Coming out of the void step I notice Arthur being embraced by mom and Dad, and Ellie held Sylvie in her arms.
I also notice Zeke curled up near the bonfire.
"I don't know where he is, last time I saw he was with his benefactor in the castle." Arthur spoke.
"I'm right here." I announced.
Instantly their heads whip towards me.
Zeke gets up from his curled up position and comes towards me.
I move my arm towards his face to pet him.
'Sup Zek-'
I was rudely interrupted as he bit down on my hand, hard enough to draw a bit of blood, yet not enough to inflict serious damage.
"Ow!"
He just glares at me.
"Yeah I guess I deserved that one," I chuckle nervously as my arm burst into a mix of black and green flames which healed the injury in seconds.
I couldn't react as I was pulled into a tight embrace by my mother and my father.
I awkwardly pat their backs, "Yeah, I'm back."
A few seconds later they release me and begin checking for wounds.
"I'm fine, I was able to heal myself up." I wave away their concerns.
But before they could say anything else they froze.
Looking around I try to find the reason behind this, and notice the figure beside Arthur.
What was his name? Wisdom?
Or was it Windsom?
"Ahem, tone it down." Arthur coughed.
"My apologies," The asura complied, and my mother and sister fell to their knees, while father barely managed to stay on his feet.
I sigh., "You should come out as well Noctis,"
"Agreed." Came his response as he revealed himself.
Although his presence didn't have the same effect.
Seems like he is making a conscious effort not to make them uncomfortable.
Elder Rinia got up and bowed to each of the deities, "I welcome you to my humble abode. Please make yourselves comfortable."
A few moments pass as we settled down, with Windsom sitting beside Arthur and Noctis beside me.
"So, I guess introductions are in order." I start, "This is Noctis, my benefactor. I am the champion/ambassador of his people, by that I mean I am no longer a Dicathian."
I drop the bombshell on them.
Yeah that probably wasn't the best thing to do.
'You can say that again.'
"S-So what does that mean for you?" Father managed to stutter out.
"It means I don't have the same privileges as you guys do. And me threatening the council didn't make it any better." I respond.
"You what?!" Mother all but yelled.
I turn towards her, "I threatened the council with a three-way war, one side containing only deities in them. They were about to execute us and I was not going to let it go their way."
"That is not the way to do things." Father commented.
"Well it is my way, always has been. Besides they were guilty of association with the enemy."
"What? The whole council?"
"No, only the Glayders and Greysunders. Noctis killed the Greysunders but spared the Glayders, apparently they did it for 'good' reasons." I raise an eyebrow and turned towards the man in question.
"They think Dicathen is doomed and that the Vritra will come out victorious. Thus they struck a deal so that the Glayders are spared." He explained.
"Makes more sense now, and the Greysunders?"
"Personal gains, wealth, power and extended life expectancy." Windsom answered.
We fell into casual chatter after that.
Father explained what happened.
Apparently Virion had taken Tessia and Lilia to have them heal properly, and the Helsteas followed.
Eventually they started asking what happened to me, why I was unconscious.
I sigh wearily and focus on the ground.
"When we arrived at the academy," I began.
"It was pure and utter carnage." I look up at them, "Dozens of corpses dotted the floor, and dismembered limbs and other body parts were a common occurrence. There were pools of blood almost everywhere."
Mom and Dad look horrified, while Ellie looked confused.
'Well she is too young to understand the gravity of the situation.'
'That she is.'
I chuckle mirthlessly, "It was like they never stood a chance. My first line of thought was to take everyone I can and Void Step them to safety. But before I could even begin preparations my eyes fell over the form dying boy. I move near him, hoping it was someone I don't know. But alas fate wanted to screw me over again. And I find myself face to face to a pale faced Nathan."
"He died right in my arms," My voice cracked ever so slightly there, "And then my heart breaking grief turned to a bottomless pit of pure unadulterated rage. After that, it was like I was in a trance. When I entered that form, I suddenly felt detached from everything, and I only had one goal. As such I didn't pay heed to anyone nearby, anyone who could have been watching. And...let's just say it wasn't pleasant to the other guy." I smile grimly there, but I guess they could see the part of me that had begun crumbling.
As I was embraced yet again as they tried to console me.
"It's alright, I'm used to it by now," I whisper out to them.
"What do you mean?" Dad asked.
I don't answer, rather turning to Arthur, "Can we talk?" I point my thumb backwards.
He nods and follows me.
After discerning we were far enough from the rest, I turn around.
"I know what you are going to ask, and yes I have decided to reveal it to them as well." He speaks before I can.
I smile sheepishly, "Since when were you able to read me that well?"
He chuckles at me, before he sobered up, "This could very well be the last time they see us as their sons."
I reciprocate his seriousness, "I know, trust me I do. But, we went through losing a family once, we can do it again right?"
Even I was unconvinced.
"Maybe, but then we might revert back to who we were." Came his reply.
"As long as I don't turn into the monster I was, or you to the husk you were....I believe it would be the best to turn back to part of what we were." I reply.
He does nothing but nod, and that's all the confirmation I need.
Returning to the campfire I notice no one had moved.
"Elder Rinia, can we speak to our parents in private?" Arthur asked.
"Of course."
"What about me?" Ellie asked.
"Sorry Ellie," Arthur spoke.
I go down to a knee and ruffle her hair, "Maybe next time kay?"
Not waiting for a response I move away.
As we entered the tent, Dad spoke, "Aren't your master and benefactor coming?"
I shake my head, "This is something you need to know, not them. Well Noctis knows anyways, I dunno about his master, Windsom was it?"
"He does? And no Windsom doesn't know." Arthur turned to me.
"He has known since the first time we met." I replied.
"Know what?" Mom asked.
I heaved a sigh and turn towards them, "This is not the first life we have led."
"Not the first life? W-What do you mean Fay? You were born here right?" Mom stuttered.
I no longer hide my true persona, "Yes, we were indeed born here, born of your own flesh and blood. We remember that quite vividly."
"We were reborn....reincarnated. I don't know what, but we were taken from our world and placed here." Arthur spoke.
"Fancy way of saying we died." I commented.
"That's the thing, I'm not even sure if I died before coming here."
"You don't?"
He shook his head.
I shrug, "I remember dying."
"Wait a minute, you two need to back up for a-"
Dad was interrupted by Mom, "What are you two talking about? Another world? Are you okay? Did something happen when they took you away? Were either of you hurt? Here, let me try and heal you-?"
"Honey, they are fine. Go on Arthur, Fayden." Father stopped Mothers ramblings and encouraged us.
His use of our full name indicated how serious he was.
"No Rey! Our sons aren't fine. They are spouting some nonsense about another world and being reborn! Let me heal th-"
"Alice! Let them speak!" Father snapped.
I glance at Arthur and he nodded.
Taking a deep breath in we explain everything about our previous lives in such detail it would be impossible for us to just come up with.
And when I told them about my old family and their death, my voice imitated King Grey's.
Cold and detached from reality.
Father and Mother stayed silent for most of the explanation, with Father asking questions once in a while and Mother looking on in disbelief, with a pale face and trembling hands.
I even went as far to tell them what I became under the tutelage of my so called 'mentor'.
Explaining to them how I became a sadistic monster of a being before I reverted back to something so close to being human that no one noticed.
"So your talent in magic and the fighting-"
Arthur cut him off, "Yes, the ki system in our old world was very similar to mana. As for the fighting, well you know..."
"Heh, yeah living as an assassin did make me quite proficient in martial arts." I add in,
"Then does that mean you were able to understand everything ever since you were born?" He asked.
A nod was the only reply he got.
"Hehe..." Mother suddenly chuckled.
Her mild chuckle soon evolved into full blown laughter, and as Father pulled her into an embrace, she glanced at us delusionally.
"T-This is all an elaborate prank right? Hehe...you almost got us there, right Rey?" She had a near manic smile as she said that.
But that smile fell as neither of us responded.
She grabbed our hands, "This is a joke...right? Tell me this is a joke! You can't be some former King and Killer who died and were sent to the mind of my unborn sons?"
I turn away, gritting at my teeth so hard that I could swear I heard one crack, and tears threatened to spew from my eyes.
"I....I don't know what exactly happened, but....this is not a joke." I heard Arthur speak.
"No, no, no. No, this isn't happening. Tell me you don't believe them, Rey. They must be sick. Something must be wrong with them. No, something is definitely wrong with them. Say something Rey! Say that they are joking." She broke down to sobs as she held on to Father- no Reynold's arm.
I couldn't take it anymore and left the tent, Arthur right behind me.
As we go outside the four of them turn to us, but our expressions discouraged them from asking any questions.
I move towards Noctis, who pats my shoulder in a silent show of sympathy.
I nodded at him in gratitude, before settling into a meditative stance.
Taking a deep breath in, I heaved a sigh.
Guess I was right, reverting back to what we were is best.
I dry my eyes as any form of emotion starts bleeding away from my face.
No, that's not it.
Some remained.
Rage, pain, regret....such emotions lingered, but anger burned the most in my eyes.
And I take the first step into my old ways.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A few minutes later I spoke, "Let's go Noctis."
"You're leaving right now?" Arthur asked.
I nodded at him, "Yeah, the faster we begin our training the better."
I know this is the cowards way out.
But I don't want to face them now.
Maybe after I come back....
I scoff at the thought.
They probably don't even see us as their children anymore.
"You are leaving again?" Ellie asked, sadness etched into her face.
I get down to one knee, "Yeah, I need to be prepared for what is coming so that I can keep everyone dear to us safe."
"When will you return?"
"Honestly, I have no idea. It will be at least a few years, that is certain. Next time I see you, you will probably be in your teens." I smiled at her.
She moved towards me and wrapped her arms around me, sniffling.
"Hey now," I pat her back, " I'm going to return in a few years, you don't need to be sad."
Even as I said that, I grimaced inwardly.
I barely spent any time with her.
And after I come back, the war would take up a lot of my time.
After she releases me from the hug I get up.
I turned to Noctis, who nodded at me.
Looking back at them one last time, I spoke, "This is goodbye, not farewell."
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Authors Note :
You guys wanted something special for 100 chapters right?
This is it.
This is the end of 'Tbate- A force to be reckoned with'
This 'book' is officially completed.
And I shall no longer update.
For this is the end.
And I am dropping it.
.
.
.
Ha no!
I'm not dropping it.
I'm only splitting it.
Hence a new book will begin soon.
Well I say that but, I will likely just publish the prologue soon, and thats it for the month.
Since I have exams.
And the fact that I need to plan a lot from now on.
Especially because more original events are coming.
So, I will not be updating in September.
I will be back on October though.
So until then.
Erebus, over and out.