Chapter 43: In Between Dream and Reality

"AHHHH!!!!" Adrian screamed out in the middle of the night after waking up. It was loud scream as everyone who was sleeping in the mansion woke up alerted by the scream.

[MASTER NEED TO CALM DOWN. Initializing 'Bodily chemical manipulation']

With Aria 'sedation', Adrian quickly calmed down and survey the room.

It was still dark. The location that the two manuals are supposed to be, are replaced with 2 rings. One is a man's ring adorn with tiny pieces of red ruby around it. The other is a women's ring with a single 1 carat bright blue sapphire on it. He recognizes these rings.

"Analyse"

[Name: Rings of Eternal Vow] [Type: Paired Relic]

[Abilities: Soul Protection]

[Description: Accessories worn by Adam and Eve as promise that the two of them will be reunited.]

"Argh! My head. Aria, do a full scan of my memories. If there are any inconsistency notify me." Adrian holds his head hoping to ease the pain while ordering Aria to so a check up on him. He keeps both of the rings inside the secret compartment in his drawer and sit on the bed while still holding his head.

Suddenly, the door to his room burst open as Adrian expect it too.

"What happen? Son, are you okay?" Malcom rushes in followed by everyone including the Black family and Ralph.

"Why are you screaming in the middle of the night?" Oscar asks Adrian wondering if the boy is okay.

"I'm very sorry to wake everyone up in the middle of the night. I had a scary nightmare. It's all okay, it was just a dream. Please don't worry about it." Adrian tries ease them but it was not very convincing because he was sweating profusely.

"Oh, my boy. You had a nightmare again? Ralph also told us you had a nightmare during your stay at the palace that you couldn't sleep. Do you know what your nightmare is about?" Amanda comes close and hugs Adrian, worrying about his mental condition.

"No. I don't remember it." Adrian replied with a well-hidden lie.

"It must be because of his accumulated fatigue and pressure that he had been having nightmares. You need some calming therapy sometimes, just relax and do something that you wish. No more studying and training for the time being." Grandma Gwen give an advice.

"Hmm… Adrian you should take a break. There is a hot spring vacation spot down south. How about all of us as a family go after this. I will write a letter to Count Shields." Malcom gives Adrian a suggestion. Adrian nods and take up the offer. The last vacation he remembered is the time when he was a kid. His parents form his past life took him to a beach during summer.

Amanda agrees to the suggestion. Since it is winter, soaking in a hot spring is a refreshing feeling. The Black family also agrees with Malcom. As far as they know, the Cross family never had gone to a family vacation.

"Now, that is settle. Let's go back to sleep." Erika said while yawning then head to her guest room.

"Umm… let's go back. Good night boy." Oscar left with Gwen who nods and wave at Adrian. Followed by Malcom, Amanda and Ralph after Amanda give a goodnight kiss on the cheek.

"Adrian, come. You sleep with auntie tonight. I feel bad for a child like you to have nightmares often. Let aunty Rosaria pamper you to bed." Rosaria approach Adrian after everyone left and princess carry him to her guest room. Adrian wanted to fight back but he is too mentally fatigue so he is force to let her be.

Along the way being princess carry, Aria mechanical woman's voice sounded.

[Memory scan complete. Every events are in sync with Master's experience. No abnormalities detected.]

"No abnormalities? Fuh… what did I just experience then?" Adrian thought to himself while being tucked in and cuddle by Rosaria and quickly drifted in to deep sleep.

If you are wondering what Adrian experience until he become mentally fatigue is because he experiences the life of Promordials in the age of Etterra had only a population of 7 in the entire world.

Which Primordial? Adam and Eve… he relived the life of both of them simutaniously. A total of 5000 years of life experience each until mankind fully occupy Etterra flooded into his mind even Aria couldn't detect any difference in Adrian.

"Ah? He is sound asleep." Cassie looked at Adrian's sleeping face while being cuddled by the soft Rosaria.

[…]

When Adrian woke up next morning on Rosaria's guest room it was already late morning. He gets up and walk to the dining room. Ralph is waiting for him to serve him his breakfast.

"Good morning young master. Here is your breakfast. I already warm it up for you. Please eat." Ralph serves Adrian politely even though they all knew Adrian sleep in Rosaria with Rosaria last night after Rosaria told them at breakfast. It is not weird for a 10-year-old boy to sleep with the company of an adult.

"Thanks, Ralph. Where are the others?" Adrian asked while grabbing the spoon to scoop the soup.

"They are in the lounge room right now. The Black family will be departing today but they waited for you to wake up first." Ralph replied.

"Okay, I will go after I eat." Adrian eats his breakfast while his thoughts are all jumble up, unable to differentiate reality or dream.

After a hearty breakfast, Adrian moves to the lounge room and found everybody is there.

"Ah… You already awake. Have you had breakfast?" Grandma Gwen smiled.

"Fufufu… You should thank sister Rosaria for taking care of you last night." Amanda chuckled seeing Adrian had a good night sleep.

"Yes. I'm fine everyone. Thank you for your concern." Adrian thanked them gives an honest smile.

"Is big brother sick?" Marylyn asked as she was in deep sleep yesterday and didn't know the new of what happen to Adrian but she knew he slept with Aunt Rosaria.

"I'm fine Mary you don't have to worry." Adrian walks towards Marylyn and pats her head.

"Okay! Since the boy had woken up its time for a proper goodbye. We have to go, we had lots of things to plan out including Rosaria's wedding and the boy's admission. Sigh." Oscar stands up and reminding the busy days ahead of him. He misses the time to spend with the kids.

"Thank you for letting us stay. It is a fun vacation. Especially with Adrian thinking out games to get us occupy. It's an unforgettable memory. Come meet us if you had the time." Grandma Gwen really had a wonderful time with her grandkids.

"Little Adrian, don't be scared anymore. Everyone is here. Sister Amanda don't forget the dress for Mary to be my flower girl. Thank you for the wonderful time." Rosaria pats Adrian's head and hugs Amanda.

"You can see me at the academy. We will be seeing each other lots later on. I… guess? Goodbye Mary, give your favourite auntie a kiss." Erika actually did not know what to say to Adrian. Speaking to a genius is awkward to her, but for Marylyn, Erika couldn't resist her cuteness.

The Black family bid their farewell and summon the Snowstalkers to the entrance gate with a whistle. All of them hop on its back, say their final farewell and took off while waving goodbye.

"Phew… they finally gone back. Father-in-law's mana pressure stuck me suddenly when I saw him. No offence Amanda. I like when your family came to visit." Malcom wipes the cold sweat hidden in his brows.

"I understand. Now, it's time for our vacation. Quick send the letter to Count Patrick Shields. I want to take a dip in that hot spring." Amanda writes the remark off. Her father's dissatisfaction with her husband was never a secret. She doesn't mind if Malcom hates him but all she wants right now is a Cross family vacation.

"Okay, okay. I get it ready today. The reply and reservation proof will arrive back in four days, and then we can go. Kids, we are going for a trip." Malcom estimates the departure date and announce the family vacation to Marylyn and Adrian.

"Yeay?" Mary jumps excitedly but didn't know the meaning of 'vacation' while Adrian looked towards the direction of the Amber Rose capital expecting something will happen.

Inside the grand reservation room of the Twilight Kingdom palace, 2 men are having a discussion.

"Is it true? Is it really your doing?" The envoy of the holy Dawn Kingdom had been repeating the same questions over 40 minutes ago.

"How many times did I repeat myself? It is me that caused the light incident. The other kingdoms also send an envoy, asking about the same incident. I just do any king should do, telling the truth." King Elijah replies with a lie while still being polite. He cannot be rude to an envoy a small mistake can cause the others to devour his kingdom.

"Sighs… I apologize take much of your time. Please understand that the incident causes the West Continent quite a stir. The pope said that the light had a very faint trace of divine energy. As someone from a Holy Kingdom, we are happy to be allied with the one blessed by the 6 gods. Please, we hope our relationship between our two kingdoms are always under the banner of the gods." The envoy kneels to King Elijah not knowing the misunderstanding he had been led by.

"????" King Elijah becomes confused. Very confused.