Chapter:28: Preparations are ready, time to evolve
— Junior, you understand the situation, don't you? — Fernando asked, he sighed — Junior, as my son, you have the right to inherit the territory and become the next lord of the territory, however there is a mandatory requirement, you must evolve to the middle kingdom, if you don't reach this kingdom, even if I want to, I won't be able to pass the territory to you — Fernando explained seriously.
— I know dad, you don't need to worry about that, when the time comes I'll be ready — John said smiling slightly.
Fernando stroked John's hair, — Junior, I don't know what gives you so much confidence, life outside the territory is not easy, the weak have no place out there, where even a mosquito can take your life — Fernando said, John rolled his eyes and discovered that Fernando was exaggerating.
TOK TOK TOK
Three knocks sounded at the door, "Come in," Fernando said, then a young maid dressed in black and white entered, "My lord, young sir, the lady requests your presence in the dining room," the maid said respectfully.
— Okay. You can leave now, we'll be right down — the maid bowed and left the room without making a sound, — We'd better go down, no one wants to irritate your mother, not to mention we have visitors, — Fernando said as he walked to the door, John stopped him, — Dad. — Fernando looked back.
— What happened? — John declared, — Dad. About Beatriz and Bárbara Bo, did your mother explain to your father? — Fernando laughed and said, — You don't need to worry, your mother has already talked to me about this matter, there is no problem at all — John sighed upon hearing this, after a few words Fernando left the room and John heard him.
***
In the dining room
When John and Fernando arrived at the table, it was already ready. The maids had already arranged to set everything up. Catherine and Felicia were already in their places. A minute later, Leonel Albert and his daughter, the young Princess Victoria, joined the table as well.
The dining room was silent, everyone was noble after all, the table manners were impeccable, today's dinner looked very plentiful and rich, there was grilled meat, potatoes, stew, good wine and much more, it was a true banquet, the visitors savored their dishes and congratulated them on the food.
During dinner, Victoria the young princess occasionally threw some curious glances, John noticed some of them, but he didn't think much of it, he continued dinner as normal.
***
Venhorst Castle
In Venhorst Castle, there was a part destined for the best employees, those who served directly, Fernando, Catarina, Felícia and John, due to the nature of their work and its importance, they lived inside the castle with their lords.
— Isabella, what are you listening to? Because you are today — Francisca, Isa's mother was worried, Isa, Francisca and Judith were having dinner, but for some reason, Isa was desolate, — Isa, you didn't eat anything, isn't the food good? — Judith asked little Isa's aunt.
After the incident with the mercenaries, which nearly ended John's life a few months later, John brought Isa and her family of three to live here in the castle. Isa and her aunt were given jobs, Isa as John's personal secretary and her aunt Judith became a normal maid. Compared to the life they had in the slums, they were now very well off.
Isa's mother was still as sick as ever, but now she could make minimal efforts and was undergoing treatment.
— It has nothing to do with the food — Isa replied. Francisca looked at her daughter and asked — Are you worried about the young lord? — Isa nodded, — What are you worried about? Everything will be fine tomorrow — Francisca said.
— It's not that. It's just that. I. I — Little Isa's eyes were trembling, a tear threatened to roll down, — Come here, silly — Francisca approached little Isa and hugged her, suddenly the suppressed tears rolled down, — Not now. Everything will be okay — Francisca consoled.
— Mom. I won't. Be any more. Useful to John — Isa stuttered as she cried, she cried for a while, her mother and aunt comforted her, it was then that she calmed down.
— Tomorrow, John will pass his evolution ritual and he will go to the institute — now her words were more coherent, but the sadness was evident in her eyes, — don't worry, the young lord will not abandon you, he intends to take you with him — Judith said, Isa looked at her aunt and wiped her face, — I know, he told me he would take me with him? — said little Isa.
— So, why the crying? — Francisca asked, Isa took a deep breath, — Mom, you know, what's the point of me going with him if I can't evolve, I don't want to be a burden, I want to protect John, just like he protected me — Francisca patted Isa on the back and said, — You won't be a burden, Isabela —
— Mom, but you said that our family's path of evolution was lost a long time ago — Francisca sighed and said, — That may be true, but the path still exists — Isa saw a glimmer of hope in these words, — Where? Mom, where can we find it? — Isa asked.
— I don't know, daughter — Isa became even more depressed, — Daughter, listen carefully. — Isa looked at Francisca, — yes, mother —
— You must have faith, the Young Lord came to talk to me for a while, he assured me that he would find a way for you, he assured me that the world would see the power of our race again — Isa was moved — True — she asked.
— You must believe him — With the passing of time and a few words, Isa's confidence recovered a little, — Wait a moment. — Francisca left for a few moments and came back with a sealed box.
— What is this, mom? — Isa asked curiously. — You just need to give it to him tomorrow, I'm sure he'll know what to do with it, — Isa took the box and shook it a little — Okay, mom, I'll give it to John tomorrow —
***
Still at Venhorst Castle
Ceto and Alex finished their dinner and were having a conversation.
— Son, how was your visit to Novo Rondomdo this time? — Ceto asked, Alex smiled slightly, — It was good, I was with mother this time, she said she will be here tomorrow for the young lord's evolution ritual and mine — Alex said excitedly.
Keto shook his head, "How are you feeling?" Keto asked. "I'm fine, I'm very excited," Alex replied.
— Alex my son, you will gain your warrior powers tomorrow, a new world will open up for you — Alex cut his father off saying — I know dad, that's why I'm excited, —
— I listened to your father first, — said Ceto — I hope you don't forget our family's duty — Alex cut his father off again saying — protect and safeguard the interests of the Venhorst family, serve without question, father has said it so many times that even my head is buzzing with these words —
Ceto sighed, "Very well. Don't stray from this path, tomorrow will be a big day for you and the young lord, you should go to bed early," Ceto said, "Alright, but I don't know if I'll be able to sleep tonight," Alex replied.
After this conversation, Alex went to bed to try to sleep, since his father Ceto insisted a lot, he even said that sleep was crucial for him to evolve.
***
After dinner there was a little conversation, nothing worth mentioning, when it was getting late and it was time to sleep, everyone went to their respective rooms.
When it was already very late, John couldn't sleep, he decided to walk a little, he took a robe and walked to the castle garden, there he looked at the starry sky, on earth due to light pollution it was difficult to look at the stars in the city.
John sat in a comfortable chair in the garden and decided to look at the stars to clear his mind, without realizing a figure followed him and stood at a relative distance observing John's actions, the figure was a woman, the brightness of the moonlight illuminated her face showing who she was.
It was the young princess, she wanted to know more about John, so she decided to follow his movements to see if she discovered anything interesting, she followed John's gaze, and saw the sea of stars in the sky.
John sighed, he was thinking about his sister back on earth, John wondered what she must be like now, it had been some time since he came to this world, he wondered if time in this world flowed the same way as it did on earth, this world looked like medieval Europe, but certain aspects were more advanced than modern earth.
Sigh.
John calculated in his mind the time he had spent here in this world. He was already 8 years and three months old. This, added to the nine months he spent in the womb, would make exactly 9 years in total. On Earth, his sister was 16 years old, considering that time in this world passed in the same way as on Earth.
Your sister's 16 years and your 9 years in this world, your sister would be 25 years old now.
Sigh
John sighed and laughed at the idea he had now, he wondered if his sister at the age of 25 would already have her own family, maybe when he returned to earth one day he would find nephews and nieces.
John then calculated his current age, the age of his mind not the age of his body, when he was on earth, he was 32 years old, now adding the 9 years of this body, his mind would be 41 years old, he smiled bitterly.
John ran his hand over his chin, which was far from growing a beard, and smiled bitterly. Back home, John had not yet started a family, even at 32 years old, it was just him and his 16-year-old sister.
John decided to leave past issues behind, he didn't want to fall into depression, after all tomorrow will be a great day, a sea of possibilities will open up for him.
John grabbed his chest as if he wanted to grab his soul, back in the slums when he was about to lose his life, John had access to his soul sea, where he met, the oni, the baby inside the egg that is trapped in his soul.
According to the words of the oni, when John goes through his first evolution, the oni would appear again, John would inherit a great power that he would have to pay to be able to use such power.
John wondered what power he would inherit from the oni, and what price he would have to pay for the same power, but what John was most anxious for was the answers he wanted to get from the oni.
Last time, John and oni didn't have much time to talk, John wanted to know how he ended up in this world, why he ended up in this world and most importantly how he should return to his previous world on earth.
He would have his answers to all of this tomorrow, which is why he couldn't sleep.
— Beautiful night, isn't it? — John jumped in fright at this sudden voice, — young princess, you scared me — at some point the young princess approached John, and he, lost in his thoughts, didn't notice until she spoke.
— sighs after sighs, what's wrong with you? — Victoria asked, John stood up and bowed to the princess, — I'll have to leave my family soon, that's why I was sighing in sadness — John lied.
— Seriously? — asked Victoria, John scratched his head — Young lady, that's all —
— looking at you from a distance, he looked like an old man thinking about his long-dead wife — Victory joked.
— ha ha ha ha ha —
— hahahahahaha —
John and Victory burst out laughing, "Seriously, an old man? Young Princess, you're really funny." In fact, both John and Victory both forced smiles.
— John, isn't it? — asked Victory, John nodded in confirmation, — tomorrow is your big day, what path of evolution have you chosen? — asked Victory.
— I will be a..— John was about to answer when he was interrupted by Victory — A piece of advice for you, you shouldn't go around telling your path of evolution, just because someone asked —
— Seriously? Why not? — John said, Victory stared at him — Your evolution path tells you what skills you can use, imagine that an enemy knows which path you are from, he will know how to deal with you — warned the princess.
— I understand, thanks for the con... — John was thanking her for the advice, when suddenly a wind blew and the young princess Victoria disappeared.
Sigh.
John sighed and thought this was cool, as an otaku, he had seen many anime characters do this, leaving a person talking to themselves, he made a mental note to do this in the future.
As it was already very late, John decided to go to sleep, after all tomorrow will be a big day.
John left the garden and went to his room, where after a while he fell asleep.
***
Early in the morning John got ready and took a shower and put on some casual clothes, a maid came and helped John, he and the maid went down to the living room and everyone was there, he respectfully greeted everyone in the living room.
In the room were Fernando, Catarina, Felicia, Ceto, Alex, Isa, Prince Leonel Albert, the young Princess Victoria Albert and Alex's mother, Ceto's wife Selestia Arcano.
Isa walked over to John and picked up a box and handed it to him. John took the box. "What is this?" John said. Isa shook her head. "I don't know, my mother told me to give it to you." Isa replied. John was confused. "Did she say what it was for?" John asked. Isa shook her head again.
John looked at Fernando — Dad, do you know what this is? — Fernando reached out and the box flew into Fernando's hands, then Fernando said — Junior, remember to thank me for this gift later —
— What is this, father? "John asked. — This is the powdered bone of a werewolf. — Fernando said. — Powdered ash? — John and Isa asked at the same time. — It is very important, it is a treasure, that is why werewolves are constantly hunted. — Fernando said.
— And what are they for — said John — using the zones of a werewolf in an evolution ritual, increases a person's potential by 30% and will now have a 30% chance of awakening a golden core, so you should be grateful — Fernando said with joy on his face.
— We had better go now, — said Prince Albert.
Following Prince Albert's words, Ferdinand, Catherine, Felicia, the young Princess and John, walked to the castle's catacombs, Ceto, Alex. Isa and Alex's mother, Selestia Arcano, dedicated in the living room.
Continued in the next chapter....