Chapter 248: Goddess of Fate’s Intervention

Adrian walked hand in hand with Christine as they made their way toward Seraphina's study.

The warm light of the manor's corridors bathed them in a soothing glow, yet Adrian's mind was filled with determination.

He would not allow Christine to remain unawakened. Her future was his responsibility now, and he would shoulder it with unwavering resolve.

As they approached the ornate door to Seraphina's study, Christine tightened her grip on Adrian's hand, her nerves evident. Adrian gave her a reassuring squeeze before pushing the door open.

Seraphina sat at her desk, a pile of scrolls and books spread before her. She was dressed in her usual elegant  mage robes, her blazing red hair cascading down her back.

Her piercing blue eyes lifted from the documents as she noticed them enter.

"Adrian," she greeted with a soft smile, though her tone was laced with curiosity. "Done arranging the manuals for us? Or have you come seeking guidance on another matter?"

Adrian chuckled lightly, closing the door behind him. "The manuals are sorted.  But this time, I'm here about another matter."

Seraphina arched an eyebrow, gesturing for him to continue as she leaned back in her chair.

Adrian motioned Christine forward gently, his voice soft but firm. "It's about Christine. She never had her first baptism. Her father—"

Adrian's voice darkened, his jaw tightening momentarily before he forced himself to relax. "—kept her from it for selfish reasons. I want to help her awaken, but I need your advice."

Seraphina's sharp eyes landed on Christine, who fidgeted under her aunt's gaze.

After a moment, Seraphina's expression softened. "You poor child. What happened to you is cruel and unfair, but I must warn you, Adrian. This will not be easy."

She stood and crossed the room to retrieve a weathered tome from a nearby shelf. Placing it on her desk, she flipped through the pages before stopping at a particular section.

"During my time as Royal Mage, I encountered several children of royals from their mistress outside, who missed their first baptism. Not a single one of them managed to awaken during their second baptism at fifteen."

Christine's eyes widened, and her hands clenched the hem of her dress. Seraphina continued, her voice laced with sympathy.

"Even the records I've read—dating back centuries—make no mention of a successful awakening under such circumstances. It seems the mana circuits within the body calcify over time if they are not activated early."

The weight of her words hung heavily in the air. Christine looked down, her shoulders trembling slightly as disappointment washed over her. "So… it's impossible?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Adrian stepped forward, placing a hand on Christine's head. He ruffled her hair gently, forcing her to look up at him.

"Hey, don't say that. Nothing is impossible, not when your big brother is here. I'll find a way to make this work. I guarantee it."

Christine stared at him with wide, teary eyes, her lips trembling. The sincerity in Adrian's voice made her heart ache, but it also filled her with a glimmer of hope.

Seraphina watched the exchange with a small smile, though she refrained from commenting. Adrian had always possessed an unshakable determination, and she knew better than to doubt him.

Just as Adrian was about to consult his system internally for a potential solution, a sudden, dazzling light filled the room.

It was so intense that both Adrian and Seraphina instinctively shielded their eyes, while Christine let out a surprised gasp.

The brilliance of the light was overwhelming, warm yet calming. As it subsided, Adrian and Seraphina cautiously opened their eyes—and what they saw left them speechless.

Christine stood at the center of the room, bathed in a radiant glow that seemed almost divine. The light enveloped her in a soft, golden aura, and the air around her hummed with an indescribable energy.

Seraphina's eyes widened in astonishment, and she whispered, "This light… it's similar to the light during a baptism ceremony, but… it's different. Warmer. Divine."

Adrian, too, recognized the phenomenon. His memories of the original Adrian's baptism resurfaced, and he immediately understood the source of the light.

Adrian’s breath hitched as he stared at the glowing figure of Christine. The divine warmth radiating from the light wasn’t just reminiscent of a baptism but also of something he felt, he had been in contact not too long ago.

The air seemed to pulse with life, wrapping around Christine like a protective cocoon. The sensation was oddly familiar, yet it bore a depth that he couldn’t immediately place.

Then it hit him.

His eyes widened as the realization washed over him. This wasn’t an ordinary baptismal light, nor was it merely a coincidence.

The divine aura, the atmosphere of unshakable certainty, the sheer power—it all pointed to one source. A higher power was intervening.

And the only higher power Adrian had encountered was Nadia, the Goddess of Fate.

His heart raced, not out of fear, but out of awe. He knew Nadia to be capricious yet bound to her grand designs.

She rarely acted directly in the mortal realm unless the circumstances were extraordinary. For her to step in now…

Before Adrian could even formulate his gratitude in his thoughts, a familiar voice echoed in his mind, tinged with both haughtiness and a begrudging tenderness.

"Hmph! Don’t think I did this for you, boy. I just didn’t want to hear your pathetic excuses later about being too busy trying to awaken this little girl when you inevitably lose to me in our game."

Adrian blinked, momentarily dumbfounded. "Eh? Wait a minute... Is she acting like a tsundere?"

He could almost imagine the goddess pouting indignantly, arms crossed, as she continued. "You should be grateful, mortal, that I deigned to assist. But don’t let it go to your head. This is purely for my convenience. Hmph."

Adrian suppressed the urge to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Nadia, the Goddess of Fate, one of the most powerful beings in existence, had just intervened—and yet she was too proud to admit her intentions outright.

Shaking his head, Adrian pushed aside his amusement and focused on the task at hand.

“Thank you, Nadia” he murmured in his mind, his tone laced with sincerity. “No matter your reasons, I’m deeply grateful for this.”

The goddess didn’t respond, but Adrian could sense her presence retreating, the faintest hint of smug satisfaction lingering in the air.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Adrian refocused on the scene before him. He turned to Seraphina, his voice calm but filled with certainty. "She's been baptized by the Goddess of Fate."

Seraphina's expression shifted from shock to awe as she slowly nodded. "That would explain the nature of this light. It's a blessing far beyond what we mortals can comprehend."

The glow around Christine began to fade, leaving her standing there with wide eyes and a look of wonder. She glanced down at her hands, which now seemed to pulse faintly with mana. "Big brother… I can feel it. The mana… it's everywhere."

Adrian smiled, stepping forward to pull her into a gentle hug. "See? I told you I'd find a way."

Christine clung to him tightly, her heart overflowing with gratitude and joy. "Thank you, big brother. Thank you for everything."

Seraphina watched them with a soft smile, her thoughts racing. A divine intervention was no small matter, and it spoke volumes about Adrian's influence and connections.

She resolved to support him even more steadfastly, knowing that the path he walked was one destined for greatness.

She felt her chest swirl with pride over the brilliance of her man.