49 Chapter 35: Rei's Family

"Hey Rei…" I stared into the endless blue sky, "Remember the promise I gave you when I saved you in the slave auction?"

Rei glanced at me for a second, his auburn hair dancing in the wind,

"…Yeah." He nodded.

"I still remember the day you called me 'strange'." I tilted my head back and laughed, "And come to think about it, I still don't know what's under the hair covering your eye."

"Secret." Rei laughed, a smirk playing on his lips.

We stopped saying anything, only listening to the breeze rustle the leaves and the blades of grass shift around. It was nice to not say anything, yet the air didn't become awkward.

"I found out where your mother is." I broke the peaceful silence with regret, watching his eyes widen in shock.

"I… I don't want to see that woman again." Rei scowled, turning his face away from me.

I studied him silently before replying,

"It may be beneficial to take revenge on who brought your family down." I answered, "And honestly? I think you secretly want to see your mother again."

Rei flinched but he remained quiet.

"I'll give you some time to think." I stood up and walked towards the Academy, looking back to see Rei sitting like a stone on the bench.

***

"You ready?" I looked at Rei, his fists clenching.

Rei had agreed after a few days and now we had found ourselves in front of a small house in town. It looked pleasant enough, although I doubted any nobles were here, it seemed like a more modest way of living.

Rei knocked on the door.

My heart thrummed in my chest as I stared at the door, waiting for a reply.

"Yes?" A sweet, high voice asked, and the door opened.

A woman around Mother's age stood there. Clearly, Rei had inherited his grey eyes and delicate features from her. She brushed her silver-tinged red hair from her face as she dusted flour off her hands.

"Nice to see you again." Rei smiled bitterly, "How long has it been, 9 years? Maybe even 10 or 11?"

"R-Rei?" The woman gasped, her face paling into an ashen grey.

***

"So…" The woman plucked at her dress, "What are you doing here?"

"Not even a 'how are you doing'?" Rei scoffed, "How do you even call yourself my mother?"

"Rei-" She reached forward as though she wanted to comfort him, but she sharply drew back.

"Save it. I don't need your excuses." Rei sighed, "Do you know who destroyed Father?"

"Destroyed your Father?" She leaned back on her chair, "No one destroyed him. I simply reported him to the authorities."

"Authorities?" Rei grimaced, "For what? Did you even think about how I would survive without my only remaining parent?"

"Did you think I didn't know what experiments he was inflicting on you? Your covered eye is the evidence of that." She answered dutifully, "And… I thought someone might take you in…"

"Take me in? Who would take me in? A criminal's family gets sold to slavery instantly!" Rei started shouting, "And why would you take so many years to report Father if you really cared about justice?!"

Silence only met his demand.

"Never mind." Rei settled back into his chair, "…Why did you leave me? I was only three years old, unable to survive on my own. You knew Father would experiment on me if you weren't there to protect me."

"Hah!" She laughed, "I didn't leave you; I left your father. You know how much of a maniac he was!"

"I'm done here." Rei abruptly stood up, "I can only say I'm glad I wasn't raised by you."

And with that, Rei swiftly left the house. I only spared Rei's Mother one glance before following him.

We walked towards the carriage in silence.

"We don't need to continue on with our revenge plan." Rei shrugged, "My mother can live in peace. We already separated ties years ago."

Rei looked out the window during the way back to the Academy. Perhaps he was remembering fond memories of his childhood or maybe he was bitter due to his unreliable family.

"So… Rei." I hesitantly broke the silence, "Now that my promise has been fulfilled are you going to leave?"

Rei looked up at me in surprise before smiling,

"You guys are more family than my real parents ever were." He smirked, leaning back into his chair to relax, "I thought you knew that."