Second Day

The next morning dawned with a soft, warm light filtering through the guest room's glass ceiling, rousing Nova from his deep sleep. For a moment, he lay still, enjoying the quiet of the "early" morning, gazing at the delicate interplay of sunlight glinting off the crystalline fixtures of the room. A strange peace settled over him. Normally, mornings at the Bright manor meant rising early to attend rigorous lessons and fulfill his strict duties, but here, he felt… almost at ease.

His stomach reminded him of his light dinner the previous night, and he finally got up. Dressing quickly, Nova decided to take a walk, hoping to bump into Nolan somewhere before the day's activities took them in different directions again. But as he made his way down to the dining room, the bustle of the Anderson household could already be heard.

Light music was being played by ghost instruments, servents were bustling around, carrying out their daily routine, but unlike at his own household they were not just going around with their heads down doing their own thing. They chatted and even could be seen sometime's laughing around with their masters.

Mrs. Anderson, fresh from her morning duties at the university, was seated at the table, enjoying her tea. She smiled warmly at Nova as he entered. "Good morning, Nova. Did you sleep well?" Her tone was genuinely welcoming.

"Yes, very well, thank you." He managed a small, grateful smile as he took a seat. Though he appreciated the Andersons' hospitality, he couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. Nolan was nowhere in sight.

"Oh, everyone has already left," she mentioned casually, noticing his curious glances around. "Juno is with his father, helping in the Duke's office, and the twins are off to their classes. As for Nolan, he's already at the academy, of course."

Nova felt his heart sink a little. He had hoped for at least a brief meeting with Nolan before he left for the day. Masking his disappointment, he nodded and reached for the breakfast spread.

Mrs. Anderson, observant as ever, noticed his deflated demeanor. "You know," she began kindly, "the evening is usually when the family gathers. I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to see them then, must be boring for a young man like you to sit around like this old lady, haha."

"No, no, not at all boring mam, and you don't look like a old lady by any standards." Replied Nova with a bit of a flustered response, but a glimmer of hope and calm returned to Nova's eyes soon. "Thank you, Mrs. Anderson," he said with a smile. "I appreciate that."

As he ate, Nova began crafting a plan in his mind. If he couldn't see Nolan now, he would make sure they had time together in the evening. Today would be different—he wouldn't let the opportunity slip by again.

…

At the academy, Nolan felt a bit off throughout his classes. He'd started the day with an uncharacteristic sense of melancholy, knowing that Nova had been just a room away yet somehow elusive. Their paths hadn't crossed, and it left him feeling strangely empty.

His first lecture was on social sciences and the history of magic, a subject he usually found fascinating. The instructor delved into the history of the Order of Mages, describing the early struggles to regulate magic and the formation of the widely respected Code of Magic. Nolan tried to focus on the lessons, but his thoughts kept drifting. Was Nova disappointed by their missed encounter? Did he even care?

The professor's voice eventually recaptured his attention as she announced an upcoming field trip to the ruins of the Ancient Council of Mages. The trip would span two days, starting tomorrow. The news brought a stir of excitement to the room, but for Nolan, it was bittersweet. The excursion would mean even more time away from Nova. He made a mental note to ask his instructors if he could return home each night, but it would most likely won't be a possibility.

The remainder of his classes passed in a blur, from magical theory to the study of beasts and their classifications. Despite his occasional glances at the classroom door, hoping for some surprise sight of Nova, although he knew full well that Nova got no business at his Academy, he finished the day feeling disheartened.

Meanwhile, back at the Anderson mansion, Nova, still recovering from his light breakfast, took a brief nap to ward off the lingering effects of last night's festivities. However, his hangover persisted, and he woke up feeling groggy once again.

When he opened his eyes, four maids had entered the room, each carrying something different—a basin of water, a towel, a toothbrush, and a set of fresh clothes. Nova blinked in confusion as they set about assisting him in getting ready, all without needing much direction. It was odd, but oddly comforting, to be looked after like this.

The maids left as quickly as they'd come, leaving Nova alone once more. He looked at his reflection, noticing the hints of exhaustion beneath his eyes. "This family…" he murmured, still baffled by their openness and hospitality. They operated on an entirely different wavelength compared to his own family.

After a light lunch, he decided to go for a walk around the estate to clear his head. It was during this stroll that he happened upon Juno, returning from his work with the Duke. Juno wasted no time, steering Nova back toward the city before Nova could even think of resisting or talking about the business that he even visited them for.

"Come on, Nova," Juno said with a grin. "You've been cooped up here too long. Let me show you how we do things around here."

Despite his initial hesitation, Nova soon found himself enjoying the day. Juno took him to local attractions, entertainment venues, and introduced him to his friends. They laughed, joked, and shared stories—many of which painted Juno as a bit of a wild card in the family.

By the time the sun set, Nova was exhausted once again. Juno's friends had bought round after round of drinks, and this time, Nova drank without reserve forgetting his own plans. He was barely conscious as Juno's friends carried him back to the manor, where he was once again deposited in his room. The lingering thought, just before he drifted into a deep sleep, was that he had yet again missed a chance to see Nolan.

As the evening settled over the Anderson manor, the family gathered once more. Nova found himself the center of attention, much to his discomfort, as the Andersons showered him with warm greetings and stories of their day.

Having grown up in a family that valued formality, the Andersons' unrestrained affection and informality were overwhelming. He felt like he had been transported to another world, one filled with warmth and familial bonds that he had rarely experienced at home.

Duke Anderson approached him, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. "So, young Bright," he said, clapping a hand on Nova's shoulder, "how did you like spending the day with Juno?"

"It was… lively," Nova replied, smiling despite himself, his ears were ringing, head feeling heavy and tad bit nauseous. He still couldn't deny that he had enjoyed the experience, even if it had been chaotic.

"Good! That's the spirit," Duke Anderson laughed heartily, giving him a pat on the back, making him want to puke even more. "You've got the look of a Bright all right, but there's a fire in you yet!" And he couldn't say anything but chuckle to that a bit awkwardly.

The evening meal was an animated affair, with the entire Anderson family—including Juno, Nolan, and the twins—joining in. They joked, teased, and shared stories from their day, creating a joyful atmosphere that felt more like a celebration than a family dinner.

Midway through the meal, Duke Anderson leaned toward Nova and asked, "So, Nova, do you remember any tales of your father's university days?"

Nova hesitated, he was surprised enough by the last night revelations. "Well, my father… he's always been quite formal. I don't know much about his younger years."

"Oh, he was formal back then too," Duke Anderson said with a chuckle, "but he had his quirks. We all tried to loosen him up, as I said, though he'd always say 'This is highly inappropriate,' every time we suggested something fun. He used to drive us all up the wall with that, their were times when he would disagree but then secretly follow us all out of the academy late at night, that's how he met your mother, though you might want to know the details from them in person hahaha…"

Nova blinked, momentarily lost for words. He'd never heard these stories about his father before, and it was surreal hearing the Duke speak of him so candidly every time, he still can't get used to these facts about his father.

The conversation shifted to the Duke's own experiences, his time spent pulling pranks on Nova's father and the shenanigans they'd gotten up to at university. Nova found himself drawn into the tales, his usual reserve giving way to genuine curiosity. He had never imagined to what extent his father had been the subject of Duke Anderson's playful antics, and he couldn't help but laugh at some of the absurd stories, and there were just a long list of them.

As the evening wound down, Nolan was whisked away by his sisters, who whispered conspiratorially about tomorrow's trip. Nolan shot Nova an apologetic glance, clearly disappointed that they'd had so little time to talk.

The Duke and Duchess then invited Nova on an evening stroll around the estate grounds. Nova, though tired, accepted the offer, and they spent the next hour wandering the moonlit gardens, sharing stories and enjoying the peaceful night air. For the first time in a long while, Nova felt a genuine sense of belonging.

As they finally returned to the manor, Nova bid the Duke and Duchess goodnight and retired to his guest room. He lay back on his bed, gazing up at the stars through the glass dome ceiling, reflecting on the day. Though he'd missed out on connecting with Nolan directly, he now felt closer to the entire Anderson family, which was important for his future plans if everything goes well with Nolan.

Tomorrow, he vowed, would be different.