To understand how Amon received a marriage proposal, one had to rewind the clock a few hours back.
"Amon, change your clothes. The Patriarch summons us."
"... What?"
After Amon had decided to join the Knight's Academy, his father surprised him with another random event. Unaware of what to say, the young boy could only raise his brow, perplexed about the situation. Fortunately, he wasn't alone in his confusion.
"The Patriarch summons us? Why?"
Amon's mother asked back with a similar dumbfounded voice.
"Not you, Maya… Just me and Amon."
"That doesn't answer my question!"
"... Don't ask me either. It's been a while since I last met the Patriarch." Unfortunately for everyone present, even Amon's father couldn't give a straight answer.
"Isn't he your uncle?"
"Yes, but our positions are drastically different." Amon's father sighed and shot an emphatic gaze at his son. "I'm just a Guardian Knight, while he's the Lord of our House. We don't meet each other as often as you would think. Besides, while technically related, our family trees aren't close."
Almost everyone in the Solaris House is related to each other, particularly those who have inherited the Solaris bloodline. However, after generations of branching out, the family tree has become as vast as an ocean. In Amon's case, he was, at best, a distant relative to the Patriarch and his descendants.
"Wear your ceremonial uniform. We have it ironed for your upcoming birthday anyway. I don't know why the Patriarch summons us, but it would do good to make a good impression on him. Or, at the very least, don't make him think any less of you."
"... Understood."
Amon begrudgingly accepted. Even in this world, one has to pander to their superiors. However, Amon's main focus wasn't on kissing a higher-up's butt but on the reason why he was summoned in the first place.
'The Solaris Patriarch is a major character in [Bright], and his role is significant in the protagonist's growth.'
The youngster's brain recollected all of the details of the Solaris Patriarch as his mother brought him back to his room to change his clothes.
'In terms of power levels, he is among the world's top five. There is no stronger swordsman besides the Sword Saint, and he was a significant reason why the first calamity didn't end in a complete tragedy for Hyades. Although he perished during the calamity that ended the Solaris House, he imparted his techniques onto the protagonist and laid the foundations for him to become a hero.'
Amon thought back on everything about the Solaris Patriarch. The man's appearance, age, overwhelming power… and most importantly…
'Let's meet him, shall we? The protagonist's grandfather.'
❖❖❖
The Solaris House.
It is one of the most prominent houses in Hyades, if not the most prominent. Their lineage dates back thousands of years, and they were one of humanity's oldest superpowers. In the distant past, when the planet's dominant race was Dragons rather than humans, the ancestor of the Solaris House fought toe-to-toe against the mighty Dragons.
Blessed by the Golden Dragon Sovereign, the Solaris Ancestor dominated the battlefield, slaughtering hundreds of Dragons with his Holy Blade. In a world where humans were trampled like ants, the Solaris Ancestor destroyed the behemoths of the time and, alongside his comrades, rose to become the first heroes of humanity.
And due to his heroics, the Solaris Ancestor had guaranteed the prosperity of the Solaris House for generations.
Even in the modern world, where Empires and Kingdoms ceased to exist, and the world was unified under the Hyades Republic, the Solaris House held a unique position. Governing a plot of land called Solfea all on its own, the Solaris House was effectively a duchy.
Everyone living on Solfea had to obey the Solaris House's laws and pay taxes directly to the ancient family. After thousands of years, the Solaris House had accumulated an unfathomable wealth for any average family.
Amon followed his father deep into the Solaris palace while observing the entire dwelling in awe. Even in his past life, Amon had never seen such grandeur with his own eyes. Tall ceilings made out of gold and marble. Statues of past legends of the Solaris House at every corner. Opulent and luxurious designs were everywhere, from the floor to the end of the hallways.
It was a sight to behold and a palace worthy of the legendary Solaris House. In particular, the father-son duo were seated comfortably in a waiting lounge, one that was prepared specially for the House Lord's honoured guests.
While Amon was still busy indulging in the jaw-dropping sights, a middle-aged Knight donned in full armour approached the duo with a respectful demeanour. Pausing for a moment to verify the two individuals in front of him, the Knight promptly bowed his head in respect and said:
"Sir Aaron, I apologise for calling you on such short notice."
"Sir Hawk, please don't be so courteous. It's our honour to be called by the Patriarch. As Knights, we must answer his call no matter how last minute it may be."
Amon's father hurriedly got onto his feet and addressed the Knight with a warm smile. It was evident that the two Knights were familiar with each other. Amon's concentration broke away from the ostentatious decor of the room and focused on the middle-aged man talking to his father.
'Black hair with golden eyes… He's part of the Solaris bloodline as well.'
Not every Knight employed by the Solaris House came from the same bloodline. Some married into the family, while others were employed due to their incredible skills. However, the trademark of a true Solaris Knight would be their prominent black hair, which emulated the edge of night, and their piercing golden eyes, which seemed to hold the Sun within their pupils.
Blessed by the mighty Golden Dragon Sovereign of the past, the Solaris Ancestor had created a bloodline so potent that every Solaris descendant would inherit it. Anyone with the Solaris bloodline would be born with an innate draconic body that far surpasses any average warrior, and their mana reserves would be just as deep as any magician.
It was the main reason the Solaris House remained so powerful, even after thousands of years had passed since the Great Dragon War.
"Splendid! Sir Aaron, your loyalty is without question!"
The Solaris Knight beamed, evidently in a good mood.
"The Patriarch is waiting in his study. He has asked me to bring you in."
"... That's fast."
Amon's father's voice trembled a little as he muttered out a response. And it was with good reason. Usually, the Patriarch would be busy, and his guests would have to wait for hours, maybe even half a day, just to get an audience with him. However, Amon and his father barely waited five minutes before being summoned.
It could only mean one of two things.
One, it was a coincidence, and the Patriarch was completely free when they arrived. Or, the Patriarch had an urgent need to meet them. And, if it was the latter…
"Sir Hawk, if I may be so bold to ask… Are we in trouble?"
The Guardian Knight raised his brows and widened his eyes for a moment. However, the surprise in his eyes quickly turned into amusement.
"HAHA! Right! We were so hurried that we didn't notify you why the Patriarch requested an audience! Don't worry, my friend! I assure you, nothing but good news awaits you!"
"Ah… That's a relief, then!"
Amon's father sighed deeply before easing up his shoulders significantly. Given Sir Hawk's words, it seemed that the Patriarch didn't have any bad intentions. However, the Guardian Knight's sentiments weren't shared with his son.
'The Solaris Lord… He's not someone who would move for no reason. And there's no good reason my father and I would receive a personal audience…'
Amon had read [Bright] from cover to cover multiple times. He knew many of the characters and their traits by heart. And given that the Patriarch was a significant character in [Bright], Amon naturally knew the man's personality well.
Let alone in the novel, in the ten years that Amon had transmigrated here, he'd never met the Patriarch personally once. For him to summon Amon right now…
'Could he have figured out that I'm from another world?'
Amon's logical mind began racing. He went through all the possible scenarios that would have led to this moment and eliminated them individually. However, no matter how hard he hypothesised, Amon couldn't fathom why he was meeting the Patriarch.
And before he knew it… The father and son duo stood before a massive gold-plated door too heavy for a youth like Amon to open.
"My Lord, Sir Aaron and his son have arrived."
"Enter…"
Through a miraculous force, the seemingly unmovable gates creaked open with that one word. Mist escaped rapidly, cooling Amon's ankles in a fraction of a second. An invisible pressure mounted on the young boy's shoulders, forcing a wrinkle to appear on his poreless forehead.
Following his father's lead, Amon walked into the massive chamber cautiously, ready to escape at a moment's notice if need be. However, the moment he stepped through the door, the massive gates shut closed behind him without anyone's interference. Sealed on all ends, there was no way to escape the stone chamber.
Well, there was one way…
To fight against one of [Bright]'s most powerful characters. To go through the strongest Knight alive. And to fight the man who would later raise the protagonist to heroic heights.
The Solaris House Lord, Alrock Solaris.
"You're here."
"My Lord!"
Hearing the husky, toned voice beckoning him, Amon's father lowered his head with a deep bow. Unaware of what to do, Amon could only follow suit unknowingly.
"Dispense with the formalities. I didn't call you here for a ceremony. Raise your heads."
At the Lord's command, Amon gradually raised his head.
The first thing Amon noticed about the man before him was his massive frame. Standing over two and a half metres tall, the Patriarch was, by far, the tallest man Amon had ever seen in person. However, it wasn't just his height that impressed the former Transcendent. Hidden beneath the loose, silk regal robes was a physique beyond that of musclemen.
Like an unmovable wall, the Lord's thick chest burst through his robes, and his biceps hugged his clothes so tightly that they seemed to be bursting out. And his upper body wasn't the only towering part of his frame. Legs that were equivalent to that of tree trunks and an abdomen that seemed to be carved out of fresh marble completed the colossal man's body, creating an invisible pressure that would intimidate anyone who laid eyes upon it.
And finally… When Amon's golden eyes met the Patriarch's…
'This is… impossible…'
Perhaps due to his occupational habit, Amon had the tendency to size up anyone he'd met face-to-face for the first time, identifying their power levels, finding any weak points, and evaluating how he could defeat them.
However, as he gazed upon the Solaris House Lord, Amon couldn't find any way to defeat him.
Let alone defeat him, the former Transcendent couldn't even fathom how strong the man was.
It was a first for Amon, and he was stunned beyond words. Alas, he wasn't the only one accessing the other party.
"Interesting! It's been a while since a young'un gave me that look!"
"A-Amon! What are you doing?!"
"No, please don't be agitated, Aaron. His audacity simply amused me. Most youngsters his age would faint or wet their pants when they locked eyes with me."
The Patriarch broadly smiled and rubbed his beard in glee.
"Young'un… You tried to calculate if you could defeat me, right?"
"... Yes."
"And? What's your assessment?"
"..."
Amon stayed silent for a moment. Not because he was afraid of the consequences but because he was looking for the right words to say. However, the former killer wasn't one for finesse. In the end, Amon simply told the truth.
"It's impossible. It's like a firefly comparing itself to the Sun. And just like a firefly, you could squish me like a bug. I would die before I landed the first hit. As I am, I am unable to defeat you."
"..."
The first thing that greeted Amon after his impassioned assessment was silence. His father dropped his jaw as words failed to form in his mind, while the Patriarch looked dumbfounded. However, that silence wouldn't last for long.
"HA! HA! HA!!! Where did this young'un come from?!"
The Patriarch bellowed out with hearty laughter. Tears were almost forming in his eyes as he slapped his palm on his lap, causing the stone chamber to rumble like an earthquake had just struck.
"How have I never heard of you?! Have you joined the Knight's Academy?"
"Not yet," Amon replied straightforwardly. "But I'm thinking of enrolling this year."
"HA! Good! A young'un like you should be bold and aspirational! No wonder that other young'un was obsessed with meeting you!"
"?"
Question marks appeared on Amon's head as he heard the Patriarch's statement. However, before he could ask the question, the Solaris Lord shot back with another:
"What's your name, young'un?"
"... Amon Solaris."
"Amon… That's a good name! I'll remember it!"
The Patriarch couldn't stop laughing as he beckoned to his assistant. Understanding the signal, the Knight bowed his head and quickly left the room.
"As much as I would love to continue our conversation, unfortunately, my role today is merely a middleman."
"My Lord? What do you mean?"
Amon's father asked cautiously. Usually, it would be the adults who would converse while the child sat quietly and listened. However, the Patriarch's attention was now entirely on Amon. Afraid that his son wouldn't be able to take it, Aaron attempted to divert that attention back onto himself, but alas… The Solaris Lord only looked at the young man who dared to bear his fangs at him.
"Amon, my child… How would you like to be engaged?"
"... What?"