Chapter 15: New Horizons

The next morning, Vesper woke up with a mixture of excitement and nerves. Today was the day when the adoption process would finally be discussed, the day where their lives would change forever. Lyric was still sleeping soundly, his small body curled up on the edge of the bed they shared. Vesper watched him for a moment, taking in his innocent expression and the way his little chest rose and fell with each breath. It made Vesper's heart swell with both pride and protectiveness. Lyric had been through so much, and now they were about to embark on a new chapter of their lives together.

Gently shaking Lyric's shoulder, Vesper whispered, "Hey, buddy. It's time to get up. We've got a big day ahead of us."

Lyric stirred, rubbing his eyes groggily. "Mmm, Ves, just a few more minutes…"

"Nope, no more minutes," Vesper said with a grin. "We've got to get dressed. Remember what today is?"

Lyric blinked sleepily before realization dawned on his face. His eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright in bed. "Oh, right! We're going to meet Mr. Lawrance and Ms. Samara!"

Vesper chuckled at his brother's sudden burst of energy. "That's right. So let's get ready, okay? We want to make a good impression."

They didn't have much in the way of fancy clothes, but Vesper had laid out their best outfits. For himself, he had his usual black pants and a black shirt. The shirt wasn't anything formal, but it was clean and neat, though he didn't bother to tuck it in. He paired it with his old rubber shoes, which were worn but still functional. Lyric, on the other hand, had a simple pair of shorts that reached just above his knees and a plain shirt that was a bit faded, but it still looked good on him. He too wore rubber shoes, similar to Vesper's.

Standing in front of each other, they tried to assess their appearance. With no mirror in the house, they had to rely on each other's judgment.

"Do I look okay?" Lyric asked, fidgeting with his shirt.

Vesper smiled, patting his brother's head. "You look great. What about me?"

Lyric squinted, studying Vesper with a critical eye before grinning. "You look cool as always, Ves."

They both laughed, the nervous energy between them easing slightly. Vesper straightened up, his usual calm demeanor returning. "Alright, let's go. We've got a bit of a walk ahead of us."

Lyric grabbed Vesper's hand as they stepped outside. The sun was still rising, casting a golden glow on the quiet streets. The air was fresh and crisp, and there were only a few people about since it was still early. As they walked, Vesper began humming a tune, one that their mother used to hum when they were younger. It was a soothing melody, one that always seemed to calm both of them.

"Lyr, remember to behave properly when we get there," Vesper said, glancing down at his little brother.

Lyric nodded absentmindedly, too busy sipping on the soda Vesper had bought him from the nearby store. They had made a quick stop along the way to get a treat for Lyric, something to make the long walk more enjoyable.

After about an hour of walking, they finally arrived at the office building where Mr. Lawrance worked. Vesper paused for a moment, taking in the sight of the building. It wasn't grand or fancy, but it was sturdy and well-kept—a stark contrast to the small, run-down apartment he and Lyric had lived in for so long.

Vesper looked down at Lyric, who was still happily sipping his soda. "Hey, bud. You ready?"

Lyric gave him a playful pout as Vesper pinched his cheek. "Ow, Ves! Stop doing that!" But there was no malice in his words, only the familiar banter between siblings.

Vesper grinned and gently tugged on Lyric's hand, prompting him to follow inside.

The moment they stepped into the building, they were greeted by Mr. Lawrance, their soon-to-be father. His face lit up with joy as he saw them, and without hesitation, he pulled both of them into a warm hug. Vesper, not usually one for physical affection, smiled softly, appreciating the warmth of the gesture. Lawrance then scooped up Lyric, lifting him off the ground.

"Hey, little buddy! How are you doing?" Lawrance asked, tickling Lyric's sides.

"Mister! Stop! Haha, I can't breathe!" Lyric giggled uncontrollably, wriggling in Lawrance's arms as he tried to escape the tickles.

After the laughter died down, they made their way to the office where Lawrance's wife, Samara, was waiting. Samara was an elegant woman, her appearance striking despite her age. With her sharp yet kind eyes and graceful smile, she looked far younger than she truly was, like someone in her early thirties rather than middle-aged.

As they sat down, the conversation quickly shifted to the adoption process. They spoke at length about the details, but everything went smoothly. Samara and Lawrance had been preparing for this for a while, and Vesper felt a sense of calm knowing that they were genuinely invested in taking care of him and Lyric. By the end of the meeting, all parties had agreed to the adoption. It was official—they were now a family.

****

A month passed, and Vesper's life had changed dramatically. No longer did he need to worry about scraping by or keeping up with his job. For now, his focus was entirely on preparing for the Abyss, the mysterious and dangerous realm he would soon enter. Mr. Lawrance and Samara had been incredibly supportive, providing him with all the resources he needed to train and study.

Each day, Vesper dedicated himself to learning everything he could about the Abyss. He pored over books and watched instructional videos that his new father had supplied. The information was vast, covering everything from how to survive in the Abyss to practical skills like cooking monster meat and building hidden shelters. Though Vesper hadn't yet been able to practice these skills in real life, his past experiences gave him confidence that he could adapt when the time came.

But of all the things he was learning, Vesper's favorite part was the physical training. His body, once slightly skinny with just a hint of muscle, was now lean and defined. His muscles were firm and visible, especially when he wore slightly fitted shirts. He felt stronger and more capable than ever before.

The gym in their new home had become his sanctuary. It wasn't large, but it had everything he needed—weights, training dummies, and most importantly, space to practice his swordsmanship. Each afternoon, he would pick up a wooden sword and go through the drills he had memorized from the books and videos.

Standing in the center of the gym, Vesper took his stance. His feet were firmly grounded, his hands gripping the sword tightly. He swung the sword in a downward arc, from the top of his head to the middle of his body, then immediately stepped to the side and executed a powerful horizontal slash. His movements were fluid, precise, and filled with force. He repeated the sequence over and over, his mind focused on perfecting his form.

By the time he finished his training, the sun was setting, casting a warm glow through the windows of the gym. Vesper, drenched in sweat but feeling invigorated, paused to catch his breath. Despite the intensity of his workout, he didn't feel exhausted. In fact, he felt alive, more energized than ever before.

After a quick shower, Vesper heard the familiar sound of a car pulling up in front of the house. It was Mr. Lawrance, returning from picking up Lyric from school. Vesper headed to the front door to greet them.

"Welcome back, father," Vesper said with a smile, opening the door as his new father stepped out of the car.

Lawrance chuckled, ruffling Vesper's hair. "Thanks, Ves. How's training going?"

"Great," Vesper replied, looking past Lawrance to see Lyric hopping out of the car. "Hey, buddy! How was school?"

Lyric beamed as he ran up to Vesper, throwing his arms around his older brother in an enthusiastic hug. "It was awesome, Ves! I learned all about life in the Abyss today!"

Vesper raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Oh yeah? Let's talk about it inside."

The three of them made their way to the kitchen, where Samara was already waiting with dinner prepared. She smiled warmly at them as they entered. "Now, don't start talking about the Abyss without me," she teased, prompting them all to sit down for the meal.

As they ate, Lyric excitedly recounted everything he had learned at school. Vesper listened intently, proud of how much his brother had absorbed. When it was his turn to share, Vesper spoke about his training, explaining how he had been practicing sword techniques and learning new strategies. His new family listened eagerly, their expressions filled with support and admiration.

After dinner, they all retired to their rooms, each of them bidding goodnight. As Vesper lay in bed, reflecting on the past month, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude. Life had changed for the better, and he knew that soon, he would be ready to face the challenges of the Abyss.

"This last month has been good," Vesper murmured to himself as he opened the door to his room. "One more month of preparation, and I'll be ready for the Abyss."

And with that, he drifted off to sleep, a sense of purpose and hope filling his heart.