Chapter 283: Becoming A Father Part 2

Adrian and Seraphina remained utterly speechless, their minds struggling to process the impossible transformation they had just witnessed.

A child—no, an infant—had aged before their very eyes, nourished by their mana, and now stood before them as a little girl no older than five or six. And yet, what unsettled Adrian even more than the surreal event was the way she looked at him—with innocent, expectant eyes filled with absolute adoration.

As if she had known him her entire life.

"Papa, hug!"

Her tiny hands remained lifted toward him, her smile unwavering, filled with pure joy. Her eyes—one fiery red, the other platinum-white—gleamed with delight as she eagerly awaited his response.

Seraphina opened her mouth, perhaps to protest, to question, but no words came. She could only glance at Adrian, wide-eyed and searching for an answer.

Adrian hesitated. His instincts screamed at him to be cautious, to analyze the situation before making a decision.

But the moment he looked into the child's eyes, all hesitation crumbled.

There was no malice, no deception—just a simple, overwhelming desire to be embraced.

Looking at her innocent appearance, he felt his heart melting.

With a quiet sigh, Adrian bent down and gently lifted the girl into his arms.

The instant he did, she let out a soft giggle and nestled against his chest, her tiny arms wrapping around his neck in a clumsy yet affectionate hug.

"Papa, papa!" she chirped, her voice light and happy as she snuggled closer.

Adrian stiffened slightly, still caught in disbelief. He had been called many things before—trash, lord, master but being called papa?

The word felt… strange. Foreign. Yet, the way she said it, the warmth in her embrace, it tugged at something unfamiliar within him.

Seraphina cleared her throat, finally finding her voice. "Adrian," she started cautiously, her sharp gaze fixed on the girl in his arms. "We need to figure out what's going on. Ask her who she is."

Adrian nodded. He adjusted the child slightly so he could look into her face. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice firm but gentle.

The girl blinked up at him, her expression turning puzzled. Her small brows furrowed in confusion.

"I dunno," she said simply.

Adrian felt a twinge of frustration. "You don't know?"

She tilted her head slightly, as if trying to grasp his question. "What is… 'who'?" she asked, genuine curiosity in her tone.

Seraphina inhaled sharply. "She doesn't even understand the concept of identity?"

Adrian tried again. "What's your name?"

The girl blinked again, looking even more confused. "What is… a name?" she asked, her innocent voice laced with pure curiosity.

Seraphina looked at Adrian, her expression shifting from disbelief to intrigue. "She doesn't have one," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

Adrian exhaled, staring at the girl as she clung to him, her small hands gripping his tunic like she never wanted to let go.

A child without a name. Without an identity.

What exactly was she?

Before he could ponder further, the girl suddenly sniffled, her small nose pressing against his chest.

Then she nuzzled into him, sighing in contentment.

"Papa smells warm," she mumbled sleepily.

Adrian stiffened, his body going rigid at the strange sensation of being sniffed by a child who had just emerged from an ancient capsule.

Seraphina let out a startled laugh, caught off guard by the sight of Adrian, being used as a pillow by a child.

The girl nestled closer, rubbing her cheek against his chest before letting out a soft, pleased hum. "Warm… safe… nice…"

Adrian wasn't sure how to react. He had faced countless foes, fought powerful beings, and stood against impossible odds.

But this…

This tiny child, pressing herself against him with complete trust and attachment, was somehow more terrifying than all of that.

Still, for reasons he couldn't explain, he didn't push her away.

Instead, he instinctively pulled her closer, securing her in his arms.

She let out a happy sigh, her tiny body relaxing completely against him.

Seraphina watched the scene in fascination. "Adrian," she murmured, her lips curving slightly. "I think she's already decided you're her father."

Adrian shot her a look. "That's not how this works."

Seraphina smirked. "Tell that to her."

Adrian glanced down at the girl, who was now comfortably nestled against him, her breathing steady and peaceful.

He sighed. This was going to be a long day.

As the little girl nestled deeper into Adrian’s arms, her small frame radiating warmth, her gaze wandered past his shoulder. The moment she caught sight of Seraphina, her expression lit up with unmistakable delight.

Her mismatched eyes widened, gleaming with excitement.

"Mama!" she chirped, reaching toward Seraphina with her tiny hands.

Both Adrian and Seraphina froze.

Adrian turned his head slowly, watching Seraphina’s reaction with barely concealed amusement.

Seraphina, on the other hand, looked utterly stunned. Her normally sharp and composed demeanor cracked as her eyes flickered between Adrian and the child now eagerly calling her "Mama."

The sheer innocence in the little girl’s face, the absolute certainty with which she had spoken, made it impossible for Seraphina to immediately object.

She pressed a hand to her chest, as if to steady herself. "I—what?" she stammered, blinking rapidly.

The girl, oblivious to the confusion she had just caused, squirmed slightly in Adrian’s arms, wiggling in an attempt to reach Seraphina.

Her voice, sweet and filled with affection, rang out once more. "Mama, hug!"

Seraphina felt something warm bloom in her chest, something she hadn't expected. A gentle tug—an instinct, perhaps—that made her want to hold the child close. But even then, she hesitated. "But I—"

The girl’s lower lip wobbled. Her arms stretched even further toward Seraphina. "Mamaaa," she whined, her tone laced with a soft plea.

That was it.

Seraphina sighed in defeat, shaking her head with a small, reluctant smile. "Well… I suppose I can’t say no to that, can I?"

Adrian smirked, handing the girl over.

The moment Seraphina took her into her embrace, a rush of warmth spread through her chest. The little one wrapped her arms around Seraphina’s neck, holding onto her just as tightly as she had held Adrian.

The red-haired mage let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. It was… nice. This was different from anything she had ever experienced. The child was so small, so delicate, and yet, she carried with her an overwhelming sense of belonging.

The little girl giggled as she pressed her face against Seraphina's shoulder, delighting in the contact. "Mama smells nice too! Like fire and magic!"

Seraphina smiled down at the child, her expression softening further. "And what about you, little one? What do you smell like?"

The girl giggled at the question, her nose scrunching in amusement. "Dunno! Mama and Papa can smell!"

Seraphina chuckled, pressing a gentle kiss to the child's cheek.

The little girl froze for a moment, as if processing what had just happened. Then her face erupted into pure joy.

"Hehehe! Again! Again!" She clapped her hands excitedly, bouncing slightly in Seraphina’s arms.

Adrian raised a brow, smirking. "Now you’ve done it."

Seraphina let out a laugh, indulging the child with another soft kiss on her cheek. "You're quite the demanding little one, aren't you?"