SSS Talent: From Trash to Tyrant Chapter 574: The Papers

The fate of the moment rested solely on Silas's decision.

Trafalgar had no significant objections. Should the boy agree, matters would proceed without a hitch. However, if he refused, the path forward would become considerably more arduous, as leaving Silas behind was no longer an option for Trafalgar. Silas was no ordinary child, and to feign otherwise would only allow the peril to fester in silence until it became an undeniable threat.

He had witnessed firsthand the formidable power of the Gluttony Dragon.

And he was acquainted with Caelvyrn.

The old dragon's might was astonishing, even by the extraordinary standards Trafalgar had already encountered. There was a profound reason he was hailed as the Wise Dragon, and if any being could comprehend the essence flowing within Silas's blood, it would undoubtedly be him.

'I could request Caelvyrn to keep a watchful eye on him,' Trafalgar mused internally. 'I doubt he would impose any harm upon the child.'

Sister Alena turned her attention towards Silas.

The dim light from the hallway gleamed off her dark horns as she slightly lowered herself, her voice a gentle murmur, softer than the tone she had used with Trafalgar and Arthur.

"Silas, my dear. Would you like to leave with Arthur?"

Silas displayed less hesitation than Trafalgar had anticipated.

His gaze first met Arthur's, then shifted to Trafalgar, as he clutched the blanket tighter around his small frame.

"Yes," he affirmed. "I want to go with Arthur and big brother Trafalgar."

Alena remained silent for a beat after his answer.

Her focus stayed fixed on the boy, yet Trafalgar perceived the silent deliberation unfolding within her mind. The adoption of a child from the orphanage was traditionally a joyous occasion. A child finding a loving home should never be a source of sorrow. And considering the revelations Trafalgar had shared, it was indeed logical that Silas should depart.

He had not yet found his true belonging here.

While the other children were not unkind, he remained somewhat detached from them, as if the orphanage offered him sanctuary but not yet a place to genuinely find peace. If invited, he would likely return for visits. However, the bond of trust had not yet deepened sufficiently to anchor him here.

Alena eventually broke the silence.

"Very well," she stated. "Then we shall commence with the necessary paperwork."

Sister Lunea's expression registered clear surprise.

She offered no protest. A brief glance at Alena, observing the quiet solemnity on her face, was enough for her to grasp that events beyond her knowledge had transpired. The fabric she held tightened slightly in her grasp, yet she refrained from questioning. The tone in Alena's voice conveyed a subtle but firm message: certain inquiries were best left unvoiced, perhaps forever.

Alena then turned to Arthur.

"Please accompany me, Mister Arthur. Sister Lunea will remain with Silas."

Trafalgar looked towards her. "Do you require my presence for anything?"

Alena gave a polite inclination of her head. "No, Lord Trafalgar. Thank you. This particular matter pertains to Mister Arthur as the prospective guardian."

Arthur offered Trafalgar a brief nod before following Alena down the corridor.

This left Trafalgar in the company of Silas and Sister Lunea.

Silas looked up at him almost immediately.

"Are we going home now, big brother?"

Trafalgar crouched slightly, bringing himself closer to his level for a more comfortable interaction.

"Yes," he confirmed. "Once all the arrangements are complete, we will head home."

Sister Lunea offered Silas a smile, radiating the same warm, maternal patience she always possessed. She moved to sit beside him, gently adjusting the blanket around his shoulders.

"We will miss you dearly," she expressed. "But you are always welcome to return for a visit. Euclid possesses a Gate that connects our locations, making travel quite convenient."

Silas immediately turned his attention back to Trafalgar.

"Is that true, big brother?"

"Yes," Trafalgar confirmed. "You can visit whenever you wish."

This assurance seemed to hold more significance for Silas than the prospect of the grand mansion, his new room, or any other promise Arthur had made. He nodded, and shortly after, Lunea guided him towards the courtyard so he could convey the news to the other children.

Trafalgar watched him depart.

A small part of him pondered the extent of Silas's understanding and what remained beyond his grasp. Though young, Silas carried a certain weight in his thoughts that belied his age. Perhaps it was the draconic blood coursing through him. Or perhaps it was the harrowing experiences his father had compelled him to endure.

Regardless, the child walked towards the courtyard with tentative steps, and Trafalgar found himself thinking that Euclid would need to be well-prepared for his arrival.

Cynthia emerged behind him a little while later.

"Trafalgar," she called out. "May we speak?"

He turned to face her. "Yes. Go ahead."

Her gaze flickered briefly towards Sister Lunea, who was still in the vicinity.

"Somewhere more private?"

Trafalgar immediately understood and nodded in agreement.

They proceeded down a side corridor, away from the children and the distant sounds of work being done near the renovated hall. Cynthia halted near a small alcove where the wall receded slightly, revealing a narrow window.

Trafalgar leaned casually against the stone. "What is it?"

Cynthia drew a breath before responding.

"Thank you for what you did. I mean that." She hesitated, then continued more carefully. "But can I ask why Silas? What is happening with him? When you saw him earlier, something changed."

Trafalgar watched her for a while.

He could tell her part of it. Maybe enough to satisfy her curiosity. Maybe enough to earn more of her trust. But this was not only his secret. It was Silas's life, and Alena already knew more than most people should.

For now, dragging Cynthia and Barth into the truth would only make things more dangerous.

"I don't think I can reveal anything yet, Cynthia," he said. "Not to you, and not to your brother."

Her expression shifted.

Disappointment. She tried to hide it, but not fast enough. Trafalgar continued before that silence could harden between them.

"What I can tell you is this. If Silas stayed here, the children would be in danger. So would Alena, Lunea, and Silas himself."

Cynthia's fingers curled slightly at her side.

She did not like that answer. Trafalgar could tell. It was not enough, and it asked her to trust a decision she did not fully understand. But she also knew him well enough by now to understand that Trafalgar rarely acted without a reason.

He was quick sometimes.

Harsh, often.

But not careless.

"I see," Cynthia said at last. Her voice had less force than usual. "Thank you for telling me that much, at least."

Trafalgar gave a small nod. "If you don't trust it, you can come to Euclid."

That caught her off guard.

"What?"

"I'm going with Arthur to help Silas settle into my mansion," Trafalgar said. "You can come and see the place yourself."

Cynthia blinked once.

"Mansion?"

Trafalgar looked at her as if the question itself had confused him.

"Yes? I'm a Morgain, and Euclid is the territory I manage."

Color rose faintly to Cynthia's face.

For a moment, she looked genuinely embarrassed, as if the fact had slipped from her mind because Trafalgar rarely behaved like the kind of noble people imagined when they heard the name Morgain.

She cleared her throat.

"I would like to see it," she said. "I'll ask Barth if he wants to come too."

A short while later, Alena and Arthur returned.

Arthur carried himself with the same steady restraint as before, while Alena held a small folder against her chest. Lunea was called over soon after, not with surprise this time, but with the careful expression of someone who understood that the decision had already been weighed where it mattered.

The arrangement was simple.

Not a full adoption yet.

That would take more time, more papers, more visits. But for now, Silas would leave under Arthur's temporary care. Arthur would be the one signing. Arthur would be the one responsible. His home, his name, his promise.

Trafalgar would remain outside the ink.

That was the entire point.

Alena placed the papers on the table and looked at Arthur.

"These documents place Silas under your temporary care, Mister Arthur. You will be expected to provide reports, allow visits if we request them, and keep the orphanage informed of his condition."

Arthur nodded. "That is acceptable."

"If at any point we believe Silas is not being cared for properly, the arrangement will end."

"Understood."

Arthur took the pen.

He signed with a steady hand. Only putting his name.

Alena watched the ink dry before taking the page back and signing beneath it. Lunea followed as witness.

"Then, from this moment onward," Alena said, her voice quieter now, "Silas will be under your temporary care, Mister Arthur."

Arthur inclined his head. "I will make sure he is safe."

Lunea crouched in front of Silas and brushed his hair gently away from his forehead.

"Behave well, alright? Eat properly. Sleep properly. And come visit us."

Silas nodded. "I will."

Barth arrived just in time, slightly breathless, probably because Cynthia had dragged him into the situation before he fully understood what was happening.

"So he's going to Euclid?" Barth asked.

"Yes," Cynthia said.

Barth looked at Silas and gave him an awkward but sincere smile. "That is good. I mean, if Trafalgar is involved, I'm sure the place will be safe."

Cynthia glanced at him. "Do you want to come with us and see it?"

Barth hesitated, adjusting his glasses with two fingers.

"I would like to, but I can't today. I promised Professor Rhaldrin I would help him with something related to the history classes he is preparing." His voice grew a little quicker, as it always did when history entered the conversation. "It should not take too long, but if I miss it, I doubt he will let me near the archive notes again."

Trafalgar raised a brow. "You say that like he's holding you hostage."