Inside the lounge room, two beautiful women are having fun adoring their niece and nephew.
"Uwehh…" Marylyn grunts out.
"Soo cuteee…" A merry woman who had the same hair color as Amanda, screamed out while pinching Marylyn's cheeks.
"Erika, you're hurting her." Rosaria scolded her little sister while she had a boy sitting on her lap and playing with his hair. The softness and scent of a mature woman invades Adrian's thoughts.
"You seem to be enjoying this." Cassiopeia sounded in Adrian's mind.
"Enjoying? Can't you see I'm very annoyed right now." Adrian rebukes back while crossing his arms and show a grumpy expression.
"Analyse"
[Name: Rosaria Black] [Age: 36] [Level: Full Moon stage]
[STR: 305] [AGI: 320] [END: 290] [INT: 410] [Mana: 10000]
[Affinity: Ice, Dark]
[Name: Erika Black] [Age: 28] [Level: Convex Moon stage]
[STR: 210] [AGI: 220] [END: 290] [INT: 315] [Mana: 4728]
[Affinity: Water, Dark]
"Aunt Erika had quite a high endurance. I heard she is an academy professor. Must be those late-night work… tsk tsk tsk." Adrian felt pity on her while reminding those white-collar workers in his past life. It's the same everywhere.
"It seems like they will be another Sun stage mage in this kingdom. But, what about grandma? I heard Sun stage mage can only be counted by one hand. Where did she pop out from?" Adrian becomes confused.
"Auntie Rosaria? About grandma… How can she lift up the 2nd strongest in the kingdom like that? He supposed to be strong, right?" Adrian suddenly asked a question to Rosaria and grabs the attention of Erika who is still holding on the struggling Marylyn's cheeks.
"Fufufu…" Both of his aunts covering their mouths and let out a chuckle.
"You should ask mother yourself. The tittle of the strongest in the kingdom is only applicable to someone that wanted to be known. Some of them just kept quiet and live a peaceful life. Some rebel but later be disposed. That's how it is. There is always someone stronger than you." Rosaria gives Adrian a piece of advice while patting his head.
"Dad is strong. He just didn't harm a family member. You sure adore dad, huh? Praising him strong. Like eldest sister said, there are lots of unknown factors in this world." Erika pinches Adrian's cheeks.
Suddenly, the lounge room door opens up and the Cross couple came inside with 2 elders after finish fixing the main entrance.
"Fufufu… Are you adoring him now, after you called him a 'senile old man'?" Grandma Gwen jokingly asks Adrian if he is switching sides.
"Boy, I know you came through! Come and hug your grandpa." Oscar charges in to Adrian with his arms wide open.
"Cassie"
Water tendrils conjured beside Adrian forming a web of water on the celling.
"Freeze"
The water froze and Adrian grabs Marylyn and jumped up and uses the ice webs as platform.
"Hiss" Adrian hisses at Oscar while holding Marylyn who is on his back.
"Oh my. He never behaves like this before." Amanda shows a shocked expression.
"That is a very fast element transition." Rosaria compliments Adrian's casting speed.
"Right? It changes in a split millisecond. He seems better than sister Amanda." Erika added.
"Fufufu…. It seems like he is still wary of Oscar. Oscar don't behave like that again. The grandkids are now wary of you. Be a bit professional like an educator you are. You can come down now children. Grandma won't let anyone hurt both of you. I promise." Grandma Gwen scolded Oscar and lovingly asked Adrian and Marylyn down.
Oscar slumps down the couch and let out a sigh. Nodding to Gwen's words. He now remembers he had hurt his two grandkids.
Adrian looked at Marylyn to see if she is scared. Marylyn responds with a nod and climb back on Adrian. Adrian jumped down carefully. He transforms the ice back into water and made Cassie disperse the water.
Gwen approaches the two siblings bend down and suddenly hugs both Adrian and Marylyn. Warmth flows to both of them.
"Everything is fine. All is okay. I'm here." Gwen comforts both of them.
Adrian just nods back and Marylyn is hugging her back. Everything is settled.
It is lunch time. The whole family is at the dining table. Of course, the dining table is big enough to accommodate 8 people, but it seems like only 7 seats are needed because Marylyn is enjoying sitting on Grandma Gwen's lap being pampered. All of them are enjoying their food especially Marylyn who is being fed by grandma Gwen. Until Erika starts a topic.
"Adrian, your casting speed is abnormally high. How did you do it?" Erika suddenly asked Adrian with a surprise question.
"Understanding and practice, practice, practice. That is all to it." Adrian answers without telling about Cassie.
"That is quiet an effort there. You are actually better than your mother." Rosaria prises him.
"Well, grandpa did tell me about effort. So, I have to give him a credit." Adrian said bluntly while still stuffing his face.
Everyone looked at the depressing Oscar. Oscar expression instantly brighten when Adrian called him grandpa again.
"Hahaha… That is right. I did tell you that." Oscar smiles finally cheered up. Everyone at the table is glad that the gloomy grandpa had been cheered up. The adults give a thumbs up to Adrian.
This is one of Adrian's rules in relationship between man. Treating people that you owe with kindness and treating people that wrong you with malice.
"Boy, your talent in magic is already phenomenal, taking into consideration that you only awaken your mana about 4 months ago. If you can show a promising potential during the entrance examination, you will be awarded the tittle 'Honoured Freshmen'. That tittle comes with lots of perks. You should try your best to show off." Oscar explains about the academy, didn't notice that the others on the table are glaring at him to shut up.
"I'll think about it. There are still lots of time. I just need a peaceful atmosphere to learn. That information should only be announced at the entrance examination. If you carelessly broke the rule without fear like this, then that means grandpa is a higher up of the academy." Adrian giving a deduction while wiping his mouth after finish eating.
"That is right Adrian, someone did break a rule." Erika glares at Oscar. Oscar suddenly froze and cursing his excitement to redeem himself.
"That is okay Oscar. The rule is just an unwritten rule so it's not a felony. Let's stop talking about the academy. We can talk about the main purpose for coming here." Gwen defuses the situation and changes the topic like a pro.
"Is it not the reason you all coming here is to meet the kids?" Amanda felt confuse while Malcom maintains a noble stature in front of his in laws.
"That is one of the reasons." Gwen nodded to Amanda while patting Marylyn's head who is still sitting on her lap.
"The other reason is to announce that I'm getting married in spring next year. The actual date is not finalized yet. I will send the invitation letter soon after all of it is decided." Rosaria made a surprise announcement. Adrian's eyes bulge hearing the news.
"Kyahh… Who is the lucky guy that sweep you of your feet?" Amanda gets very excited hearing her sister is getting married.
"He is just a wanderer with no last name. His name is Eduardo. Good build, nice hair style and a sexy tanned skin. He will be marrying into the Black family. He is okay with it and want to settle down after journeying for so long." Rosaria describes her fiancée.
"Aria… Tanned skin is a signature heritage from the Scorching South continent, right?" Adrian put the simple puzzle pieces together. He just made a speculation because someone who 'had been travelling for so long' and name like 'Eduardo' must have lots of hidden secrets.
[Responding. Correct. The Scorching South continent are the first records in history originates the tanned skin looks as the harsh desert environment tempered their body to withstand the weather. ARIA still cannot make a direct conclusion on 'Target: Eduardo'. More information required.]
"Woahh… The world sure is big. Adrian, bring me to travel a lot. This Aria sure is useful guide." Cassie sounded as she can also hear Aria in Adrian's head.
"Sure. We had a long life ahead of us. With the both of you with me, everything will be fine." Adrian made his promise to Cassie.
"Yeay!" Cassie cheered in excitement to see the world.
[Aria appreciates Master's dependence on Aria.]