Chapter 18: Family (1/2)

It was a strange feeling beingwhile in the midst of the most powerful people in the world

"Whew~ let's do this Sylvie"

"Kyu" She responded,to her

The dull sound of ly loudly

Unexpectedly, I could hear the faint pitter-patter sounds followed by a childish voice "Coether with a little girl I me, she hid behind the maid

The ht-year-old knocking on the door of a noble's estate

"Ahem, nice to meet you My name is Arthur Leywin I was infor in this ht bow, Sylvie rocking on my head

Before the confused maid could even respond, I heard an all too faround

"Eleanor Leywin! There you are! You have got to stop running to the front door every time someone…" My mother stopped mid sentence and dropped a small bowl of what looked to be food for…brown eyes, looking at ht ash brown hair shi+mmered with a otten the color frotails on the side of her head above her ears

I struggled to peel my eyes away frooing blurry as tears filledto hear

"H-hi Mo what to do if she couldn't recognize me

Fortunately, my fear didn't come true and she raced towards me at a speed I sas faster than Grandpa Virion's, but that ht've just been because of my blurry vision

"Oh my baby! Arthur!!" She arrived in front of ripping with all her strength, afraid that I o

"You are alive! The Voice… I kneas you! sniff You're back now! Yes, you're hoed to sputter out before breaking down into a bawl

I couldn't even htly in order to hold back my sobs

I couldn't help but think while my head was buried in my mother's shoulder: you could be an all powerful, immortal tyrant but when you were in front of your loved ones, the ability to control eled sentences that I was alive and that I was ho My mother was a flurry of emotions She was happy that I was back and alive, she was mad that I couldn't come back sooner, she was sad that I had to be away from them and how hard it must have been for me all at the same time

At one point, Eleanor walked to us and started patting Mother's back "Mama There, there Don't cry" But after unsuccessfully co as well

"Arthur!" I turned my head, face still ith tears to see outside the sprinting figure of uess the maid had told him I was back

He didn't stop as he reached us and si all of us as we all al you are Ohet a better look at e hand on the back ofmy forehead to touch his

Our little fa uncontrollably, e with her, as my father and I just looked at each other with tears in our eyes, all of us glad that ere finally together

Eventually, we had allon a couch, ht besideon a chair he pulled up, facing me, his elbows on his knee as he leaned forward Mother was holding ot a look at my face

"Are you okay now? Did you at least eat three ht? Ohyou are now" Tears escaped her eyes as she squinted and s my hair as she planted a soft kiss on the crown of my head "Thank God you're back I'

Eleanor was looking curiously at both Sylvie and I while the baby dragon was sitting up nextthe three unfa at Sylvie with a curious expression but he didn't aze tohow big I was now Itfor a parent to see how big his son had gotten but not being there with him the whole ti brother He ay for awhile but he'll live together with us froedme of a confused Sylvie

She cupped her hands overinaudible

"Haha yes, that big brother The one I always told stories about He's the one"

My sister's eyes started sparkling as she looked back to me I couldn't help but noonder what stories Mother had told her

"Hai Brother~!" She bea both of her little hands at me

"hello Eleanor It's nice toher head in response

Father spoke up now "Arthur, ere devastated after that incident, and we barely believed it when you coh our heads Tell me, how'd you survive the fall?"

It took awhile forI withheld soood to tell them just yet I explained to them that I subconsciously wrapped h to hit a bunch of branches on the cliff before landing in a strea Tess and how she was aldo about an illness that kept you fro back sooner What was all that about? Are you cured now?" My mother chi my head, I explain, "You don't need to worry about that anyuess there was a sort of instability in my mana core that made it so I had episodes of pain It was really bad at first but luckily there was an elder that kne to cure it The process was slow but he assuredif treated consistently"

Relief replaced the prior look of worry and she silently patted ain

"So what's the story with this little friend of yours?" My dad just chuckled, finally bringing Sylvie up

"Haha, while I was travelling, I stumbled into a mana beast's den It was only the mother and she was badly injured A little bit after I was there, she died While I was looking around, it see it was so She hatched only a couple of o so she's still a baby Say hi to Sylvie"

I picked her up, holding her body so her liled like a kitten's

"Kyu~!" She purred, as if saying hi to everyone

I didn't exactly tell my family a lie when I said this but I had already pro only when I was older and more capable

I then asked the that happened to the I was able to tell froh the water divination the first ti more so I was exceptionally curious

After Father explained what happened since then, one on a trip but they should be arriving back today They're going to be so surprised when they see you, Art!"

I turned to face edthat I did notice was that she's lost a bit of weight and was slightly paler in complexion My heart ached since I knew this was caused fro me Father's body was actually much more built now Coupled with his beard, he looked a lotas an instructor for the Helstea Auction House guards had gotten him in shape as well

"Dad What color is your mana core now?" I asked while Sylviein content

A confident grin eed from his face as h froe e of early thirties, e that didn't attend school usually stagnated at the light red stage, e if they were lucky Of course it was different for the elites who had a e and had access to better resources, but for a standardwell

He then askedyourself Let's hear it, what stage are you at now?"

Scratching ht red"