Finally reaching Serenth, the adults of the group unpacked as Killian and Runa took in the smell of the city air along with the bustling noise from the crowds of people, gazing at the mass amount of buildings and shops. However, it was borderline overstimulating after years of a sheltered upbringing, even feeling eerily similar to the city Killian once lived in during his past life. Chills from that great sense of déjà vu aside Killian was certainly excited to learn more about the outside world.
"Woooaahhh, look at all the people!"
"How many do you think live here?"
Runa asked to whomever would answer as her eyes darted from place to place and person to person.
Killian's father spoke up as he took his eyes off the walkway in front of them and looked over at the intrigued young girl.
"Well, a great deal of the people you see are actually visitors attending impromptu business or in search of work that may require a larger clientele, usually tourists like us. In fact, it's quite uncommon to live in the capital; most people live a little ways away in smaller villages and towns."
Lyn, in an attempt to simplify what her husband said in a way that is more palatable for children, added on to his explanation.
"What my dear means is that the city is more of a vacation spot or a place of interest for those looking for a source of money."
Runa nodded her head after Lyn's explanation, although it was quite apparent she still really didn't understand or was too distracted to listen to either of them.
"Oh, hey, look at that shop!"
Runa blurted out as she pointed towards a pop-up stand selling jewelry.
Before she could dash off in its direction, she was swiftly nabbed by Lucilia and pulled to her side.
"We will have time for that later, but for now, the Graves have some important business to tend to, so we shan't impede that. It would be unbecoming of their employees to do such a thing."
Runa made a confused look and raised one of her eyebrows, befuddled by Lucilia's seemingly unprompted formal tone.
While Lucilia was usually playful with the kids, she did take her job seriously when Killian's parents were around. Impart to her feeling of indebtedness to them and also simply trying to instill manners in the two of them every now and then.
"Mom, you're talking funny again."
Lyn let out a snort as she laughed at Runa's blunt and blissfully ignorant remark, which only a child would be capable of, before composing herself to speak.
"You three will have plenty of time to explore, but for now, why don't you all take a look ahead?" Lyn smugly remarked as she pointed at their destination.
It was a grandiose cathedral made of marble and limestone, along with various other materials native to this fantasy world that Killian couldn't even fathom; still, even he could notice that its white luster shined ever so brightly as if it were only constructed mere days ago. At its foot, Killian couldn't keep together his usual mature and unfazed disposition, prompting his father to comment on its glory.
"Impressive, right, Killian?"
"You see, its everlasting white shimmer comes from the arcane forces it was built with and surrounded by every day, causing it to never chip, age, or grow dull no matter how much time passes."
Even with the combined knowledge of his past life, there was one thing for certain. Killian had never seen something of this scale before.
"Breathtaking."
Was the only word that came to mind as he stood still, entranced by the building and its surroundings.
It's one thing to dream of a fantasy world, read about them, or even to look at depictions of them, but to stand in an actual one is just so crazy that the boy who once lived a life as young man named Malcolm couldn't help but wonder if everything he knew and known was simply just a dream.
Ever since all nineteen years worth of memories from his past life came back to him, that's all he'd been wondering. Just how in the world did he even end up here? Did some god really take pity on him? Did he deserve this nice and cushiony life as nobility? What about his foster family and people he knew? Were they okay? Does that world still exist? Are his memories even real? Who really was he?
Before Killian's mind could further race with questions, a sharp pinch on his back brought him back to "reality."
"Hey, Earth, stupid, are you there?"
Tensing his back and turning around to meet Runa's confused yet amused gaze, Killian simply sighed and confirmed that he was "still there."
"It looks like even the great Killian isn't above sternhold syndrome!"
Runa sang with a content smile, chest raised boastfully and her hands at her hips.
"It's Stendhal syndrome, you idi-."
Before the two could even begin to bicker, Runa and Killian were promptly chopped on the head by Lucilia, who simply told them to hush up and that their little "lovers quarrel" could wait for another time, as it seemed some important company had just arrived.
An old lady with a hunched back, dark skin, and long black hair that grayed every other strand emerged from the cathedral doors, walking with the assistance of a sheathed sword acting as a cane.
As she grew closer, her intense aura filled the air around her with a glaring purple eye that pierced Killian's stomach as she stared daggers in his direction.
"This evil and strong aura… It can only be… my—"
Cutting off Killian's already on-edge father, Lyn interjected with an excited yelp before running towards the old lady.
"MOTHER! It's been so long. How have you been!?"
While Lyn seemed overjoyed to see her mother, Lawrence didn't seem to be on the same page.
"Good evening, Madam Rai."
"I hope you have been well; I also hope we haven't arrived too late."
"If so, I offer my greatest apologies."
While Lawrence, definitely the more stoic and formal type, made it still quite easy to tell his formality wasn't exactly coming from his upstanding moral character this go-around.
"Hehe, Mr. Graves is talking like Mom."
"He must be nervous."
Runa whispered in Killian's ear while elbowing his side.
Even Lucilia couldn't keep a poker face, as she too let out a quiet laugh while covering her mouth and turning her head away to be discreet.
"Oh, c'mon, you used to be a great mage, and now you can't even face your own mother-in-law?"
"What a shame of a man. I wonder what my daughter sees in you."
"However you did produce me a rather bright grandson, so you may drop the formalities and simply call me Sorine."
Her raspy, sarcastic voice tore through all of Lawrence's paper-thin confidence, causing him to sigh in defeat.
"Oh mother, you sure do love giving Lawrence a hard time, don't you?"
The shared looks between the rest of the group communicated that they weren't sure if Lyn was a complete airhead or the bravest warrior in history for being so informal with someone so intimidating and scary, even if they were family.
"Ah, Killian, come here, won't you?"
Sorine's tone slightly softened as she waved her grandson closer.
Pushing through any hesitance and stepping towards her while trying to ignore the off-putting pressure surrounding her, even making the effort to smile. Killian stood ever so still as her hands clasped his face as she examined his violet purple eyes that darkened and lightened depending on the sun's angle before smiling wide and completely changing her tune. Pulling him into a tight hug and letting out a hearty laugh.
"Ah, my dear grandson, I am overjoyed that you have inherited those eyes!"
"You know the only living members of our house to possess these eyes are you and I."
Sliding out of her strong grasp, Killian decided to ask her why the color of his eyes mattered enough to be closely inspected.
"Hey Grandma, are my eyes special or something?"
Sorine furrowed her brow and tilted her head in confusion, then turned to look at Lyn.
"Did your mother never tell you?"
Lyn shyly looked away as her mother sighed.
"That girl really is only good with a sword in her hands."
"In that regard, I'm glad you take after your father."
"The specialty of your eyes stems from the fact that, throughout the long history of our house, only six, including me, have been born with the Eyes of Raiden."
"Making you the seventh Raiden born"
"While yellow eyes like your mother's, promptly called Rajin's canaries, are more common, yet still rare amongst the Black pupils, most members of our house are born with."
Everyone, now staring in awe at Lyn, all clueless at how she could simply never mention anything about this for the eight whole years of Killian's life, only for her to shrug her shoulders and look away again.
"Anyways, my idiot daughter, aside the true power of your eyes, are—"
Killian's ears perked up, awaiting her to finish before she was interrupted.
"Your ladyship!"
"You must hurry; the reading is about to start!"
A voice from inside the cathedral rang out with a sense of urgency and a hint of impatience.
"Oh my, how could I forget?"
"C'mon then, shall we?"
Killian sighed at her words but nodded his head in agreement.
"Don't worry, child, I'll finish my explanation later if not."
"I'll make sure your incompetent mother actually tells you this time."
Sorine's gaze moved towards Lyn, who finally bowed her head in defeat and promptly nodded.
"Now let's pick up the pace and get a move on."
Sorine nearly vanished completely from thin air, leaving Killian only just barely able to follow her movements with his eyes, yet unable to speak or move his body before she had already dashed off through the entrance and into the building.
Her, ironically enough, "lighting speed" was impossible for nearly everyone in the group to track. Outside of Lyn, who could almost perfectly see every step Sorine took and even actually react quick enough to turn her body to face Sorine's new location. Meanwhile, Killian, the only other exception, could barely tell what had occurred, feeling almost as if his body was frozen during the time it took for his grandmother to move.
"Di… Did Kilian's GRANDMA TELEPORT?!?"
Runa practically shouted in shock as her eyes widened, understandably so.
"She definitely ran…"
Killian blurted out, equally as shocked, however for two reasons rather than one.
"There's no way she ran!?"
"How could you have even seen that? She practically vanished!?"
"She's an old lady with a cane; how could she even run fast enough to disappear??"
"Maybe you don't take after Mr.Graves like she says…"
Killian and his mother both shot back a defensive "hey!" as Runa covered her mouth.
"I may have said too much…"
Was all that she could think to say under the immense pressure coming from Lucilia's agitated smile and grip on her shoulder.
Yet like usual, when it seemed like things were about to boil over, all tension was dispelled by Lawrence's laughter as he patted Runa on the head and suggested that they get going as well.