Almost at the same time when Julia received the two petals of a white rose, in the Northern Endaira Empire, Radnan Fortress, Headquarters of the General.
A man in his early fifties, with short black hair similar to refined obsidian, and sharp brown eyes as though they were chiseled from the scorching hot wasteland, donning a lengthy brown suit over a mix of black and white shirt carved with the Endaira Empire's crest, fixed his gaze at the transparent orb reflected a maid gleaming with delight.
"I greet the Patriarch Aladan."
"Olivia?"
Olivia lowered her head before blurting out, not giving the Patriarch of Ariad Household a second or two to process the sudden call, "Patriarch, I have called bearing good news!"
There were only two reasons why someone from the Branch House would contact him — It's either because an emergency transpired or something worth hearing demanded the Patriarch's immediate attention.
Seeing the mix of joy and tension in Olivia's expression, Aladan Ariad let out a sigh of relief. But before he could ask her the purpose of why she had called, Olivia opened her mouth, sounding like a broken vibrating metal. After all, the news was unbelievably akin to a true divine miracle.
"Y–young Master Zero has woken up earlier in the morning!"
The Patriarch's brown eyes squinted, and his sharp gaze penetrated the Orb of Communication with a skeptical look. Confused, but with a tinge of anticipation, he asked in all seriousness:
"What did you say?"
Olivia gulped at the Patriarch's scrutinizing gaze. Taking a moment, she responded, "Y–young Master Zero has woken up from his deep slumber!"
A bewilderment painted itself on Aladan Ariad's face, a subsequent reaction was not something he could muster.
"M–my son woke up..?" He asked with incredulity and quiver in his voice. Aladan Ariad gulped, catching his breath before he pressed for confirmation, "You said he woke up earlier this morning, but why are you telling me this just now?"
Aladan Ariad didn't doubt Olivia's words. There was no benefit for the temporary head maid if she concocted a lie, and nothing flashed in his mind in regards to reason she would do so.
"T–That... Patriarch, I think it's better if the Young Master's the one to tell you!"
Witnessing the reluctance in Olivia's expression, Aladan Ariad let out an expressive sigh, "Alright. I will make time. Inform my son and my wife that I will visit tomorrow."
The Orb of Communication lost its light, showing its transparent surface once more. In a daze, with his brown eyes trembling, holding back his tears until he caught the sight of his son for himself, the Patriarch of the Ariad Household seemed to pierce the amber-hued ceiling of the headquarters as several words from his quivering mouth escaped, "M–my son..."
Aladan Ariad, one of the important figures throughout the Endaira Empire, and in complete subservience under the majestic rule of the Great Emperor, was flooded with nostalgia as though everything had transpired just yesterday.
He recalled the moment before he left to be of service in the Northern Endaira Empire, concerning the natural appearances of a Void Tremor that continously shaking the entirety of Mazendria Continent.
Apart from this reason, Aladan also promised his second wife to look after the latter's parents of old, whose abode was on the eastern side of the Northern Endaira Empire.
It was the exact moment that his beloved son, the fifth child of Ariad Household, closed his eyes of hope, to traverse the mystical path of being an Explorer under the blessings and watch of the Seven Deities.
Everyone on the side of his second wife was filled with great anticipation, especially when the subject of the 'Calling,' Zero Ariad, had surpassed the common basis of slumber to at least acquire a Rare Attribute. However, the anticipation and glee were overshadowed by dread and malicious murmurs when the written doctrine of the Dominion of Dea, pertaining to the seventy-seven weeks of slumber was exceeded.
"My son... I hope you forgive your coward father."
Aladan Ariad's heart trembled.
When he was promoted from being a Count to Marquis, the eyes of other nobility factions turned more focus on the Ariad Household, making it difficult to hide Zero Ariad's condition.
After a dispute within the family, between him and his two wives, it was decided to discreetly relocate Zero Ariad's body. But it was not enough that he had to declare his son's death in front of his people, the nobles, and the Great Emperor so that they wouldn't disturb the South Thread City, where Elizabeth Ariad was currently residing.
After all, the nobility was led to believe that his concubine decided to leave the Main House under the pressure of Icaria Ariad, which, considering the two women's hostile relationship, was more than enough justification.
There were even attempts from the hostile side of nobility to uncover anything under the realm of possibility, like the location of his perceived dead son's body. But it was Icaria Ariad's response at that time that completely shut everyone's plan behind the shadows:
— "What worth is there to see the dead body of the concubine's son? Has the nobility stooped so low that they wanted to assure the death of a commoner for absolutely petty reason?"
Remembering everything, Aladan Ariad let out a sigh before calling his confidant standing outside the General's headquarters.
"Yura."
A woman in her early twenties, one of the genius Explorers of the Mazendria Continent, responded with a reverent tone, "Yes, General?"
"Prepare my carriage for tomorrow because I have something to attend to. In the meantime, you can take care of matters here."
"Yes, General!" Without asking, she responded with the same tone of politeness.
Aladan Ariad slightly chuckled, hearing the woman of subservience.
'Sigh. She's like a doll when on duty.'
As that thought struck him, Aladan Ariad recalled something, "On the other hand, Yura. I need your help with something."
"What is it, General?" Her calm resolute voice echoed behind the door.
A moment later, he had assigned the young Explorer a task of confidentiality.
***
The next day.
Villa of Ariad, South Thread City.
One day after Zero Ariad had opened his eyes to the world, bringing with his refined soul several mysteries that would shake the entirety of the Mazendria Continent, Olivia, the temporary head maid, along with several others were frantically preparing for the sudden visit of the Patriarch of Ariad.
In a noble tradition, the preparation, how simple or grand it may be, was to be done three days prior to the arrival of the guest. However, because of the unprecedented circumstances surrounding their Young Master, waking up from his more than ten years of slumber, a sudden visitation was inevitable when the Patriarch was apprised of the present situation.
With the help of a specific miscellaneous labyrinthian artifact, the previously ruined dining hall was restored to its original shape as though nothing treacherous and bloody had transpired within its perimeters.
The butler of Elizabeth Ariad, seeing the incredulous spectacle, muttered in curiosity with a tinge of pride, "Hoho. I wonder what other things the Young Master has brought with him?"
The butler glanced at the wooden artifact on the ground, which he had verified the status of earlier.
[Brush of Restoration]
Description:
A brush of the forgotten world, cleaning up the messes of the ruined planes.
Category: [Artifact]
Rarity: [?]
Function: [Fading Irresponsibility]
— Restores ruined objects using the Mana lingering in the atmosphere. The denser the Mana, the quicker it can restore the target objects.
Status: Useful
Based on the accumulation of wisdom through blood and sweat compiled within the Labyrinth Records, those that were already proven and remained a challenge to the present day, a subject of the 'Calling' would be able to bring back some things they desired — an artifact, labyrinthian weapon, and so on.
These items, like an imprinted astral ink, would be attached to the subject's soul, storing them within the Explorer's Planar Pocket upon gaining the Labyrinth System.
However, what the modern era or maybe even the ancient past wasn't aware of was that a living entity could attach itself to the Explorer's soul. Hence the case for Mai.
Picking the ancient yet refined-looking brush with a single slumbering eye unconcerned, the butler of the mistress left the dining hall to find his Young Master.
***
In a bedroom adjacent to his mother's, Zero Ariad's gaze fixated on a woman soundly lying on a spacious white-blanketed bed.
This woman was in her early forties, with still serene long silver hair similar to her daughter's, with slightly golden-hued eyes that embodied calmness.
"Nanny... Your daughter's a very diligent woman. If you don't wake up, she'll take your place, you know." Zero Ariad muttered with a serene smile. At the same time, he was reminded of a certain memory:
— "Why are you sulking like that? Did something happen to my family?"
— "Hmph! No!"
During that time, Zero Ariad was confused about Her reaction. But waking up in this world after such a long time, he had realized what "She" meant with that subtle interaction.
'She didn't want me to see Olivia and Masha through Her eyes but with my own eyes.'
It was the reason why he was unable to instantly recognize their identities upon seeing them once.
After a moment, with his gaze still fixated on Olivia's mother, Zero Ariad's thoughts trailed off, reminding him of Olivia's words after the gathering he had asked her to arrange:
— "Y–young Master, I-I,
— "What's the matter, Olivia?"
— "A-about my Mother's condition! I-it happened because of the attack during our relocation! At first, I-I wasn't sure if I should tell you because you just woke up and I don't know what repercussions it would bring to your mental health, but knowing you defeated the treacherous Guardians, I decided to inform you, Young Master! P-please, I don't know how will you do it, but I hope one day the culprit or culprits behind my Mother's condition face your judgment!"
Olivia couldn't properly express her thoughts as her words seemed to trail off from one stuff to another. However, his answer to her plea was:
— "...Join Hanna, Skaya, and Azel."
Zero Ariad let out a sigh as his right hand touched his Nanny's forehead before chanting something incomprehensible.
***
Clomp. Clomp—
After some time, when the time reached around 9 A.M., the sound of heavy footsteps could be heard from a distance. Several maids, excluding Mai who returned to Zero Ariad's soul, lined up between the carved stone path.
After a moment or two, a golden mixed with crimson horse carriage engraved with a miniature pyramidal structure, overlapping with the sun of the heavens, with two hands producing golden threads extending its comfort to pierce and wrap the overshadowed surface could be seen.
Simply put, it depicted the conviction of a person or bloodline closely tied to the existence of the mysterious pyramids.
It was the family crest of the Ariad Household — known in the labyrinthian language as the "Heaven's Heart", which meant the "One Who Loves the Labyrinth"!
Stepping out of this grand horse carriage, escorted by several Guardians under his command was the Patriarch of Ariad. Seeing the towering figure, the maids, the butler, and the mistress lowered their heads, followed by the synchronized welcome for his arrival.
"We greet the Patriarch of Ariad!"
Hearing everyone, only one question was in Aladan Ariad's mind:
'Where's my son?'
Clomp. Clomp—
However, before someone could muster any word, another set of clomping footsteps could be heard from a distance, which seemed originated from another path within the rainforest roads, gathering everyone's attention.
Catching the sight of at least three white-coated horse carriages, everyone adorned an expression of apprehension, knowing what seemed to be inevitable.
It was a white-coated horse carriage carrying the same symbol of Heaven's Heart.