"Vivi, tell one thing?" I asked.
"Yeah," she replied.
"Who has more control over Vaythos—you or ?"
For a mont Vivi paused. Only the faint ripples of violet essence moved across the surface of her feathers, tilting her head with clear curiosity.
"But I am Vaythos," she replied simply.
I smiled at that answer.
Through the Sovereign Link I could clearly feel the connection between us. My essence resonated with hers, and through that link the entire planet responded faintly to my presence. The bond that allowed to control the world core still existed, only now that power had a small phoenix-shaped form.
Which ant that if I had control over Vivi… I still had control over Vaythos.
"Alright, Vivi," I said finally. "Let go visit my grandmother and take care of a few other things. Once I'm done, I'll co back. Then we will go find so world cores for you to devour."
Her wings flared excitedly.
"Really?"
"Yes."
I pointed toward the small basin filled with liquid essence.
"Until then, enjoy the pool."
Vivi didn't waste another second. She flapped her wings once and dove straight back into the violet essence with a happy splash.
"Co soon!" her voice echoed from inside the glowing liquid. "I will keep watching you!"
I chuckled.
Then I took a step forward.
Space folded.
The next mont I appeared high above the capital.
The massive city of Astra stretched beneath , far larger than I rembered. New districts had expanded beyond the old walls, and the flow of life across the streets felt stronger than before. Despite our arrival earlier, the city remained calm. No alarms, no sudden movents.
No one had noticed. I glanced back toward the forest plateau in the distance. That was probably Vivi's doing.
No one had noticed. I glanced back toward the forest plateau in the distance. That was probably Vivi's doing.
But I didn't stay there long.
Another step and space folded again. The capital vanished from below and I reappeared above Cairo, my ho city.
The familiar streets spread beneath as mories resurfaced instantly. The city looked almost unchanged compared to the capital, quiet, steady, and comfortable in a way that large cities rarely were.
I descended slowly.
Monts later my feet touched the ground in front of my house. For a mont I simply stood there. The house looked exactly the sa.
The wooden gate. The small garden. Even the stone path leading to the front door had not changed. Ti had moved forward… but this place had remained the sa.
I closed my eyes briefly and extended my perception. Inside the house I could feel a familiar presence.
My grandmother.
I blinked slightly in surprise.
She was ho. At this hour she normally would have been out working. Taking a slow breath, I stepped forward and rang the doorbell.
The faint chi echoed inside the house. I could here footsteps moving through the house. After few monts the door opened.
My grandmother stepped out, holding a book in her hand.
She looked up.
For a mont she simply stared at .
Shock filled her eyes.
Then her voice trembled.
"…Billion?"
I smiled softly.
"Yes."
Instantly she took one step forward. Then another. Before I could say anything else, she pulled into a tight embrace.
For a mont she simply held .
Her arms wrapped tightly around as if she were afraid I might disappear again if she loosened her grip. I could feel the faint tremble in her hands as they pressed against my back.
"You ca back…" she whispered.
Her voice was soft, almost disbelieving. I slowly returned the hug, placing one arm around her shoulders.
"Yes," I said quietly. "I ca back."
She pulled away just enough to look at my face. Her eyes moved across it carefully, as if confirming that I was real and not so illusion standing at her door.
"You look the sa," she said softly, though her eyes had already begun to water. "But… you feel different."
I gave a small, helpless smile.
"A lot has happened."
She reached up and touched my cheek gently, the sa way she used to when I was younger. Her voice wavered slightly.
"I never knew if you were safe."
For a mont neither of us spoke. Then she suddenly pulled into another hug, this ti even tighter than before.
"I missed you," she said.
The words were simple, but they carried the weight of all the ti that had passed.
I closed my eyes briefly.
"I missed you too, grandma."
She laughed softly through her tears.
"Co inside," she said after a mont, pulling back and wiping her eyes quickly as if embarrassed. "You must be hungry. You always ca ho hungry."
I couldn't help smiling at that. So things, it seed, never changed.
She turned and walked back into the house, and I followed quietly behind her. The familiar scent of ho lingered in the air.
My eyes moved slowly across the living room.
Nothing had really changed.
The sa wooden table. The sa sofa. The sa shelves lined with old photographs and small decorations collected over the years.
Then my gaze stopped. The family portrait still hung on the wall exactly where it always had.
Grandma paused as well when she noticed where I was looking.
For a mont neither of us spoke.
In the picture, my grandmother, Elena Ironhart, sat in a chair, holding a seven-year-old version of in her lap while I made a ridiculous face toward the cara.
Behind her stood my father, Julius Ironhart, wearing his full special forces uniform. His green eyes were sharp, his brown hair neatly cut, and a small but unmistakably proud smile rested on his face.
Beside him stood my mother, Chloe Ironhart, also dressed in her uniform. Her long black hair fell over her shoulders, and her dark eyes were focused entirely on even in the photograph.
That picture had always done the sa thing to .
It made my chest tighten.
And it always made wonder what it would have been like if they had lived long enough to see what kind of man I had beco.
"Grandma," I said softly.
"Yeah?" she replied, turning fully toward .
Her voice was calm, but I could see the way her eyes had softened while looking at the portrait.
"I have so news."
She frowned slightly, curious.
"What is it?"
I looked at her.
"They're safe."
She blinked.
"What?"
"Their souls," I said quietly. "My parents' souls are safe."
For a mont she didn't move. Then her eyes widened slowly, disbelief flooding her expression.
"What… did you say?"
I took a small step closer.
"My parents' souls are safe, they did not turn into Abomination or Phantom" I repeated. "And I can bring them back."
The words seed to freeze the room.
My grandmother's lips parted slightly, but no sound ca out. Her hand slowly rose to her mouth as if she needed to steady herself. For a long mont she simply stared at .
Then tears began filling her eyes.
"You… you can bring them back?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
I nodded gently.
"Yes."
Her knees nearly gave out as she sank down onto the nearby chair. Her eyes moved from … to the portrait… and back to again. Her fingers trembled as she pressed a hand over her chest.
"All these years…" she whispered.
Then suddenly she began crying.
Not quietly. But like soone whose heart had carried a weight for far too long.
"My children…" she whispered through her tears.
Her gaze returned to again, searching my face desperately.
"You're telling … I will see them again?"
I stepped closer and knelt beside her.
"Yes, grandma," I said softly. "Soday you will."
I stepped forward and pulled her gently into my arms again, holding her as her shoulders trembled.
"Hey," I said softly, resting my chin lightly against her head. "Don't cry like a kid."
She let out a shaky laugh through her tears.
"I have so much to tell you, grandma."
User Comments
0 comments from readers