Reincarnated in the Astral World

Chapter 56: Departure

After the conversation with Arthur, Draven returns to the house, determined to start doing the right thing, at least from his perspective. But as soon as he enters the room and sees little Eve hugging Alicia, another thorn forms in his heart, hurting his ego further.

He can't help thinking about how Aria used a Ritual to have Eve, limiting his role to just the use of his seeds. 'Is that why my daughter was never close to me?' He wonders while thinking about how Eve has always been much closer to Aria and especially to Arthur. Their siblings' bond is more powerful than Draven's bond with Alicia at their best moments.

"Eve…" Draven calls his daughter, but as soon as she sees him, the little girl hides behind Aria. She still remembers when he shouted at her mother and brother, leaving a terrible impression of him in her heart.

Draven feels even worse seeing how he failed as a father to both his children. But he's not willing to give up and puts on his most loving smile to talk to the little girl. "Don't be afraid of your papa; I just want to hug you one more time."

Eve is confused for a second, but then she shows a happy smile and runs towards Draven. He opens his arms with a proud smile, but then the little girl completely ignores him, walking past him and jumping into Arthur's arms, who showed up behind Draven.

Arthur doesn't intend to hurt his father, but he instinctively hugs his little sister, and she starts to laugh excitedly. "Big brother! I was concerned about you!!" Eve is very sensitive and could feel how the atmosphere was tense this morning.

"It's okay, little bug," Arthur tenderly strokes her hair, making Eve feel very secure in his arms. But then he and Draven exchange glances and Arthur feels pity for his father. "Eve, how about you say goodbye to our father? He's going to take a long trip and will be away for a while."

Despite his words, Arthur doesn't really think that's the case. 'I doubt we can go back to how it was before... but since that perfect family was just an illusion in my childish mind...' He still doesn't understand how he really feels about that.

Eve is still too young to understand such things, but she has always felt that her father was very distant and her brother very close. That remains the same, but she doesn't hate her father, so she extends her cute hand to touch him while keeping her other hand holding the bottom of her brother's shirt.

"Goodbye, father," the little girl tries to sound friendly with Draven, but the fact that she is not willing to let go of Arthur makes her feelings clear, leaving her father in an even more deplorable mood.

"We will see each other again, darling," Draven caresses Eve's little hand while keeping his distance to not scare the little girl. Yet, she quickly goes back to hugging Arthur.

Draven turns his attention to Aria and Alicia. "We better go; I guess there's nothing more to say…"

Alicia can't help but think that she would really like to spend more time with her niece and nephew, especially Arthur, since everything about him seems so fascinating. However, she has been away from home for two years and is also concerned about her mother and the situation of their family.

She casts one last curious look at Aria, but she just shakes her head. "It's not yet time for us to leave this place, Alicia. I hope you understand that it's not about you."

"I see," Alicia can see that it's not just about Draven either. 'Aria also seems to be hiding a deep secret, and it should be connected to what led her to abandon her continent and create a family with Draven in such an isolated place.' Alicia remembers him mentioning something about her family fifteen years ago, but that doesn't seem of any help now.

"Just promise me you'll think about it," Alicia asks both Aria and Arthur. "If you change your mind, our home is always open to family."

Aria nods amiably. "Arthur and Eve are just starting their lives; I'm sure our paths will cross again."

Alicia also nods and then goes to Arthur and Eve, placing a caring kiss on the forehead of both. "You are both such treasures; I'm sure you have a bright future ahead regardless of which path you choose to take."

The siblings just nod, and then Alicia leaves through the door. Draven casts one last sad look at his family before sighing and following his sister. Arthur also leaves the house and sees his father mounting one of the black horses while Alicia takes something out of her backpack.

She returns to Arthur and Eve, then shows something in her hand, a necklace with a brown cord and a gold coin as a pendant. It seems like a common jewel, but when Alicia touches the pendant with her finger, what previously looked like a coin turns into a crimson gold lion, with the chain taking the same colors.

"This is the symbol of our House, the Lion," Alicia speaks proudly while putting the necklace around Eve's neck. It returns to a simple necklace with a golden coin, and Alicia cautions further. "It's better not to let random people see it in the southern regions of Eldoria; our family has many enemies here, but we are not without allies."

Alicia looks at Arthur and then takes a similar necklace from her own neck and puts it on his. "When you're ready to come back home, just head north without looking back; you can't go wrong. And if you need to prove you're Leonhart's, just show this pendant."

Eve is entertained by making the gold coin turn into a lion and then change it back again, but Arthur is increasingly curious about their family. He looks into Alicia's eyes with an expectant expression. "I will eagerly await the day of our reunion."

"Hee-hee~" Alicia giggles and then hugs Arthur tightly, using her aura to create a sound barrier and whisper her words in his ear for him only to hear. "Tell Nyx I really enjoyed meeting her; you may not have a Golden Astral Beast as is the case for most of us, but it may be precisely what prevents you from making the same mistakes as your father and grandfather.

When you're ready, I'll be waiting for you at home, Arthur~"

"Also, don't worry about that noble trash," Alicia speaks in a gentle tone but doesn't hide a hostile glint in her eyes. "I'll stop by Lakeview and take care of that family of rats; though maybe I'll leave some of them for you to deal with when you're older; how about that?"

"Sounds good," Arthur grows much fonder of Alicia and hugs her tighter. Her metal armor is quite hard and cold, but he still wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her into a tight, affectionate hug.

"Ah~" Alicia smiles and responds to Arthur's show of affection by hugging him tightly as well. 'I can't remember the last time I was hugged by someone like this... no, I'm sure no man has ever hugged me like this, not even Draven...'

Both Draven on his horse and Aria at the doorway feel similar emotions but for different reasons.

Alicia can't help but try to compare the way Arthur acts with how Draven did decades ago. But even when he acted like a good brother, he was never really genuine. 'Meanwhile, Arthur does not hesitate to be cruel to his enemies while being very caring with his family... How did Draven manage to have such a good son? He must have inherited most of Aria's qualities.'

While Alicia has many thoughts about Arthur, he simply enjoys having his aunt in his arms. The possessive desires in his heart grow quickly, and he wishes she could stay with him forever. But he also understands that she has her own problems to take care of now, so he lets her go after a while.

Alicia is also clearly reluctant to leave Arthur, so she caresses his face one last time, smiling kindly at him before turning to mount her horse. She doesn't consider herself a person of words but rather of actions, so she strengthens the determination in her heart to come back for Arthur if he doesn't come to her in a few years.

She mounts her black mare and casts one last expectant look at him and Eve. "See you, my good niece and nephew."

Arthur waves to his aunt with a gentle expression, and Eve does the same; then, she and Draven leave, riding their horses at high speed. As they move away from the house, they have different expressions and thoughts.

Draven hopes he is heading towards a better future, while Alicia knows that the best future has already been left behind now, but she has faith that Arthur will one day surpass his father in everything.

As Alicia and Draven leave the village, Arthur turns his attention to his mother, his gaze becoming even more loving. "I didn't thank you for the help earlier, Mom..." He comments as he walks up to her.

"You don't need to thank Mommy for such-" Aria begins to speak, but Arthur approaches her and pulls her in his arms for a tight hug, making her smile. "Oh my~ you've been so honest lately, darling..."

"That's because I have the most perfect mother in the world," Arthur comments as he pulls Aria's body even tighter against his, trying to show how deeply he loves her.

"Fufufu~~" Aria giggles happily as she lets her son hug her to his heart's content. A few seconds later, she gives in to curiosity and exposes her thoughts. "What did your aunt tell you? I bet it was something about succeeding the Throne, right?"

"How did you know?" Arthur blurts out, and Aria quickly responds. "I saw how Alicia looked at you as you killed that trash; her eyes shone as if she had found the greatest treasure of all... and of course, she noticed your unlimited potential."

"Hmm..." Arthur wonders about that while continuing to hug Aria; his body simply does not want to let go of her. So he whispers in her ear so that Eve won't hear. "I introduced Nyx to her... and she reacted very well, actually."

"Oh~" Aria feels pleasurable chills on her neck when she feels Arthur's lips so close to her ear, but she manages to stay focused. "Alicia is really quite different from Draven... And I agree with her that you would be a much better King than him."

"I don't feel any urge to be King, though," Arthur comments honestly. "As long as I can live like this, having the women I love by my side, everything seems perfect."

Aria feels her heart beat faster whenever Arthur says how much he loves her; of course, she sees such a feeling as family love, but it is pure and makes her feel absolutely amazing.

But it also awakens other desires in her heart, which she still tries to find excuses for. She replies with a charming smile. "You wouldn't have to give up the women you love to be a King; I'm sure Nyx and Margaret would support you."

Arthur does not doubt that, but no matter how much he loves Nyx and Margaret, it is Aria's opinion that matters most to him. "What about you, Mom? Would you support me as King?"

Aria feels like nodding, but before she realizes it, words flow out of her mouth without her control as she sweetly teases . "Only if you make Mommy your Queen~"

"Of course!" Arthur doesn't need to think to answer that question; he holds Aria even tighter and tenderly kisses her forehead. "You're already my Queen, now and forever."

Aria feels ashamed for letting such a selfish desire escape, but Arthur's words make her feel her heart flutter. She rests her head on his chest, feeling safe and loved in a way that she has never felt.

"Thank you, baby…" She doesn't hide her feelings because she feels she can say whatever she wants and be whoever she wants with her beloved son. "You're making your Mommy the happiest woman in the world."