CHAPTER 16
"Your curse is my blessing, my blessing your curse"
-A sad young man.
'Akuno!!'
'Reno!'
Akuno returns, he looks older, and much stronger, for the past six months he's been fighting top tier monsters without rest, so it's to be expected, but at the end of this tale, you'll wish he died.
'Father, the raid went well, we were able to put...my ability to use'
Raphael held Akuno's shoulder with a stern look, his face started to soften and he embraced his son. 'Good work my son; I knew you could do it'.
'We're celebrating tonight!' Raphael yelled with his deep manly voice. Akuno looked to his sister, their eyes met; he could sense the joy in her although she hid it under her emotionless face.
In a flash, they arrived home, the Gaiden's headquarters nicknamed, the Gaiden's tower or The Tower of Gaiden. A massive 400 story building fitting of the title of tower, white red and silver its colours, and located in the centre of the Sorcerers city Gale, the only castle fit for such powerful kings.
'These stairs are such a pain!' Reno said dragging Akuno's luggage up the 200th floor's stairs.
'Why can't Luna do this father? I'm the lastborn I have rights!'
'Luna said she wanted to take care of the preparations for tonight's ball herself' King Raphael told him with a smile.
'You know son, this reminds me of the third time I defeated Lenovar, it was my birthday and-
'Uggh please don't make it worse by telling your old people stories!' Reno kept struggling to carry the heavy suitcase.
'Let me help young one~' A smooth manly voice said, Reno felt the burden lighten, he looked back and looked up to see a blonde-haired gentleman wearing a yellow tunic and a white robe, gleaming with wealth and power. You already know him, he's the strongest king after Raphael, the one who recruited Akuno on the raid, he is...
Kang!
'I heard you're hosting an event for your son's return this evening, Raphael?' Kang asked openly while they proceeded up the stairs while glancing over to Raphael.
'Oh yes! Nothing large, just using about...20 floors!' Raphael told him with his usual charisma.
They arrived at the 205th floor, Kang chuckled, 'The Gaiden wasn't invited though?' he promptly asked.
Raphael stopped abruptly. 'Ah well, Uhm...'
'You forgot didn't you?' Kang said, not surprised.
He continued, 'You can save the world but not the date' they both laughed like jolly old men.
'You know how they can be! I could order them too and they still wouldn't show! Haha!'.
'Well, I'll do my best to "show up" please take care of me' Kang turned around to leave for the 206th floor' as he turned he had a good look at Reno.
Reno shuddered in his sight, but Kang's expression lightened with a smirk across his face. 'I expect great things from you. Young Woo!' eight words with a greatly significant meaning.
Kang patted his head, ruffling Reno's messy hair even further, and left patiently. Reno brushed aside his bangs slowly. 'That's a good look for you!' Luna said stepping out of the hall inside.
Reno looked in the glass window to see a reflection of himself, it resembled Akuno's hairstyle, he could vaguely see an afterimage of Akuno in his reflection.
'Are you crying?' Luna asked turning him around.
'W-what? No!!' he yelled, sneaking a dab at his tears.
Luna's dress was beautiful, a simple sky blue gown, sleeveless, showing off her long skinny arms, like a river covering a fairy queen it elegantly sheltered her, displaying her curves perfectly.
'Come to think of it...' Reno thought.
'I haven't seen Aki since the 100th floor where is he?' He asked.
'You need to work on your sensing Ren' Akuno said beside him.
'Ahh, would you all just stop sneaking up on me. Be-besides, I knew you were there'.
'I guess that confirms you're an assassin type?' Raphael butted in.
Akuno turned to his father, 'Yes, and king Kang offered me a weapon I can finally use!'.
'Geez you're all so noisy' They all look back to see who's voice it is, expecting a servant.
Raphael gasped, 'What are you doing out of your room?'.
'Mother?' The children said. Reno could barely remember the last time he says his mother, it had been months, and for Akuno it had been years.
She leaned on the wall, drawing closer. Akuno looked down, what reason would she have to talk to a son with a curse. But she grabbed his hands! His black gloves. He looked up, surprised by his mother's embraced. She looked...
Glad.
'Akunotatsu! My darling I was so worried about you' She screamed with tears in her eyes. No matter how cold she seemed there will always be one truth.
Mother's love their children.
Akuno felt like he received all the love his mother owed him over the years at once. He wished he could hold her with his own hands, but just her arms wrapped around him was more than enough.
'Mother, I've missed you too!' Akuno whispered into her ears contently. He didn't just miss her while he was away, he missed her for all the years she never spoke to him. And she felt equally the same.
'I'm a failure as a mother, I couldn't speak to you all those years because I felt horrible for giving birth to you with a curse! I've wronged you and I feared you'd never forgive me! But when I thought I'd lose you on that island, without ever being able to apologize I,...I...
Her voice was held back by her emotions letting it out.
'It's okay mother I don't blame you for this curse. On that island, it was more of a blessing'.
'I'm glad...even without me you've become a fine young man'.
They smile while they can, but the worst is yet to come. At midnight, blood will be shed.