Parker and team came back to Lionel, Emmett and team. Blake and Renneth were being tied, handcuffed and chained by few soldiers.
"So you all defeated the Nemean." Parker said. Lionel nodded.
"How was it?" Parker asked with a smile.
"Gross." Lionel replied.
"What do you mean?" Parker asked.
"Let me explain." Erik said. "You see, Nemean couldn't be affected externally so Aaron proposed to attack inside. So Captain went inside, planted some explosives and bombs, and came out. He even lost balance and crashed to a nearby building."
"What!?" Parker exclaimed.
"That was because I was without my suit. If I were in my suit, I would've survived it easily." Lionel said with an expressionless face.
"But-" Parker was about to say something when Lionel cut her off, "By the way Madelyn I saw your fight. You fought well. Defeated an S+ rank Tyrant all alone. Something not even I can do as well without a team I guess."
Madelyn started blushing.
"Hey don't ignore me." Parker said.
"Anyways, I have some work to do." Lionel said and left towards Renneth and Blake.
He took out his sword and cut Renneth's and Blake's limbs.
"Take as many shifts or people as you want, no one takes their eyes off of them. (Pointing to some of the soldiers) You all, take them to one of the destroyed Tech City. It is in outskirt so even if they do something, Duadella is safe. Is that clear?" Lionel ordered.
"Yes sir!" the soldiers replied in unison.
"Tomorrow lets have a talk Renneth and Blake." Lionel said glaring at them. "We meet them tomorrow at noon, clear?" Lionel said.
"Yes sir!" everyone said in unison.
"Mark!" Lionel called out for the soldier.
"Yes sir." Mark responded.
"Come, drive me back to base." Lionel ordered.
"Alright sir." Mark replied and Lionel and Mark left. Others too deployed.
"Just in few days so much happened." Parker said. "Take a rest for tomorrow, you all need it."
"No we want to see what happens tomorrow." Erik said.
"Wouldn't it be too hectic for you all?" Parker asked with concern.
"No mam." Madelyn replied.
"As you say." Parker replied.
After reaching base, Madelyn and friends went to freshen up and decided to meet after. Thirty minutes later, they gathered in the Dining area to drink some tea. They were talking about some random stuff when Aaron's phone beeped.
"Oh great, we got the appointment." Aaron said.
"Appointment? Are you going to doctor? You need medical attention?" Erik asked.
"No. Ever since Madelyn stated about Shirogane clan, on our first mission day, I grabbed a book to learn about them. There it was stated that Shirogane clan members are under the watchful eyes of the descendant of their Shirogane Emperor, who is currently the owner of a Dojo. The author knows him." Aaron said.
"So what's your point?" Erik asked.
"In order to know more about Captain. I asked for an appointment from the author of this book, Mr. Howard Snow. He may have some details about Captain." Aaron said.
"When do we have the appointment?" Madelyn asked quickly.
"Looks like someone got excited." Erik said mockingly with a smirk.
Madelyn started blushing.
"Tomorrow at 9." Aaron said.
"Alright. We should go to sleep then, it already 1am" Madelyn said and left.
"She's in so much hurry." Selena said laughing, and everyone started laughing.
Next Day
Erik, Madelyn and Aaron reached the address of Mr. Howard Snow, the writer of the book, another known Shirogane clan descendant. His house was not much far from the Heart of the city, and was attached with a Dojo where he trained young Shirogane children to be new ninja warriors who follow the Shirogane code of living.
Aaron knocked at the front door of Howard Snow's house. It was a simple yet spacious looking house, more like a farmhouse.
"Coming!" An old man's voice said from inside.
When the gate opened, Erik, Madelyn and Aaron noticed it was an old man who may be in his late 60s or early 70s. He may be old but he seemed tough. He had an old stick which appeared to be for walking support, but it seemed he didn't need it. The man had a sharp eyesight. even though he had a polite smile surrounded by big white moustache and beard. He had worn a robe, probably a traditional Shirogane robe.
"Um I had an appointment with Mr. Howard Snow. Is he here?" Aaron asked.
"Oh yes, I'm Howard. Nice to meet you children." The old man said. Erik, Madelyn and Aaron were astonished.
"Oh my bad, I forgot to call you all in. Do please come in you all. Luckily, Young Master is here as well, so there won't be any issues for me to be your host." Howard said.
"Its alright kind sir, we don't need anything either way so need to bother him." Erik said.
"Hush! You've come here for the first time, you need to have something. Its our tradition." Howard said.
"Alright then. Thank you." Aaron said.
"Now come in." Howard said gesturing to come inside.
Erik, Madelyn and Aaron came inside his house. It was more like a farmhouse from inside as well, with potted plants almost at every corner of the house wherever sunlight appeared.
"Four cups of Black Tea please!" Howard ordered someone who was in the kitchen, "Please sit down here." Howard said to Erik, Madelyn and Aaron.
"Thank you sir." Aaron said.
"So tell me, what is that you want to know about from me?" Howard asked, sitting on a couch facing them.
"I read your book about Shirogane Clan, and got to know various things about Shiroganes." Aaron begun, "In this book, you mentioned that the remaining Shiroganes live under the watchful eyes of your master's son?"
"Yes, the young master I mentioned about, he's him." Howard replied.
"Oh great. And yes, you also mentioned in the book that Shiroganes are so close to him, like almost everyone knows about him or you?" Aaron asked.
"Yes." Howard replied with a serious face.
"So sir, to be very frank, (pointing towards Madelyn) this girl here , her name is Madelyn, and, (pointing towards Erik) he is her brother." Aaron said. Erik and Madelyn nodded their heads while saying "Hello" together. Aaron continued, "So recently they got to know that their mother was also a Shirogane Clan descendant. So we wanted to know more about her. That's why we came here to seek for some help." Aaron said.
"So that was why you all left the camp early?" a familiar voice said.
"Captain?" Madelyn said.
"Poppy said that he gave an appointment to someone who wanted to enquire about someone who's of Shirogane clan. I didn't expect them to be you three." Lionel said while sighing. "Well here are your tea. Its your first time in our house so don't be shy and do enjoy."
Erik, Madelyn and Aaron picked up their cups and started sipping their tea.
"This one's for you Poppy." Lionel said while giving Howard his cup of tea.
"What? Again the traditional green tea?" Howard asked.
"Yes. Our family doctor said to strictly give you the traditional Green Tea to you, regardless of your opposition." Lionel said with a strict tone and with a glare which made Erik almost choke on his sip of tea.
Howard sighed.
"So tell me, you came to enquire about Jane right?" Lionel asked Erik, Madelyn and Aaron. Erik choked on his sip of tea. Aaron stopped sipping. Madelyn slowly nodded in agreement. Lionel sat down on the couch beside Howard's, facing Erik, Madelyn and Aaron, holding his cup of tea via its brim.
"What do you want to know about Jane?" Howard asked. Erik and Aaron were silent.
"She was mine and (pointing towards Erik) his mother. I want to know about her past." Madelyn said.
"Jane's children?" Howard said in astonishment. Madelyn went silent as well. She turned towards Lionel as if she wanted his help to understand the reason.
"Ah my bad." Lionel begun after keeping down his cup and nodding as if he understood Madelyn's situation. "I forgot to tell you that this man, Howard Snow, is your grandfather Madelyn and Erik."
"Our grandfather?" Erik asked.
"Yes. He is father of Jane and Trent. Howard Snow." Lionel replied.
Everyone went silent. Lionel continued sipping his tea.
"Lionel." Howard begun, "Tell them about her. Let them know what they want to know. They shall know the truth about their mother."
"Why me? You can tell as well." Lionel replied.
"We both know you were the one most affected by her. You should tell." Howard said in a serious tone. Erik, Madelyn and Aaron didn't understand what was going on.
"She was your daughter." Lionel replied.
"That doesn't change the fact that you are the most affected one. I mean look at yourself, ever since she left, have you ever smiled?" Howard said.
Lionel went silent.
"Its time you face them mentally son. Face it. Face your past, embrace what you have now. Let go of what you don't. Consider it as a mini trial task. Face your past Lionel." Howard said.
"Fine." Lionel replied with an irritated look on his face. He completed his tea and begun.
"Listen close you three. When we were just children, I, Jane and Trent, we used to hang out together. In spite of the fact that Jane was two years younger than me and Trent five years younger, we used to hang out together. We trained together, played together, fought together, ran together. Jane was the strongest woman of us three, and she was my destined knight.
When I was sent to this city by my father, she came along with me somehow. We used to live together in my small apartment. I was a weakling and could not do anything without my weapons. One day, a boy was being bullied, so I stood up for him. The bully tried to hit me but Jane stopped him, hurting him accidentally. She felt guilty about it and so she started staying with him more often. That boy was known for being a womanizer. Jane was a beautiful girl. He sought a chance with her.
I was understanding the situation. I got a bit jealous and I wanted to make Jane my bride as we promised in our childhood, so I asked her if she likes strong boys or not. She said yes. So I made another promise that I would become stronger and come back again for her. Till then she will have to wait for me. She seemed happy and agreed. We vowed and I came back to my father. He told us about our heritage, how he became strong in the battlefield, just like our ancestors.
General was a friend of my father. With his help, I joined in the war. We were about to lose when I remembered about our promise. That led to sudden surge of strength in me and I helped my comrades in turning the ties. We won the war. I was happy. I could now finally prove that I too am strong, and finally could have my Jane.
I came back to the city that night, even though I was exhausted like hell. When I came back to my apartment, I got to know Jane moved out. I somehow tracked her and reached her. I was so excited I didn't care whether she was far from my apartment or not.
When I reached, I saw Trent being kicked out by Jane. He was angry on Jane. By the time I got closer, I could hear their talk. What I heard made me stop on my tracks.
Jane was pregnant, with that bully's child, even though she was only sixteen year old. She was even cursing her brother because he said bad about your father."
Madelyn's throat went dry. Tears started forming in Erik's eyes.
"She even cursed Shirogane clan, her father. Me as well." Lionel took a pause. Howard started looking down.
"Then I decided to leave at once. I heard that she was telling Trent that she wished I was dead in the war. I felt all my excitement fade away, everything leave me, now I was empty. I didn't notice I accidentally kicked Edward's bicycle, to which Jane shouted 'if you can't walk perfectly, why you try to walk crippled man. Die somewhere you scumbag'." Lionel took another pause. A drop of tear fell from Madelyn's eyes which she hid. Erik and Aaron started sniffing due to tears forming, and Howard started staring towards Lionel.
My legs slowly started to feel heavy and I fell. Luckily, Trent found me and we came here. This was the house father built for me and Jane. I know it appears big, but it was his wish. Sadly, when I was in war, my father passed away due to cardiac arrest.
Later, we called Poppy here as well, since he was alone in the village." Lionel took another pause.
"They said I adopted him, it was him who adopted me and Trent. Not the other way round." Howard said in a sad tone.
Lionel was staring ground for a minute, then he continued, "Later she and Edward shifted outside of Duadella, in other village near Duadella, from where you all came.
Then end.
(Towards Howard) Happy?"
"You did good son." Howard said with a faint smile.
Erik and Aaron couldn't control their tears and were crying for a while. Madelyn fell on Howard's feet and started begging for forgiveness. Howard gently put his hand on her head and said, "Its alright child, it was your mother's wrongdoing, not yours. Now come on, stop crying."
Madelyn was calm.
"Alright you three, have you forgotten, we have a meeting today. Lets leave quickly or we'll be late." Lionel said in a serious tone.
"Yes sir." Aaron said.
"Grandpa, we shall go now, but I promise I'll come back soon." Madelyn said to Howard.
"Sure child." Howard said with a polite smile.
Everyone got up and left for the base to prepare to go to the Tech City where Renneth and Blake were held hostage by Operation Squad.