"Xavier Dawncrest! Listen to me! You still can't seriously want to go into that place at a time when your family needs you the most!"
"And why not?"
Xavier turned toward her.
"With Father gone, that's all the more reason why I need to go. If you expect me to take the reins after him, then first I need to use this opportunity to temper myself, grow stronger, and return capable of actually carrying that responsibility."
"You don't understand!"
"It's you who doesn't understand, Mother..."
He cut her off before she could continue.
Xavier's mother was quite a beautiful woman, but her features were currently marred by a deeply distressed expression.
The dark makeup around her eyes had already been ruined by dried tears, and even now, more threatened to spill over.
Thankfully, the black mourning veil covering part of her face did a decent job of hiding it.
Cain Dawncrest's grand funeral had ended only earlier that day.
