Chapter 3: A Nice Dinner

Cassian stepped out of the hover taxi before the vehicle levitated higher and zoomed off into the distance.

​He found himself standing in a low-end district where the buildings were noticeably older and far less refined than the sleek structures surrounding the Lord Association building.

Heading toward one of those worn residential blocks, he pushed through the entrance and began climbing a flight of stairs.

​"The landlord is still being a cheapskate, refusing to fix the elevator while we tenants suffer for it! One of these days, I’m going to—oh, Cassian, you’re back. How did the procedure go?"

​An elderly neighbor was descending the stairs, grumbling to himself before catching sight of Cassian.

​"Good evening, Mr. Atlas. It went well," Cassian replied with a modest nod. "I successfully awakened as a Lord."

​"Ah, sorry to hear that... The dream of becoming a Lord is one that many hold, but few ever reach. I remember when I turned twenty-five and had to undergo the procedure. The sheer amount of mana they pump into you makes you wonder if becoming a Lord is even worth—wait a second!"

​Mr. Atlas froze completely, turning to stare at Cassian as if he had just transformed into an alien right before his eyes.

​"Did you just say you became a Lord?!"

​’There it is,’ Cassian thought to himself, stifling a chuckle as he gave a firm nod.

​The old man went dead silent, gazing at Cassian with wide eyes as if the young man had suddenly turned into a galactic celebrity.

​"Congratulations, kid! I never doubted you’d awaken for a second."

​"Right. I’m sure you were brimming with faith."

​Mr. Atlas let out a shameless laugh. "Look, as a celebration for your big moment... I should ask your mother out to dinner tonight!"

​"Get lost, old man," Cassian joked, brushing past him.

​Having grown up around the old neighbor, he was completely immune to Atlas’s usual absurd antics.

​Atlas let out a boisterous laugh as he continued heading downstairs, shaking his head in disbelief.

​"Can’t believe the kid actually did it... Just wait until the rest of the floor hears about this!"

Cassian watched Atlas walk away, as a solemn look settled over his face.

​Atlas had always been a good man. He and the other residents had helped raise Ruby and looked after Seraphina whenever he was away in the Lord’s Domain, treating one another like family despite sharing no blood.

​Their deaths haunted him far more than many of the horrors he had witnessed in his previous life.

What made it even harder to accept was that they hadn’t died at the hands of the Tier VII Lord who would one day destroy the Astral Dominion. Instead, they had lost their lives to something far more mundane, a greedy landlord’s negligence.

​When the poorly constructed building eventually collapsed, most of its residents were buried beneath the rubble, including Atlas. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

Only Seraphina and Ruby had escaped that fate, thanks to the new home Cassian had purchased for them shortly before the tragedy.

​Cassian shook his head. This was one of the many fates he fully intended to rewrite.

​Walking down the hall to his apartment, he unlocked the door. The moment it swung open, a blur of blond hair shot across the room and slammed straight into his legs.

​Ruby clung to him like a koala, her bright green eyes shining with pure happiness. She tilted her head back to look at him, revealing the gap where one of her front teeth had recently fallen out.

The missing tooth made her grin even more adorable, and paired with her messy blond hair and energetic expression, she looked every bit the little troublemaker she was.

​"Dad! Welcome home!"

​Cassian scooped the little bundle of joy up into his arms, pecking her on the cheek with a warm smile.

​"Since when did you start welcoming me at the door? Don’t tell me it’s because of the ice cream."

​Ruby’s eyes immediately feigned confusion.

​"...Ice cream?"

​"Ruby."

​"Okay, it is," she admitted without a shred of shame, flashing him that toothy, gap-filled grin once more. "But I was happy to see you too!"

​"In that order?" Cassian asked suspiciously.

​"The ice cream doesn’t buy itself, Dad."

​"..."

​’Where did I go wrong in my parenting?’ Cassian joked to himself as he carried her inside.

However the moment he did he was greeted by the familiar, comforting sight of his home.

It wasn’t extravagant by any means, but it was warm and spacious enough for the three of them.

The flat contained three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a modest kitchen, and a cozy living area that flowed seamlessly into a small dining space.

​Warm lighting illuminated the rooms, while family photos and Ruby’s colorful drawings decorated the walls, giving the place a lived-in atmosphere no luxury mansion could ever replicate.

The mouthwatering scent of home-cooked food lingered faintly in the air, and for the first time all day, Cassian felt the tension in his shoulders melt away.

​"Is my Lord back?" Seraphina called out warmly from the kitchen. "Hurry up and wash your hands. I’m setting the table!"

​"Okay, Mom," Cassian replied.

​He set Ruby down on her feet and headed off to prepare for dinner.

....

The aroma was the first thing to hit him the moment he entered the dining area.

Sitting at the center of the table was a large bowl of steaming white rice, each grain fluffy and distinct. Beside it rested a pot of rich curry sauce, its deep golden-brown color glistening beneath the lights.

​Chunks of tender meat peeked through the thick sauce, accompanied by diced vegetables slow-cooked until they practically melted into the curry.

Wisps of fragrant steam curled upward, carrying the mouthwatering scent of spices throughout the room.

​It wasn’t a lavish feast worthy of a Lord. There were no rare ingredients or expensive delicacies, just a simple homemade meal prepared with care.

​Yet to Cassian, who had spent countless days surviving on ration packs and battlefield provisions in his previous life, the sight of the modest dinner was enough to make his stomach growl.

More importantly, it reminded him that some of life’s greatest comforts couldn’t be measured by wealth or power.

​Seraphina began dishing out the food. She served Ruby first, who immediately dug into her portion like a hungry little gremlin. Next, she served Cassian, piling the largest portion of rice onto his plate along with the lion’s share of the meat.

Finally, she served herself and took her seat.

​Just as Cassian was about to dig in, he cleared his throat.

​"I received some money for successfully awakening. I’ll transfer a portion of it to you."

​Seraphina immediately shook her head.

​"That won’t be necessary, honey. That money is meant for your development in the Lord’s Domain. Don’t worry about us for now. Focus on establishing yourself first. Once you’ve settled down, then you can think about taking care of us."

​Cassian fell silent before eventually nodding.

​The truth was, the money wasn’t particularly important at the moment. Within the Lord’s Domain, the universal currency was Lord Coins, not Astral Coins.

Even if he converted every single coin he possessed, the resulting amount of Lord Coins would be insignificant, nowhere near enough to purchase anything of real value.

​More importantly, he already knew his greatest opportunities wouldn’t come from throwing money around. They would come from leveraging the future knowledge and advantages he possessed.

​Pushing those thoughts aside, Cassian picked up his utensils and turned his attention back to the table. The rich aroma of curry filled his senses as he scooped up a mouthful of rice and sauce.