He was frozen in shock after reading the information sent to his coreband.
His parents were back. He didn't have a clue what to do.
Should he go welcome them? He should probably do that...
He stood up.
Yeah, that's what I should do...
But he immediately sat back down.
What should I even say? Like, Hi, I haven't seen you guys in twelve years because you died and I couldn't even say goodbye...
No, they'd probably think I've gone insane.
Which I might just have...
I stayed in the library for about ten minutes, contemplating what to do, only to be brought back to reality by the sound of my coreband again.
I sighed. My chest tightened, but I stood up and made my way toward the living room.
I could already hear my father's baritone voice. He was probably informing Audius about his safe return.
I made my way down the stairs.
I was already having difficulty breathing.
I was going to see them.
I was really going to see them...
Twelve years—and I was going to see them again.
I couldn't look up. I tried to control my breathing, only to hear a melodious voice drift into my ears.
"Lucien, dear, come over here. Mommy has missed you."
I lifted my gaze to ember eyes so similar to mine.
Her long black hair fell and framed her small face perfectly. Her skin was white like snow, but a hint of red dusted her cheeks—probably from exhaustion after the journey.
I was frozen in place.
She was right in front of me.
She was alive—right in front of me.
I made my way slowly to avoid startling this precious moment.
What if this was all a dream?
What if I woke up to realize I was still laying groveling beneath Stormblade?
I reached her and stood in front of her. I touched her hands in a daze. Her eyes held a glint of worry at my actions.
She wouldn't understand.
I had to make sure she was real.
And she was.
I whispered so softly I could barely hear myself,
"Mom?"
"What's wrong, sweetheart? Are you okay? Come here," she said, pulling me softly into her embrace.
My shoulders began to shake. I held her tightly and continued calling out to her.
And each time, she responded—and coaxed me even more.
I was finding it difficult to breathe as I tried to hold back a sob.
Just as I was slowly breaking apart, I heard my father's footsteps.
"Little Lucien, that's not nice—giving all the love to your mother and leaving none for me."
I almost broke at that moment. My chest tightened so badly.
And when I felt his embrace around me as well, a tear—one I had no idea where it came from—began to drop.
"Lucien dear, what's wrong? Did you hurt yourself?" Mother asked gently.
I shook my head.
"Did those rascals bully you?" Father asked as he gently rubbed my back.
I looked up at them with red eyes and shook my head again.
"I just missed you guys, that's all," I said, smiling softly.
I really did miss them—so much it hurt.
"Aww, my baby. I missed you more," Mother said, kissing my cheek.
I was a little embarrassed. I was eighteen years old, still being kissed on the cheek like a child...
Then I suddenly remembered—I'm currently eight years old.
I guess I'll just have to endure. Cough.
"It's not true. I missed you more... but don't tell your mother," Father whispered in my ear.
I couldn't stop the grin that broke across my face when Mother caught him.
"What was that, honey? Who missed him more?" she asked in feigned anger.
"Definitely you, darling. Who else?" Father replied quickly.
"You know you're our favorite, right?"
"Oh wow, Father, we totally love you too," Caelum said dryly from the door, clearly hearing what Father had said—while Altair avoided my gaze.
What was that all about?
Father looked surprised but immediately smiled softly.
"Caelum, dear, how are you? How long have you been—"
But he was interrupted by Caelum, who said in feigned disdain,
"Spare us the disgust. Keep your hypocritical smile to yourself."
Altair looked at Caelum with an incredulous expression and scoffed.
"Look who's talking."
Mother laughed softly.
"Your father was just saying nonsense. That's not true at all—we love you all equally," she said gently.
"I do mean to interrupt this weird family sweetness," Audius said calmly, "but I need to be somewhere that is not here."
"Oh, Odious, you're here too!" Father called out with his usual nickname.
Audius's lips twitched slightly at the name as he replied with a slight incline of his head.
"Nice to see that you are alive and well Delirian"
Now it was Father turn to feel stifled
And Mother didn't make it any better, she laughed at father's nickname and even tried it out.
"Delirian, fits perfectly, this made my day"
"Always a pleasure Selene, but I have come to talk business" Audius said calmly.
"No no, no one is talking about anything business till we had lunch, sweethearts you must be hungry right, don't worry daddy will cook for all of us, okay " she said softly.
Father just glanced at her and surrendered to his fate.
"I will have to decline, I still cherish my life and I'm not willing to risk it to try Darian monstrosity" Audius said calmly.
" Oh, don't worry he won't be making any monstrosities cause you will be right there helping him" she said softly
"I will?" Audius asked while looking at her quizzically
"You won't?" Mother asked with a soft edge
"I will" Audius agreed calmly.
"Well you boys have fun, mommy is going to freshen up, she left after kissing me, caelum and Altair's foreheads.
"Father I want my steak to be tender and not too spicy and I want caramel tea with honey not milk " Caelum ordered before making his way towards his room
" Same but my steak should be spicy and I want fresh squeezed Orange juice, uncle audius you can manage that can't you" Altair said while also making his way to his room.
Lucien looked at them and shrugged.
"I will have both the spicy steak and non spicy ones with a side fried potatoes and a glass of milk. Don't mess it up, chef."
Lucien made his way upstairs as well. He needed to talk to both Caelum and Altair anyway.
Darian and Audius the chef : "..."
Audius didn't even argue. Just sighed and rolled up his sleeves while Darian was already wearing an apron.
They looked at each other and saw a mirror of amusement and exasperation in their eyes.