The Beginning After The End novel Chapter 137

Chapter 137

Chapter 137: Arrival

ARTHUR LEYWIN’S POV:

As I stepped into the large white tent, I was immediately pulled into a bearhug by Grampa Virion.

“Damn you, boy! Why didn’t you tell me you came back?” He loosened his grip on me, grasping me at arm’s length to get a better look.

“Nice to see you again, Gramps.” I turned to acknowledge the hooded asura. “Aldir.” _{fгeewebnovёl.com}

“Arthur. Lady Sylvie,” he greeted back. “Much has changed in both of you.”

“I certainly hope so,” I chuckled, Sylvie nodding slightly in response. “How did you know I had arrived here so quickly?” I turned back to Virion.

“Lord Aldir received a message from Lord Windsom,” Virion answered. “He said you were sent down here somewhere so I came right away.”

“To think you were sent where Tessia was stationed. Tell me, was this Wren’s doing?” Aldir chimed in, an amused tone in his voice.

I nodded, turning my gaze to my silent childhood friend. “Has his sense of humor always been so... droll?”

“Wren has always seen himself as whimsical despite his often indifferent attitude,” the asura acknowledged.

“I was so surprised to see him when we were expecting to battle a mutant,” Tessia voiced, shaking her head.

“Yeah. As soon as I had arrived, a horde of mana beasts attacked me and Sylv. We didn’t even have time to catch our breaths until after we had killed all of them,” I sighed, petting my bond.

“But what about the door? When we arrived at the scene, the mana beasts outside the room you were in had all died,” Tessia pressed. I knew she had been curious about a thousand things since my arrival, but I could tell by Aldir and Virion’s arrival that we were short on time.

“Not now, chil—Tessia,” Virion amended, placing a hand on his granddaughter’s shoulder. “There are things I must discuss with Arthur, and this isn’t the right place to do so.”

“We’re leaving?” Tessia responded, shifting glances between her grandfather and Aldir.

The asura shook his head. “Not you, Tessia. You are to stay here.”

“What? Arthur got here a few hours ago and you’re already taking him away?” Tessia replied, fear evident in her eyes.

“Tess,” I cut in. “Don’t worry. I’ll be right back after debriefing.”

“Besides, you have your team to look after. With this dungeon cleared, I’m sure everyone will soon depart from here. You have your own battles you are responsible for, right?” Virion added. “That is what we agreed upon when I allowed you to take part in this war.”

“Yes. ‘Work your way up from battles using your own strength,’,” Tessia quoted, letting out a defeated sigh.

I could practically see my childhood friend’s nonexistent tail droop in sorrow at this news, but I knew whatever Virion had to tell me was important.

“Then let’s head out immediately. Tessia, you’ve gotten stronger these past few months. The battles you’ve been through are certainly molding you well enough,” Aldir noted, giving her an approving nod.

“Thank you, Master.” Tessia dipped her head, but her bitter expression didn’t change.

I was taken by surprise at the relationship between the two. I never expected the one-eyed asura to take Tessia under his wing, but I kept those thoughts to myself.

Tessia gave a quick bow to her grandfather and her master before heading out of the tent. As she lifted the tarp flap, she looked back at me with a gaze that held a myriad of emotions.

“I’ll see you soon,” I smiled as she left.

“Shall we depart?” Aldir confirmed.

With a nod from the two of us, we headed out of the tent as well.

Outside, before stepping into the teleportation gate that Aldir had conjured, I locked eyes with Tessia’s teammate, Stannard, and muttered for him to take care of Tessia for me.

I hadn’t meant for him to hear it, but Stannard seemed to understand as he nodded meaningfully.

It took us a few minutes after stepping through the gate to arrive at the floating castle that the Council had made their base, the reason being that the flying fortress constantly moved miles above the ground without a set pattern or destination.

After our distorted surroundings focused, I noticed we had arrived inside a small, cylindrical room with no windows and only one set of double iron doors.

‘How come you didn’t talk to Tess back there?’ I asked my bond as she scampered along next to me.

‘A lady needs to have a secret or two,’ Sylvie voiced coyly.

‘Oh, you’re a lady now?’ I shook my head. Somewhere along the last two years, my bond had gained the ability to talk freely, but for some reason, she chose not to speak unless it was with me.

‘I’ll surprise Tessia with it next time,’ she replied, giggling to herself.

Virion and Aldir both looked back, obviously curious as to what my bond and I were discussing mentally.

Talking wasn’t the only ability that Sylvie had gained throughout her training, but because of her young age, most of the time was spent fortifying her body so that her mana and aether abilities wouldn’t run amok.

Lord Indrath had personally taught her how to strengthen her body, which was unique to the dragon race of asuras. Apparently, almost all young asuras faced the danger of their body being unable to withstand their innate abilities.

“Well, since we’re all here, let’s go out,” Virion announced with a smile.

At the signal from the gateman, the large iron doors clicked and squealed with the lock mechanism going off. The groan of metal on gravel filled my ears as the thick metal exit opened from the center.

I had expected a guard or two to be on the other side of the doors, but instead, a rather large dark bear towered over me. It gazed down viciously, the two white markings above its eyes shaping its expression into something of a scowl. It stood about three meters high, its hind legs rooted to the ground and its chest exposed to reveal a tuft of white fur just below its neck. Despite its angry-looking eyes, its exposed teeth gave the impression of a smile, two rows of white daggers protruding jaggedly out of its mouth.

“Brother!” a melodious voice chirped.

For a split second, I thought it was the bear that had spoken, but Ellie, my little sister, appeared from behind the beast with goofy grin on her immature face.

While subtle, my sister had definitely changed over these past few years. Her ash-brown hair ran freely down her shoulders instead of in pigtails which she had sported when she was younger. While her dark round eyes still shined with innocence, her thoughtful gaze toward me contained a profound maturity.

“Ellie!” I picked my sister up into a hug as she wrapped her arms around my neck and swung around me.

“Arthur!” another pair of voices called out. It was my parents.

After putting her down, I turned to my parents. I stood still, tense. Feelings of doubt and remorse kept me from giving my parents a hug. I didn’t know how to greet them after how we last separated.

“Come here, Son!” My father ran up and encircled me, wrapping me tightly in his arms.

“I-I don’t understand,” I stammered, taken aback by their actions. “I thought—”

“Thought what?” my father interrupted. “That just because you have memories of whatever previous existence you had, you could stop being my son?”

I chuckled as my father let me go. My mother, who had remained a few feet away, anxiously approached. My mind flashed back to how she had so desperately tried to deny everything, and I lost what little confidence I had to greet my mother.

Each slow step she took toward me made the lump in my throat grow larger. I looked down as her foot was just inches away from mine. I couldn’t look her in the eye.

Suddenly, my mother clasped my hands tightly, bringing them close to her.

“Give me some time,” she whispered as drops of tears landed on our hands. “I’m trying. I really am. Just give me some time.”