Night passed and morning came. Fenvaros had gone to do his kingly duties and the house was too quiet. Auren had woken up early as per the school routine.
He watched his father leave their home and hed to the palace and just sighed. [I still can't get used to family love]. Auren stretched and did his daily workout within his room and when the sound of servants filled the courtyard, he left to go have his breakfast.
Rai'en was nowhere to be seen, probably still sleeping but his mother was there in her garden. Auren went and hugged her but then she tried to pay his head but failed.
"You've grown to tall for me to pat your head." Seraphina sighed wistfully.
Auren blinked then quietly, without hesitation, he bowed low. He lowered his head to her hand.
"It's okay mother." He mummered
Seraphina's fingers trembled as they stroked through his hair, her tears falling freely. Auren was a bit worried about how his warrior mother suddenly turned into such a cry baby.
"My son. Oh you're growing so first "
For the first time in a long while, Auren let himself feel the warmth, belonging and the fragile comfort of home. The sun warmed his body but his mother's touch warmed his heart.
The Fenrir estate stretched wide under the sun's light. It's towers and spires like fangs gleamed under the sun rays. Auren sat with his mother at the garden with his mom for a while before he returned to his room.
Being back home meant no early bells, no upperclassmen throwing their auras around and no Eiran. Auren jumped on his bed, his room glowed with the morning light.
At around 9 o'clock, breakfast was ready. The meal was quiet because his father was already gone and his mother was busy with her activities within the manor.
Auren went and peaked in Rai'en's room and saw that his brother was deep asleep. With nothing much to do, Auren was suddenly bored.
[I should contact Eiran. There's no way I'll just stay like this.]
Auren picked his terminal and contacted Eiran, sadly the fox didn't pick up. Auren groaned and walked around the garden when Han suggested something rare,
"How about shopping young master?"
Auren's eyes lit up, "Yes! I have yet to explore our great City malls and facilities."
Han went and prepared the carriage alongside four other servants. Auren was happy but one thing he didn't expect was that the malla would be extremely crowded with Therions.
Most people didn't know of Auren but some nobles noticed and couldn't help whispering. These whispers fell upon Auren's ears,
[The fuck they mean reverse scale?]
Auren looked to Han for an explanation but the Butler played dumb. Auren just narrowed his eyes but then decided to ignore everything and everyone.
The walk was peaceful and many products and goods fell upon his eyes. Then in one store Auren saw someone familiar. Those droopy brown ears and that silent presence.
"Nemea?" Auren called out to the girl within the clothing store.
The class president froze as though lightning struck her. She looked up her eyes wide. Her hands trembled around the shopping bag and she nearly dropped them when Auren didn't pass and approached.
"Your Highness, I.." Nemea stammered, bowing too low almost knocking her head against his chest.
"Class Prez," Auren said simply with a nod.
Auren might not show it but he respected Nemea for the work she did for their class 1-N. Auren didn't speak any more words and there was no ceremony.
As he walked away, the clothing store buzzed as his acknowledgement cracked like thunder. The onlookers gasped and the whispers turned sharp,
"She knows him?", "The prince called her class president!"
By the time Auren walked past her and entered another store, Nemea was nearly hyperventilating.
Discounts landed in her lap, shopkeepers smiled too broadly and her status skyrocketed without her lifting a finger. She clutched her bags tighter, half thrilled, half terrified and very aware she had just been touched by Blest Dominion's reverse scale's shadow.
Auren meanwhile, strolled through a sleek glass corridor lined with holo-ads. His eyes were caught by one particular display where vibrant colors flashed across a floating screen.
This was the first time Auren had come across games. The holographic advertisment displayed vibrant depictions of the game. Before Auren could move along, a man in a sharp blazer and square glasses approached with a grin far too wide.
"Young Man!" The man exclaimed blocking Auren's path. "Perfect face, perfect build, A natural model !"
The Butler immediately stepped forward, aura spiking cold, " Step back."
The marketer blinked but pressed on, he mistook danger for negotiation. "I promise a generous contract. One session only..."
Intrigued by the desperation rather than the offer, Auren tilted his head. "A model?"
"Yes!" The man nearly squealed. "Just for our campaign. You'd fit perfectly, the way your eyes capture the light. Your hair, it's ideal!"
The butler bristled harder upon hearing the comments. His skin grew scales that shimmered faintly betraying the Wyvern blood within. Two of the maids slithered forward, pupils narrowing into reptilian slits while the two male servants bared their teeth, ears sharp and alert.
The marketer couldn't help but pale, "Y– Your highness, forgive me, I didn't realize that..."
Auren raised a brow, neither angered nor amused. His curiosity overrode all formality. "What's the product?"
"An immersive Virtual Reality game. It's being released next week and we need a model to do a touch up advertisement." The man said quickly, fumbling to show the cover of the game on his terminal.
"Fine," Auren replied. "I shall go with you."
The butler could've help but hiss in a low voice, "Young master, your parents.."
"Will sigh either way." Auren walked past, forcing his entourage to follow him. The marketer was beyond happy and quickly arranged his team.
The photoshoot was short but the effect was shattering. Auren was a natural, the camera devoured every tilt of his head, every faint curl of his lips. The photographer grew so entranced that by the end of the photoshoot he nearly blurted out an invitation to diner.
Han, the ever sharp butler, had noticed and his aura crashed into the photographer causing his throat to ran dry, cold sweat dripping down his neck.
The marketer wanted to sign Auren into a contract but Han denied it with firmness. Auren also wasn't interested he just did this for fun. Though before he left, Auren took the man's terminal and typed his number with cool precision.
"When the game launches, send me the device. I want to see what I modelled for, Han will take care of the payment."
The butler exhaled in disbelief. The servants exchanged knowing glances, it seems their young master was every bit his father's son. Curious, Bold and Impossible to manage.
At diner that night, Seraphina placed her fork down and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Auren.... You modelled?"
Fenvaros also sighed deeply, as predicted. Vorren who has returned earlier that day roared with laughter. Rai'en almost fell off his chair.
"Let him," Fenvaros muttered finally, rubbing his temples.
Vorren wasn't shocked anymore by how much their Father let's Auren get away with "The last borns are always the luckiest ones."
After diner, Auren received a package from his butler. Apparently the marketer wanted to get on the good graces of the young prince and sent him the device before it's main release.
Auren took his package and quietly placed it on his desk. The VR headset gleamed with smooth black edges, runes engraved faintly along it's frame.
"Advanced," he mummered. This was Caethiria's technology, far above anything Auren had ever come across in his past life.
He lay on his bed, placed a pillow under his neck for comfort and strapped the device across his eyes. Auren could feel the Primis sinking within his mind pulling his conscious within sinking into light.
The first prompt appeared: Create Your Character.
Auren didn't hesitate and modeled the avatar to look exactly like him. Auren loved himself and would never change his image, the avatar appeared before him, short silver hair.
Cerulean blue eyes and that lean muscular build identical to himself. No masks, no false fronts. If he was to be known it would be as Auren.
After confirmation , the system chimed. The voice was crisp and clear: Welcome, challenger to Mortal's Heaven.
The world unfolded in fractal light, sharp and boundless, waiting for him to enjoy it.