Engagement

Ethan's POV 

"What do you say, Arctis? Should we set up an engagement between my granddaughter and your grandson?" Old man Aelric's sudden proposal caused the room to fall silent. My mind reeled as it was too abrupt and unexpected. While Aurelia was undeniably cute and charming, I didn't know anything about her character or heart. Was this how things worked in this world? Were life-altering decisions like engagements made so casually by the older generations?

My grandfather wore an awkward expression, clearly caught off guard. After a moment of contemplation, he finally spoke. "You children, go outside. I need to discuss something important with old man Aelric."

Taking the hint, Aurelia, Austin, and I quietly left the hall. Contrary to my initial wariness, Aurelia behaved with surprising maturity. She asked me about my name and interests, her tone warm and inquisitive, almost like an older sister.

"Come, Ethan, I'll show you something," she said suddenly, taking my hand and leading me toward the upper part of the fortress with her brother Austin following behind. I was a little taken aback by her candidness, but I quickly realized there was no ulterior motive in her actions and she was simply treating me as a new playmate in what I presumed was an otherwise routine and predictable life. For now, I decided not to read too much into the hand-holding and simply let her lead the way.

We ran to the southern part of the castle, where a towering structure loomed above us, at least 200 meters tall. On the way, guards and servants turned to glance at us with curious expressions. At the entrance, the guards hesitated but eventually allowed us inside, cautioning us firmly not to lean on the railings.

The tower was circular from the outside, and inside, the ground was dominated by a massive grey disk with a radius of at least five meters. It was large enough to hold around ten to twenty people comfortably. Near the centre of the disk, a middle-aged man, perhaps in his mid-thirties, levitated cross-legged. A faint green aura emanated from his nose and eyes, the particles dancing in the air like fireflies. He opened his eyes abruptly upon noticing us and spoke in a soft yet commanding tone.

"Why are you here, kids? And who's this?" he asked, his gaze falling on me as he sized me up with mild curiosity.

"He's the grandson of Duke Arctis Mistborn. Ethan, say hello to my second uncle," Aurelia said sweetly.

I promptly greeted him with a polite bow. The man waved his hand in acknowledgment and asked, "Hello, little Ethan. How is your mother doing?"

His question caught me off guard, but I quickly deduced that he must have known her from their shared generation. "Mother is well and healthy," I replied courteously.

He nodded with a satisfied expression before turning to Austin. "I presume you want to show him the view, don't you?"

Both siblings nodded eagerly. At their response, he raised a hand, and I felt an invisible force tug at my body. Light green strings of energy surrounded us, gently lifting the three of us onto the centre of the disk. The man pressed a point on the inner wall of the tower, which began glowing with a vivid green light.

Without warning, the disk shot upwards. Despite the sudden acceleration, I maintained perfect balance, my years of paragliding and other adrenaline-fueled activities in my past life leaving me unfazed. I could feel the siblings' curious gazes as they noticed my composure. It was clear they hadn't expected me to handle it so well, and their evaluation of me seemed to improve.

In a matter of seconds, we reached the topmost floor. As we stepped off the disk, I was struck speechless by the view before me. It was the most breath taking sight I had ever seen in both of my lives.

The entire Aurora Frost Mountain range stretched out like a vast, otherworldly masterpiece. Towering peaks reached toward the heavens, while deep valleys seemed to hold secrets untold. The sky was alive with a radiant blend of green and blue light, shimmering like the rays of an aurora. From this height, even the farthest snow-covered peaks gleamed with an ethereal glow. The ferocious battle that I witnessed between the Sky Moon Wolf and the Ice dragon must have happened deep in one of the peaks deep in this beautiful range.

I stood with my mouth slightly agape, unable to fully process the sheer magnificence of it all. Suddenly, I felt someone grab my cheeks and twist them playfully. Annoyed, I turned to see Aurelia close to me, a warm smile on her face, her eyes dancing with mirth at my expression.

Aurelia's POV

Ethan stood frozen, his lips slightly parted, crimson eyes wide in awe as he took in the view. He looked absolutely adorable, with his long locks framing his face and that slightly dazed expression. Without thinking, I instinctively reached out and pinched his cheeks again. When he turned to glare at me in annoyance, I couldn't help but smile, finding his reaction even more endearing.

But my amusement was short-lived. Before I realized it, a sly glint appeared in his eyes. With lightning speed, he tapped my lips lightly, catching me off guard. Startled, I instinctively stepped back and almost lost my balance. The next moment, he burst into laughter, joined by my brother Austin, who seemed thoroughly entertained.

Flustered and embarrassed, I felt my cheeks flush as I pouted and turned my head away, upset at the two of them for making fun of me.

Ethan's POV 

Seeing Aurelia puff out her cheeks in annoyance, I stepped forward and put on my best sad expression, softening my tone as I said, "I'm sorry, big sister Aurelia. Please don't be mad at me. You know I hardly have friends my age back at the castle."

My purposefully sorrowful look seemed to work, as she glanced at me and then broke into a laugh. She reached out to pat my head gently, her demeanour shifting back to her usual warmth.

"Don't worry, Ethan," she said, smiling. "If you ever feel bored, I'll visit you every month, okay, little brother?"

She patted my head like a doting older sister, and I let her. I had already resolved to build meaningful relationships in this life and avoid the loneliness of my past. Starting with a childhood friend seemed like a perfect place to begin.

As I looked up at her, a dark glint flashed briefly in my eyes as I thought something and decided upon it instantly.