"Are you done?" Jake asked, banging on the door of the bathroom. Although it seemed like Arthur had fallen asleep inside the bathroom, it was actually far from that outcome. The crimson-eyed man was nervous.
Jake let out a deep sigh before plopping down on the couch nearby.
The crimson-eyed man had been staying with the Garcias for an entire day now, preparing for his eventual meeting with his family. He saw them once during the final exams, but hadn't gotten the chance to interact with them.
Their smiles on that day sent shivers down Arthur's spine for an unknown reason. They parted on bad terms, and the crimson-eyed man wasn't certain whether they'd forgiven him or not. However, he was also quite excited.
"You're acting like a child!" Jake shouted, banging on the door again. The dirty-blonde haired man was still in his pajamas.
"Just go to the other bathroom!" Arthur responded.
"My hairbrush!" Jake shouted back in a trembling voice. "I can't use a new hairbrush. I can't abandon my hairbrush! I've been using it since I was six. I have memories with that hairbrush! Just get out, already!"
Inside the bathroom, Arthur glanced at a certain black hairbrush. Its spikes were bent, and damaged hair covered the entire brush. The crimson-eyed man formed an expression of disgust before shifting his attention away from Jake's kinks.
Tonight, Arthur would be escorted to the entrance of Heaven's Spire by Gregorio and the Ainsworths. The Ainsworths, after receiving Arthur's assistance in taking down Arcadia Academy, were simply fulfilling their promise.
The people who were supposed to enter Heaven's Spire through Arcadia Academy would now be split between the Garcias and the Ainsworths. Half would enter with the Ainsworths' banner, and the other half would carry the Garcia banner.
The two families would eventually garner enough workforce to ascend from mere lineages to world powers. Perhaps they would establish a Kingdom in the near future, or maybe an entire Empire.
The possibilities were endless, and now that the Millers and Arcadia Academy had fallen, there was no one obstructing their path.
The Jester Organization was quite enthusiastic, since the Ainsworths and Garcias had good relations with Cecilia.
It was only an upward spiral for the two families.
Styling his hair and brushing it back, Arthur slipped into a formal suit. His coat was black, and his tie was a deep, crimson shade. It matched with his eyes, which displayed traces of nervousness as he tucked his shirt into his pants.
After dressing up, he took one last glance at the mirror.
Ever since regressing, he had changed quite a lot. And now, finally, Arthur would begin his journey in Heaven's Spire, a place where everything collided. It was a place connected to all planets in the universe.
But before that, he needed to bid farewell to those he would be leaving behind.
As he exited the bathroom, Jake voraciously leapt inside and slammed the door in the crimson-eyed man's face. Arthur scratched the back of his head, wondering how Jake's hair was immaculate despite him using such a hairbrush.
'Genetics, I guess,' thought Arthur, letting out a sigh. His hair was greasy.
The crimson-eyed man exited the room before heading towards the main hall of the Garcia Estate. In the hall, several sons and daughters of Kyle Garcia were goofing around. Feyrith Garcia was keeping them in check, but Arthur noticed he was having trouble doing so.
"Oh, Arthur!" Feyrith cried, waving his hand enthusiastically. Despite his appearance, the man was quite childish. "Hunter got hurt! Could you help me get him to the infirmary? The others don't care enough to help."
'The Garcias are…' Arthur couldn't find the correct words. He shook his head in disbelief before approaching Hunter Garcia.
The crimson-eyed man extended his arm, and a crimson hue exuded from his palm. Vitality flooded into Hunter's body, and his strained expression lightened slightly. The gash on his knee healed at an exponential rate.
Since both Arthur and Hunter had similar bodies, the latter was easier to heal than someone like Feyrith, whose body was much more powerful. Soon, color returned to Hunter's face, and his breathing steadied.
"Thank you," he said, placing a hand on his chest.
"A healing skill…" Feyrith muttered under his breath. His eyes were wide.
"You're considering keeping me around because of the skill, aren't you?" Arthur inquired, letting out a humorous chuckle. He then stood up before withdrawing the crimson energy. "I don't think that'll happen."
"Do you have a mind-reading skill, too?" Feyrith asked, raising an eyebrow.
The two let out a chuckle simultaneously.
"What are you guys talking about?" Jake asked, walking down the grand stairway while buttoning his cuffs. His hair was neatly parted in the middle and swept to both sides. Also, his suit was immaculate, with a black coat, vest, and a yellow tie.
"Nothing much," Arthur replied, buttoning his coat.
"We should probably go," Jake suggested. "Uncle Gregorio will be waiting for us."
"Uncle?"
"He made me call him that," Jake complained under his breath, letting out a deep sigh while passing by the crimson-eyed man. "Now, shall we go?"
Arthur nodded before following.
*
As the two exited the Garcia Estate, they were faced with Gregorio and the massive entourage that followed him. His guards were dressed in formal attire, while Gregorio donned seemingly medieval robes.
"What is with those clothes?" Arthur asked, forming an expression of disgust.
"Tradition, Arthur," Gregorio replied, entering the golden carriage. He sat in the front, facing backwards, while Arthur and Jake sat in the back, facing forward. The carriage was incredibly luxurious, crafted using pure gold and lined using ruby.
It was befitting of someone like Gregorio.
"Let's go," said Gregorio, and the carriage set off. The three were heading towards a mansion near the outskirts of Arcadia, where Arthur's family was staying. Their living conditions were quite lavish.
Arthur was thankful for that.
A few hours passed, and they finally arrived.
