William entered the kitchen, and Nico closely followed behind.
"Well, what is it? I can tell from your face something is up."
William stopped and looked behind him.
Nico rubbed his face, hesitant to respond. "C'mon, spit it out." The big brother urged him on, his smile fading after seeing Nico's serious expression. "I-Is it, Angeline?"
Nico darted his head as his face turned into a bright shade of red, seemingly flustered.
"N-No! It's about Salvador."
William leaned against the countertop and crossed his arms. "What's it about?"
Nico could only shake his head. "I, um, found him snooping around earlier-"
William sighed and stepped past Nico, "I'll handle it this time I guess."
Nico spun around, clutching his brother's wrist. "It's not that! It's why he was snooping around.
"Sorry, but... He was looking for his certificates earlier this morning at dawn. H-He fucking asked me if he was adopted!"
William's face dropped for a second before he furrowed his eyebrows, he was confused. "Why did he think he was adopted?"
Nico's lips curled for a second before his seriousness returned. "He thought he was adopted because he looked more like Lance Leonard than Mother and Father."
William was baffled for a second before he let a giggle slip out. "He thinks he's the son of Lance Leonard."
"Yea..."
The instantaneous silence made it funnier as the two brothers began laughing together a second afterward.
"We'll have to tell Mother and Mother soon, William," Nico said through laughter, slapping his brother's back.
"I know I know, I'll tell them when they wake up or at the assessment." He confirmed. "But really though, how does he come to that conclusion? I know he reads a lot but..." William couldn't finish his sentence as he shook his head. "I really love him as a real brother and I'm sure the rest of you do."
Nico returned a warm smile, "Of course we do." William wrapped his arm around Nico's shoulders and walked outdoors.
"So, how do you feel about the assessment today?" He curiously asked.
Ever since he was brutally injured, he had to let go of his dreams of being a Knight.
Nearly all of the ribs on his right side were ripped through, not to forget the small tear in his mana core.
To fill the void left behind, he became more indulged and serious about his brother's training.
He was on track to becoming a Fourth Order Knight, possibly even reaching Fifth Order before 35, which was truthfully a remarkable accomplishment.
Back on Earth, that was far past someone's prime, yet with mana they could keep the appearance and physical capabilities of a twenty-year-old all the way to sixty years old, most people living up to two-hundred years old.
"I feel well. I'm nearly close to breaking through to the Cyan stage which will give me a tremendous strength boost... As long as I can at least get to the Zenith stage of Blue, even the strength I'll acquire from that will be enough to beat the battle test."
William nodded in satisfaction, proud at his little brother's results. "That's good. What about your swordsmanship?"
The two entered a restaurant that primarily served meat, Salvador's favorite. Of course, it wasn't only exclusive to Salvador as the brothers loved going to the fine restaurant to grab some food.
William nodded to the lady who was serving customers their food, large streaks that were oozing juices.
The two sat at a round wooden table, resuming their talk.
"It's fine. Slon has been guiding me well. From my last assessment it has improved by leaps and bounds, It feels smoother and far more refined.
William nodded. "That's good. If you do promote, we'll be able to move to an actual town or city, rather than an aged village." He said with a chuckle.
"And plus, it'll also mean better schooling and instructors for Salvador when he starts."
Nico smiled as he thought about that.
Compared to his brothers who only had Slon, who was their swordsmanship instructor, Salvador could potentially get a Sixth Force Knight or Mage to teach him, which could significantly draw out his potential compared to Slon.
"I know, that's another incentive to why I'm working so hard.
Aaaand he wouldn't get attacked by a mana beast out of nowhere." He mockingly said, earning a playful slap from his brother.
"Ya ya." He responded.
Eventually, the waitress from before came around, carrying two trays carrying two giant pieces of steak with juice pooling underneath it.
"Oooh look at that!" Nico said while oddly licking his lips, already rubbing his hands together.
The lady set the plates down and William handed her ten copper coins, akin to ten dollars back in Salvador's world.
After receiving the coins, she still stood there with her hand out.
"What?" Nico asked with a mouthful of steak.
"No tip?"
"Hey! We have a disabled man here! His mana core is gone! Don't tell me... you're trying to extort disabled people! SHAME!"
Nico's act only made her sigh and roll her eyes, eventually walking back to the counter.
"Really?" William embarrassingly asked, shaking his head as he took another bite out of the delicious steak.
"Yes, really. Now let's dig in."
**
"Salvador! Wake up!"
A loud voice caused Salvador to jerk awake, nearly falling off his bed in surprise. "Well, that woke me up."
He opened his closet with an annoyed expression painted on his face. "Couldn't they have woken me up like normal parents? Gosh." He murmured under his breath, swapping his shorts out for a blue suit, especially rented for Nico's examination.
'I haven't worn a suit for... ten years? Ever since Aria's passing.'
Memories of her funeral resurfaced, and the time he found her body, dismembered and mutilated.
He quickly hushed those memories to the back of his mind, closing them off from his consciousness.
'New life, new me.'
He stepped out of his room to meet his parents and siblings.
Similar to him, everyone but Nico wore a blue suit.
Nico himself was wearing a long-sleeved shirt that tightly clung to his body, along with shorts that barely reached his knees.
A long leather sheath was slung around his shoulder.
"You ready?" Yves asked.
Salvador nodded and walked out.
In front of him was a fantastic carriage, two horses in the front with a tall, butler-seeming like a person in the driver's seat.
It screamed nobility.
Large golden designs ranged from the front to the back on the sides of it, and miniature roses were painted throughout the carriage. And to top it off, the horses were pure white.
'They really know how to pull off this noble look.'
"Welcome, the Alor family. I hope this journey will be comfortable for all of you." He said with a cheeky smile and wink.
Salvador was the first to get on.
He took the farthest right seat, closest to the window on that side.
To his surprise, the seat was far more comfortable than he assumed it would be.
'If it was just me, I would sleep back here if I could.'
The carriage quickly filled up with his family members and they began their journey to the Locha Knight Academy which resided within the capital.