold (regardless of her semi-short thick fur), Hadrian gently held Maya close to his chest as he closed the sliding door after him, something that Maya certainly did not seem to mind as she simply went quiet and almost limp, leaning against him in bliss.
Slowly, he walked closer to the edge of the area where it was barricaded by a metal railing and reinforced glass at the bottom.
Bright cyan eyes widened slightly as he took in the sight of the city.
When he arrived at the hotel, it was still afternoon, nearing close to evening. He did not even notice that one hour had passed by the time he was done exploring the penthouse, and so he was greeted by the wonderful sight of Moscow at nighttime. Since it was nearing December, snow can be found almost everywhere, but Hadrian didn't mind as the purity of the snow merely added to the city's beautiful image.
Exhaling deeply, Hadrian felt mixed emotions as he took in the sight longer.
"It's quite a sight, isn't it, Maya?"
"Meow…"
"Yeah, pity it's also the home for some of the trash that were fortunate enough to still breathe in this world…"
In comfortable silence, the master and familiar watched the rare beauty of snow falling upon the city of Moscow, with most of its occupants unaware of what was soon to come.
…
…
1 – Four true magics, actually, if the Kaleidoscope was included. But since his proficiency with the magic is not yet to his liking, it was excluded. For now.
2 – In Fate verse, the soul is described as the 'record' of the body. Here, Zelretch retains some of his Dead Apostle Ancestor characteristics in this story. Just to be clear, seeing as he was reincarnated in this reality, his body is not like a DAA's. Meaning, he doesn't have their weaknesses (like their thirst for blood), but he does have their abilities. I read that in other Fate worlds, he found other means of immortality, but in this story, he's one of the most powerful beings with vampiric powers and his true magic. I purposely made it that way as there is something I want to put into play. As for his weakness, apart from his family, Zelretch will have one, and it'll be revealed later in the story.
3 – Heroic Spirits are spirits born from famous figures in legends and myths. They are summoned by people, who they can feel they are most connected with, usually by mages. Think of them as like, spiritual familiars, but with superpowers and the like. Please click here if you want to know more about them. Or just search 'Type Moon Heroic Spirit' in google, if the link is not working.
4 – Most of Hadrian's stuff for research is inside a workshop hidden in one of his spatial inventories. The ones he pulled out here are minor in quantity, but useful and of high quality.
5 – The Moon Cell Automaton (short for MC) is a supercomputer that can only be found in the world of Fate/Extra. It's considered to be powerful enough on the level of a Holy Grail, and more.
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[… Author's Note …]
Oh lord…
Sorry about the previous content of this chapter, guys.
I didn't notice the huge gap of disconnection in this chapter.
Had to re-read this chapter a few times to realize that there was something wrong with it.
I must've been exhausted when I wrote this chapter back then, so I revised it again.
Hopefully, it's more reader-friendly now. Easier to read and more digestible for those unaware of Fate verse.
Of course, there are still parts that were from the previous iteration, but the info dump has been lessened and replaced by character interactions instead.
I introduced the retainers here since it was a good start, why not?
But, they won't be making an appearance for a while in the future chapters since I want to focus more on Hadrian and his interaction outside.
The retainers will come back. I promise.
Well, I promised a revision, so here it is.
And patron is up, ya'll can join in for free.
Most chapters are locked, but I've uploaded character images there, so go check it out if you want.
Next update is next week, probably Wednesday or Thursday, if I'm not busy.
In the meantime, I'll be doing some review and editing of the next chapters of this story.
I don't want another issue to happen like last time.
Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed this one.
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Till next time! :)