Chapter 35 – A New Dawn
After a quiet and uneventful night, Adrian woke up to the familiar sounds of life echoing through the halls of the orphanage—footsteps thudding along the wooden floor, doors opening and closing, distant chatter, and the occasional clatter of dishes from the kitchen. Morning had arrived, and with it came the gentle chaos of another day.
The scent of fresh bread wafted up from below, mingled with the earthy aroma of brewed coffee. For a moment, Adrian simply lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, allowing the sounds and smells to wash over him. There was comfort in it—this familiar, imperfect rhythm of daily life.
With a deep breath, he sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. His body still felt sore in places, echoes of the battles he had recently endured, but the pain was distant now, dulled by sleep and the passing of time. He stood, stretched, and walked to the bathroom.
As the hot water flowed over his body, Adrian's thoughts drifted back to the whirlwind of events that had led him here. It all seemed so surreal when he thought about it too hard. The discovery of the diary, the shattering truth about his parents' past, the descent into the broken divine domain—a place that defied the laws of reality. Meeting Cordelia, a mysterious and powerful ally who had risked everything alongside him. The countless battles. The final, desperate confrontation. And then… the inheritance. Divine, otherworldly, and now a part of him.
He leaned his head against the shower wall, letting the water cascade down his face, as if hoping it would somehow cleanse the weight of it all. Not just the dirt and blood, but the memories, the pressure, the responsibility. He knew better than to think it would be that simple.
Still, when he stepped out and dried himself off, he felt different—maybe not fully at peace, but steadier. Stronger. Like someone who had been tested and had emerged with scars, but also with purpose.
He dressed in a clean shirt and jeans, plain but comfortable, and made his way downstairs. The familiar creaking of the steps beneath his feet brought a strange sense of comfort. In the kitchen, Maria was bustling around, setting plates and mugs on the table. Theo was mid-toast, crumbs all over the front of his shirt, and Noah was half-focused on a comic book, occasionally pausing to sip from a precariously held glass of juice. Lia sat quietly, as always, her eyes following the scene with calm interest.
"Good morning," Adrian said, sliding into a chair at the table.
Maria turned with a warm smile. "Morning, dear. Did you sleep well?"
"Like a rock," he replied, accepting the steaming mug of coffee she handed him.
"Good. You looked like you needed it," she said, brushing a hand gently over his shoulder as she passed.
The breakfast conversation was light-hearted. Theo was talking about wanting to be a monster hunter when he grew up—"the kind that saves cities, not the kind that hides in shadows"—while Noah insisted he would invent something that made you fly by jumping once. Lia, true to form, said little, but her occasional nods and small smiles showed she was listening closely.
Adrian joined in with soft laughter and quiet comments, but inside, his mind was elsewhere. He couldn't ignore the pull of his new goal—the fragments of the divine inheritance scattered across the world. It wasn't just a mission now; it was a calling. Something deeper than duty. Something tied to his very existence. He had taken his first step into a world beyond understanding, and now there was no turning back.
The sound of the doorbell rang out, sudden and sharp, cutting through the easy rhythm of breakfast.
Everyone paused.
"Maybe it's the neighbor again," Theo mumbled around a bite of toast, "asking for sugar or to borrow the blender."
Adrian stood and made his way to the door, each step slow, cautious. He didn't expect anything strange—not this soon—but part of him was always on edge now. When he opened the door, his breath caught.
"Cordelia?"
She stood there with her usual calm demeanor, her silver-blue eyes steady, a faint smile on her lips. Her long dark coat was buttoned up, though the weather didn't call for it, and her dark hair framed her face neatly. There was something quietly regal about her, even now.
"May I come in?" she asked softly.
Adrian didn't even answer with words. He reached out, took her wrist gently, and pulled her inside, closing the door behind her.
"Cordelia," he said, his voice a mix of warmth and disbelief, "this is… my family."
He gestured to the kitchen, where Maria had stood up, eyebrows raised in surprise. Theo and Noah both looked like they had seen a celebrity in the flesh, and Lia just watched Cordelia with those calm, thoughtful eyes of hers.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Cordelia said with a respectful nod. "Adrian has told me many good things about you."
"Cordelia helped me in the divine domain," Adrian added, his tone serious now. "I wouldn't be here without her."
Maria's gaze softened slightly as she studied the young woman. Then, with a small smile and a nod, she said, "Then you're welcome here. Anyone who helps bring our Adrian home safe is part of the family."
Cordelia smiled—a real one this time—and nodded. "Thank you."
They shared tea at the table, and though Cordelia said little, she listened intently to the chatter of the younger ones and answered their curious questions with surprising patience. It didn't take long for the air to grow light again.
But time was short.
Adrian stood, placing his now-empty cup in the sink. "Cordelia… let's go. We have something to do."
She nodded, understanding immediately.
They stepped outside into a crisp, sunlit morning. The sky above was clear, painted in pale blues and whites, and the gentle breeze carried the scent of flowers and spring. It would have felt like a peaceful day—normal, even—if not for the heavy envelope tucked inside Adrian's coat pocket.
A letter. The last wish of a man who had died in that broken domain. A man who had drawn them a map, who had given them hope. Who had made Adrian promise that if he survived, he would deliver this letter to the man's family.
Now, Adrian would fulfill that promise.
He and Cordelia walked side by side, quiet for the first few minutes. But in that silence, there was understanding. Both knew this was only the beginning.
The world was changing. And they would be the ones to meet it head-on.