Chapter 27: The Bonds Of Parting.

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: The Bonds Of Parting.

The system interface hovered before Aeon’s eyes, and without a single moment of hesitation, he gave his precise mental directive.

’Bind.’

[DING]

[Binding target, Damian Darkmore]

[Binding Successfully]

[You have successfully bonded with the target.]

[Do you wish to initiate 100× return]

[NOTE: Master, it is highly advised to defer the active integration of amplified returns until you enter the isolated, stable territory of the Infinite Omniverse Dimension.]

Aeon reviewed the rapid system update, clearly understanding the protective warning. Before he could analyze the metrics further, an additional system overlay flared to life directly over his vision.

[DING]

[Congratulations! Mission Successful]

[You have made your first bond. Initiating the quest reward]

[You have gained 1× Binding Slot]

Aeon offered a subtle nod of absolute satisfaction,with the result. However, his focus was abruptly broken by a sudden spike of hostility from right behind him.

Furious at being brushed past and completely ignored, Damian’s fragile noble pride shattered into pure humiliation. Shifting his posture, he cocked his right fist back and threw his entire physical weight into a wild, frantic swing toward the side of Aeon’s face.

"You absolute piece of shit! Eat this, you fucking bastard!" Damian roared, his voice cracking with rage.

Aeon didn’t even bother turning his head around to face the attack. He easily side-step, allowing the desperate punch to slice harmlessly through empty air. Moving with seamless fluid movement, Aeon subtly extended his foot directly into Damian’s path, causing him to fall.

Thud!

Losing his center of gravity completely, Damian tripped over and face-planted violently onto the polished stone floor.

Aeon didn’t pause his step. He purposefully marched straight forward, placing the heavy sole of his boot directly onto the center of the fallen boy’s back.

"Aaargh!" Damian shrieked, squirming desperately beneath the boot as a wave of intense physical pain and profound humiliation consumed him.

"You bastard! You dare to humiliate me?! I will make absolutely certain to tell my father about this!"

Aeon temporarily halted his stride, casting a flat, thoroughly amused look over his shoulder down at Damian. ’Is this kid seriously trying to leverage his father right now?’ Aeon thought, a wave of profound confusion washing over him. ’Well, realistically, I suppose I can’t completely blame his mindset. He is just a ten-year-old child, after all. It’s only natural for a kid of that age to cry to their parents when they lose. But running to his father over a hallway trip is embarrassing for someone at his level of nobility.

A clever, wicked idea then flashed through Aeon’s mind. A subtle, mocking smirk curved his lips as he lifted his hand to tap the holographic interface of his wristwatch.

He locked his gaze onto Damian, his tone perfectly flat. "What exactly did you just say?"

Damian, still pinned beneath the edge of his boot, slowly tried to crane his neck upward. Seeing the calm expression on Aeon’s face, he mistook the quiet look for fear and let out a trembling, venomous smirk.

"What’s the matter? Are you finally starting to feel terrified, you bastard?! I said I’m going to tell my father every single detail of what you just did to me!"

Aeon deliberately adopted an expression of complete, innocent confusion, his voice sounding entirely calm and detached. "Tell him about what? What exactly are you planning to tell your father?"

Thoroughly irritated by Aeon’s total lack of fear, Damian managed to scramble to his feet. His face was a shifting mask of deep embarrassment and unbridled anger as he pointed a shaking finger at Aeon’s chest.

"I...I will tell him how you layout an illegal trap to assault and humiliate a fellow ducal heir! I will make absolutely sure you pay for this with your blood!"

Aeon had zero intention of wasting any more of his time on him. He gave the face of his wristwatch one final tap, an amused smirk playing across his features as he turned his back on the screaming boy and resumed his walk down the corridor, before tossing a word over his shoulder.

"Idiot."

Hearing the same insulting word thrown at him for the second time, Damian shook with absolute frustration, shouting down the length of the hall.

"Damn you, Aeon! Enjoy your arrogant attitude for now! One day, I will personally teach you a lesson you will never forget!"

Aeon didn’t bother slowing his pace. He simply continued navigating the labyrinthine corridors alongside Emma. The tiny golden fairy remained completely unbothered by the dramatic exchange, casually floating around his head as they moved.

Aeon spent the next hour exploring the vast layout of the outer palace grounds with Emma before deciding it was time to check back in with his parents.

As they navigated the sprawling courtyards, a steady stream of passing nobles filtered through the pathways. The lower ranking Counts and Viscounts instinctively bowed as they crossed paths with him, while the higher ranked Marquises offered polite, sophisticated greetings.

Aeon returned each gesture with perfect, respectful etiquette, his eyes continuously surveying the crowd. He was actively looking for a glimpse of Sophia or Alex , but neither had appeared yet.

Eventually, he arrived outside the heavy mahogany double doors of his family’s private suite and tapped against the wood.

"Come in, son," Aldrich’s deep, resonant voice echoed clearly from the other side, smoothly inviting him inside. For a powerhouse sitting at the SSS-rank, tracking Aeon’s approach through his sense was an effortless task.

Click.

Pushing the door open, Aeon stepped inside the luxurious room. Aldrich and Elisabeth were currently seated around a table, gracefully dabbing their lips with silk handkerchiefs, indicating they had just finished their morning breakfast.

Aldrich took a brief sip of water before standing up to his full height, his sharp gaze locking onto his son. "Are you fully prepared to head out, son?"

Aeon nodded respectfully, quickly raising a question. "Yes, Father. But have the Storm and Solaris families already departed? I want to say a proper goodbye to Alex and Sophia, since our training schedules mean we won’t be seeing each other for the next five years."

He needed to secure physical contact to initialize Boundless Bond before their paths diverged.

Following the conclusion of the Awakening Ceremony, the newly awakeners would spend the next five years locked away within their respective territories for training and cultivation, before officially applying to the Academies.

Elisabeth stood up from her chair and glided across the room, reaching out to affectionately stroke her son’s white hair. "They haven’t left yet, dear. Don’t worry, we can all walk to the departure docks together to say our..wait, why do you suddenly look a bit taller?"

She paused mid-sentence, her brow furrowing in deep confusion. She clearly remembers that her son’s physical height had not been at this level just twelve hours ago.

Aeon had successfully gained nearly five inches of extra physical height during his six months of accelerated runic body tempering inside the dimension. While the change was subtle for a growing dragon child, it was impossible for the sharp senses of his SSS-rank parents to miss.

Aldrich stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he scanned his son’s physical frame.

Aeon immediately masked his expression into one of innocent confusion. He reached up to awkwardly rub the back of his neck, secretly relieved to hear his targets were still within the palace.

"Honestly, I don’t really know, Mother. I woke up feeling a bit different. I suppose it might be a positive side effect of the Awakening process, or perhaps my physique is starting to naturally alter my biology. I’m completely unsure."

The Duke and Duchess exchanged a brief look of worry and parental confusion, before Elisabeth asked again, her tone soft with maternal concern. "Did you experience any other physiological symptoms or internal discomfort when you woke up?"

Aeon shook his head reassuringly, stepping forward to gently hold his mother’s hand to dispel her anxiety. "No, Mom. I feel perfectly fine. In fact, ever since the Awakening, I feel significantly stronger than ever before."

Hearing his definitive reassurance, the heavy tension in his parents’ shoulders dissolved, and they let out a sigh of relief. "Alright, then. Let’s get moving," Aldrich said, clapping a heavy hand firmly against Aeon’s shoulder. "The other families are likely already waiting for us at the private airport."

A short while later, the Astaraeas family arrived at the secure, private imperial airport reserved exclusively for the high nobility of the Drakonius lineage.

Standing outside the boarding gates of their respective transport vessels were the direct members of House Storm and House Solaris.

Aeon’s eyes lit up with absolute delight upon spotting them. Moving with purpose, he quickly walked toward Alex Storm. Before the blue haired boy could even register the sudden approach, Aeon reached out and casually rubbed his hand through Alex’s hair.

Instantly, the crisp, glowing red interface of his system snapped open directly over his vision.

[DING]

[You have successfully touched a tourget]

[Do you wish to initialize the Boundless Bond]

’Yes,’ Aeon replied instantly.

[DING]

[Binding target, AlexanderStorm]

[Binding Successfully]

[You have successfully bonded with the target.]

[Do you wish to initiate 100× return]

’No. Hold the sequence for now,’ Aeon directed mentally. While triggering the 100x amplification algorithm wouldn’t cause any immediate physical disruptions, integrating a massive wave of returned rewards required his absolute, uninterrupted focus. He would handle the integration inside his dimension later.

Alex flinched under the sudden hand movement, a trace of mild irritation crossing his face as he batted Aeon’s hand away.

"Come on, Aeon! Stop it! I’ve told you a thousand times to stop messing with my hair like that!"

Aeon let out a soft laugh, giving his friend a playful nudge. "Hahaha, my bad. But think about it, Alex, we won’t be seeing each other for the next five years. Consider this the very last time I’ll get to tease you before we meet at the Academy."

Hearing the reality of the timeline, Alex’s confident demeanor dropped instantly, his shoulders slumping as he looked down at the floor. Aeon was his absolute best friend. Knowing they were about to enter a five-year period of total isolation was not pleasant news to his ears.

However, someone else took the news of the separation significantly harder.

Standing just a few feet away, Sophia Solaris dropped her gaze entirely. Her small hands clutched tightly at the fabric of her vibrant red gown, her shoulders trembling slightly as her deep red, gem-like eyes grew visibly moist, looking as though she were on the absolute verge of crying right then and there.

Aeon looked over at her, a wave of genuine remorse passing through his mind. With his psychological maturity, he was fully aware of the young dragoness’s deep affection for him.

But his inner adult conscience didn’t allowed him that. ’How can I?’ Aeon reasoned, deliberately pushing the thought aside. ’I’m an adult soul inside a child’s body; I’m not a pervert. Once she grows up into a fine, mature young woman in the future, things might change, but right now, she’s just a child.’

Despite his logical reservations, he genuinely cared for her safety. Aeon stepped across the distance, closing the space between them as he wrapped her into a tender, reassuring embrace.

"It’s going to be completely fine, Sophia," Aeon said softly at her. "The five years will pass before you know it, and we’ll reunite at the Academy. In the meantime, focus completely on your training and get stronger. I’ll be doing the exact same thing on my end, so that when the time comes, I will have the power to protect you from anything."

[DING]

[You have successfully touched a tourget]

[Do you wish to initialize the Boundless Bond]

’Yes.’

[DING]

[Binding target, SophiaSolaris]

[Binding Successfully]

[You have successfully bonded with the target.]

[Do you wish to initiate 100× return]

’No.’

Sophia nestled deeply against Aeon’s shoulder, her face turning a deep crimson flush. She was caught completely off guard by the sudden physical embrace. Hearing his serious promise to protect her caused a fresh tear to escape her eyes, but her inner determination hardened to an absolute point.

"Mmh," she whispered, tightening her small hands against his back.

Aeon gently released the embrace. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a clean silk handkerchief and carefully wiped the lingering tears from her eyes.

Behind them, the adults of the three Great Houses watched the quiet interaction, their expressions softening at the children’s display.

"Awww, look at them! That was so cute." Duchess Amelia Storm cooed, her blue eyes literally sparkling with delight.

"Ohoho! The boy is barely ten years old and he’s already a smooth talker," Duke William Storm joked loudly, nudging Aldrich with his elbow as he laughed heartily. "At this rate, he’s going to break half the young hearts in the world once he hits his growth spurt, hahaha!"

Hearing the teasing remark, Elisabeth immediately reached out, delivering a sharp slap to her brother’s arm as she glared at him with mock anger. "Don’t you dare jinx my son, William! My Aeon is a good boy; he will definitely not become like that."

Down on the side, Duke Ignis Solaris eagerly crashed into the conversation. "Forget about that! Did you hear his words? The boy said he wants to get stronger to protect my daughter! Hahaha! He’s going to become a fierce, terrifying warrior! I swear, I can’t wait until he reaches our tier so I can have a proper match with him!"

The surrounding group fell completely silent for a beat, everyone staring at ignis with deadpan expressions. Eleanor slowly raised her hand, her fingers twitching as she prepared to slap the back of her husband’s head for the nth time that week.

She hesitated for a split second, adjusting her robes instead as she sighed under her breath. ’Forget it. At this rate, if I keep hitting his head, his single remaining brain cell is going to completely stop working.’

Before the conversation could derail further, Alex’s voice cut through the airfield, drawing everyone’s attention.

Having listened intently to Aeon’s parting words to Sophia, Alex stepped between them, his face completely serious as he complained.

"Wait a minute! What about me, Aeon?! Are you seriously not going to offer to protect me too? I’m your best friend!"

Aeon looked at the blue-haired boy, forcing down an overwhelming urge to face-palm himself in front of the others.

"Blockhead," Aeon muttered.

The surrounding parents couldn’t contain themselves any longer, erupting into a wave of shared, booming laughter at the children’s banter.

"Hahahahaha!"

While Ignis and Alex looked around in total, confusion, completely unable to comprehend why everyone was laughing, a tiny figure completely ignored the political weight of the airfield.

Emma had entirely forgotten about her master’s presence, happily zipping from one luxury jet to another like a small child at an amusement park.

"Woohoo!"

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