Chapter 141
The sun began to peek over the horizon, casting a soft, golden hue across the room as Draco stirred awake.
The remnants of last night's festivities still clung to him, a lively revelry shared within the familia over their level up.
He had promised Vasiliki a special breakfast, and despite the lethargy that wrapped around him like a heavy blanket, he knew he had to rise to the occasion.
‘Ugh, must be all that sugar from drinking so much juice,’ he mumbled to himself, pinching lightly at his thigh to shake off the drowsiness.
The sharp sting was enough to jolt him into action.
With a determined huff, Draco pushed himself upright, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.
After a brief morning ritual in the bathroom, he rummaged through his limited wardrobe.
The remnants of yesterday’s outfit would have to do; he couldn’t bear to touch the other clothes reserved for the evening when he would escort their goddess, Bahamut, to the Denatus meeting.
He took a moment to splash his face with water, trying to clear the fog from his mind.
Dressed and somewhat revitalized, Draco made his way to the kitchen, a hint of excitement bubbling beneath his fatigue.
His heart sank when he recalled that the fresh berries he had meticulously prepared for Vasiliki had spoiled during his two-day unconsciousness.
“We really need a fridge… or some kind of magic preservation tool,” he grumbled, frustration creeping in.
He had resisted splurging on magical appliances, wanting to save his money for the aftermath of the evilus event.
Determined to salvage his breakfast plans, Draco grabbed his cloak and hurried out to a local fruit vendor.
The streets of Orario were bustling with activity as he navigated through the throng of people.
Colourful stalls lined the pathways, their owners shouting to entice passersby.
After gathering fresh berries, a medley of fruits, and some crisp vegetables, he made his way back home, his arms laden with supplies.
As he entered, he found Clair emerging from her room, her hair tousled and eyes still heavy with sleep.
“Good morning, Draco,” she greeted awkwardly, the words hanging in the air like a fragile glass ornament.
“Ah, good morning, Clair,” he replied, his voice lacking the usual warmth.
An uncomfortable silence settled between them, a reminder of the unspoken feelings that lingered since he had rejected her love confession.
It was an odd and heavy weight that neither of them could seem to shake off yet.
“Um, I see you’re making breakfast. Need any help?” Clair offered, her voice slightly hesitant.
She wanted things to quickly go back to normal, but she didn’t know how.
She just couldn’t bring herself herself to act indifferent when they were alone.
“No, I can handle it. I’m just making Vasiliki the meal I promised,” Draco responded, trying to keep her away for now.
He too didn’t know how to deal with the current her.
“Oh,” Clair replied, her expression shifting to a mix of annoyance and resignation. She envisioned Vasiliki enjoying the fruits of Draco’s labor, and a pang of annoyance shot through her.
“Ahem, I’m going to go now. Help me wake Bahamut in about an hour, okay?” Draco said quickly, retreating to the kitchen as though escaping the tension that hung in the air.
………………
An hour later, Draco stood in the kitchen, bustling about as he finished preparing both Vasiliki’s special meal and breakfast wraps for the rest of the familia.
He knew Vasiliki would want to show off her meal to the others, so he put extra care into it: a warm porridge drizzled with honey and cinnamon, fluffy pancakes piled high with berries, cream, chocolate, and jam, along with a beautifully crafted breakfast wrap.
He had made smaller portions, mindful of her appetite.
The breakfast wraps consisted of; eggs, bacon, some crisp veggies and a tasty sauce.
As the day struck 10 a.m., the familia began to gather around the table, the atmosphere lively and charged with excitement.
It had been a while since Draco had made any meals for them.
Vasiliki, in her usual animated fashion, regaled them with exaggerated taunts, her gestures punctuating her words as she ate.
As he predicted, breakfast became quite a noisy affair filled with various complaints about his bias, but it was also a welcome distraction for Draco.
His mind often drifted to the impending Denatus meeting and the uncertainty that loomed over it.
Once breakfast concluded, Draco sought out Bahamut, remembering he had forgotten to request a status update from her after his transformation, the previous day.
As he reviewed his status sheet, a wave of satisfaction washed over him.
Unlike most adventurers whose stats reset to 0 upon levelling up, his had started from 300.
While it was modest compared to his maximum potential, it was a very welcome boon.
It was speculated that his growth speed would significantly reduce after his transformation, but it wasn’t all losses as a decent portion of his maximum potential had also been made usable.
…………………
Time slipped away, and soon evening approached with surprising swiftness.
Dimitra, Eleni, and Clair buzzed around the house, each vying to select the perfect outfit for Bahamut.
Meanwhile, Draco had long since changed into a fitted button-up tunic adorned with golden trims, its unbuttoned front revealing his well-defined physique.
He paired it with a golden necklace, sturdy black trousers and polished leather boots, a look that balanced elegance, laziness and readiness.
Yet, despite his outward appearance, his mind remained clouded with worry.
Bahamut had yet to inform him how she intended to handle any hostile gods at the meeting, and every time he asked, she only reassured him with, “Don’t worry, I will handle it.”
‘Sigh, I still have to make preparations. You can never be too careful,’ he thought, his brow furrowing as he considered the unknown variables of the evening ahead.
While he doubted any immediate threats loomed, caution was a virtue he couldn’t ignore.
Draco made the decision to instruct his familia to stay near the city gates for the rest of the day.
If the worst should happen, it was better to be prepared for a swift exit from Orario.
Minutes later, Bahamut stepped out, and the sight of her took Draco’s breath away.
She wore a flowing, waist-cinching dress in charcoal black, its elegance heightened by shimmering silver accessories that caught the light with every movement.
It was paired with a strappy sandal and a silver pendant.
To finish her outfit, a light airy shawl was worn, the delicate fabric accentuated her ethereal wings and silver hair, while her captivating eyes sparkled with an otherworldly allure.
“Like what you see?” Bahamut teased, catching him off guard as he momentarily forgot his worries.
“Ahem,” Draco coughed, slightly embarrassed at being caught staring.
“Shall we depart?” he asked, avoiding her gaze as he led the way to the carriage.
“Tsk, damn lovebirds,” Vasiliki muttered under her breath, though Draco pretended not to hear her snide remark.
Now seated in front of the carriage, Draco turned to his familia.
“You all remember the plan, right?” he inquired.
“Yea, yea, we know. Just get going already,” Vasiliki replied, a annoyed smirk on her face.
“Yeah, make sure Bahamut-sama picks good aliases for us!” Vasileios added.
“Hmm, I will keep that in mind” Draco replied.
Just before he led the horses forward, Draco turned to Dimitra.
“Dimitra, your in charge. Don’t let those two gremlins get into any trouble.” Draco cautioned, referring to Michalis and Vasiliki.
They were not pleased.
“Oh and don’t spend too much, and…” Draco started, but he was swiftly interrupted.
“Alright, we get it! Just get going Draco nii!” Nikolaos interjected, a sigh breaking through his otherwise serious demeanour.
With a resigned sigh, Draco led the horses forward, watching as his familia disappeared into the distance.
‘I hope all ends well,’ he thought, his gaze drawn to the Babel tower in the distance.