As the days passed since his transmigration to this world, Pyris could feel the weight of his new reality slowly bearing down on his shoulders. Though only a few days had gone by, the pressure was mounting. The life he had stepped into was far from the utopia he had imagined. Argos, the realm in which he now existed as the sole heir of House Obsidian, was proving to be a crucible of responsibilities, a stark contrast to the world he once knew.
The longer his soul lingered in this place, the more Pyris began to understand what it truly meant to be a man of responsibility. His family needed protection—not just from mortal enemies but also from gods and immortals alike. The fate of his loved ones was intertwined with the dangerous position his family held. Merely being associated with House Obsidian painted a target on their backs.
In the mortal realm, the rulers and leaders of various factions were eyeing his family's wealth and influence. They sensed that House Obsidian was on the brink of becoming untouchable, a looming force they felt compelled to eliminate before it was too late. And it all fell on Pyris to safeguard them from this impending storm.
'At least I'm not alone in this madness,' he thought, feeling a small sense of relief. Despite the chaos surrounding him, Pyris had the system and Lia, his faithful companion. The system ensured his personal growth, guiding him step by step toward his goals. Lia, on the other hand, was the anchor that kept his mind from spiraling out of control. She helped him remain focused amidst the turmoil.
But more than anyone, Pyris owed a deep gratitude to the Goddess. Her generous gifts were a beacon of light in his otherwise darkened mind. Whenever he felt like he was on the verge of losing himself, Lia and the system would present him with a new purpose—something to drive him forward, all in the name of his rise to power.
Now, one of those purposes was nestled within his chest, the burden of her insecurities and worries slowly dissipating like a kite caught in a violent storm. Pyris had vowed to be Alexa's shield, not just because of the mission he had been given but because he had genuinely made up his mind to stand by her side.
He would protect her from the fury of her enemies, regardless of the cost.
Little did he know, however, that Alexa was no ordinary girl.
["She's a fearsome monster!"] Lia's voice echoed in his mind, still awestruck by Alexa's impressive abilities. Pyris couldn't help but smile. He had always suspected Alexa was special, but her traits far surpassed anything he had anticipated.
'I'm still trying to wrap my head around her power. 'Fate Dreamer'—it sounds like she can peer into the fabric of destiny itself. If that's true, Lia, the world will one day kneel before her divine presence,' Pyris mused, drawing from the vast knowledge of fantasy novels that had become an inherent part of him.
The "Divine Eyes" trait likely allowed Alexa to uncover the hidden secrets of the world, though Pyris and Lia were still far from fully understanding the true extent of her abilities.
____
"Pyris!" a voice called out, cutting through their moment like a blade. The club president approached, his sudden presence startling Alexa from the safety of Pyris' embrace.
Their public display of affection came to an abrupt end, much to Pyris' displeasure. However, he understood the interruption, even if it was unwanted.
"Thank you, Pyris," Alexa whispered awkwardly, clearly uneasy in the presence of the club president. Pyris could tell she was uncomfortable, but he remained calm. Inwardly, he vowed to see this through to the end. What had Alexa endured because of this man?
"I knew you could use a hug," Pyris said, ruffling her hair, earning a soft giggle from Alexa. "Shall we?"
She nodded, but the man standing before them was fuming. Pyris had completely ignored him, treating him as if being the club president of Obsidian Roar meant nothing. Was it Pyris who saw the man as insignificant, or simply his position?
"Cocky bastard!" the man muttered under his breath, his voice laced with bitterness.
"Hmm? Did you say something?" Pyris tilted his head, feigning innocence as if he hadn't even noticed the man standing there. He had, in fact, forgotten all about him.
The club president stammered, clearly caught off guard. "I—uh, Alexander Eloise. I'm the club president of Obsidian Roar!" he announced with a forced smile, doing his best to maintain composure.
But Pyris had already called up his status screen in his mind.
'Status,' he commanded mentally, allowing the system to work its magic.
Name: Alexander Eloise
Race: High Human
Bloodline: Eloise Ruler Bloodline
Race Trait: Life and Darkness Combination
Titles: The Talented Twin, Life and Darkness Twin!
Rank: 7/20
Elements: Life, Darkness
Age Limit: 18/200
Strength: 195/210
Agility: 190/210
Vitality: 200/210
Stamina: 180/210
INT: 150/210
'So, he's Alexa's twin brother...' Pyris thought, unimpressed by what he saw. There was nothing particularly special about Alexander aside from his rank, but it was clear the boy had trained diligently to reach it.
'But what's with that clichéd bloodline name?' Pyris scoffed inwardly. 'It's probably the royal bloodline of the High Humans. Just like House Obsidian, their family has been around for generations. It's not surprising.'
["Why do they call him the Talented Twin when he's so bland?"] Lia's voice chimed in. ["It must be because compared to his sister, he's heaven, and she's just one of many unwanted muds in Argos."]
Pyris chuckled, unable to disagree with her observation.
"Nice to meet you, Club President," Pyris said, turning to Alexander with a casual smile. Then, without missing a beat, he took Alexa's hand in his own.
Her body shivered slightly at the gesture, but a warm smile spread across her face as she looked down at their entwined fingers. Shooting her brother a sideways glance, Alexa smiled up at Pyris, stepping forward without hesitation.
The sound of grinding teeth couldn't escape their ears, but neither of them cared.
'I don't like this brother of hers,' Pyris confided in Lia. 'I'm petty enough that I might end up hurting him.'
["A plan already boiling in that scheming head of yours, huh?"] Lia teased.
'Of course,' Pyris chuckled darkly, already laying the groundwork for what would come next.
*****
Thank you @great_lord