novelraw Chapter 745 - 744 - Homecoming
Chapter 745 - 744 - Homecoming
Sora was racing to her family quarters through the palace. After her father's voice had boomed over everyone, classes had been dismissed early. She saw flickers of black meaning Hei was also racing home.
Father was home!
She saw others swiftly moving but she could not fly yet! She was only a Sky Realm!
Only Zao and Hei were monstrous enough to reach Star Tier in the last 3 months. Their speed came down to a crawl after that!
The advantage of aether beasts abandoned them at last! She knew, however, that her speed was just as freakish compared to normal cultivators.
She was racing at a speed few Heaven Realms could match!
She rounded a corner and nearly bowled over someone. Her training kicked in and like an exquisite dancer she flew around them.
Her green hair shined on the sunlight from the window but her lithe body made her seem a mirage at that moment. She had water and air as her elements but her body tempering was far higher than a normal person. Her precise muscle control allowed her to completely avoid hitting the person in the hall despite the short notice.
She was about to continue when very familiar hands picked her up as if she was only air and a voice boomed.
"Sora! Look at you!" She whipped around as her skin became crimson in embarrassment. She was in her father's arms!
She had been 15 when he left but had hit a growth spurt while he was gone. She looked a lot like her mother but the hair had become like her fathers with it deepening to near emerald.
"Father! Let me down!" He smiled at her wide but did comply. He had simply been happy to see her and she saw he looked tired. She flattened and fixed her battle dress before she was swept up in a hug once more!
She wanted to yell at him but a wet feeling made her freeze. Her Father was crying?! Why?!
She let him hug her a bit then he backed off with an apologetic look yet the redness was clear for her. What had happened?!
"Come, we are keeping the others waiting." Sora followed but kept a careful eye on him. While nowhere near her mothers' level of skills, her father was rather easy to read. She knew about his heart demon now as she had to face one of her own.
She realized her father had faced multiple at a time too when he was much weaker. How had he done that?
They finally entered the largest family room where they shared meals and all her siblings rushed forward to bury him in hugs! Was she the odd one out?
No! He had just caught her off guard! She smiled as she saw Sally come running with Miles right by her side.
They were so close but not isolated anymore. Hei and Zao actually rarely let either of them out of sight.
Isolde was in a rare state of smiling and crying while Syrilla tried to be stoic but broke when she felt Lind's arms around her. It had been a short time but it felt far longer now that he was back.
Sora noted redness in his eyes again. It was not merely sadness or the joy of reunion. Something bad had happened.
She was the first to see all their moms standing off to the side smiling. She vaguely recalled Mother Kora and Cyntilla were supposed to be out of the Empire but there they were.
She then saw the youngest of them looking shyly from his mother's arms.
Eldrian was going to slay when he was older, Sora was sure of it.
A smack to the top of her head made her look up to see her mother looking down at her sternly.
"If you think I don't know the thought that just went through your head, you have a lot to learn young lady!" If anyone had laid bets on who would be the indulgent mother, most would have bet on Shoti.
Her playful battle style and frankly lazy attitude always made people think she would be the kind of mother that let her kid get away with murder so long as it left her in peace, but she was far from that.
Shoti was strict and clear on her expectations. She did not punish unduly but she did not let things slide. The only exception to her sharp rules was Eldrian currently for obvious reasons but she still did not indulge him too much.
Annabelle, on the other hand, spoiled them rotten! She loved them all but right then Sora was rubbing her head where her mother had struck her.
"I was not thinking anything bad!" Shoti's eyes narrowed and Sora wilted under it. When would she get to read minds?!
"Who is this now?" Lind's voice snapped them all out of their reverie as he zeroed in on Eldrian. He did not move forward but knelt down as the rest backed off. Lysanna set him down but he looked scared.
"It is ok, you know who this is. I promise, he wanted to meet you for a long time too!" Lysanna was tearing up a bit as were they all. Eldrian slowly walked out before stopping halfway.
Lind did nothing to pressure him and simply smiled. He was patient and slowly Eldrian came forward to touch his face. His tiny finger poked Lind's cheeks and touch his now longer black and emerald hair.
The little boy became very curious about the crimson robe Lind wore but backed off suddenly when Lind moved his arm.
"It is ok, I just thought it fair to return the favor." He held still while Eldrian pondered his words before slowly nodding.
Sure enough, LInd poked and patted Eldrian the same way he had been. He was smiling like an idiot but still the same steps.
It seemed to make Eldrian smirk then giggle.
"Daddy!" He suddenly took his little arms and plopped onto Lind's leg. Lind ever so gently patted his head as tears fell down his face.
"That's right, I am your Daddy and I have come home." If anyone was not crying, they had no soul. Big Sisters Fey and Tal were looking away but Sora knew they were crying.
The family reunion finally moved to the impromptu banquet but they preferred it that way. For one day, they could just be a family and all the siblings knew the heart of it was their father.
He was always attentive and asked questions or listened to their stories without interrupting them. Little Eldrian sat happily and snugly against his chest. He refused to leave in fact!
Her Father showed no intention of letting go either!
The food was excellent but as things went to break up, Sora finally could not hold it in.
"Mom, is Dad ok?" Several flashes of surprise and worry confirmed it for Sora. Something was wrong with him.
"I–I don't think you are ready–" Sora's anger flared! She was 17, almost 18! She had been training as a cultivator for most of her life. She was not some greenhouse flower!
A long and tired sigh came from Shoti but then she noticed all the siblings were looking at her expectantly as Mother Kora and Mother Ethry took Lind away to rest. He would be having his son join him it seemed!
Once they were gone, Shoti nodded to the rest.
"We don't have all the details but Lind's cultivation has increased dramatically. We have seen this before and almost every time the cause is the same." Sora felt a chill down her spine at the worry filled pools of violet her mother had for eyes.
"He nearly died each time." Mother Cyntilla did not sugar coat it.
"He always apologized to us or hoped it would not happen again but it clearly did. The biggest difference was all of you." Mother Qing looked at all of them and they all felt tears forming.
"He saw you all and realized he almost did not come home. That he almost did not get to see you all again. It is the kind of man he is." Mother Annabelle looked at the door the 3 had just left but stayed with them.
"If you want to help, grow stronger and make him proud. Also, talk to him about what you want to do when you become Heaven Realms or advance. He really would love that." Mother Lysanna's words touched them all.
They had talked about training but they were all so young! They did not really have concrete plans but some were now giving it serious thought.
Sora looked down at her calloused hands. She was not a whip master like her mother but she was highly proficient in dagger work. She recalled his speech before he left 2 years ago and really thought about it.
Was that all she was? Wasn't there more she could do?
She saw her questions reflected in her siblings eyes but some knew what they wanted while others were still grasping. Her cultivation felt far too shallow suddenly so she went to her room to really consider it.
She also made an oath to get stronger to help her Father in the future! He was home but he could be pulled away at anytime and she did not like it!
She swore to go to Teela, Ruby, and Sa for intense training! She would get stronger, they all would!