As Damian was still engrossed in reading the bestiary, a knock came through the door, followed by a familiar voice.
"Damian, sir," called Alfred. "Lord Ashford has arrived and wishes to see you."
There was no immediate response. Alfred, puzzled by the silence, called out again, "Sir Damian?"
"Yes," Damian finally replied, snapping out of his reverie. "Sorry, I'll be right out." He quickly put the books back on the shelf, his mind puzzeld.
'Why is he here? After all this time? ' he wondered as he walked over to the door. 'Well, can't kill myself worrying about it,' he muttered to himself.
Damian opened the door and was met with the familiar face of Alfred. The butler's piercing eyes, which always seemed to see right through him, had not changed. Not once had they softened towards him
"Where is he?" Damian asked, trying to mask his curiosity and slight apprehension.
"He is waiting for you in the sitting room," Alfred replied, his tone as formal and steady as ever.
Damian nodded and made his way to the sitting room, his thoughts a whirlwind of speculation.
Throughout his stay, Damian had become familiar with the layout of the house, so he had no problem finding the sitting room without guidance, even though Alfred followed closely behind.
It had taken Damian a while to get used to the absence of modern conveniences like television in this world. During his recovery, when he wasn't allowed to move much, he often found himself bored out of his mind. Reading had become his only solace and source of entertainment.
As he approached the sitting room door, he took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever might be awaiting him. The door to the sitting room loomed before him, and with a final glance at Alfred, Damian pushed it open, ready to finally meet the so-called Lord Ashford.
The sitting room was elegant and inviting, with soft afternoon light streaming through tall windows. Dark wood and a grand fireplace added charm. Plush and gold furniture surrounded a coffee table, while a beautiful rug covered the floor. Bookshelves lined one wall, and heavy drapes framed the windows. Soft lighting from sconces and a chandelier cast a warm glow, creating a sophisticated retreat.
Lord Ashford sat on one of the plush sofas, his white hair a stark contrast against the deep burgundy upholstery. His body was skinny, almost frail, as if he hadn't eaten for days. His eyes were also closed. The soft light from the chandelier cast gentle shadows on his face, highlighting the sharp angles of his cheekbones and the hollowness of his cheeks. Despite his fragile appearance, there was an undeniable aura of calmness about him, a presence that commanded attention even in repose.
"Hahhh," Lord Ashford sighed. "Damian, my boy, nice to finally meet you." He stood up to greet Damian but stumbled backward, nearly falling. Alfred immediately reacted, appearing by his side and catching him just in time.
"Take it easy, master," Alfred said, his tone filled with concern.
"Oh, don't worry about me, Alfred," Lord Ashford replied with a chuckle. "This old sack of bones can take care of himself just fine."
Meanwhile, Damian watched the scene unfold like an audience member, his mind racing with thoughts.
'What? How was Alfred able to get to him in time? And is Ashford blind or something? Also, I thought Lord Ashford was a young man or something like that. What's going on here?'
Different thoughts with different thoughts raced through Damian's mind. Some questions answered some still a mystery.
Lord Ashford steadied himself with Alfred's help, then turned his attention back to Damian, a warm smile spreading across his face despite his frail appearance.
"Please, have a seat, Damian," Ashford said, gesturing to the sofa opposite him. "We have much to discuss."
Damian took a seat, still trying to process the unexpected turn of events. "Thank you, Lord Ashford. It's an honor to meet you."
Ashford nodded, "The honor is mine, my boy. I've heard much about you from Alfred and I have to say, you have a good character"
'should I ask him or not' damain thought
'no' Damian sighed under his breath
'it would be too disrespectful to ask.
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Note: if your wondering what Damian wanted to ask, he wanted to ask if he was blind
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"Is anything wrong, my boy?" Ashford asked.
"No, sorry, nothing's wrong, sir. Please continue," Damian replied, trying to sound composed.
A warm smile spread across Ashford's face. "No need to be so formal with me; it makes me feel awkward. Just call me Ashford."
"Is that really alright?" Damian asked, a bit surprised.
"Yes, don't worry about it," Ashford reassured him. "And I know what you wanted to ask. Yes, I am blind."
Damian nodded, "I see. Thank you for being sharing it with me,.... Ashford."
Ashford chuckled softly, a warm smile dancing across his face. "It's no secret, really. Now that that's out of the way, I don't want to take up any more of your time, so let's get to the matter at hand, shall we?"
Damian's ears perked up with curiosity. "And may I ask what that is?"
Ashford's expression turned serious. "I'll be blunt. I want to adopt you."
Silence took over the whole room as both damian as with Alfred looked Ashford in shoock
"Whatttttt!!!!" They both shouted at once
Damian blinked, taken aback by Ashford's words. "Adopt me?" he repeated, trying to process the unexpected proposal.
"Yes," Ashford confirmed, his tone gentle but firm. "I've been observing you for some time now, and I believe you have great potential. You remind me of myself when I was younger. I want to offer you the guidance and support that I never had."
Damian's mind raced with questions. "But why me? There must be others more deserving."
"Yes my lord, pls think about this very carefully"
"I'm sure you already know what the repercussions would be if this gets out to the public"
Ashford shook his head and completely ignored Alfred. "It's not about deserving, Damian. It's about potential and the right fit. You have a unique perspective and an unquenchable thirst that wants to be filled but doesn't know how to and that is very rare. I believe you can achieve great things, and I want to help you on that journey."
"I don't know what to say." Damian said
"Take your time," Ashford said kindly. "This isn't a decision to be made lightly. Think it over, and when you're ready, we can discuss it further."
Damian nodded, still trying to wrap his head around the idea. "Thank you, Ashford. I will think about it."
Ashford smiled warmly. "That's all I ask. Now, let's not dwell on it too much for today."
"Alright, Ashford. Is it alright if I take my leave now?" Damian asked, feeling the need for some time alone to process everything.
Ashford nodded. "You're free to go."
Damian stood up, giving Ashford a respectful nod before heading towards the door. As he walked away, his mind buzzed with thoughts and possibilities, the weight of Ashford's proposal lingering in his thoughts.
After Damian left, a tense conversation unfolded between Ashford and Alfred.
"Was that really the right choice, my lord?" Alfred asked, his voice laced with concern.
Ashford's tone turned grave. "Yes, I'm sure. You already know what my ability is, so trust me when I say that Damian is special."
"And why is that, if I may ask?" Alfred inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"Damian is a peculiar case," Ashford began, his voice dropping to a whisper. "He has three souls."
"Three souls!" Alfred exclaimed in shock. "How is that even possible?"
"I don't know," Ashford admitted, his face shadowed with worry. "But that is why we must keep him with us. One soul has a grayish color and looks smaller than the rest. Another shines a bright red, like a burning volcano. The last is so white that even snow couldn't compare."
Ashford paused, his expression darkening. "But something is wrong. With each passing moment, the grayish soul grows smaller while the red soul gradually corrupts the white one. I fear that if we don't do something soon, something terrifying will happen."