"Ding...."
A few seconds to midnight,
The wooden grandfather clock resting against the corner of the wall chimes....
Roy opened his drowsy eyes, meeting Wutong's anxious gaze head-on, pausing for two seconds, then,
turned his head to look out the window at the lingering night; however, a ribbon of daylight at the horizon was already stirring beneath the darkness. He flared his nostrils, took a deep breath of the fresh air blowing from the peak of Kukuroo Mountain, and turned over to sit up from the bed.
Today is auspicious, suitable for birth, but not for funerals, a day... for new beginnings.
The boy withdrew his gaze, and Wutong had already handed over the clothes prepared in advance. Roy dressed, got straight out of bed, and freshened up briefly, without the usual morning jog this time.
The figure turned into light, phased through the wall, and as the young butler's bewildered eyes followed, he arrived at the entrance of the aged, battered corridor filled with the aura of time, and stood firm,
"Let's go." He said.
"Yes." Wutong adjusted the glasses on his nose, snapped back, watched him leave, and went downstairs to prepare breakfast.
Master and servant strolled under the intertwining of darkness and morning light, heading in two different directions, watched the maids hurried, birds chirped lowly, and strolled towards the expansive master bedroom on the second floor.
"Tap... tap...." At some unnoticed moment, another set of footsteps joined....
"Killua is about to be born." Illumi wore a green vest over dark blue warrior trousers, with double-breasted buttons like nails on his chest, hands in pockets, his gaze vacant and lifeless, tilted his head to ask: "Do you hope he has black hair, or..."
"Silver hair."
"Silver" is the Patriarch's color, representing the inheritance of the Zoldyck Family.
Some people say they don't care, yet at the critical moment, their hearts waver, clearly... far from as calm as they appear.
Roy didn't look at Illumi, his eyes were solely on the road ahead, casually replied: "Either is fine."
His thoughts drifted with the wind, suddenly recalling the words his great-grandfather once told him... for those who embark on the path of [Faith], they must clarify their path, not for family, but for... a nation composed of countless small homes that believe in, admire, and follow you!
So, blood inheritance is limited to family, yet goes far beyond the path he currently or will in the future pursue....
"You know, whether he's black-haired or silver-haired, I," Illumi starts, but Roy interrupts with a swift hand gesture,
"You can shut up now."
"Enough said."
Illumi: "Alright."
Roy silently sighed in his heart,
It's said that it's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature. At this moment, he didn't hope to straighten the foolish Mamen Beans anymore, so he decided to let it be, only stopping Milluki when turning the corner.
It was too early; Milluki had never risen so early, dazedly carried out of bed by Luca, on his back, walking in front, hearing the commotion,
Luca stopped, turned around to greet Roy and Illumi....
"Young Master, wake up, it's the eldest young master and... Illumi young master....."
"Emmm..." The plump boy didn't react to hearing Roy's name, squinting drowsily unwilling to open his eyes, but upon hearing Illumi's name, he instantly shivered, opening his eyes wide, sliding down from Luca's back.
"Big Brother,"
"Illumi."
"What did you call me?" Illumi looked dangerously at the calling Milluki,
The little chubby already showing signs of future obesity, but when his narrow eyes squint, a occasionally shines with a cold light beneath it... he stuck his neck stiffly, looking up, glaring back at Illumi, without saying a word.
The atmosphere in the corridor immediately stiffened.....
Luca wiped his sweat nervously, not knowing if he was tired from carrying Milluki or chilled by the "cold," quietly retreating aside.
Roy stood with hands behind his back, watching with amusement, seeing... Illumi removing his hands from his pockets, about to make a move, he grabbed Illumi and Milluki, just like holding Shisui and Itachi, gently guiding them forward: "No fighting."
"Hmph!" Milluki, pulled by Roy, turned his head in anger, deliberately avoiding looking at Illumi.
Illumi felt his palm heat up, noticeably dazed for a moment, lowered his head without speaking, following Roy's longer strides with small steps, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
"Tap... tap..." The trio, along with Luca, crowded half of the corridor path.
Roy holding Illumi in one hand and Milluki in the other, passing by a dim little room, led his brothers to bow to the room inside, "Screech~"
The door opened, the sound of a cartoon crept out, then... walked out Maha and Zeno.
"Great-grandfather/Grandfather....."
"Uh... all here... let's go...." From one at the start, three midway, adding two more, till they became five... except for Silva, standing by Killua's side, already waiting in the second-floor bedroom,
Maha, Zeno, Roy, Illumi, Milluki... formed a line, silently going up to the second floor, and upon entering, saw Silva's tall figure, arms crossed, waiting at the door....
Maha, balding with a stubborn refusing-to-fall lock of hair in the middle, loafed to a window, swaying his old waist, while the others each found a spot to wait quietly.....
"Whoosh~" A wind rose taking away the cold of early spring, bringing the heat of approaching summer, a whiff of hot steam, the faint sky finally tore open a gap, revealing a pale streak,
"Seems like the weather today will be quite nice." The red sun hadn't yet leapt from the horizon, yet had already burst forth in a blaze of red clouds that tore through the night... Zeno leisurely walked to Roy's side, accompanied him leaning against the window frame, appreciating the sunrise... those eagle-like sharp yet slightly misted eyes unable to conceal the fatigue from traveling all night.