Bab 50: A LETTER FROM HER
Diaval sat at his desk, the soft glow of candlelight casting shadows across the pages of his journal as he reflected on the months that had passed since his unexpected journey into a novel's world.
His hand moved deftly, pen scratching against parchment as he chronicled the twists and turns that had altered the course of fate.
"It's been months now since I became Diaval Astarot," he murmured to himself, his voice barely above a whisper in the quiet of his chamber.
"Who would have thought a drunken night and a transmigration could change so much?"
He paused, remembering the pivotal decision he had made early on—to discard the weighty mantle of heirship and forge his own path.
That choice had not only spared him from the tragic fate the original Diaval faced but had rippled through the lives of those around him.
Lady Jade, his mother, now had her cherished bakery, a surprise that had left her in tears of joy just a week ago.
His mind slowly drifted to that day.
***
Diaval stood at the edge of the bustling marketplace, a nervous excitement bubbling within him.
The day had finally arrived—the grand unveiling of Lady Jade's bakery. Around him, construction workers bustled about, putting the finishing touches on the charming establishment.
The air was filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread and the sound of hammering as final adjustments were made.
"Eldric, are we all set?"
Diaval called out to his younger brother, who was overseeing the placement of a decorative sign.
Eldric nodded enthusiastically, his face flushed with anticipation.
"Yes, Young Master! Everything's in place. It looks amazing!"
Diaval smiled gratefully at his brother.
"Good. Thank you for all your help with this."
As the clock struck noon, Lady Jade arrived, escorted by Valtor and followed closely by Adrian and Lady Isolde.
The construction workers paused in their work, gathering near the entrance to witness the moment they had all been working towards.
Lady Jade gasped in astonishment as she beheld the bakery for the first time. It was a quaint, two-story building adorned with colorful banners and blooming flower boxes.
A large sign above the door read "Jade's Delights" in elegant script.
"Oh, Diaval!" Lady Jade exclaimed, her eyes brimming with tears of joy.
"I can't believe this!"
Valtor placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his own eyes betraying a hint of emotion.
"It's magnificent, Jade," he said quietly.
Adrian grinned broadly, clapping his older brother on the back.
"Well done, Diaval. This is incredible!"
Lady Isolde, normally reserved, couldn't help but smile warmly at her step-son.
"A splendid gesture, Diaval. Your mother will be the talk of Claire."
Meanwhile, the construction workers exchanged congratulatory nods and smiles among themselves. One of them, a burly man with a thick beard named Taren, approached Diaval hesitantly.
"Sir Diaval," he began, clearing his throat. "We just wanted to say thank you. It's been an honor to work on this project."
"And thank you for having me redeem myself," Taren arrived.
Diaval shook the man's hand warmly.
"No, thank you all. Without your hard work, none of this would have been possible."
The workers nodded appreciatively, some patting Diaval on the back as they returned to their tasks, a renewed vigor in their step.
Valtor, his father, had been stunned into speechlessness, though Diaval could sense his pride despite the stoic facade.
Adrian, his younger brother, had shown unexpected support, and even Lady Isolde had voiced her approval in her own subtle way, despite being one with envy for the first lady.
But it was Lady Seraphina who remained an enigma, her silence a tempest brewing beneath a calm surface.
Diaval knew she resented his deviation from the expected path, the ambitions she held for her own son overshadowed by Diaval's unintentional achievements.
'Can't blame her though, the marriage between Seraphina and father was an arranged after all,' Diaval began his thoughts.
'It wasn't one like mother's that was out of true love for each other.'
He continued to write, capturing the essence of each moment—the laughter shared with Eva, now his beloved wife, the discussions of future plans and dreams of starting a family.
Despite Eva being at the Academy she was teaching, she and Diaval used to send letters or talk on the telephones that were now scarce and still being invented.
"The technological inovations have really sky rocketed but not too adavanced like in my previous life, even at that it's strange how Magic and the new upcoming technology have overlapped each other but still being used and co-existing," Diaval thought.
The completion of the bakery had been a crowning achievement, a testament to his determination to bring happiness to those he cared for.
"I finally completed one of the goals I had set in mind."
As he penned the final lines of his journal entry, Diaval closed his eyes, feeling a sense of peace settle over him.
He then took a moment to bring out a chest that was adorned in black and gold, with the movement of his hands, two red magic circles materialized and the chest opened up letting out a black smoky aura.
This was the particular chest Diaval had been using to keep the mammon mask he had gotten. And after learning protection and sealing magic, he came up with the chest to hide the mask. The chest was also capable of concealing the demonic aura the mask emitted thus not drawing attention towards it.
"I may not know what the future holds," he murmured, "but for now, I'm grateful for the chance to rewrite the original story, atleast in my favour."
With a satisfied nod, he capped his pen and set aside the journal, the room bathed in the quiet glow of his accomplishments and the promise of new beginnings.
Diaval had just finished jotting down on his journal when a knock on his door interrupted his morning routine.
Curious, he opened it to find the wolf beastkin knight standing there, holding a letter in her gloved hand.
She bowed respectfully, her tail swaying slightly behind her.
"Young Master Diaval," she began in her formal tone, "this letter was delivered with your name on it."
Diaval took the letter from her, noticing the familiar seal. With a nod of thanks, he closed the door and swiftly broke the seal.
Inside was a warm greeting from Eva, written in her elegant script. He smiled as he read aloud, her words filling him with warmth and longing for her presence.
"My dearest Diaval and beloved family," he read aloud, "I hope this letter finds you all well. I miss each of you dearly, especially during such important moments like the unveiling of Mother's bakery. I regret not being there to celebrate with all of you."
Diaval paused, his heart swelling with pride and affection for Eva.
She continued, expressing her sadness at missing the bakery unveiling but joyfully announcing that she had been awarded the title of Greatest Professor of the Year at Remeya Magic University. She invited everyone to join her for the ceremony and festivities.
Closing the letter, Diaval felt a surge of happiness. Without hesitation, he hurried downstairs to share the news with the family.
They gathered in the living area, and Diaval beamed as he relayed Eva's message. Lady Jade's eyes glistened with pride, Valtor nodded approvingly, and Eldric clapped his hands in excitement.
Even Adrian, who typically maintained a stoic demeanor, couldn't hide his grin.
"When do we leave?" Lady Jade asked eagerly, her excitement contagious.
"The ceremony is in the Province of Aurelia, in the city of Remeya," Diaval replied, consulting the letter again for details.
"We should make preparations to depart tomorrow morning."
The rest of the day buzzed with anticipation. Servants bustled around, packing essentials for the journey.
Lady Isolde and Lady Seraphina discussed wardrobe choices, while Sir Eldric made arrangements for travel.
Valtor ensured that security measures were in place, always protective of his family.
The next morning, they gathered outside the mansion where a grand carriage awaited them.
Diaval assisted his mother and Valtor into the carriage, while Eldric and Adrian followed suit.
Lady Isolde, Seraphina, and a few attendants joined them in another carriage, ensuring it was comfortably filled but not overly crowded.
As they set off, the journey to Remeya was long but pleasant. They passed through rolling hills and quaint villages, exchanging stories and laughter along the way.
Lady Jade reminisced about her travels in her youth, while Valtor shared anecdotes from his days as a young ruler.
Eldric and Adrian engaged in a friendly debate about the latest advancements in magical theory, while Lady Isolde and Lady Seraphina discussed the upcoming fashion trends.
Eventually, after a day and a half of travel, they arrived in the Province of Aurelia and approached the bustling city of Remeya.
The carriage rolled through the streets lined with ancient buildings and bustling markets, drawing curious glances from the locals.
"Remeya Magic University," Diaval announced as they approached the grand gates of the prestigious institution.
The university sprawled before them, its spires reaching towards the sky, a testament to centuries of magical knowledge and scholarship.
As the Astarot family arrived at Remeya Magic University, their excitement gradually turned into confusion and concern.
The normally bustling grounds were eerily quiet, and instead of the anticipated ceremony, they found a somber gathering of students and staff clustered around a small house at the edge of the university grounds.
The sky mirrored their mood, closing in with heavy, grey clouds threatening rain.
Servants swiftly unfurled umbrellas to shield the noble family from the impending downpour, and with Diaval in the lead, they made their way through the hushed crowd.
Students, dressed uniformly in black trousers and skirts, parted respectfully, recognizing the Astarot symbol on their attire.
Whispers followed their path, but unlike the usual buzz of excitement, the air was heavy with concern and unease.
Diaval's heart pounded with dread as he approached the gathering.
He noticed police tape cordoning off the area, and his eyes widened in disbelief. Without hesitation, driven by a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, he broke through the tape, ignoring the attempts of knights and officers to restrain him.
"Hey, Sir you cannot go in there!" One of them reprimanded.
Inside the small house, reality struck him with a visceral force.
Blood smeared the walls, furniture lay broken and overturned, and an intricate, ominous magic circle was etched into the floor.
It was a scene from his nightmares, vivid and terrifyingly real.
His gaze fell upon figures being zipped into white body bags, rain mixing with blood, casting a macabre sheen over the grim scene.
Kneeling in shock, Diaval's eyes were drawn to a desk in the corner. Amidst the chaos, a glint of gold caught his eye—a name tag, stained with blood.
"Sir, this is a crime scene and you are opted to leave immediately as to not tamper," the same officer said this time his voice a bit icy.
Even though Diaval was of Noble status, him interfering with the investigation process was not to be allowed.
With trembling hands, Diaval moved and picked the golden name tag with blood dtains and wiped it clean against the edge of his coat, revealing the name engraved on it.
"Eva Sylvarith Astarot."
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
HeavenlyMike
HeavenlyMike 'VOLUME 1: THE LOW LIFE DRAGON' has come to an end. Hope you enjoyed the story thus far, despite it being slow paced. Please due stick around for VOLUME 2 promising more mysteries, detailed world building and introduction to more complex characters ensued in chaos. Diaval standing in the middle of it all...
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED THE STORY :)
See you all in Volume 2
Hadiah
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