An important day (3)

"Ah, Lord Nightmoon. You've arrived.", Lucius said

"My daughter and I are ready. I think the young master is as well...." Lucius said as he gazed at my way to confirm his words, to which I nodded with approval.

"I see. Then we shall head out. Although the road ahead isn't very far, there's no harm in going early." My father announced after confirming everyone was prepared.

A carriage arranged by my father was waiting for us outside. As I was about to follow the others to take a seat in it, a familiar voice stopped me.

"Young master! Please, wait a moment!" Magnus said as he ran towards me. A female figure also followed him. It was the head maid Gloria.

"What is it Magnus? Is there a problem?" I asked.

"Ah. No, not at all young master. Uh....I just wanted to give you my best wishes. Today is an important day for you after all!" The butler said with a smile.

"You're going to make the young master late, Magnus! What are you going to do if he gets scolded by his father?! Just let him go!" Gloria said as she glared at Magnus with a disapproving look. She didn't give me a chance to reply to Magnus's well wishes.

"Oh fu- I mean shoot! I'm sorry young master!" Magnus hurriedly apologized.

"Stop apologizing and just leave already! I want to wish the young master the best too!" Gloria yelled at Magnus.

This time however Magnus retaliated.

"What?! Aren't you planning to do the same as me then? How is it okay for you to do it but not me?!"

"Because you actually stopped hi-"

The two started bickering amongst themselves without giving me any chance to thank them. In the end, I decided to just leave them be and head to the carriage. Can't afford to be too late after all.

"Hey Dusk, did something happen?" Dawn asked me curiously when I took my seat. She could probably hear the racket outside.

"Only the most heated battle in the history of this world." I replied with a serious expression.

"What?! Really? Who's fighting who?!" Dawn asked as her eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Unfortunately, their identities must remain a secret as anyone cursed with this knowledge would be in danger." I said as I opened a book I was previously reading.

"Whoa!!! Really?! Please tell me!" Dawn asked without doubting me at all.

"Um...Young master? Would you please not bully my daughter too much?" Lucius pleaded with a nervous smile.

"I apologize. I will make sure not to tell her anything more than that." I said as a smirk threatened to form on my face.

"Eh?! Daddy! Don't stop him! Now he won't tell me about the legendary battle outside!" Dawn pouted after glaring at her father

"Huh?! Now it's my fault?" Lucius said with a confused look.

By that time I was too focused on my book to care about anything else.

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During all this drama, Dusk's father Stygian Nightmoon remained quiet and closed his eyes as if attempting to sleep. Yet he couldn't sleep. Not because of external interferences but because of his internal worries.

'We don't have much time left. A few years, maybe. After that I doubt I'll be able to prevent it....' Stygian thought in his mind.

His worries stemmed from many things. There were so many issues he needed to resolve and yet he couldn't come up with any solutions. But among his troubles one outweighed all others.

'Aerith.....Just where are you? Are you even alive? What will I do without you....' Stygian thought as he could feel a sharp sting in his heart.

Stygian wished he could go back to the past. He wished he could savor every enjoyable moment again with his wife and cherish all they had. He would curse the world for taking everything from him....but the world did leave something for him.

Stygian still had his son. Most parents would cherish their child even further if they were to lose their lover. And yet that wasn't the case for Stygian. Although he in no way hated the child, he just couldn't bear to look at the blue eyes that reminded him of his wife and the painful separation between the two.

'I need to stop this foolishness of mine. If I don't stop now, I'll lose him too.' Stygian had thought about this many times.

But alas even if he knew what he must do, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He couldn't hold normal conversations with his son without being reminded of his wife. Every time he tried he would feel a sharp sting in his heart. He could only curse himself for his cowardice.

On top of that, Dusk had changed over the past year. The cheerful and energetic boy became quiet and composed. The changes happened gradually but there's no denying it. The boy also learned etiquette and polite speech all by himself. Any parent would be thrilled to have a child who wished to learn such things by themselves but not Stygian. He couldn't put his finger on it but something felt wrong. His formality and polite manners seemed like a well trained facade. It would be fine to use it with strangers but Dusk was always formal. Whether it be Stygian or everyone else in the mansion. It was as if he was creating a wall to separate himself from others.

Thankfully, there was one person who could shatter his son's facade. It was the daughter of his commoner friend, Dawn Brightsun. Although it was shameful, He started to hope the two children would get closer so that Dawn could ease any burdens Dusk had, in Stygian's stead.

As numerous thoughts went through his head, a voice caused him to stop thinking and finally open his eyes.

"Apologies for bothering you, Lord Nightmoon. But we have arrived." the coach said as he slowed down the carriage.