Extra's Descent

Chapter 263: Return [2]

The welcome party started. It was hosted by Brandon and Amelia, and their guests were Belle and Brianna.

The entire time, Belle was glued to Aurelia.

"She's so cute~"

"Aaang…."

Aurelia, on the other hand, seemed annoyed.

She tried to pull away, but it was for naught. She couldn't escape Belle's grasp.

"Brandon, Brandon!"

"Hehe~ Where are you going, Aurelia~!"

"Aaang…. Help!"

Brandon stayed seated as Belle was chasing Aurelia around.

But truth be told, it was a wholesome sight. The smile on Aurelia's face told Brandon enough that the little elven girl was having fun.

"Hehe~"

These past few days, he and Amelia were barely home. The little girl must've been lonely.

Sooner or later, the elves would reveal themselves to the world.

After all, there were certain events that stayed consistent throughout every progression.

For that reason, Brandon had to get stronger.

No, humanity had to get stronger.

Else, they would be in the middle of the other races.

At the moment, the current strongest was Bellion Van.

A mage on the SS rank category.

And thought it didn't seem like much of a gap with Evelyn who was an SS- ranker, it actually was a large gap.

The reason why it was so hard to progress in the S ranks and above was due to how large the gap was between each rank.

"I got you, Aurelia~!"

"Aaaang…. Mama, help!"

At that moment, Belle and Brianna's heads flicked towards Amelia. They looked back and forth between Brandon and Amelia, eventually narrowing their eyes at Brandon.

"Mama?"

"You two. Are you…."

"N-no, no, no. Haha. You know how kids are."

Amelia stammered.

"Hmm…?"

Brianna leaned close.

"I'm not against it, you know?"

"Same."

Belle joined in.

"However, this playboy right here has loose ends."

Belle pointed at Brandon.

"...."

Brandon could only remain silent. Belle was right, he did have loose ends.

However, that wasn't what was important right now.

Romance was the least of his priorities.

Regardless, he owed the people he had formed interpersonal relationships with at least that much.

There was no one else that could fill the hole inside his heart. Or rather, the Raven Blackheart inside of him.

"No, we aren't at that stage. Just friends."

"Yes, yes. That's right. We're just friends!"

Amelia joined in.

"Hmm?"

Belle looked around as she held Aurelia in her arms.

"This entire set-up screams, 'married couple,' you know?"

"Hngg…. Married couple…. Married couple…."

Amelia started murmuring to herself, letting out a cute sound. But failed to do so as she was audible to Brandon.

Looking at him, Brianna pursed her lips.

"Still, what do you plan on doing with Aurelia? Don't you want her to attend a pre–school?"

"School, huh?"

It was an interesting proposition. However, it was too risky. If Aurelia's magic fails, the real shape of her ears would reveal itself.

Brandon wanted to tell them. But refrained from doing so. It would come as a shock for them.

At least, not until the elves revealed themselves.

"No, I'm overprotective."

And he decided to go with that reasoning instead.

"Instead, I could hire a private tutor."

"We can't trust strangers nowadays, you know that."

"Of course, this is where you come in, Mom."

"Me?"

"Can you use your connections to find a tutor for Aurelia? Since me, Belle, and Amelia will be busy with academy matters, maybe you can supervise her? It's a win–win situation for the both of you."

Indeed, Brianna had been quite lonely ever since the calamity.

Aurelia should be quite lonely as well considering the events that led up to now. To make matters worse, Brandon and Amelia would attend the academy everyday, making Aurelia even lonelier.

"Grandchild~ Grandchild~"

And Brianna was now lost in her own fantasy.

Snap! Snap—!

Brandon snapped his fingers and Brianna snapped out of her thoughts.

"Okay, but that depends upon Amelia. This is her house after all."

"Of course, it was just an idea. I plan on consulting Amelia first."

"Married couple…. Married couple…."

Snap! Snap—!

"Ah?"

Amelia too had snapped out of her fantasies.

"What do you say?"

"About what?"

"Let's merge our families together."

"Eh…?"

***

The party ended then.

Belle and Brianna returned home after helping clean.

11:00 PM.

Amelia seemed to have fallen asleep on the couch.

Brandon stared intently with a worried gaze as he started to ponder.

'You're too pure for this world.'

Just like him, Amelia was cursed.

However, hers was different. She had the option to live a different life than his.

While he was born cursed, bad decisions led to another which led to this point.

And that bad decision….

'Was falling in love with Raven Blackheart.'

That was her fatal mistake.

And now, it was his duty so she wouldn't end up the same way as Ciel.

'I'm sorry for doubting you.'

For considering her as a future enemy.

'I'll make things right.'

To protect her smile.

Brandon approached the sleeping Amelia and pulled the blanket up.

A few seconds later, he left the apartment.

It was night. Time passed for a bit. It was currently 11:43 PM.

Brandon stood atop a rooftop, peering down, taking in the sight of the city's nightlife.

It was quite lively. It seemed like humanity had recovered somewhat.

Then, he retrieved his phone and sent a message.

—Let's meet up.

Shortly after, a portal opened. A woman emerged soon after.

Brandon turned around and scanned. Her long hazel–brown hair fluttered from the portal's wind pressure.

Two hazel eyes met his gaze.

"Ciel."

"Why aren't you doing your quests?"

"Hm?"

Ciel appeared panicked. Perhaps she was in a rush.

Regardless, it seemed like she abandoned all thoughts as she continued.

"Don't you know what will happen if—"

"The Wraith's descent?"

He cut her off.

Ciel caught her composure and sighed.

"Yes, good that you're aware."

"How sure are you that the Wraiths won't descend just because I completed some meager tasks?"

"Meager? You haven't done a single thing…!"

Brandon opened his system.

[Quests Available: 43]

It had been piling up since then.

And not once had he looked at it.

"There's misinformation. Completing these quests won't stop the Wraith's descent. It's the progress I get throughout the quest."

Meaning, it was a measure on how he fared against a Wraith.

[Wraith's Descent: 43%]

With his stats at A, he only had a 43% chance to defeat a Wraith.

That was, at least, without any preparations.

"Also, can you stop giving them to me?"

"...."

It was an intervention.

It was for that reason why he called Ciel in the first place.

"....How did you know?"

"The question is, what don't you know?"

"...."

Brandon neared her and grabbed her wrist. Ciel looked away.

"What are you doing—"

"Thank you."

"....What?"

"For everything you've done this far."

"...."

She may have schemed to kill his sister, her own best–friend. However, just like Raven, she too had descended without turning back.

They were a mess.

"You've done enough, Amelia."

Ciel's eyes widened in shock. Despite having no memories of the previous timelines, she knew exactly who she was.

".....How did you—"

Cutting her off, Brandon embraced her. Ciel stood frozen, her arms hanging low.

"You may not remember. But I remember it all. Amelia, it's me, Raven."

"...."

She remained silent for a moment. But as she finally gathered her thoughts together, she opened her mouth.

"....How can that be?"

Her voice started cracking. Her whole facade started to break.

"You're just…. a variant. A version of him from a timeline he created with no mana."

"Doesn't matter. In the end, I am still Raven Blackheart."

Ciel knew.

Which was why she was fond of him. Especially so, as she took care of him all those months he was comatosed.

Yes, she might not have the memories. But the fondness was still there.

"Please rest and let me handle the rest, Amelia."

Brandon pressed on her temple.

"I'll show you exactly what you've lost."

A binding vow.

To transfer the memories of the life Raven Blackheart had lived with Amelia.

The progressions in which he had given up and continued stuck in that loop.

He didn't need those memories. It wasn't his in the first place.

If he were to make things right, then he didn't want to have feelings for Amelia under outside influence.

It was his story, after all.

Shortly after, he pulled his hand away from her forehead.

"I… I don't…."

Ciel stammered.

"I'll make sure to protect you. So your variant doesn't end up like this."

This entire mess.

"....Do me a favor."

"Anything."

"Please kill me…."

"...."

He hadn't expected this at all.

Ciel was a potential ally. It was for that reason, why Brandon had given her back her memories in the first place. That, and the lingering guilt he felt.

She deserved to know the truth.

However, it was her wish.

It was Amelia's wish.

Regardless, he had to ask.

"Are you sure? We can work together to stop him—"

"No."

Ciel shook her head.

"I'm tired. Knowing that you'll protect a version of me is enough for me. I can die happily knowing there's a world out there where I'm happy."

It was not as if she wasn't treated right.

Raven loved her so.

It was out of his control on whatever happened afterwards.

Regardless, it was his actions that led to this moment.

He had to take accountability for it.

And Brandon took on that mantle.

"Can you promise me you'll make her happy?"

"I'll never hurt her. I'll never hurt you."

"Thank you."

A brief silence overtook the surroundings.

No words needed to be said and no words were exchanged.

Now he had full control over the Primordials.

A group he had never even met in this progression.

Then finally, his Elemental Assimilation wore off. The threads dissipated, and his ink–black hair gradually faded, replaced by the usual pale–white color.

The same went for his eyes.

Brandon looked up and stared at the sky. The stars were twinkling brightly, reflecting in his eyes.

He allowed the silence to take over for a while as tried catching his breath.

It was then when it hit him.

….That was his last meeting with Ciel.