Reborn Financier-Chapter 41: Back Home

The city air was warm and quiet—too quiet, like the world itself had paused to witness a miracle.

Elena stood across the street, frozen. Her basket of groceries had crashed to the ground, apples and loaves of bread spilling across the cobbled road. Her eyes, wide and glassy, trembled with disbelief. Her lips parted slightly as she struggled to form the words that had lived in her heart for three long years.

"Y-Young Master... Kaidën?"

Her voice cracked, and just like that, the dam of silence shattered.

Kaidën turned, pulling down his hood.

The wind tugged at his robe, but he didn’t move. He simply smiled—a small, soft smile that said a thousand things at once.

"Elena," he replied, voice calm and steady, "I’m home."

The maid let out a strangled cry as tears burst from her eyes. She stumbled forward, arms trembling, and wrapped them around him tightly, pressing her face into his chest.

"You’re alive," she whispered over and over, like she couldn’t believe the warmth she was holding was real. "You’re really alive... We all thought you were gone. Your mother—Lady Sofia—she... she..."

She couldn’t finish. The sobs overtook her, her voice drowned in the flood of emotions that had been building for years. Kaidën gently patted her head, closing his eyes for a moment, letting the warmth of the embrace ground him.

"You’ve grown," Elena finally said, pulling back just enough to look up at him. "Taller... colder... but your eyes are the same."

He smiled again.

"There’s so much I have to tell you, young master," she said, wiping her face. "So much has happened... Lady Sofia—she changed after you disappeared. She stopped smiling. The day you vanished, something in her died... but something new was born too."

"A new star," Kaidën murmured.

Elena nodded. "Your sister. She’s just four months old now. Lady Sofia named her Arenia."

"Arenia..." he repeated, the name resting softly on his tongue like a breeze brushing through the branches of a memory.

"She’s beautiful," Elena said, taking his hand. "You’ll see. Come... come home."

****

The golden gates of the Valtorin estate opened with a groan, and the guards who saw Elena leading a hooded stranger furrowed their brows—but paused once they caught sight of his face.

Kaidën didn’t recognize them, but they seemed to recognize him.

Gasps. Then whispers.

"Elena," Kaidën said softly, "Call them."

She didn’t hesitate. She ran ahead and shouted with all her strength, her voice echoing through the courtyard and up to the high windows of the estate.

"LADY SOFIA! DUKE ARIN! HE’S BACK! HE’S BACK!!"

****

Inside the Castle

Lady Sofia was sitting on a velvet chair, cradling her infant daughter, humming softly as she fed her. Her once-bright hair was now tied in a tight bun, and her eyes—once full of warmth—were quiet and distant.

The moment she heard the scream, the bottle slipped from her fingers and clattered to the floor.

Her body stiffened. Her breath caught in her throat.

She stood slowly, as if afraid she’d break. Arenia whimpered in her arms.

Then... she heard his voice.

"Mother?"

Her eyes widened. Tears rushed to her eyes instantly, blurring her vision.

She turned the corner and saw him.

Her son.

Her baby.

No longer the little boy who clung to her dress. No longer the boy she’d tucked into bed. He was taller, stronger, older... and yet... he was still hers.

A broken sob escaped her lips as she dropped to her knees, shielding Arenia with one arm and reaching out with the other.

"Kaidën..."

He moved to her, gently kneeling, wrapping his arms around both mother and child.

"I’m home," he whispered.

Sofia clung to him, burying her face into his shoulder. Her cries were raw and open, shaking her entire frame. Kaidën didn’t say anything—he just held her tighter.

Zarel stood at a respectful distance, his head bowed, understanding that this moment was sacred.

****

Footsteps echoed through the hallway. Two figures came running from the study—Duke Arin and Commander Steven.

Duke Arin, usually composed and regal, stumbled as he saw his wife on the floor... and the young man beside her.

"Kaidën?"

The name left his mouth with disbelief, like a prayer finally answered.

Kaidën stood slowly. His father, tall and broad-shouldered, stared at him for a long second... and then walked forward, placing a trembling hand on Kaidën’s shoulder.

"You’re... you’re really back."

"I am," Kaidën said quietly.

The Duke’s lips trembled. He blinked fast, refusing to let the tears fall—but they did anyway. One hand came up, holding Kaidën’s head to his chest in a tight embrace.

"I thought I lost you... I thought we’d never..."

Steven stepped forward, silent. His face had aged—marked by guilt, time, and discipline. He walked until he stood before Kaidën.

Then, without a word, he fell to one knee and bowed his head.

"Forgive me," he said. "Forgive me for failing you... and your mother. Welcome home, young lord."

Kaidën helped him up with a hand.

"There’s nothing to forgive," he said. "You’re still standing. That’s what matters."

Sofia held up the baby, smiling through her tears.

"Kaidën... this is your sister."

The little girl looked at him with curious silver eyes. She reached toward his face with tiny fingers.

He held her carefully, cradling her in his arms like the most fragile treasure.

"She’s perfect," he whispered.

****

The Valtorin estate was filled with light again. Laughter and tears mingled in the halls. For the first time in years... it felt like home.

But as Kaidën looked to the sky, his smile slowly faded.

There was peace now—but war would come.

And next time... he would be ready.

****

Later that night as Kaidën sat in the castle’s inner garden, still holding his baby sister, Arenia, in his arms. The sun filtered through the leaves above, casting soft patterns across the stone bench and the infant’s peaceful face. She giggled and reached up, brushing his nose with her tiny fingers.

He couldn’t stop smiling. Not his usual cold smirk—but a genuine, warm smile. One that felt foreign on his face now.

Behind him, Lady Sofia watched from the doorway, arms crossed tightly—not out of coldness, but in an attempt to keep herself from crying again. Duke Arin stood beside her, a hand resting on her shoulder.

"He’s changed," Sofia whispered.

"Of course he has," Arin replied. "But he’s still our son."

She nodded, her voice trembling. "And he still loves us. That’s what matters."

****

Some hours passed and it was already midnight, Kaidën found himself alone with Commander Steven on the training grounds. The night breeze blew gently, rustling the grass. The once-proud courtyard was now fully rebuilt—perfect for training and battle simulations.

Steven stood with arms crossed, watching Kaidën closely.

"You’re stronger," Steven said, narrowing his eyes.

Kaidën simply nodded. "You’re not weak either. Sixth-grade martial expert... impressive."

Steven smiled faintly. "Not as impressive as returning from the dead."

There was a pause.

Then Kaidën looked him dead in the eye. "Thank you... for protecting them."

Steven’s breath caught. Of all things, he hadn’t expected gratitude.

"I failed them once," he said. "But I swore to never let it happen again. Not while I draw breath."

Kaidën stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Then you’ll fight beside me when the time comes."

****

That night, the castle held a quiet feast—only for the family. Nothing grand or public. Just a dinner to celebrate the impossible.

Kaidën sat at the table, surrounded by his parents, Elena, Steven, and even little Arenia—now asleep in Sofia’s arms.

The laughter, the stories, the warmth—it all felt like a dream.

But Kaidën never lowered his guard. His eyes often drifted to the windows, scanning the darkness.

Zarel, ever silent, stood behind him like a shadow.

Later that night, Sofia tucked Arenia into her crib and came to sit beside Kaidën in his room. She touched his hand.

"I missed you every day," she whispered. "There were nights I woke up, hoping this was all a nightmare. And then I’d see your empty bed."

He said nothing at first.

Then: "I never stopped trying to come home."

Tears formed again in her eyes, but she smiled through them.

"I know. And you’re here now. That’s enough."

****

The following day at night, Kaidën stood atop the castle’s tallest tower, looking toward the dark horizon.

A shadow moved behind him.

"Young Master," Zarel said, "shouldn’t you be resting?"

Kaidën’s eyes remained fixed on the distance.

"They’re coming. I don’t know when... but I can feel it. A storm. Bigger than the war we left behind. Something darker."

Zarel nodded grimly.

"Then we prepare?"

Kaidën’s expression hardened. His divine and dark energy pulsed faintly under his skin.

"Yes. We prepare."

****

Back at the Iron fist empire which shared borders with the abyss, land of the dead and land of the demon... The presence of Demons and monsters where at it peak as the demon lord where getting summoned back to life.

As times goes by, demon, gods, and heros

Something big is sure to happen

And kaidën being the center of it all.

To be continued...