Reckoning Times

"Ethan!"

The sound of my mother's voice brought me back to the present. Both she and my father walked towards us, relieved and joyful expressions on their faces.

With a bright grin, my father scooped me up. Despite his age, his body appeared to be muscular.

"My boy!" he exclaimed. "I see you brought a girl with you!"

"Good day, sir! Evana Valen is my name! It's a pleasure to meet you!" Eve stated that as soon as my father arrived, he approached us.

"Ah...Just call me Uncle! I'm Ethan's father! Edwin!" My father responded by dropping his right hand and pulling me in.

"Dad, your beard is longer. Maintaining your training regimen?" I smirked and wrapped my arm around my father's neck.

"He's keeping it up, Eth, no one can change him!" My mother reprimanded me as my father pushed me back down. "Come here now."

My mother embraced me with her arms around me. I could tell by her red eyes that she was trying hard not to cry as she let me go.

"Sorry for worrying you," I said, seeing the pain in her eyes.

"So, please introduce me to your friend!" Mom said as she turned her gaze to Eve.

"Yes. Mom, this is Evana Valen, and Evana, this is my mom, Lyra!"

"Hey, Just call me Aunty or Mom okay Evana dear!"

I introduced them, but they didn't like each other.

"Aww! She's adorably cute!" My mother began to cuddle her.

In retrospect, my mother was always like this. I knew my mother was lonely because my siblings and I spent all of our time training with my father. But, when I return home from my adventures, she spoils me beyond measure while being strict.

I really am happy to be in a family like this. Anyway, my family also seems to like Eve.

"Alright guys, choose your pick!"

Alice went into the kitchen to got some snacks while we were all talking and my parents were looking at Jin.

We all sat down, and my family made sure that Evana and I were seated close together. It appears that they have all figured it out.

Alice, who was sitting next to my mother, was making strange eye movements. This was something I should have expected. Thank goodness Big Brothers Ron and Roy aren't here. Otherwise, it would have been a disaster.

Then we started talking about my time as an adventurer.

There were some details that I left out for my family's sake—I exchanged glances with Evana when I skipped the part where I took the trial of Death, Fear, Guilt, & Justice—but other than that, I made sure to fill them in to the best of my ability. And of course, I left out the part about the council of assassins, thinking I would tell my father and mother later about it as my sister Alice doesn't know about this.

When I continued the story and told them about how I defeated the Mana beasts that were almost at class S, the audience couldn't believe it. They wouldn't believe us until I pulled all of my elements from the tips of my fingers.

They were forced to swallow their doubts as they stared in awe at when I released other static elements, seeing the flame torching, the water swirling, the wind enticing, and the stones rising at each of my four finger tips. The elements of ice, lightning, and darkness

My parents and sister were in awe, but Evana was perplexed. I suppose she wonders how a human can have a dark element. That is, after all, my question. I also knew that, while my family was surprised, they were all surprised as well.

We shifted topics after a few more awestruck moments.

I told my parents about me and Evana attending the Atlas Academy together and I already got seats for of us. Well, we had to take the entrance exams first though.

Everyone agreed as they only said "You both should look after each other!", which made me and Eve to blush really hard on hearing a comment, and concluded the chat.

My parents asked about the Lifeful ring, and I told them that this ring is belongs to my real mother, when Alice went inside the kitchen to make something for me and Evana.

After my father excused himself because he had some work to do, my sister and mother practically shoved me aside as they both took seats near Evana and took turns squeezing out more details about us. Jin appears to be sleeping in my head, and I assume he cultivates while sleeping.

I talked with them a little longer, and I realized how tired I was.

"Sis, Mom! I think I'll go to bed, and sis, please let Evana stay with you! I was really tired after our walk!"

"Of course, I will take Eve upstairs right now. Remember to wash your hands before going to bed." My mother smiled at me, as Eve smiled back, assuring me that she was fine.

Not to mention that Jin needs to rest in order to grow stronger. I really wonder how protecting Jin is my destiny.

"Goodnight, Lil Man! Goodnight, Jin!" my sister yelled out, as Jin shook his tail from behind.

I entered the room where all of my brothers were pillow fighting with each other. I'm curious how they're doing now. Big brother Rock is a teacher at the Atlas Academy, right? So I guess I'll see him soon enough.

The Smell of dust and the brightness of the dim light, guess Time sure do flies, unlike inside the Holy Tree though.

As soon as I climbed into my bed, I positioned Jin's curled body to my right in a comfortable position and closed my eyes to cultivate while sleeping. However, since the thoughts overflowed inside, my mind, which was once filled with various thoughts on the future, faded into a dull blur as sleep overtook me.

***CHAPTER 41***