Diantha Black was just as Raven remembered—long dark hair tied back in a loose ponytail, sharp green eyes, and the same fiery presence that made her impossible to ignore. She stared at him, eyes wide, her breath catching in her throat.
"R-Raven…?"
For a moment, the house was completely silent. Then, before Raven could even react, Diantha let out a strangled gasp and almost collapsed on the spot.
Shura barely caught her, his arms wrapping around her shoulders before she could fall. But instead of calming down, she suddenly grabbed his collar and started shaking him violently.
"YOU KNEW?!"
She shrieked, her voice filled with disbelief and fury. Her strength caused her husband to swing around like a rag doll.
"You—! You brought him here like it was just another day?! Like this isn't the most insane thing I've ever seen?!"
Shura held up his hands in surrender. "I was going to tell you—"
"When?! After I had a heart attack?!"
"I mean… maybe? No wait! It's not that. I was surprised as well today. I did not know this would happen until Raven dropped from the sky."
Diantha growled before releasing him and turning back to Raven, her hands trembling as she reached out, hesitating, as if afraid he would disappear if she touched him.
"…It's really you…alive? How did you…"
She whispered.
Raven gave her a small, lopsided grin.
"Yeah. Looks like I made it back after all. It's nice to see you as well, sis. I can see that you are still with this loser. I don't know what you see in him."
Diantha's eyes welled up with tears, but instead of breaking down, she let out a shaky laugh and smacked his arm—hard.
"You absolute idiot. Of course I love my husband. He's the only one crazy enough to handle me. Besides, do you have any idea what you put us through?"
She said, her voice choked.
Raven rubbed his arm where she hit him and smirked.
"I can imagine."
Diantha let out a breath before pulling him into a tight hug, her grip strong, as if she was making sure he was real. Raven hesitated for a moment before patting her back awkwardly.
"Well. That went better than expected. But can I get some medicine now? I think I will bruise because of all this 'tough love' I got."
Shura muttered, watching the scene unfold.
Diantha shot him a glare over Raven's shoulder.
"You're not off the hook."
Shura sighed.
"Yeah, yeah. I figured."
As Diantha finally pulled back, wiping at her eyes, Raven glanced around the house once more. It was warm, filled with signs of a life well-lived. For a decade, everyone had moved on.
But it was nice to see that he still had a family to slot into.
"Please come in, Raven. I don't suppose you have a place to stay for now. So crash in one of our guest rooms for now. We will figure out something for you later."
Diantha was kind enough to open her doors to Raven in his time of need and Raven was desperate enough to accept this grace.
______
Dinner was surprisingly normal—if normal meant Raven stuffing his face with homemade food while Shura and Diantha took turns sighing at him.
"You're eating like a starving beast."
Diantha scolded, crossing her arms. She sounded more amused than accusing.
"I am a starving beast. Ten years in a dungeon. Do you know how hard it was to get a decent meal in there? Everything was either poisonous or trying to eat me. I nearly died because of a lack of food."
Raven replied between mouthfuls.
Shura raised an eyebrow.
"And yet, somehow, you still have table manners worse than an orc."
"Orcs don't even use tables….wait, that is not how the saying goes."
Raven shot back, shoveling another spoonful into his mouth.
Diantha shook her head before leaning back in her chair.
"So. What are you going to do now?"
The room fell quiet for a moment.
That was the question, wasn't it?
Raven swallowed his food and exhaled.
"Honestly? I was thinking about enjoying my freedom for a while. Maybe sleep for a week, figure things out after that."
Shura nodded, though he looked thoughtful.
"That's fine for now, but you know you can't avoid the Association forever."
Raven sighed.
"You just had to bring them up, huh?"
"They need to know. If they find out later that you came back and we hid it from them, it'll be a problem. Well, not for you but for me. Ugh, I can just imagine the association asking you for something and you ripping them apart. Please don't do something like that."
Shura begged at the end.
Raven couldn't argue with that. The Association was the global organization that handled system users, dungeons, and everything in between.
Even with dungeons gone, their influence remained strong, acting as a regulatory body for powered individuals.
If they found out after the fact that one of the 'Lost Heroes' had returned, there would be hell to pay. And by that, Raven meant his peace and quite.
"Fine. But let's keep it quiet for now. I don't want the public knowing I'm back."
Raven relented.
Diantha nodded.
"That's for the best. If word got out, people wouldn't know how to react. Some would celebrate, but others…Others might not want you back"
She hesitated before continuing.
"Some people never wanted me to exist anyway, so what else is new? It's their fault for not recognizing greatness when they see it."
Raven didn't ask what she meant. He already knew. The world had moved on without him. His existence was supposed to be a closed chapter.
Shura, sensing the shift in mood, decided to lighten the conversation.
Well, if nothing else, you can finally go back and finish your studies."
Raven nearly choked on his food.
Diantha grinned.
"That's right! You never technically graduated."
Raven wiped his mouth and gave them both a flat look.
"I think I'd rather go back to the dungeon."
Shura smirked.
"Figures. Studying was never your strong point,"
They let the topic drop after that, much to Raven's relief.
Halfway through dinner, he glanced around and realized something—or rather, someone—was missing. That someone being their son…whom Raven had not seen once he entered the dungeon.
"By the way… where's Leo?"
Shura and Diantha exchanged glances before Shura leaned back in his chair.
"Out."
Raven frowned.
"That's specific."
Shura sighed.
"He's 18. He's either training, sulking, or avoiding his responsibilities. Take your pick."
Raven blinked.
"Wait. Leo's 18 now?"
Diantha nodded.
"It has been ten years, Raven."
"Yeah, but…The last time I saw that kid, he was eight and asking me to show him how to throw a proper punch. Now he's the same physical age as me?"
Raven sat back, processing it.
Shura chuckled.
"Don't get your hopes up. He was a kid back then. He probably doesn't even remember you."
Raven scoffed.
"Me? Unforgettable? Please. There's no way he forgot someone as great as me. It'll be too tragic for the world."
Shura gave him a dry look.
"Right. Because humility was always one of your strongest traits."
Before Raven could make another smart remark, the front door slammed open with enough force to shake the walls.
A figure dragged itself inside, dropping a duffel bag carelessly onto the floor before kicking off their shoes.
Raven looked up—and froze.
The last time he saw Leo, he was a bright-eyed, energetic kid who clung to his parents and asked endless questions about heroes and dungeons.
The person standing before him now was definitely not that same kid.
Leo Black had grown up tall, his build lean but athletic. His once-short black hair had grown out, messily falling over his sharp features. Dark clothes, combat boots, and a permanent scowl completed the picture of a rebellious teenager.
His expression was one of pure irritation as he ran a hand through his hair and muttered.
"I swear to god, if one more person calls me 'kid' today, I'm going to—"
Then he looked up.
His eyes met Raven's.
The room was silent.
Leo blinked.
Then, in the flattest voice possible, he deadpanned.
"What the hell?"
Raven stared at him for a long moment before blurting out.
"You got emo, kid. Didn't I tell you black is not your color?"
Diantha groaned.
"Raven!"
Shura pinched the bridge of his nose.
"This is going to be a long night."
Leo, meanwhile, continued to stare at Raven as if he were a ghost. Which, to be fair, wasn't entirely inaccurate.
Raven grinned.
"Surprised to see me, kid?"
Leo's eye twitched.
Then he turned on his heel and walked right back out the door.
Raven blinked.
"…Huh."
Shura sighed.
"Told you not to get your hopes up."
Diantha buried her face in her hands.
Raven, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair, smirking.
"Oh, this is going to be fun. I'll go chase the kid now."