Unknown Mother

Steaming from head to toe, Adonis emerged from the bathroom, a sense of renewal washing over him. The lavender scent clung pleasantly to his skin, complimenting the rich aroma of simmering stew wafting from the kitchen. Tomorrow's adventure could wait. Tonight, his haven offered a sanctuary – a respite from the bustling city and the challenges that awaited him.

He grabbed a towel, drying himself with a contented sigh.

''That was refreshing.''

The day's grime was gone, replaced by a refreshed alertness.

Growl~

Hunger gnawed at his stomach, a much more pleasant sensation than the earlier grumbles.

''Hahaha! I should hurry and eat as you're complaining too much.'' Adonis jokingly said, hurrying to the kitchen.

Reaching the kitchen, he found the stew bubbling contentedly in the pot, releasing a symphony of delicious smells. A smile spread across his face. This was the life he'd chosen, a life of adventure and simple comforts. But a nagging voice in the back of his mind reminded him – that adventure might be the main course, but securing his future as an adventurer required planning.

''Time to eat!" he moved to take a portion of steaming stew before leaving for another place.

Adonis settled into a chair on his balcony, the steaming stew cradled in his hands. He wasn't about to let the delicious food burn his tongue, so with a flick of his wrist, a faint blue mist swirled around the bowl for a brief moment. Ice magic, a subtle hint of his hidden talents. The stew cooled slightly, the perfect temperature for a hungry adventurer.

As he dug into the meal, his gaze drifted upwards, drawn to the vast expanse of the night sky. A million glittering stars twinkled back at him, each one a silent promise of adventure waiting beyond the city walls. But amidst the celestial spectacle, a shadow of a thought lingered in his mind.

His mother. A figure shrouded in mystery, a name never uttered aloud except in hushed tones. Whenever Adonis dared to ask his father, a familiar sadness would cloud Robert's eyes, the conversation ending abruptly. All he knew was that his mother had vanished after giving birth, leaving only a void and a gnawing curiosity in her wake.

He didn't harbor any resentment towards her. His stepmother, a kind and loving woman, had filled the void left by his biological mother. Yet, a part of him yearned to know his origins. Unlike his siblings, with their sky-blue eyes mirroring his father's gaze, Adonis possessed a rare trait – his striking purple eyes. Were they a reflection of his mother?

Perhaps. Maybe his heritage held the key to his unique abilities, the reason behind his affinity for ice magic – a power rarely seen amongst humans. His powerful physics for a mage. This hidden bloodline, this mystery surrounding his mother, fueled a different kind of fire within him – a desire for self-discovery.

But for now, vengeance or anger were not on the menu. He loved his family, the ones who had raised him with love and support. His quest for answers could wait until he was stronger, more prepared to face whatever secrets his heritage might hold.

"Later," he murmured, taking a final drag from his cigarette before stubbing it out in a nearby ashtray.

"When I'm stronger." He closed his eyes, the cool night air washing over him.

•••••

In another, shrouded in perpetual twilight, stood a colossal fortress known as Castle Asmodeus. Unlike the cheerful, sun-drenched haven of Heartfilia, this castle exuded an aura of brooding mystery.

Crafted from obsidian, the fortress seemed to rise from the very shadows itself. Jagged towers scraped the eternally overcast sky, their spires adorned with grotesque gargoyles that leered down at the world with malevolent glee. No colorful banners fluttered in the perpetually still air. Instead, tattered black pennants emblazoned with a crimson sigil – a serpent coiling around a broken chalice – hung limply, a chilling symbol of the dark power that resided within.

Inside, the oppressive gloom continued. Torchlight flickered weakly against the endless black walls, casting long, distorted shadows that danced on the cold, damp stone floors. The air hung heavy with the scent of mildew and decay, a stark contrast to the fresh aroma of jasmine that graced Adonis's balcony.

On the highest floor, a single chamber defied the overall austerity. The door, intricately carved with scenes of demonic revelry, swung open silently, revealing an opulent bedroom. A king-sized bed, draped in blood-red velvet, dominated the space. Upon it lay a young woman, the very picture of otherworldly beauty.

Her porcelain skin, the color of freshly fallen snow, gleamed faintly in the flickering torchlight. Her unbound hair, a cascade of cascading purple waves, flowed down her back like a luxurious cloak. Her most striking feature, however, were her eyes – mesmerizing pools of the same deep purple that mirrored Adonis's own.

Lilith Asmodeus, the name whispered in hushed tones throughout this realm, stirred from her slumber. A languid stretch accentuated the ample curves of her half-naked form. With a sigh that rippled through the silent room, she rose, her movements imbued with a predator's grace.

"Time for a little fun in the human world," she murmured, a sly smile playing on her flawless lips. A mischievous glint sparked in her purple eyes.

"And perhaps," she added, a hint of curiosity tinging her voice, "a chance to see if my dear sister left a little surprise behind all those years ago..."

Lilith Asmodeus, the daughter of darkness, was about to make her entrance on the human stage, and her arrival promised to stir the pot of Adonis's life in ways he couldn't even begin to imagine.

°°°°

A/N: Do not confuse the cigarette he was smoking with a normal one, it's not and this is a fantasy world, it's a magic cigarette that helps you slightly increase your mana reserves, it is by any means harmful to the body, it's most people smoke it. You'll see a lot of people smoking as the story progresses.