Supreme Magus novel Chapter 3609

"I've been arrogant and stupid, but that won't happen anymore. I've learned my lesson, and I promise you that from now on I'll be much more careful."

"You better, kid." Orion checked Friya with Invigoration until he was sure that her life force was weird but undamaged. "Otherwise, once I'm done with the one who hurt you, I'll come for you next."

"I owe you an apology, Friya." Jirni wrung her hands. "You made the right decision, and I should have trusted your judgment more."

"What are you talking about, Mom?" Friya asked in confusion. "You've never questioned my pact with Faluel. At least in my face."

"Of course I didn't." Jirni dismissed her daughter's suspicious look with a sweep of her hand. "Sure, I don't like the terms of the pact, but without it you wouldn't have found your path in life and met Nalrond.

"The only thing I've always wanted for all my children is to be happy. On top of that, after today, I consider Faluel a member of this family. It's only thanks to her that you're still alive."

Friya had glossed over the part about the tower and Lith's contribution, leaving the Hydra the lion's share of the glory. In the version of the story they had fed the Ernas, Faluel had kept a Warp Array at the ready and intervened before it was too late.

"I was referring to your choice to delay having children." Jirni's words made Friya and Nalrond spit out their tea. "If not for that, your father and I would have lost a grandchild, if not two.

"Not to mention the complications that becoming a Harbinger might have caused to the babies, even if they survived your wounding."

"Damn! I hadn't thought about that." Orion slapped his own leg, his face losing its color.

"Language!" Jirni repeated.

"Mom, that part of my life is not up for debate. I-"

"Damn!" Dripha cut Friya's short.

"What did you say, baby girl?" Jirni's smile as she took Dripha in her arms didn't extend to her eyes, especially when she looked at Orion.

"She's just a few weeks old. There's no way she has already learned her first word." He raised his hands in apology. "Also, I don't say… that word so often."

Dripha smiled at Jirni and made a few baby noises, confirming Orion's words.

"Maybe we have misheard." Lith pondered. "Maybe she said, 'Dad'."

"Say Dad, sweetie pie. Say Dad." Orion waved his hand to Dripha, obtaining a smile in return but nothing more.

After a few more failed attempts to make the baby talk, Jirni sighed in relief and went back to the original topic.

"Friya, I don't want to pressure you, but Quylla is right. This is the perfect moment to start your family. You are Faluel's Harbinger now. You might die during one of her missions, or because she died at the hands of her enemies.

"Your future doesn't belong only to you anymore. You must start planning your life accordingly. On top of that, if my plan to deal with the Gernoffs fails, I won't get to know your children, but at least I will see them with Invigoration."

"Mom!" Friya had no idea if Jirni was being sincere or just attempting to manipulate her, but she went pale anyway. "Don't talk like that. I-"

"Damn!" Dripha said, and the room fell silent.

"Dear, please, raise your voice at me." Jirni said while never averting her eyes from the baby.