บท 3: Disturbed peace
Morning light streamed in from the east, its golden rays penetrating through the uncurtained window panes. The sunlight playfully danced upon Lucius's closed eyelids, gently rousing him from his slumber.
"Too bright!" he grumbled softly, as he slowly opened his eyes, allowing them to adjust to the morning's brilliance. The warmth and softness against his side and chest caught his attention. Turning his head slightly, Lucius's breath hitched in surprise as he found his mother, Celestia, comfortably nestled by his side, her face turned towards his cheek.
Her gentle, warm breaths tickled his skin, and he murmured softly, careful not to disturb her peaceful sleep, "Mom, what are you doing here?" With tender affection, he brushed a few strands of her hair aside, tucking them behind her delicate ear. The sunlight bathed her face, highlighting her glowing skin in a celestial aura.
Lucius gazed at her, mesmerized, for a lingering moment before he quietly rose from the bed. He drew the curtains to soften the morning's glare, and with gentle hands, he adjusted the blanket over his mother, ensuring not to wake her.
As he opened the door to leave, he was greeted by Loretta, who bowed politely and inquired, "Good morning, young master. Would you prefer to have breakfast or a bath first?" She straightened up, waiting patiently for his decision.
After a moment's contemplation, Lucius replied, "I feel a bit sticky after yesterday. Let's have a bath first, then take our time with breakfast."
"Understood, young master. Please follow me," Loretta responded with a neutral expression, guiding him down the top floor corridor to a spacious, modern bathing area.
"Would you like me to accompany you in the bath, young master?" Loretta asked, her voice slightly lowered, her gaze respectfully averted.
Lucius waved his right hand dismissively, a gentle gesture of refusal, and said, "No, not today. I'd like to enjoy my bath alone."
Acknowledging his wishes, Loretta slowly exited the bathing area, leaving him with a reminder to call for her should he need anything. Lucius smiled, watching her disappear from view.
"Time to enjoy some solitude. It's been far too long since I've had a warm soak," he mused to himself. Shedding his clothes, Lucius gingerly stepped into the bath, submerging himself from toe to shoulder in the soothing water.
"Ahh---this is bliss!" he sighed contentedly, closing his eyes to savor the deep, calming refreshment.
For the next 45 minutes, Lucius luxuriated in the bath, before focusing on cleansing himself thoroughly.
After his bath, he dressed in a separate changing area within the bathing room. Rejoining Loretta, they made their way together to the dining room on the lower floor for breakfast.
Upon reaching the dining room, Lucius found it empty. Even his mother was absent. He turned to the maid beside him and inquired:
"Loretta, is Mother still asleep?"
"The lady of the house stayed up all night reviewing important documents, young master. Hence, it's quite natural for her to be resting longer," Loretta explained succinctly, her words instilling a sense of worry in Lucius regarding his mother's health.
Sensing her young master's concern, Loretta swiftly offered some reassuring words, assuring him that this was a common occurrence and posed no threat to the lady's well-being.
'Even so, Mother should cut back on work and enjoy more leisure time. I'll have to tell her later,' Lucius resolved inwardly as he took a seat on the chair that Loretta had pulled out for him.
Shortly thereafter, four other maids emerged from the kitchen, each carrying various dishes on large platters. As per his request, today's breakfast would be served in an extra-large portion. Although it seemed unhealthy, for Lucius, who had been deprived of earthly breakfasts for so long, indulging a bit more was quite normal.
Without further ado, he began to savor each dish slowly—biting, tasting, chewing, and swallowing each morsel with an almost spiritual dedication.
After spending over an hour at the dining table, Lucius found himself slumped on the couch in the living room, stuffed to the brim.
He let out a loud belch and grumbled slightly, feeling overly full. "Damn, even though it was delicious, overeating is still not good for my digestion."
Taking a deep breath, Lucius harnessed one of his aura specializations in healing and rejuvenation: 'Aura of Perpetual Renewal.' With strong intent and calm, he channeled a warm violet aura throughout his body, achieving a balancing effect. In the blink of an eye, every bit of food in his digestive system was efficiently processed and absorbed. Not a single nutrient went to waste, all thanks to his aura's power.
Overall, the Aura of Empyrean encompasses five distinct abilities:
1. Aura of Catastrophic Waves
2. Aura of Omniscient Perception
3. Aura of Perpetual Renewal
4. Aura of Empyrean Empowerment
5. Aura of Empyrean Dominator
These abilities bestowed Lucius with various options and formidable methods to tackle any challenge.
"Here is your orange juice, young master," Loretta said with a bow, placing a glass of orange juice on the glass table in the living room.
"Thank you very much," Lucius responded with a sweet smile, expressing genuine appreciation for her service.
Grabbing the glass from the table, Lucius began sipping the cold orange juice while watching a comedy show on television. Suddenly, a breaking news segment interrupted the program.
"Damn it—what's this?!" Lucius exclaimed, tossing the TV remote onto the sofa in frustration.
[Breaking News: The terrorist group Silver Wolf has launched an attack in one of the largest malls in New Metropolis. They appear to have taken thousands of visitors hostage, demanding a ransom of 100 million Aetherium. Authorities are currently negotiating while ensuring the safety of the hostages. They also—]
Without hesitation, Lucius turned off the television, his anger boiling over.
"Those Silver Wolf bastards dare to disrupt my quality time!" Veins bulged in his clenched fists and forehead, his face flushed with rage. "I will not forgive them," he muttered in a low, smoldering tone.
Rising from the sofa, Lucius moved to leave the house but was stopped by Loretta just before he reached the door. She approached with a curious inquiry:
"Why are you in such a hurry, young master? Is something wrong? Please tell me if you have any issues. As your maid, I will gladly assist you in resolving them."
Loretta stood directly in front of Lucius, her gaze fixed intently on his eyes, waiting for an answer. Worry was clearly etched on her face.
Lucius deftly explained his intention to deal with the terrorist attack at the mall, though he withheld his personal reasons to avoid appearing impulsive or cliché in Loretta's eyes.
This revelation surprised Loretta, not because of the terrorist attack but rather due to the young master's resolve to confront the Silver Wolf group. Did the young master harbor a hidden streak of heroism unknown to her? Loretta pondered silently, trying to analyze the situation.
Deciding to offer her help, Loretta volunteered to accompany him. "Please take me with you, young master. Although merely a maid, I am also an expert combat Sorcerer."
"Very well. Please prepare the helicopter on the rooftop," Lucius ordered in a neutral tone, skipping any pleasantries.
"Understood, young master," Loretta replied with a deep bow before dashing off to another room.
With no time to waste, Lucius was unwilling to argue further. To him, the comedy show must resume broadcasting as soon as possible, which meant dealing with those damned terrorists swiftly.
∆∆∆
Rockstar Plaza, one of the largest malls and shopping centers in New Metropolis, was typically filled with joy and merriment. However, the atmosphere had turned a complete 180 degrees due to a large-scale terrorist attack orchestrated by the notorious and merciless Silver Wolf group.
Armed to the teeth and clad in bulletproof vests, along with various tactical outfits, Silver Wolf members herded the crouching hostages to a designated area. Unlike ordinary terrorists, Silver Wolf members showed no fear of revealing their faces, as they wore realistic human skin masks that altered their appearances significantly.
The weapons they wielded were not common or cheap firearms like the AK-47; instead, they were high-quality, personally selected armaments. Among them were highly skilled and powerful combat Sorcerers, ready to neutralize any opposition using their magical prowess.
This situation underscored the vast influence and power wielded by the Silver Wolf group.
A gunshot echoed through the air as one of the members fired into the sky upon witnessing an elderly man resisting.
"Hey, you old fossil, stay put and don't interfere with our work if you want to live," the terrorist warned.
"The audacity of youth, knowing no bounds. Who do you think you are, daring to command someone older than yourself—"
The old man's words were abruptly cut short as a bullet pierced his skull. He collapsed to the floor, lifeless, as blood gushed from the bullet wound in his forehead.
Instantly, the air was filled with the hysterical screams of women, their voices echoing with sheer terror. Unable to contain their horror, they wept at the sight of such merciless brutality unfolding before their very eyes. They trembled with fear, dreading the possibility of sharing the old man's fate.
"Older than me? What is there to boast about in being older, if your life was nothing but ordinary when you were young?"
The words came from a young man, tall and muscular, with short dark hair, who spat his contempt at the lifeless body of the old man he had executed so ruthlessly.
"Judging by your reckless behavior, it's clear to me that you were nothing more than a decrepit old fool who achieved nothing of significance in your lifetime," he continued, speaking with palpable disdain as he wiped the blood from the sole of his shoe onto the old man's clothes.
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