An unfamiliar ceiling.
I woke up to a smooth, white ceiling.
I turned to observe the room I was sleeping in.
The room had a silver theme, with expensive looking lamps and furniture. At the top of the room even hung a chandelier with too many hanging crystals.
The bed I was lying in was almost twice my size—with white bedsheets and a red blanket. Still, it made me oddly uncomfortable.
I got out of the oversized bed to feel the smooth floor beneath my bare feet.
No cracks in them, no worn out floor. Just a simple but pleasant carpet.
I made my way toward an expensive looking wardrobe. Inside hung a variety of clothes. Overwhelmed by choice I just picked out something random.
What I picked was a tight but flexible outfit. It was mainly black but had silver accents to compliment it.
It looked fit for whatever today would bring.
Accompanying the black outfit, I picked up a light sword that was leaning on the desk and hung it on my waist.
After getting dressed, I headed toward the door, ready to leave. As I almost reached the door I noticed a full body length mirror next to it.
After a moment of contemplation, I walked toward it.
What reflected in the mirror was a young man in his late teens. He had shining black hair that seemed to absorb the morning sun. His silver eyes gleamed with life and will.
His skin was pale but not the sickly kind. It was more like some kind of doll. Below his right eye lay a mole that contrasted against his white skin.
The young man.... no, I looked…
Good?
I started touching my face in disbelief. I haven't seen my own reflection since my awakening but this is too much.
I don't look exceptional or anything but still pretty decent, right?
Thinking about my appearance, I thought back to the events that led up to me being here.
Suddenly, I gritted my teeth as I thought about that two faced woman.
And how I was forced into becoming a knight of The Radiant Star
***
"My lady, thank you once again for saving us," a young brown haired man exclaimed full of reverence.
"You really don't listen do you?" With an exasperated tone, the noble lady waved him off.
The barrier that surrounded us and made the sky dark completely was gone and the evening sunlight graced us.
"I was merely upholding my duties as the heiress of the Dawn clan. It would be an issue if the son of the knight commander's death would cause him to stop functioning properly."
Despite being older than the noble lady, Henry spoke to her with a lot of respect.
'Henry… is the son of the Knight Commander?'
Actually it isn't that surprising.
His skill as an awakened and his way around the knights. He also immediately figured out those knights weren't from the Dawn Order, so it all makes sense.
"Isn't about time you start explaining what is going on?" I asked the noble lady while we were walking.
She looked at me for a moment before smiling. "You really aren't afraid of my noble status are you?"
'Crap. I forgot that nobles are usually stuck up people who demand respect for every word.' I panicked a little thinking I would get executed for disrespectful speech.'
"You don't have to worry, you can speak to me comfortably. I don't like all the formal talk."
Surprisingly, she didn't take any offence to it.
"It would also be tough explaining the situation if you would constantly be worried about offending me."
I straightened my back ready, ready to hear what was going on.
"You see, for the past few months, I've been looking into a few suspicious activities happening in the corners of Alexandra. Mainly near the Rift Hunters guild."
'Close to where I live.' I remarked internally
"Disappearances, kidnappings, there were many suspicious things happening there. The cause of this was Umbra."
It's just like what Henry said, Aiden, and the false Knights were a part of Umbra.
"Since a few days ago, we got a lead about their activities. They were investigating into a group of 4 Rift Hunters, including the Knight commanders' son. Since Henry's disappearance was already being investigated, we quickly realized these people were of no good." She continued.
"We started following them and saw everything that happened since you guys entered the city. From the fake arrest to the chase." She explained in a steady voice.
'So the fact that Henry disappeared actually ended up helping us, huh.' A part of me was glad that the young man got roped into this.
"And you saw the rest for yourselves. Does that suffice for an explanation?" Smirking, she questioned me back.
'It did explain a lot of what happened. But...'
"I have one more question."
"Hmm? Go on then." After nodding her head I posed my question.
"If you were watching us the entire time, why did wait till the last moment to help us? You clearly had the power to stop them." I questioned, my tone turning slightly colder.
Hearing my answer, she smiled even more. "Merely because I was curious."
"Curious?" I perked up my ears at the vague answer.
"Curious about what the Knight Commander's son was capable of. It's not everyday that people get pushed to the limit like that physically and mentally. People's true character tends to come out at desperate times.
"Hmm, so that's why."
"Are there any more questions?"
I stared at the noble lady's confident, fiery eyes before looking away.
"Great!" Taking my silence as an answer, she turned toward the road.
"Because we're almost there."
As we made our way toward the house of Dawn, the streets slowly got better. The quality of houses and buildings turned from slightly run down to luxurious.
After a while, the road narrowed towards a hill. And on the top of that hill…
"We're here…" Vera said with pride in her voice.
When I looked up, I was amazed by the majesty of Vera's home…
The Dawn Mansion was… Grand. It trumped any building I've ever seen, even the Rift hunter's guild branch.
The outer layer had a rich gold color with red articles here and there. It was surrounded by tough grey walls that probably kept out any unwanted visitors.
The Dawn family logo could be seen wavering on a flag with the red sun in the background.
It was truly worthy of being the living quarters of a Duke.
As we approached the gates I could see a few Knights stationed. Seeing us, they quickly bowed toward their lord and opened the gates.
As we entered the main estate, I quickly noticed a man standing right in front of us.
He seemed to be in his 50s, with greying brown hair. He was covered in light armor and stood at about 190 cm tall. His eyes seem were locked straight at our group. No, his eyes seemed to be aiming at a specific person.
Before I could finish my thoughts, the man disappeared right in front of me. When I blinked a few times, I saw him embracing Henry in a tight hug.
"Oh, I'm so glad you are okay, my son." A steady voice filled with compassion sounded across the square.
"Agk, dad.. you're ch-choking me." Under the relentless assault of apparently his father, Henry couldn't breathe and started hitting the broad man against his back, hoping he would stop.
Henry's father, The Knight Commander's expression suddenly turned tight. "This wouldn't have been an issue if you properly kept up with your training."
He started admonishing his son.
"But d-dad, I told you I wante-" Not giving him time to react, the man suddenly slammed his fist into the back of Henry's head, knocking him into the floor.
"You would have been able to take that if you really listened to me." After almost killing his sone the knight commander turned towards me and Vera.
"I'm sorry for the disgraceful sight I showed you ma'am. I will take any punishment you see fit." Prostrating himself on the floor, the man bowed to her with his head almost reaching the ground.
Sigh
"I'll never get used to your interactions. Raise your head, Frederick. Take him to the infirmary and make sure to have him up in a few hours." Tired of the likely recurring exchange, she commanded the knight.
"Yes, my lady. He'll be up in an hour at most. I'll make sure of it."
Giving a scary declaration, the knight commander walked away without so much as looking at me once.
I couldn't say I didn't feel out of place.
"Adrian."
Snapping me out of my thoughts, Vera looked at my direction before calling out to a familiar name.
"Yes, my lady?" Appearing out of nowhere once again, the refined butler heeded his master's call with an elegant bow.
"Escort this man to his room. Make sure he gets appropriately dressed and brought to my office in an hour. No, two hours. Understood?
"Yes, my lady." Vera walked of into her home with familiarity.
After she left, the butler respectfully bowed to me and said, "Right this way, sir."
Sir?
Being referred to so respectfully felt....weird.
While following the old butler, I was led into the Dawn Mansion.
The interior of the mansion screamed luxury. The walls were mainly gold in color with an occasional lamp appearing. The floor was covered in a blood red carpet that felt smooth to the touch.
Definitely a step up from where I live.
After a while, we reached the a room.
Adrian, the butler, opened the door wide for me too see.
It was a gigantic room. The room felt like it was meant for 5 people. It had the same features as the main hall did except for the silver theme replacing the gold.
After showing me where everything lay, Adrian reminded me he would get me in two hours time to formally meet with his master. He closed the door and silence covered the room
Sigh
I let out a massive sigh as I fell on the bed. For the entirety of the day, from the moment I left my house in the morning, I've never got a break.
Sure my awakening made me feel a bit better but that didn't stop the mental fatigue of reaching me. Along with the events of a while ago I felt completely exhausted.
But even now, I couldn't feel at peace just yet.
The lady of Dawn wanted to talk with me after all.
But why?
Probably about the events of our four day disappearance. I was wondering when she was finally going to ask about it.
But it's still weird for this to happen in person. Isn't it better if someone else does it?
Sigh
Letting out a sigh for the umpteenth time, I just lay back and prepared for the talk I was going to have in two hours.