A Stinking Reunion and the Call of the Depths
Julius made no effort to keep this outing a secret. A giant like him moving around covertly would only cause massive problems down the line.
Less than thirty minutes after Julius arrived in the Kingdom of Valian, the Imperial Palace contacted Gladiheim. To sum up the long-winded message, they were asking what the hell the family head was doing entering Valian.
Handling such matters fell to Jerard, the administrative specialist. No sooner had he replied that he'd look into it than he summoned Arian. What reason could the family head—who'd holed up in the Sword Tower for thirteen years—have for visiting Valian with his young grandson? There was only one possibility, no matter how he racked his brain.
"The family head and your son have entered Valian."
"What? Why?"
"To drag your damn husband back, obviously. Arian, you really had no idea?"
It took less than an hour for the truth—that the family head had taken his grandson out to fetch Aslan—to spread to every pureblood in the Sword Tower.
And so, right now, the Sword Tower's purebloods were witnessing just how devastatingly powerful Arian's spirit arts were... and how ridiculously tough Aslan was after twelve years in seclusion.
"You... you bastard!"
Arian's rage was too overwhelming to care about the onlookers. She didn't hesitate to spew curses as she pummeled the prone Aslan.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Every time the wind spirit Zephyrus, contracted to Arian, flapped its wings, a massive wind hammer slammed down on Aslan's back.
"What makes you so proud? Showing your face in front of me?! Huh?!"
"A-Arian."
To survive, Aslan circulated his mana. Anything less, and her attacks would crush him flat.
"I... I was wrong..."
"Don't say my name!"
Arian bellowed. Zephyrus, resonating with her fury, beat its wings wide, swelling the wind hammer even larger before smashing down on Aslan.
"Guh!"
Blood sprayed from Aslan's mouth. Arian startled, shooting Zephyrus a glare. She'd been set on beating him senseless in her rage, but that last hit felt a bit too vicious.
[...]
Zephyrus felt utterly wronged. It had sensed Arian's anger and struck exactly as hard as she'd wanted. And now she was glaring at it like it had gone too far?
"J-Just die!"
Unable to apologize, yet unwilling to back down, Arian hurled even harsher words.
"Just die already, you dog—!"
"A... Arian..."
"I said don't say my name!"
Arian stopped channeling attacks through Zephyrus and stomped right up to kick Aslan directly.
"I can't even stand looking at you! You, too—you hid away for twelve years because you couldn't stand the sight of me, didn't you?!"
"Th-That's not true!"
"Like hell it's not! You left one damn letter and vanished for twelve years! If you really loved me..."
"Arian!"
Aslan suddenly surged to his feet amid the kicks and yanked Arian into a tight embrace before she could react.
"I... I was all wrong."
His choked apology spilled out amid surging emotions. Thick tears rolled from Aslan's eyes, soaking Arian's shoulder.
"No matter what I say... it'll just sound like excuses. B-But Arian. I didn't seclude myself because I stopped loving you. I..."
"You..."
Arian's shoulders trembled.
"You stink!"
Aslan's hair right in her face. No, it wasn't just his hair. A horrific stench wafted from his entire body—indescribable, unbearable. This was way beyond anything love could endure.
Arian recoiled, trying to shove him off, but Aslan—overwhelmed by emotion—clung tighter and shouted.
"I won't let go until you forgive me!"
"F-Fine, I forgive you! Just let go!"
Only after she yelled that did Arian break free. She gulped down fresh air from Zephyrus's winds, panting heavily.
"Y-You come see your wife after twelve years... without even bathing?!"
"That's..."
"And look at you? Why's your hair white? Why are you skin and bones?"
"Training made it hard to eat properly..."
"You think that's something to brag about? Huh? Do you?!"
Tears began streaming from Arian's eyes as she yelled. Aslan hesitated, reaching out to hug her again, but she recoiled the instant his hand moved.
"You reek! If you wanna hold me, bathe first!"
Arian's violence and tirade finally ceased. Inside the carriage, Kyle—who'd been peeking out while holding his breath—figured now was his chance and poked his head out.
"Mom, you feeling better n—"
"Kyle! Get over here!"
Arian, still sniffling, turned a furious glare on her son. In eleven years, she'd never once scolded him—only showered him with love. The shock hit Kyle hard.
Kyle glanced back cautiously. Julius in the carriage merely had his arms crossed, looking uninvolved. Sighing inwardly, Kyle shuffled over to Arian.
A knuckle cracked against his forehead the moment he arrived.
"You! Keeping this from your mom!"
"Well... I mean..."
Any excuse would be pointless. Kyle opted to own it outright.
"Sorry."
"Sigh..."
With her son admitting fault so readily, Arian couldn't keep scolding. It wasn't even that scold-worthy to begin with. Her son had brought his dad back for her sake. If anyone deserved blame, it was the parents who'd made an eleven-year-old do that. Arian sighed deeply and pulled Kyle into a hug.
"Mom's sorry. I should've thought more about you..."
Aslan shuffled closer awkwardly and dropped to his knees before Kyle and Arian, head bowed low.
"Don't embarrass yourselves out here. Go inside."
Julius stepped out of the carriage. At the family head's words, the relatives lingering outside filed back into the Sword Tower one by one.
"Father."
Arian fixed her reddened eyes on Julius in a glare.
"Instead of thanks, you're glaring? What have you done right?"
"Wh-What did I..."
"You let your pride keep your son fatherless for eleven years. You think that's something to be proud of?"
Truth be told, Julius hadn't considered fetching Aslan until Kyle asked—but now that things had played out, that was no longer his concern.
"I'm... sorry..."
Arian hung her head, unable to retort. Julius clicked his tongue.
"Your son acted more like an adult than you."
"..."
"Go talk it out among yourselves. Your boy has something important to say."
Julius turned and headed back into the Sword Tower. Arian tilted her head at "something important," glancing at Kyle.
"What important thing?"
"I'll tell you inside."
Kyle hadn't brought Aslan out of curiosity about his face. He'd just hated leaving Arian alone while heading into the Layers of the Capital.
Now that Aslan was here, it was time to convince Arian.
*
In the Rose Mansion's parlor, the family of three finally sat together. Aslan, freshly bathed, no longer reeked—but his unkempt hair and beard still made him look like some beggar crashed on the couch.
"The Layers of the Capital...?"
Arian muttered, mouth agape. Aslan, denied a seat on the sofa, knelt on the floor, staring at Kyle in shock.
"The Sword Tower's goblins? What the hell are goblins?"
"Ask Mom about that later."
Aslan's permission wasn't the issue here. Kyle fixed Arian with a steady gaze.
"Grandpa already gave permission. Now I just need yours, Mom."
"So that's why you suddenly went to fetch Dad..."
Arian shook her head dazedly.
"The Layers of the Capital... Sword Tower goblins... Dragon King's fragments...? Oh my god..."
"Um... is it no?"
Kyle asked cautiously. If Arian refused? He'd have no choice. He'd brought Aslan to spare her loneliness—he'd done his part.
Guess I'll sneak in...
He hoped it wouldn't come to that. For her sake, he'd gone this far; ideally, he'd get her blessing and leave without regrets.
"..."
Arian gazed at Kyle, her heart a tangle of emotions. Her son, who'd never caused her a moment's worry. Not just worry-free, but a son she could boast about anywhere—smart, talented, and so filial he'd fetched his absent father for her sake.
How could a mother deny such a son when he earnestly wanted this? Her only concern was the man kneeling on the floor.
Honestly, Arian didn't mind Kyle entering the Layers of the Capital. It was his dream, his path. What bothered her was him separating again from his hard-returned father before they could bond.
"Kyle. Don't you... want to spend time with your dad?"
"Huh? Yeah. I don't wanna play."
Kyle's half-hearted reply left Arian's mouth half-open and Aslan's shoulders slumping further, back hunched. Only then did Kyle grasp the odd question's intent.
"With swords, sure. We sparred a bit earlier—playing swords with Dad looks fun."
"That was 'playing'...?"
Aslan muttered, lifting his head slightly. The killing intent Kyle had unleashed in the training hall was no game.
"So... you don't wanna play more with Dad?"
Arian asked carefully. Kyle crossed his arms, pretending to ponder. An instant yes might worry them too much.
"I'm too weak to play swords with Dad right now. But after the Layers of the Capital, I could play better."
"..."
"You don't want me to go, Mom?"
"No."
Arian composed herself, lest he worry needlessly.
"If it's what you want, Mom won't stop you. The Layers of the Capital are dangerous, I hear... but you wanna go, right?"
"Yes."
Kyle added,
"Don't worry too much. If it's impossible, I'll bail like Aunt Erica."
He had no intention of quitting without trying, of course.
"When're you going?"
"Tomorrow, if you say yes."
"Then we should stuff you with your favorites today. I hear it's hard to eat what you want in there."
Kyle hadn't pried details from Erica. Knowing ahead might spoil the fun.
But Arian knew enough. She'd never challenged the Layers of the Capital herself, but her siblings had shared stories aplenty.
"If you need, I can call your uncles and aunts for advice right now. What do you think?"
"No need. Might as well go in blind—sounds more fun."
Kyle grinned like it was a picnic. Arian couldn't help a chuckle as she stood.
"I'll tell Seril to prep food. And Aslan, you... get a haircut first. Trim that beard. I won't have appetite seeing your face at the table."
"A-Alright."
"One more thing. I haven't fully forgiven you. So from now on, sleep in the garden."
Arian glared fiercely at Aslan.
"Sleeping bag or whatever. Eat outside too. I'll call you if I feel like company."
"..."
"Live like that till I cool off. Wanna speed it up? Bring flowers daily, sing under my window or something. Got it?"
"Y-Yes."
Not being outright banished from the Sword Tower was already a mercy for Aslan.
'He comes out of the Layers and there's a new sibling? Nah.'
Watching Arian and Aslan, Kyle thought.
Arian seemed to be walling Aslan off for now, but it wouldn't last.
'A sibling... yeah, a sibling.'
He wouldn't mind a little sister, honestly.
*
The next day.
Kyle ate breakfast with a cleanly shaven, trimmed Aslan and Arian, whose eyes were a touch red.
"Said eat in the garden. Changed your mind already?"
"Just today. Gotta send my boy off together."
"It's not like I'm off to war. Just inside the Sword Tower."
Meant to reassure, but it backfired—Arian's eyes welled up instantly.
"Should I not go?"
"G-Go! Don't mind me."
"That makes me worry more."
"So you staying?"
"Gotta go."
"You're sneakily like your dad. Hurting people's hearts."
Aslan, barely touching his food, hunched further.
"Dad got nothing for me?"
"Ti..."
Aslan hesitated, then spoke.
"Take this watch."
Not mere words—he pulled a pocket watch from his bosom and handed it to Kyle.
"Used it wandering the world. Keeps perfect time, tracks dates too."
"Had this and still holed up twelve years?"
"F-Forgot to bring it..."
Aslan mumbled weakly. Kyle sighed, pocketing the watch.
"Mom hasn't forgiven you, but I have. Your sword was pretty cool."
"..."
"Never had strong feelings about you anyway. Made forgiving easy?"
Aslan's eyes flickered. Bold by nature, his guilt kept him meek before Arian and Kyle.
"Father-son bonds can build later. For now, fix things with Mom while I'm gone."
"Kyle..."
Arian's eyes shone with emotion at his maturity.
"Thought last night—if I get a sibling, a little sister'd be nice."
"Wh-What?"
"Could spoil a sister rotten. A brother acting up? I'd snap his legs."
"Wh-What're you saying?!"
"Anyway."
Kyle stacked his utensils with a grin.
After breakfast, Kyle left the Rose Mansion. The fragment said resonance would summon it inside the Sword Tower, but Kyle held off.
He should at least say goodbye to Julius. Arian and Aslan rode the elevator down to the first floor with him.
Quite a crowd awaited in the first-floor hall: Erica, Bruno, Lucia. The awkward tension eased as the doors opened.
"Kyle!"
Erica beamed and rushed over. Knight apprentice duties kept her busy lately, but luck was on her side—she was resting in the Sword Tower.
"Heading to the Layers of the Capital? Want auntie's advice?"
"You bailed in less than a month."
"I lasted a month!"
Erica huffed.
"For my age! First try, that's solid! You'll... you'll last two weeks tops?"
"Cursing me instead of cheering?"
"Ugh... Meant to cheer. You pissed me off."
"Just say 'good luck'."
"G-Good luck."
Erica scrunched her face, scratching her head after complying. Kyle still had her wrapped around his finger.
"..."
Bruno stared silently. Kyle read the swirl in his eyes: worry, admiration, envy, irritation. Pure Bruno. Kyle grinned and clapped his shoulder.
"Pig. Keep training while I'm gone. Don't slack and get disowned by Uncle."
"Won't happen."
Bruno spat.
"You really... that confident? The Layers of the Capital..."
"No one's entered my age. Dangerous? Yeah. Makes it exciting."
Pat, pat. Kyle clapped again, looking up.
"Dunno when I'll emerge, but if there's no progress when I do... You'll get cut off by me, not Uncle."
"By you?"
"What, I'm your cousin and friend. 'Break ties' or 'end friendship'?"
"Hah."
Bruno snorted, brushing Kyle's hand off.
"I'll handle myself. You do you."
"Don't wanna end our friendship?"
"Scram."
"Yeah, yeah."
Kyle chuckled past him.
Lucia stood calmly as ever, holding a wooden sword.
"Gift?"
"Yes."
She offered it politely with both hands.
"Nothing special. Just... wanted to give something."
"Thanks."
Kyle smiled, taking it. As she said, just a sturdy Gladiheim training wooden sword. But as a gift, it felt special.
"Won't say I'll use it forever. Might snap quick inside."
"I'll gift another."
"Not wood next time."
"Any special request?"
"Your sword."
Lucia's eyes widened, blinking.
"My sword...?"
"Remember yesterday?"
"Love... your sword. I remember."
"Change slowly. With love."
Kyle swung the wooden sword a few times, then hung it at his waist.
"I wanna see that changed sword of yours."
"..."
"Take as long as it needs."
"Un... Understood."
Lucia nodded hesitantly.
The doors to the Sword Apex Hall stood open. As Kyle strode in, Fenris hummed eagerly, begging for resonance.
Kyle ignored it again. He pushed through the swirling mist to Julius on his jade throne, Nelia at his side.
"I already permitted you yesterday. No need to come here."
"Yet here you are, waiting."
"Coincidence."
"Should I skip the goodbye?"
"Goodbyes are proper. I'm the Alastor head; you're family."
Julius rose indifferently.
"No advice wanted. Pure trials only—no tools. Guess all I can say is goodbye."
"That's enough."
Julius gripped Kyle's shoulders firmly, staring down silently. Then,
"Don't die. Come back."
"Yes."
"Only tackle trials you can handle. You're still a kid."
"Yes."
"The elixirs I poured into you for six years? Worth a mid-sized city's annual budget. Don't forget."
"Didn't know Grandpa was such a materialist."
"Big investments make anyone practical. I bet on you—prove you're worth more."
"I'll come back fine and live long."
"Good enough."
Julius smiled faintly, releasing him.
"Off you go."
Nelia, who'd approached with Julius, chuckled softly.
"The head's honest yet not. If only he'd express his feelings straight."
"Mind your tongue."
"Kid, you're sharp—you'll sense his sincerity. But I'll say it plainly for him: Take care."
Nelia ruffled Kyle's hair.
"Yes."
Kyle nodded firmly and turned. At the Sword Apex Hall entrance stood his family: Arian, Aslan, Erica, Bruno, Lucia.
A strange feeling welled up. Not off to war, yet all this worry. In his past life, he'd been close with his mercenary comrades and followers, felt loved even—but never fussed over like this before battle.
'Cause this body's eleven?'
The unfamiliar warmth was oddly touching. Kyle paused, then spoke.
"I'll be back."
Come to think of it, he'd rarely said it with such depth—even including his past life.
Kyle closed his eyes, attuning to the Sword Tower for resonance.