After that night when he had dinner with the family, Atticus hadn't been able to get a good night's sleep.
The realization that seventeen years had truly passed weighed on him, filling him with guilt for enjoying his life in this world while wondering how his mother on Earth must be feeling.
It felt wrong. Yet, deep down, he knew his mother would want the best for him.
But then, a thought crept in that frightened him even more: she might have moved on. It had been seventeen years, after all, and if she had managed to find peace, it would be best for her.
But the idea of his mother forgetting him gnawed at him. It felt selfish, but he couldn't shake the feeling.
To escape these thoughts, Atticus trained. This was the only thing that seemed to clear his mind. While the Ravenstein family and the entire human domain were preparing for his birthday celebration, he secluded himself in the advanced training room, immersing himself in mastering the new paragon art he had obtained.
Time passed quickly, and soon, the day of the ball arrived.
Atticus heard the door to the training room open and turned to see Anastasia walking in.
He sighed. "Looks like you've made some modifications, Mom."
"Well, I know you well. A mother always plans ahead." Anastasia walked over, using a towel to wipe the beads of sweat from his forehead.
Atticus chuckled. "Am I really that bad?"
"You are."
Atticus's mouth twitched at her quick response. Before he could say another word, she grabbed his hand and began leading him out of the training room.
Knowing exactly how stubborn her son could be, Anastasia had modified his preferred training room to allow her access, even without his permission.
Atticus didn't resist, letting her lead him. If he were honest, he was surprised Anastasia hadn't come earlier—he'd been training there for almost two days straight, with Arya and Yotad bringing him food.
During that time, Anastasia hadn't shown up even once.
Soon, he found himself in his room, where a formal outfit and accessories were laid out for him. Clearly, Anastasia had no intention of trusting him to choose something appropriate.
Much to his insistence, she left the room to let him dress alone, but when she returned, a frown appeared on her face as she checked his attire.
Shaking her head, she began from scratch, meticulously adjusting every detail until it was just right.
Finally, Anastasia stepped back, examining him from head to toe. Despite the exhausted look on his face, she wasn't focused on that.
"Perfect," she murmured, clearly pleased with her work.
"Of course it is," Atticus muttered, rolling his eyes.
Anastasia chuckled softly before placing a gentle kiss on his forehead.
"It's only for one night, At. It'll be over before you know it."
They shared some idle conversation before Anastasia left to prepare for the ball herself. She had wanted to make sure Atticus was ready before she got busy with other matters.
As the sun began to set in the human domain, people once again flooded the streets. Since the Nexus, they had eagerly learned everything they could about Atticus; some had even gone as far as writing books about him, creating action figures, and producing various merchandise that sold like wildfire.
There was no one in the human domain unaware that today was the birthday of their Apex. The people had taken it seriously—posters were erected, and his pictures and name adorned the entire domain.
The largest crowd gathered at the bottom of Ravenstein Hill. News of a ball at the estate had spread, and everyone wanted to be part of it. The mere thought of catching a glimpse of Atticus filled the people with excitement.
But, unfortunately, it was strictly by invitation only. Even though the Ravenstein estate was large, it couldn't accommodate everyone.
Dozens of airships hovered in the air, but due to the sheer number of guests, they were instructed to park at the bottom of the hill. Only the tier-one families were allowed to park directly on the estate grounds.
Lavishly dressed figures in elaborate attire descended from their airships and made their way up the hill.
"It's time, Master."
Atticus, who had been sitting on his bed with his eyes closed, opened them and stood up. Yotad was there, bowing in front of him.
With the influx of people entering the estate, Arya was busy protecting Anastasia, leaving Yotad as Atticus's primary attendant.
Atticus released a deep sigh. "Let's get this over with."
Leaving his room, he found Dario standing outside, formally dressed and grinning from ear to ear, barely able to contain his excitement.
"Young master," Dario greeted with a respectful bow.
"Dario…"
Dario had been assigned to Atticus by Magnus to assist him with political affairs and keep him informed on critical matters.
With everything going on, the politics of the human domain had been the least of his concerns, but now it seemed necessary—especially with the other races keeping a close eye on him.
It was something he had been thinking about. 'After this ball, I'll ask for his insight on the current situation.'
Atticus nodded and walked past him. Yotad had already merged into his shadow, leaving Dario to follow closely behind.
'It's so good to be right,' Dario thought, barely containing his excitement.
When he first met Atticus, he had anticipated his growth, but it had surpassed his wildest expectations.
The entire human domain now knew Atticus's name. He was practically being worshipped—and as one of his first subordinates, Dario intended to reap the full benefits.
The walk was silent, and after a few moments, they reached the Raven Hall. The sound of classical music and quiet conversation filled the air.
As they approached, the Ravenstein guards standing like statues at the door stiffened momentarily before quickly bowing.
"Apex."
"Apex."
Atticus responded with a curt nod, prompting the guards to swing open the large double doors. Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the hall.