Chapter 113: Making Amends {200 Power stones Bonus Chapter 2/2}

{A/N: Guys Monday is a reset for the weekly milestone, so please try voting more Golden tickets, I’ll drop a bonus Chapter once this weeks total accumulates to a 100, that way there’s no need to worry about not getting anything since it didn’t clock 150.}

Seth and Simon blinked, both father and son unsure of what was happening.

Lionel’s gaze rested on Seth and he began, "Little brother, how have you been? It’s been two years since we last met, if I recall correctly."

Seth’s brain lagged. ’huh? They were talking to him?’

He shifted his gaze to Liora, and she just stared at Lionel with dead eyes, her expression placid.

The fuck? Was she okay with this? Could this be another trap?

Using Lionel as a medium?

Seth had to calm himself. He felt he was overthinking things, but that didn’t change the fact that something was off with that wench.

As for what it was, he couldn’t quite put his finger on it yet...

Seth’s mind churned, searching for an appropriate response, but he decided to keep things simple while also keeping his reaction vague.

"I’ve been good," he replied, his voice monotone.

Lionel’s eyes drooped on hearing his tone, but it was only natural. What did he expect?

One could say these were the first words he had spoken to Seth in years.

Lionel suddenly bowed, startling Seth. Meanwhile, Simon seemed to have sensed something — a faint smile creeping upon his lips as he spectated silently, while also keeping his eyes on Liora before she spoiled things again like she always did.

But surprisingly, she was calm. A little too calm for Simon’s liking. His smile warped back into a wary frown, his eyes squinting at her, keeping a closer watch.

Who knew what sinister thoughts were brewing in her head?

He just prayed she wouldn’t be stupid enough to try attacking Seth. After all, no matter how strong she might think she was, Seth was stronger. After all, he was an Awakened.

And as a fellow Awakened, Simon could testify that no Shackled-rank creature could be a threat. Only Awakeneds could understand this feeling.

"I heard what the elders tried to do to you, and I wanted to apologize on behalf of the family." Still bowing, Lionel expressed, his voice tinged with an apologetic tone.

Seth didn’t even know what to say. Before he could come up with a reply, Lionel continued.

"And I want to apologize to you, little brother, for being a coward all these years." On cue with these words, the other three stood up, bowing toward Seth.

"We apologize!" they all echoed.

Seth reeled mentally from shock, his brain halting all thought processes, his body going stiff.

Lionel continued, "We have folded to pressure, ostracizing you and ignoring you. We were foolish, and... and—"

Reaching this part, even the brave Lionel stuttered, blood rushing to his face. "And if you give me a chance, give us a chance, we would like to be your elder siblings again. Proper siblings this time."

Seth finally snapped out of his daze, shooting up to his feet. "Ah, elder brother, I really can’t accept your bow."

He rushed to raise Lionel up, but faced resistance.

’Hm?’ Seth was stunned. He was an Awakened, though he didn’t dare use his full strength. But still, to think Lionel could resist his pull...

"Brothers, sisters, really I can’t accept this bow," he said once more, directing his words to the rest.

Lionel shook his head, still bowing. "No, Seth. We are begging for forgiveness. We have erred against you, deprived you of our duties as elder siblings.

You have been forced to tread a thin line between fear and restraint all because of us.

We beg of you to forgive us. Karl isn’t here due to vital complications, but I am also bearing his sentiments."

He looked up at Seth, his eyes rife with hope. "We want to be brothers again, a true family.

I understand it will take time, but I will see to it that eventually old scars fade."

Dipping to bow again, he continued, "Please, younger brother, give us a chance."

Seth’s eyes flashed with complicated lights. What was there to forgive?

He never blamed them or cared that much in the first place... or at least he convinced himself he didn’t.

"Sigh... brothers, sisters, I really don’t hate you guys. There is nothing to forgive."

Despite his words, they remained inert...

"Sigh... fine, I forgive you all." In the end, Seth had to say this. If not, these guys could really remain in this state until he left.

Lionel’s eyes burned bright with relief, as though a heavy burden had just been lifted off his shoulders.

He could finally live without the constant burning guilt that haunted him whenever he thought of Seth.

The others also finally stood upright, exchanging faint smiles. The family finally resumed

Seth and Simon blinked, both father and son unsure of what was happening.

Lionel’s gaze rested on Seth and he began, "Little brother, how have you been? It’s been two years since we last met, if I recall correctly."

Seth’s brain lagged. ’huh? They were talking to him?’

He shifted his gaze to Liora, and she just stared at Lionel with dead eyes, her expression placid.

The fuck? Was she okay with this? Could this be another trap?

Using Lionel as a medium?

Seth had to calm himself. He felt he was overthinking things, but that didn’t change the fact that something was off with that wench.

As for what it was, he couldn’t quite put his finger on it yet...

Seth’s mind churned, searching for an appropriate response, but he decided to keep things simple while also keeping his reaction vague.

"I’ve been good," he replied, his voice monotone. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Lionel’s eyes drooped on hearing his tone, but it was only natural. What did he expect?

One could say these were the first words he had spoken to Seth in years.

Lionel suddenly bowed, startling Seth. Meanwhile, Simon seemed to have sensed something — a faint smile creeping upon his lips as he spectated silently, while also keeping his eyes on Liora before she spoiled things again like she always did.

But surprisingly, she was calm. A little too calm for Simon’s liking. His smile warped back into a wary frown, his eyes squinting at her, keeping a closer watch.

Who knew what sinister thoughts were brewing in her head?

He just prayed she wouldn’t be stupid enough to try attacking Seth. After all, no matter how strong she might think she was, Seth was stronger. After all, he was an Awakened.

And as a fellow Awakened, Simon could testify that no Shackled-rank creature could be a threat. Only Awakeneds could understand this feeling.

"I heard what the elders tried to do to you, and I wanted to apologize on behalf of the family." Still bowing, Lionel expressed, his voice tinged with an apologetic tone.

Seth didn’t even know what to say. Before he could come up with a reply, Lionel continued.

"And I want to apologize to you, little brother, for being a coward all these years." On cue with these words, the other three stood up, bowing toward Seth.

"We apologize!" they all echoed.

Seth reeled mentally from shock, his brain halting all thought processes, his body going stiff.

Lionel continued, "We have folded to pressure, ostracizing you and ignoring you. We were foolish, and... and—"

Reaching this part, even the brave Lionel stuttered, blood rushing to his face. "And if you give me a chance, give us a chance, we would like to be your elder siblings again. Proper siblings this time."

Seth finally snapped out of his daze, shooting up to his feet. "Ah, elder brother, I really can’t accept your bow."

He rushed to raise Lionel up, but faced resistance.

’Hm?’ Seth was stunned. He was an Awakened, though he didn’t dare use his full strength. But still, to think Lionel could resist his pull...

"Brothers, sisters, really I can’t accept this bow," he said once more, directing his words to the rest.

Lionel shook his head, still bowing. "No, Seth. We are begging for forgiveness. We have erred against you, deprived you of our duties as elder siblings.

You have been forced to tread a thin line between fear and restraint all because of us.

We beg of you to forgive us. Karl isn’t here due to vital complications, but I am also bearing his sentiments."

He looked up at Seth, his eyes rife with hope. "We want to be brothers again, a true family.

I understand it will take time, but I will see to it that eventually old scars fade."

Dipping to bow again, he continued, "Please, younger brother, give us a chance."

Seth’s eyes flashed with complicated lights. What was there to forgive?

He never blamed them or cared that much in the first place... or at least he convinced himself he didn’t.

"Sigh... brothers, sisters, I really don’t hate you guys. There is nothing to forgive."

Despite his words, they remained inert...

"Sigh... fine, I forgive you all." In the end, Seth had to say this. If not, these guys could really remain in this state until he left.

Lionel’s eyes burned bright with relief, as though a heavy burden had just been lifted off his shoulders.

He could finally live without the constant burning guilt that haunted him whenever he thought of Seth.

The others also finally stood upright, exchanging faint smiles. The family finally resumed eating.

Simon couldn’t be more proud. His dream of having a united home was slowly coming together...

After all, once they were knit tight in relationships, with their talent and outstanding growth that would ensue in the future, ’who would be able to stop us?’

Simon’s eyes flickered with ambition...

Silence once more revisited the room. Relationships between humans, once fractured, weren’t easily put together.

It was like a shattered vase — one would need time and effort to slowly piece it together.

And Lionel and the others were ready for this...

"So tell us about your grand conquest in the corruption zone, Seth." Lionel broke the silence.

Seth’s face heated, his cheeks burning red. Why did Lionel have to make it sound so corny?

But regardless, he decided to share. Seth spoke, retelling events that happened beat for beat, leaving out private information like the Flash Sale System.

For now, this card would be kept tight to his chest...

This was the first time Seth was telling the events that occurred, and listening to himself speak he couldn’t help but feel surreal.

It really was... badass!

How things had changed. The world had gone from revolving around money to strength.

Everyone listened, and slowly the dining turned from a monotone awkward silent mesh of people to a harmonious blend of family conversing among each other.

Well, all except for one person...

Bam!

Liora slammed the table, shooting up to her feet, drawing all eyes to herself.

Everyone went tense, staring at her warily. Given her personality, everyone inwardly knew she would try to ruin things at one point or another.

And they were prepared for her.

Her eyes cold, she stared deeply at Seth. And just as everyone was expecting an outburst of some kind...

She just turned around and left.

Everyone glanced at each other grimly. You see, when someone hot-headed like Liora didn’t make a scene in a situation she loathed like this and remained calm...

It didn’t ease the tension — it made it worse. It was easy to deal with an outburst, an action fueled by blind rage.

But from a calm, calculating enemy, everyone had to be on their toes. Because you wouldn’t know when you’d get stabbed, or even where the blade would come from.

"So that’s the accursed bastard who started this mess... Seth Duskreaver, is it?" Liora’s eyes flashed with sinister dark lights.

Her lips stretched into a very uncomfortable, unnatural smile that reached the edges of her eyes, her tongue licking her lips.

"This will be fun."

Everyone knew Liora would rather die than see her children become affiliated with the flaw and imperfection she saw as Seth.

And the reason she sat and watched it all happen was because this wasn’t her. She was long dead, and her body was worn as a flesh bag by a creature far too ancient.