Return of the Fallen Volume 9 Chapter 22
Zephris extended his hand outward and a vine pulled him up and into his home. His master laid his father down in his bed and set Chela and Alta down nearby. Right after Zephris’s master without permission began to pull open drawers in search of something he could wear.
Chela finally opened her eyes and caught sight of Zephris’s naked master. She promptly covered Alta’s eyes in case she opened them before directing the master.
“My husband’s clothes are in the middle drawer. Your sizes are different so I don’t think they’ll fit too comfortably though.”
The Master shook his head.
“Comfort is nowhere near the top of my list. I simply do not wish to continue to display myself in front of my young apprentice’s parents and little sister. My reputation would be in the dirt if I didn’t put something on.”
Chela was almost at a loss for words. This mysterious man, she had never once met him but he was in fact her son’s teacher as well as the person that just saved all of their lives, and yet she hadn’t even offered their savior a thank you.
Chela tried to bow but before she could the master stopped her.
“Not necessary.”
Chela tried to force it anyway but again she was stopped.
“Please, I have to at least say thank you. If not for you, my children…my husband…”
Tears began to stream from Chela’s face. Zephris saw this and was shocked. He had almost never seen his mother cry. She was so incredibly tough that even when faced against the many soldiers and after being beaten and tossed to the ground like nothing, even through all of that she didn’t cry. Now that things had seemingly calmed, it was like the flood gates were let loose and a river of tears poured from her.
The master rubbed her head gently in comfort before sighing.
“I guess maybe I could use a cup of tea. That would be more than enough to thank me.”
Chela had heard many stories of how tough Zephris’s master was on him and how harsh many of his lessons were but the gentle way he acted right now was night and day from that. It was night and day from the brutal killings as well. She looked at this man-beasts and wondered if it was really the same person from just moments ago.
*Uhhg*
Grek released an awful groan before his eyes slowly started to open. The very first thing he saw was the master’s monstrous appearance. Horns atop his head with large wings and crimson red eyes. He nearly jumped in fright and instinctively reached for his sword but of course, he gripped nothing but air as his sword had been tossed away earlier.
Chela and Alta both saw Grek awaken and the two leaped in his arms right away.
*GUH*
Another groan fell from Grek’s lips as he felt the full impact from his wife and kid but they ignored his pain and the two cried in his arms. Grek was still shocked by the situation but seeing his wife and youngest child were safe and this monster was not attacking him, he knew that the situation wasn’t as it seemed.
Though he was still in great pain, he embraced his wife and daughter before politely asking.
“Sir, I don’t know who you are but it seems you have rescued us from death. How can I ever thank you?”
“Hmph!”
The master snorted before rolling his eyes.
“All the times you brought your boy to me battered and bruised and basically blackmailed me to feed him potions so I could stay in this forest yet you now act like we are strangers. Do you really not have eyes Grek?”
Grek was shocked. He recognized this voice right away but had never seen this face before in his entire life. This voice though, no doubt belonged to his son’s master, the mysterious alchemist who always cloaked himself and never revealed his true nature.
Taking him in now, Grek could never have guessed that this is what the man looked like.
Grek cupped his fist before nodding.
“Master alchemist. How could I not recognize that gruff voice? Though to say I’m not dreaming seeing this appearance of yours, well, is this actually reality?”
The master walked over and proceeded to flick Grek directly in the forehead.
*Thwack*
The master’s strength was great so this small flick felt like much much more and stung pretty badly.
“You tell me, is that pain really real or is this a dream?”
Grek grimaced slightly but now he knew for sure. Seeing his wife and daughter were safe and sound and even his son standing stunned over in the corner, Grek was filled with such bliss that it was hard to describe.
“Thak you, thank you so much Master Alchemist!”
“Ok stop, I don’t like an old man calling an old man like me Master this and that. To the boy, I am Master, to his parents though, it’s fine if you call me by my name, Aziria.”
Grek and Chela both shared a look before they shook their heads.
“Master Alchemist, how can we dare call our hero without proper respect?”
Aziria grew annoyed and curt.
“Stop! I won’t ask a second time. If you refer to me as master or anything else besides the name I have given, I will take it as disrespect. Understand?”
Chela and Grek both nodded simultaneously. At the same time, Zephris was still stunned. Not only did he hear his master’s name for the first time in his life but he also got to witness both his stern, stubborn father and his tough mother be treated and handled as if they were naughty children being rebuked.
This stunned phase wouldn’t last long as Azira turned his attention to Zephris.
“Boy! Can’t you see your mother and father are busy, I’m still waiting on my tea.”
Chela hopped up and wiped her tears, and was about to head for the kitchen but Azira stepped in front of her.
“You sit and relax with your husband. Don’t worry your son is used to labor. Besides, there are a few things we need to discuss.”
Chela wanted to say something but Zephris was already used to his Master’s orders and his body was already moving before he even thought to say no or oppose. Very quickly after Zephris left the room, Alta was ushered out right after. The two exchanged a quiet but knowing look before Alta came running, and crying into Zephris’s arms. However, right away she leaped back and held her nose.
“Ewww, brother, you smell so bad.”
Zephris took a sniff of himself and the culprit was obvious. After everything was said and done, he had still not cleaned himself and there was shit all over his clothes and most of his exposed skin.
Right now Zephris had finally recovered a small amount of magic. With a wave of his hand, a large glob of water surrounded his entire body and spun around him in quick succession. The water perfectly removed every bit of shit from his clothes as well as his body. With another wave, this filthy water was tossed out the window.
After that, Zephris opened his arms for Alta but she refused.
“What’s wrong, I’m all clean now.”
Alta shook her head.
“You’ve had that poo on you for who knows how long, I…I can’t hug you right now.”
(This little gremlin. I’ve literally been running nonstop for her and mother and she can’t even give me a hug.)
“Fine, then leave me be.”
Zephris turned around and started preparing the tea. As he was moving things here and there and mumbling, Alta rushed up behind him. Giving him a hug, she whispered.
“I was scared big brother. So so scared. I thought…I thought.”
Alta once again broke down crying and Zephris turned back around and held her.
“I was scared too. I kept thinking and thinking, trying to do whatever I could to get back to you and mother but it was so hard. All I could do was push forward and hope, pray that you and mother were safe. I’m glad you’re still safe, it must have been really really scary but it’s all over now. Father and mother both made it and even Master helped protect us. Everything’s going to be ok now.”
“Big brother, next time…Next time you better not leave us. You better stay with us no matter what. Promise!”
“I promise. I’m not going anywhere.”
After that, Zephris gently rocked his little sister in his arms for a few minutes allowing her to fall asleep. Softly wiping the tears from her cheek, Zephris picked her up and carried her to her bed where he tucked her in carefully.
Zephris sat by his sister for a minute or so, his exhausted mind stirring once more.
(Everything I did, I did for my family but in the end, it still wasn’t enough. I was too weak, too slow. My magic ran out so unbelievably quickly and even when I used everything I had, I still came up short. If only I had a body like Master. If I had a body that could regenerate like his, with such strength and speed, who would I need to fear? I could always safely protect my mom and dad and Alta as well. That’s what I need. I need a body like Master Aziria!)
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