God From The Abyss

Chapter 8: Chapter 08: Adrian

Eons later....

" What is it with servants these days. This house most certainly isn’t going to clean itself. Curses, can’t you damned unawakened get anything right in this house. And to believe my father even feeds you yet you can’t get simple chores done? Disgraceful!"

The voice belonged to a strikingly beautiful girl with golden flaxen hair, just turned sixteen. She stood with an air of arrogance, looking down at the black-haired boy standing before her with contempt.

"I’m sorry, my lady. I’ll try to do my chores in pleasing ways." The voice had venom hidden in them but to the over pampered awakened brat before him, it was an apology by a person of lowly birth.

"What’s wrong, my angel?" Another figure entered the room, all smiles. He bore a striking resemblance to the girl, sharing the same golden hair, green eyes, and craggy features. However, the smile on his face vanished the moment his gaze landed on the dark-haired boy with deep blue eyes.

A suffocating killing intent burst forth from the man, bringing the young boy to his knees instantly, trying all he could to catch his breath.

"Don’t you know how to go about your duties, Adrian? I’ve been sheltering you since your foolish parents died off in a most foolish manner, and yet you can’t even manage some simple house chores. Very ungrateful."

Adrian scoffed inwardly. ’Ungrateful, huh? I’m your nephew for crying out loud, yet for some reason, I’m being treated worse than most servants.’

"I’m sorry, Uncle Edward. It won’t happen again."

He couldn’t rein it in.

"Ehh, what’s with that half-hearted voice, you moron?!" the girl snapped. "Ignis!"

A spell circle appeared before the kneeling Adrian. A small fireball shot out, slamming him into the wall.

"Kughh!" He spat out blood, heaving for air.

"Now he’s ruined the rug. Ugh." She turned to her uninterested father, all smiles "See, Father, I’m now an awakened!"

Edward’s grim expression melted into delight. "I noticed, my little pumpkin. You’ve already cast your first spell." His eyes gleamed with pride. "What rank is your core when you awakened, my dear child?"

"Guess, Father!" she beamed.

As they walked toward the living room, leaving Adrian bleeding on the floor, Edward hummed in thought. "Seeing as you’re excited, I’d say... a mid-rank? Yes?"

"Very smart, Father. I awakened an Adept Rank right off the bat! I’m going to become a mage soon! And I’d very much love to attend a mage school, not an ordinary school, okay Father?"

"Wonderful, my dear. A chip off the old block, if I may say. We shall hold a feast in your honor tonight. I am very proud." He rubbed his beard with pride, his expression giving of his happiness.

---

"Adrian! Your Dad’s calling for you, sweetie."

"Yes Mom!"

"Mom!"

" Wait!"

Why was Mom here!?

The boy continued to walked towards the stable at the back of the house. His house. Waiting there for him was a very familiar face.

His father! Something was not right!

The heavy built black haired man turned to face the boy, his face breaking into a warm smile.

"Good morning, son. Slept well?"

’Ah! I remember! That’s why things felt odd. They are gone! But then... I must have been dreaming,right?’

The boy began shedding tears to the surprise of his father. His father set down his sword and sharpening stone.

" Kiddo, what’s wrong with you buddy? Come here."

The boy ran to hug his father.

"My, my boy. What’s the meaning of this sudden affection, Adrian." The man chuckled. " Want to go back to being a baby, eh?" He teased.

Adrian smiled sadly. " Maybe, Dad. Just maybe."

The man patted his back. " Whatever it is that’s holding you back and giving you tough times, I want you to remember that your mother and I love you, okay kiddo?"

"Yeah, I know!"

Pitch darkness began covering up their home.

But then the boy still refused to let go of his father.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Adrian woke up on something soft—a bed, perhaps. Most definitely not his because he wasn’t given a bed when he arrived here.

He blinked, his eyes taking in and adjusting to his surroundings. The familiar scent told him though first told him where he was.

Mrs Gemma’s room... The only person in the Ironheart household who treated him with kindness and a mother figure to him. A kind old lady serving as the head maid of the Ironhearts. She had been the only one looking out for him since he arrived at the Ironheart Mansion, some years ago, after being taken in by his rather apathetic uncle.

Tears filled his eyes as he rememberd the dream he had about his parents, who had fallen valiantly in one of the skirmishes with the Khyronians. The demons, a naturally powerful race, were feared across realms, their weakest believed to be at least a Master Rank monster, in terms of human ranking system.

Over the centuries gone by,they were said to have been the cause of so many a war fought throughout history.

Some years ago, the Demon Emperor, Galvan, had once again sought to expand his dominion, launching invasions into other realms. Adrian’s parents, elite Grandmaster Rank warriors of the Human Realm, had joined the War of Races then.

The war which, as the ones fought before it, was meant to cripple the demons’ military strength, had succeeded—but at a terrible cost. All races had suffered heavy casualties and were still struggling to recover.

Yet, as time passed, the heroes who had sacrificed themselves were forgotten. Just like his parents.

After their deaths, his uncle took over, and converted their estate into his and had also taken him in—only to turn him into a servant. Life has been hell ever since.

And worse, Adrian himself had not awakened even though his parents were very famous Grandmaster Rank geniuses. An excellent mage and a very good mage knight, among the best warriors of their town, Babel and it’s neighboring towns.

Being unawakened sometimes meant a lifetime of abuse, a fate worse than death. Those without power were nothing more than tools—sold into slavery, used as disposable fodder, or fed to magic beasts, Ravagers, in the name of gladiators. These acts were not particularly unlawful since there’s only one unawakened in every thirty people. A minority.

For Adrian, life was hopeless. Even if he escaped from here, there’s no telling where he might end up. But....

"Why am I even still alive? I’m tired, Mom, Dad. I’m tired of it all," he whispered, tears forming anew in his eyes.

- -

In a place forgotten by time and hidden within the depths of eternal darkness, a glowing gold eye with an unusually shaped pupil flickered open.

"Found you."