Some how, some way, Evelyn survived that harrowing encounter with my mother and we arrived in a formal meeting room where my father and Evelyn's parents were already inside, having a discussion.
Entering, we were met with greetings and pleasantries from Evelyn's parents, mainly directed at me. I awkwardly smiled and nodded along, cause what else would I do?
Taking a seat next to my sister, I was kind of bummed. I wanted to tease Evelyn a bit more after my mother was done with her, but the seating arrangement didn't allow for that. Some formal procedure was in place.
Our parents began their yapping, starting an in depth discussion about us, our families, our futures, and other things of that nature.
Although I wasn't really listening, I could tell this wasn't all formal mumbo-jumbo. They were discussing in quite a warm tone, having been close friends for many years now.
I didn't really know what to do, so I just kept drinking my tea.
Occasionally, I nodded along, maybe listened to bits and pieces when I heard my name, but I was mostly thinking about how and when I should get the fox spirit.
I wanted to pursue it as soon as possible—being immediately after this engagement ceremony—but I definitely don't have enough time.
The fox spirit inhabited a rift located in a desert to the far east of the Ravenheart Empire, near the border of the Romano Empire—the other major human empire.
Hawks was near the area due to the mission he accepted from the academy. He entered the rift because he was being hunted by an Ascendent realm human.
Why?
His ego was too big—refusing to bow down and show respect. When the Ascendent gave him a warning, Hawks talked back, enraging the Ascendent.
Then, despite his system warning him that fighting the Ascendant was literally a death sentence, he did it anyway. With some cringy one-liner, he activated Vitalis Ignition and lost miserably.
I thought this was the moment when he'd finally be humbled—learn to curb his pride, when to back down and whatnot.
Of course, I was wrong. He just realized he wasn't strong enough and had to continue training to get stronger so "other people can't look down on him."
Yeah… Truly pathetic.
In order to escape the Ascendant, he used a teleport relic he bought from the system shop, teleporting him around 500 meters away.
It wasn't far enough away though, the Ascendent was quickly going to reach his location and Hawks was not in good shape to run.
Obviously, just as he was in a precarious situation, he discovered a hidden rift and entered it.
It also just so happened to have an entrance capacity of one, a very rare feature for rifts.
It took Hawks about two weeks of wandering the rift before clearing it and coming out with the fox spirit.
In this timeline, I wanted the fox-spirit for myself, mainly because it was cute and would be able to accompany me for life, but it had much more uses besides being an emotional support animal.
The fox spirit was able to use illusion magic, which is why I previously said it could turn into a cat. It can also cast illusions on me, allowing me to disguise my identity without using relics that drain my mana.
That is the fox spirit's only active power, but its usefulness extends.
As a developed mythical creature, it has intelligence and plentiful knowledge.
It is also a master of sensing presences which came in very handy for Hawks many times.
Sadly, I don't have enough time currently to get it.
Intis Institute's entrance examination began in less than two weeks. Traveling to the rift as soon as possible will take three days by using the nearest teleportation formation, then riding an ascended mount.
Already losing six days in the travelling process, I'd need to clear the rift in eight.
Being an Adept, you'd think I'd be able to clear the rift much faster than Hawks, who was only an upper Awakened at the time, but the circumstances are complicated.
While rifts are largely mysterious with many aspects unknown about them, they are generally understood to be combat related. Not pure combat trails unfortunately.
This means rifts can have many environmental hazards and gimmicks, complicating things. One may encounter shifting landscapes, toxic mist, or poisonous flora.
Of course, conditions relating to poison or toxins would have no effect on me, so obviously the desert rift containing the fox spirit was not one of those rifts. It was a labyrinth…
Locating the fox spirit was also going to be a challenge; it doesn't stay in one place, constantly moving around the maze to avoid danger.
As the rift's entrance capacity is only one, that prevents me from bringing specialists from my clan to look for the fox spirit. There might also be the case that the fox spirit will only bond with someone "special" so to speak, and I don't know if I qualify.
Thus, I decided to leave my fox for later.
Hawks will not end up finding the spirit until February of next year anyways.
And, with all the things I will likely change in the timeline, I doubt he will end up getting it anyways. Butterfly effects go crazy.
As I concluded my thoughts, I took another sip of my bitter tea, which I had periodically been doing for the entire meeting despite not liking it. However, I soon realized that my cup was empty. This did not go unnoticed by my sister who proceeded to laugh at me.
After a bit more chatter from our parents, I was finally dismissed.
"Make sure to get dressed quickly! The guests will begin arriving in an hour," my father's voice rang behind me.
***
Some time later…
The setting sun illuminated the banquet hall in a warm orange hue, setting the perfect atmosphere for an engagement ceremony.
Light from lavish chandeliers poured across polished marble, catching on the pillars and sweeping crystal ornaments suspended overhead.
The moment I stepped into the grand hall, the chattering noise immediately softened in my presence.
The hall was filled to its edges—young lords in their fine jewelry, young ladies draped in silk and pearls—all turning as one to look at me. Their expressions barely held the pretense of politeness while their eyes clearly held scorn and mockery.
The attendants only consisted of highly influential, powerful people or high nobility.
Earls, marquises, and dukes—they were considered the true nobility. The title of Baron and Marquis could both be earned quite easily, causing them to number over two dozen thousand in total.
The empire bestowed baron and viscount titles with deliberate generosity. They were rewards for courage, loyalty, and usefulness—a great incentive to drive subjects to serve. In doing so, the crown ensured its borders remained manned, roads patrolled, and people eager for the chance to rise.
Near the center of the banquet stood and sat mostly the younger generation, their parents off doing grown-up things in the back, like building connections. On the same hand, the young masters and mistresses were probably doing young noble things, like building connections.
Walking down the hall, I could hear hushed whispers all around thanks to the enhanced senses of an Adept.
"A disgrace of the family and to all nobles everywhere."
"Garbage talent, lazy, arrogant—is it even possible to be a bigger shame to the empire?"
"Oh my… He's even hotter in person…"
"He doesn't deserve her. I can't believe a trash like him is getting engaged to the esteemed Evelyn of the Emberhart Marquis family!"
Despite hearing the murmurs full of contempt directed at me under their breath, I showed no sign of it.
Walking forward at an unhurried pace, the soft rustle of my overcoat echoed in the hushed space. The violet fabric caught the light with each step, the silver embroidery glinting like a trail of stars behind me.
Their gazes followed, unwilling, almost irritated, as if my existence offended their expectations. I didn't purposefully meet any of their eyes, but when they met mine, their backs straightened subconsciously.
I kept my expression neutral, almost disinterested, allowing not even a flicker of emotion to break the calm.
This was difficult however, as I felt so cool. Can you blame me?
As soon as I entered the room, it fell silent and all eyes turned to me.
That was aura, though I know my aura wasn't exactly the good kind, which was why I am going to change that today.
And the perfect target was right here, arrogantly taking a seat directly to the left of me—Quinn Steelsoul, the youngest son of the Sunsoul Duchy, a fellow family on a decline, seeking to regain their lost power.
Quinn was a bright prospect of the generation, famed as the guiding light for the Steelsouls to reestablish themselves as a dominant duchy of the empire.
Though I can respect his ambition to restore his family's standing, the way he went about it left me with no choice but to put him in his place.
You see, Quinn wanted to marry Evelyn, a shining star of the century, causing her marquis house to climb in power with remarkable speed. He wanted to tie her to the Steelsoul name to secure his clan's return to prominence.
Of course, that wasn't the sole intention.
If he had truly wanted to just elevate his family, I may've let him go with less punishment.
However, I know it was just a noble front. Perhaps it played a good part, but based on his character from the novel, I knew in reality he likely just wanted Evelyn for her beauty and body. And I'm not going to take that lightly.