The morning sun poured golden light through the grand windows of the Valverde dining hall, casting warm hues over the elegant setup. Leigh sat at the dining table, her head tilted slightly as she scrolled through her phone, her thumb moving lazily across the screen. Her cup of hot chocolate sat untouched beside her, a thin wisp of steam curling upward. The faint scent of cinnamon lingered in the air, blending with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee that drifted from the kitchen, creating a comforting ambiance.

She barely looked up when she heard footsteps in the hallway. Assuming it was one of the staff, she continued scrolling, her attention on a viral video that had captured her feed—a compilation of cats hilariously attempting to catch laser pointers.

"Good morning," came a familiar, casual voice.

Leigh startled, nearly dropping her phone. Arden stood in the doorway, his hair slightly damp and tousled from an early morning rinse. He carried himself with his usual air of ease, though there was an unmistakable curiosity in his eyes as he spotted the device in her hand.

"What’s that?" he asked, pointing to her phone as he walked toward the table.

Leigh blinked, confused. "What’s what?"

"That thing you’re holding," Arden said, pulling out a chair across from her. "It looks like a shiny little... book?"

Leigh froze, then burst out laughing, setting the phone down on the table. "It’s a phone, Arden. You know, a mobile phone? You’ve never seen one before?"

Arden shrugged, unbothered. "I saw one yesterday at the park, but I didn’t know what it was called. The person holding it kept talking to it, and I thought it was... strange."

Leigh laughed again, shaking her head. "You’re serious, aren’t you?"

Arden leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Serious as your grandfather’s training session this morning. What’s so special about it, anyway?"

"It does everything," Leigh explained, holding it up and showing him the screen. "You can talk to people, send messages, watch videos, take pictures, and so much more."

Arden squinted at the screen, tilting his head. "Looks like a glowing tile. How does it talk to people?"

Leigh chuckled, opening her chat app and sending a quick message to her mom. "Like this. It’s instant."

Arden leaned back, shaking his head in mock amazement. "So, your world has glowing tiles that do everything. Meanwhile, I’ve been talking to trees and drinking root stew. I think I got the short end of the stick."

Leigh smiled, her laughter softening into something warmer. "You’ll get used to it. Just... don’t try talking to my phone, okay?"

"Noted," Arden said with a smirk, though his eyes lingered on the device with a mix of fascination and skepticism.

Their playful exchange was interrupted as Dr. Santillan and Manuel entered the dining hall, greeting Lucia warmly as they joined the table. Manuel’s expression was calm, though the events of the early morning still lingered in his eyes. The clinking of china echoed faintly as the staff brought in fresh pastries and refilled coffee cups.

Before anyone could say much, the double doors at the far end of the room opened with a flourish. The General stepped inside, and the room fell silent.

Leigh’s mouth fell open, her phone forgotten on the table. Her grandfather looked like a new man. Gone was the frail, cane-reliant figure she had grown used to. In his place stood a tall, commanding presence, his posture strong and his face radiant. He moved with a newfound ease, his stride steady and sure, a hint of a youthful bounce in his step.

Lucia gasped, her hands covering her mouth. "Papa... is that really you?"

The General chuckled, his deep, hearty laugh filling the room. "In the flesh," he said, spreading his arms. "Though I feel like I’ve rolled back the clock a bit."

Dr. Santillan’s brow furrowed as he approached, his sharp gaze scanning the General. "This is remarkable. Your vitals were struggling yesterday, and now... it’s as if your body’s been completely renewed."

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The General placed a reassuring hand on the doctor’s shoulder. "Relax, Mateo. Arden had a hand in this transformation." He gestured to Arden, who was now leaning casually back in his chair, his carefree grin firmly in place.

Leigh blinked, her gaze darting between her grandfather and Arden. “Wait... Arden did this?”

Arden shrugged. “He did most of the work. I just gave him a push in the right direction.”

The General nodded. “Don’t let his humility fool you. This boy knows more about balance and power than most of us will ever understand. If not for him, I wouldn’t be standing here like this.”

Lucia’s eyes brimmed with tears as she embraced her father. “Whatever happened, I’m just grateful you’re here, Papa. Truly here.”

Breakfast was served shortly after. Plates of fresh fruit, steaming bowls of arroz caldo, and platters of pandesal with butter and jam filled the table. Laughter and conversation flowed freely, the family celebrating the General’s miraculous recovery. The scent of roasted coffee beans and sweet mangoes wafted through the air, adding to the warm, celebratory atmosphere.

Leigh, still watching Arden, leaned in slightly. “You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”

Arden grinned, picking up a piece of pandesal. “Life’s more fun that way.”

The General, now brimming with energy, joined in the banter. He recounted stories from his youth, his voice full of vigor that hadn’t been there in years, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He described daring escapes from enemy lines, his voice booming with laughter as he recounted a particularly embarrassing incident involving a runaway goat and a particularly stubborn mule. Manuel and Dr. Santillan chimed in with their own anecdotes, creating a lively atmosphere that felt more like a reunion than a regular breakfast.

Lucia, who had been quietly watching her father with a mixture of joy and disbelief, finally spoke up. “Papa, it’s almost as if you’ve been given a second chance. What do you plan to do with it?”

The General chuckled and gestured toward Arden. “First, I’m going to learn everything this young man has to teach me. After that, who knows? Maybe I’ll finally write that memoir you keep pestering me about.”

Leigh smirked and added, “Just don’t start with ‘It was a dark and stormy night.’”

The room erupted in laughter, and even Arden joined in, his grin wide and genuine. For the first time since his arrival, he felt completely at ease among them. The Valverdes weren’t just a wealthy family—they were a family that embraced life’s surprises, good or bad, with warmth and humor.

As the laughter subsided, the General leaned back in his chair, a contented smile on his face. “I’ve been through battles, campaigns, and more hardships than I care to count. But this... this is something else. And it’s only the beginning.”

Arden met his gaze, a spark of determination in his own eyes. “You’re right, General. It is just the beginning. There’s a lot more to discover, and I think we’re just getting started.”

Leigh rolled her eyes playfully. “Great. More surprises. Just what I need.”

“You’ll learn to love it,” Arden teased, taking another bite of his pandesal.

The dining hall filled with easy laughter once more, the morning sun continuing to bathe them in its golden glow.

Before they left, the General turned to Arden with a serious expression. “Arden, we’ll be arranging a new identity for you,” he explained. “Something that formally connects you to our family, makes it easier for you to navigate the world.”

Lucia stepped in, her voice calm but warm. “We’ll need to register you under a family name. It’s a necessary formality, but it also means that you’ll be attending Leigh’s school at Ateneo de Cebu.”

Arden blinked. “School? But I’ve never—”

The General held up a hand. “We’ll take care of everything. All you need to do is adapt, just like you always have. This is just another phase of your journey.”

Manuel nodded in agreement. “Exactly. We’ll handle the paperwork and make sure you’re properly enrolled. For now, just stay in the mansion with Leigh.”

With that, they headed to the front entrance, where a sleek black SUV waited. The General offered a final remark before stepping inside. “Remember, Arden, you’re about to enter a world that moves fast. Keep your head straight, and don’t let anyone rattle you.”

Lucia, adjusting her elegant scarf, chimed in, “We’ll be back before dinner. In the meantime, try not to cause any more surprises.” She gave him a playful wink.

Manuel, ever practical, added, “Wait for your new identity. We’ll make it official today. As far as anyone outside this house knows, you’ve always been a member of the Valverde family.”

Dr. Santillan, tucking his phone into his pocket after answering a call, said, “I’ll follow along in my SUV. There are some medical records I’d like to finalize anyway.”

With that, the Doctor left with them, using his personal car.

As the front gates of the estate closed behind the vehicles, Arden watched them disappear down the winding road. The house, now quieter, seemed to hum with its own energy. Leigh’s voice broke the silence.

“Come on,” she said, nodding toward the shaded path that led into the heart of the estate. “There’s something I want to show you.”

Curiosity flickered in Arden’s eyes as he followed her. The path, lined with fruit-bearing trees and dappled with sunlight, stretched ahead, beckoning him toward the unknown. Leigh’s casual strides belied a sense of purpose, her gaze fixed on the distance.

As they walked, the peaceful rustle of leaves mingled with the distant hum of cicadas. Arden glanced around; his sharp senses attuned to every detail. Something about the path felt... different, as though it held secrets waiting to be unearthed.

Leigh finally stopped near a clearing, turning to face him. Her expression was calm but unreadable, her voice soft yet firm. “What happens next... might change everything. Are you ready?”

Arden’s steady gaze met hers, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Always.”