SSS Talent: From Trash to Tyrant Chapter 485: Waiting in Velkaris

Upon reaching Velkaris, the initial sight greeting Trafalgar outside his new property was the exasperated expression of Rhosyn.

She occupied an outdoor chair with her arms tightly folded, appearing profoundly unimpressed by the surrounding world. Opposite her, Caelvyrn lounged comfortably, an arm draped over his seat, his violet eyes twinkling with subtle mirth. He possessed the air of someone enjoying a leisurely day, whereas Rhosyn radiated the cold aura of someone contemplating homicide.

That sight alone was sufficient for Trafalgar to deduce the atmosphere of their vigil.

He halted before them, casting an inquisitive gaze from one to the other. "What occurred?"

Rhosyn snapped her head in his direction. "He occurred."

Caelvyrn chuckled softly, utterly unfazed. "Such hostility. I was merely providing companionship throughout our wait."

"Do you call that companionship?" Rhosyn countered, her frustration sharpening. "You have spent the last thirty minutes chattering as if this were some delightful stroll in the park."

Caelvyrn placed a hand over his heart in mock dismay. "And what would you have preferred instead? Silence? Moody brooding? Should I perhaps have fixed my gaze upon the horizon like some tragic, antiquated warrior lamenting fate?"

"That would have been a marked improvement."

Trafalgar pulled out a vacant chair and took a seat with measured movements. "So, you were pestering her."

"I was conversing," Caelvyrn smoothly corrected. "The fact that she reacts to my presence with such disdain is hardly a failing on my part."

Rhosyn leveled a flat glare at him. "The mere fact of your existence is irritating."

Trafalgar reached for the drink placed on the table, taking a measured sip before examining Caelvyrn with renewed focus. The dragon maintained his relaxed posture, wearing his effortless grace like a second skin, yet there was a fresh undercurrent to his demeanor today—a vigilant quality. While he was definitely enjoying himself, it lacked his typical reckless nonchalance.

He possessed intimate knowledge of their destination.

Rhosyn clicked her tongue, leaning back. "Tell him to cease that smile. It triggers a desperate urge to launch something at his head."

Caelvyrn’s grin only widened. "You wound me, truly."

"No," Rhosyn retorted. "Not quite yet."

For the first occasion since Trafalgar’s arrival, the corner of his mouth twitched in a faint amusement.

The moment dissolved as swiftly as it had appeared.

He placed his glass down and re-evaluated them both, his expression now stripped of its lighthearted veneer.

"Cease this," he commanded. "Vivienne’s arrival is imminent."

The atmosphere shifted instantly. The annoyance vanished from Rhosyn’s features, while Caelvyrn’s smile tightened significantly.

A heavy silence hung between them for several moments.

The surrounding streets of Velkaris remained filled with their customary clamor. Passersby engaged in conversation, voices fluctuated in volume, distant laughter drifted down the lane, and the muffled clatter of kitchen work echoed from within the establishment. Yet, all these mundane details grew insignificant once their true purpose occupied the space between them.

Trafalgar draped an arm over the table. "Let us acknowledge the obvious first. None of us knows how this meeting will unfold."

Rhosyn’s eyes were locked onto his. "Indeed, we do not." Her tone had shed its earlier sharp edge. "He might identify you the instant he catches sight of you. Or perhaps not. He may gaze upon you and see only Magnus’s son." She took a brief breath. "Alternatively, he might look at you and see her."

Neither Trafalgar nor Caelvyrn dared to interject.

Rhosyn continued in a lowered voice. "Should that occur, your bloodline won't be the only factor influencing him. He might perceive the offspring of the woman who brought ruin upon our people. A name that, if enough of us remained to voice it, would still be steeped in hatred."

Trafalgar maintained his steady gaze, refusing to look away. "I am aware."

"Are you?" Rhosyn questioned, her voice devoid of challenge, carrying only profound weight. "You have spent a lifetime yearning for this, Trafalgar. Standing before someone of your own blood to discern the reality behind the myths. But that does not guarantee you will cherish the outcome."

A brief pause ensued.

Trafalgar offered a slight nod. "I am aware of that, too."

Caelvyrn, who had allowed their exchange to unfold uninterrupted, finally contributed. "She makes a valid point." His voice retained its smoothness, though the previous mirth had distilled into something more somber. "My old acquaintance was never a simple man. In truth, he was among the most challenging individuals I have ever encountered."

Rhosyn turned to him. "And yet, you remain composed."

A slight smirk touched Caelvyrn’s lips. "Composure is not synonymous with ignorance." He rested an elbow on the tabletop, scanning the street before meeting their eyes once more. "He possessed a stern, uncompromising character. He was the type to offer respect to very few, yet when he did, it was absolute—granted only to those who proved their worth. Strength. True lineage. Martial prowess. Unyielding resolve. If a person lacked substance, his interest evaporated instantly. If they possessed it, however..." His smile shifted into something more calculating. "Then things became far more compelling."

Trafalgar scrutinized him closely. "Have you clashed with him before?"

Caelvyrn exhaled softly, seemingly amused by the blunt nature of the inquiry. "On numerous occasions."

That revelation caused Rhosyn’s eyes to narrow.

Caelvyrn noticed, yet continued casually. "Not as rivals, necessarily. But our paths crossed quite frequently, and those encounters almost invariably escalated. He was among the rare few I could engage in battle without growing weary of the monotony. That should offer you some perspective."

Trafalgar remained silent for a heartbeat. Then, he asked, "And if he chooses to cast me aside?"

Caelvyrn locked eyes with him. "Then you will receive word of it quite rapidly. He was never one to cloak his judgment in hollow pleasantries."

Rhosyn’s grip on her arm tightened. "That is precisely the dilemma."

"True," Caelvyrn conceded, "but therein also lies the advantage. Noble men of his caliber do not squander effort on pretense."

Their words hung in the air, weighted with consequence.

Trafalgar looked down for a moment before returning his gaze to them. Superficially, he remained the same, yet internally, he felt the mounting pressure of the impending meeting. His desire to face this encounter had burned within him for years, not because of a laundry list of questions, but out of a deep-seated need to witness the truth of his heritage. He sought to understand the nature of the being at the end of his bloodline and the curiosity behind their summons. Success might secure his future; failure would at least grant him clarity, halting his march toward an enigma.

Before another word could be uttered, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the street.

Rhosyn was the first to shift her attention.

Caelvyrn’s faint smile reappeared.

Trafalgar pivoted toward the source of the noise.

Vivienne had arrived.

She emerged into view without attracting undue notice. Her long azure hair and bright eyes mirrored the tranquil beauty Trafalgar recalled from the Council, though any traces of insecurity had vanished. She appeared more focused and anchored, as if she had cast aside any previous hesitations.

Vivienne halted by their table, offering each of them a look. Her gaze paused briefly on Rhosyn, then flickered to Caelvyrn with a momentary spark of surprise before settling.

"I am Vivienne," she announced. "It is a pleasure to meet you both."

Rhosyn gave a clipped nod, still observing the newcomer. "Rhosyn."

Caelvyrn offered his usual polished smile. "Caelvyrn, I presume. So, you are the disciple?"

Vivienne met his eyes unflinchingly. "I am."

The intensity in his expression was enough to unnerve anyone, yet she stood her ground without faltering.

Trafalgar stood from his seat. "Are the arrangements complete?"

"Indeed," Vivienne confirmed. "My master awaits."

Rhosyn followed suit, her caution still visible in her posture. Caelvyrn rose a second later, ever the picture of serenity, though the sharp appraisal he gave Vivienne suggested he was calculating far more than her words implied.

The four of them departed together, and with every stride, Trafalgar felt the gap between himself and his heritage narrowing.