Chapter 4: Neighbors

After dinner, Cassian helped Seraphina clear the plates and carry them to the kitchen. Meanwhile, Ruby grabbed a cloth to wipe down the dining table.

​As they stood side by side at the sink, Cassian couldn’t help but steal side glances at his mother.

​Seraphina’s once-vibrant red hair had faded with age, strands of silver beginning to weave through it, yet it still framed her face with a quiet elegance.

Her blue eyes remained as clear as ever, carrying a warmth that had comforted him throughout his life.

Time had left its marks, faint wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and subtle signs of years spent working to support her family, but none of it diminished her beauty.

​If anything, it gave her a grace that youth alone could never provide. Looking at her now, it wasn’t difficult to imagine how stunning she must have been in her younger days.

Even after everything life had thrown at her, she carried herself with a quiet dignity.

At that moment ​Seraphina caught him looking and raised an eyebrow.

​"Honey, if you’re done staring at your poor old mother, maybe you should start looking for a nice woman instead."

​Cassian nearly dropped the plate he was washing. "Mom..."

​"I’m serious," she continued smoothly. "Not like that girl you dated before. I want a civilized lady, someone polite, responsible, and capable of keeping you in line when you inevitably do something stupid."

​"That’s a very specific set of requirements."

​"After seeing your taste in women, I think I’m entitled to be specific."

​Cassian could only sigh, yielding victory to Seraphina’s satisfied smile.

​A moment later, her expression turned serious. "So, what are your plans for the future now that you’ve become a Lord?"

​Cassian froze, his hands still submerged in the dishwater. A solemn look settled over his face before he turned to meet her gaze.

​"I plan to become the strongest Lord the cosmos has ever witnessed," he said, his voice quiet but absolute. "One so powerful that no one would ever dare go against me, or hurt those close to me. That’s my plan."

​Seraphina fell silent, searching his eyes. Then, a warm, soft smile spread across her face.

​"Well, as long as you set your mind to it, son, I believe you can accomplish anything."

​Cassian returned the smile. "Thanks, Mom."

​"Don’t mention it. Just make sure to take me out on a luxury spa day once you’ve settled into the Lord’s Domain. Taking care of you has given me serious back pain."

​"I don’t think it’s just from taking care of me," Cassian teased. "Mr. Atlas must really be working hard."

​Seraphina splashed a handful of soapy water straight into his face. "You cheeky brat!"

​Cassian chuckled, wiping the suds from his cheek.

​Before the banter could continue, the doorbell chimed through the apartment. Ruby poked her head into the kitchen a moment later. "Grandma! Dad! Mr. Atlas and the others are at the door!"

​Cassian gave his mother a suggestive eyebrow raise, earning a sharp glare in return.

​"You should really clean that mind of yours, honey," she huffed, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "I wonder what they want."

​Together, they left the kitchen and headed toward the front door.

....

Mr. Atlas and three other neighbors, Mr. Parker, Mr. Wayne, and Mrs. Diana, all sat in the living room with Cassian and Seraphina.

​Seraphina looked around at the unexpected gathering and smiled warmly. "To what do I owe the pleasure of such a late visit?"

​Mr. Parker was the first to speak. "Atlas told us Cassian successfully awakened."

​Beside him, Mr. Wayne snorted. "The man couldn’t stop bragging. You’d think he was the one who awakened."

​Atlas immediately clutched his chest as though struck by a fatal blow. "That’s hurtful, Wayne. Truly hurtful."

​"Was I wrong?"

​"Of course you were!" Atlas protested. "I’m practically like a father to the kid. Of course I’m going to be proud!"

​"A father?" Mrs. Diana raised an eyebrow. "Since when?"

​"Ever since I decided it just now."

​Everyone stared at the man’s shameless expression, and even Cassian couldn’t help but shake his head.

Atlas held out for a few more seconds under the weight of the room’s judgment before finally coughing awkwardly into his fist.

​"Anyway, that’s not why we’re here."

​The room grew attentive as Atlas leaned forward, a genuine smile replacing his antics. "We came to congratulate you properly, kid."

​Mr. Parker nodded in agreement. "Successfully awakening as a Lord isn’t something that happens every day."

​"Especially in this building," Wayne added.

​Mrs. Diana smiled softly. "You’ve worked hard. We thought the occasion deserved more than just a message."

​Cassian looked around at the familiar faces gathered in his home. In his previous life, these people had died crushed beneath the rubble of this very apartment building.

Yet here they sat, laughing, teasing one another, and celebrating his achievement as if it were their own.

​For a moment, Cassian found himself smiling from the bottom of his heart. "Thanks."

​It was a simple word, but it carried far more sincerity than any of them could ever realize.

"Well, it’s alright, kid," Atlas said. "Besides, we didn’t just come here to offer congratulations. We all chipped in to get you something."

Cassian opened his mouth to stop them, but a sharp pinch to his leg from Seraphina silenced him. A second later, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

​Pulling it out, a glowing bank notification filled the screen:

​[Astral Bank Notification]

​Incoming Transfer Received

Amount: ⍟10,000,000

Sender: Atlas Reed

Transaction ID: AD-78294156

Time: 20:47:13

​"Congratulations on your successful awakening, kid. Don’t spend it all in one place." — Atlas Reed

​Available Balance: ⍟10,100,031

​Thank you for banking with Astral Dominion Interstellar Bank.

​Seraphina stared at the notification in shock, while Cassian was left completely stunned.

​In his past life, he hadn’t run into Atlas on the stairs because he hadn’t been delayed in the restroom.

That tiny butterfly effect had led to this moment. Ten million Astral coins was a life-changing fortune for an ordinary family in the lower district. Cassian was momentarily rendered speechless.

​Seraphina gently nudged him with her elbow. "Cassian."

​"Hm?"

​"Aren’t you forgetting something?"

​Realization dawned on him. Bowing his head slightly toward Atlas, Cassian spoke with genuine humility. "Sorry for my lack of manners... I was just shocked by the amount. Thank you, Mr. Atlas."

​Atlas waved a hand dismissively, a proud smile on his face. "Don’t thank just me. We all chipped in."

​The others nodded in agreement.

​"It’s not every day someone from our building awakens as a Lord," Mr. Parker said softly.

​​In the next moment Atlas’s expression grew surprisingly serious. "Being a Lord is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, kid. Most people would kill for a chance like this. Make sure you use it to the fullest."

​The room quieted down under the sudden gravity of his words.

​Mr. Wayne nodded gravely. "He’s right."

​"Don’t waste the opportunity you’ve been given," Mrs. Diana said gently.

​Cassian looked at each of them in turn before giving a firm nod. "Thank you."

​His voice carried far more weight this time.

​"I won’t forget this. And I promise I’ll repay every single one of you someday."

​Atlas immediately burst out laughing. "Repay me? No need!"

​A mischievous grin spread across the old man’s face. "Just let me go out with your mother and we’ll call it even."

​The room erupted into laughter once more.

​"Atlas!" Seraphina glared at him, while Atlas shamelessly shrugged.

​"What? A man can dream."

​Still shaking her head, Seraphina headed into the kitchen and returned with a bottle of wine. She poured glasses for the adults and handed Ruby a juice box instead.

​Soon, the small living room was filled with warm conversation, hearty laughter, and the gentle clinking of glasses.

​Cassian sat quietly and watched it all.

​The happiness. The laughter. The warmth.

​All things he had lost once before.

​Looking around at the people gathered in his home, Cassian made a silent, unshakeable vow. No matter what it took, he would protect this.