House of Hestia

The number one political power on Earth was the World Government. There were many mystic factions that held considerable power in their own right, but none compared to the government.

After all, how can one match an organization that has the power to influence the world on cultural, religious, and economic levels?

The longevity of any organization, whether it was government or corporate, depended on the image it projected to the world.

While strength can destroy all rivals, it couldn't destroy the resentment in the hearts of people.

Slowly, the resentment would accumulate into a volcano of hatred and burst out, ruining the organization. It might take decades or even a century, but the end was destined.

Perhaps, the fall of dynasties and religious powers before the nineteenth century was proof of it.

To counter this, the government spent countless resources on image control. Propaganda and censorship were the basic tools employed for this purpose.

Without the masses realizing, their subtle brainwashing started from their very youth, conditioning their mindset in a specific manner. Throughout their educational lives, they were taught about the dark past of humanity, the deaths of the glorious freedom fighters, and the noble sacrifices of the Nine Sovereigns.

Plus, every year there would be holidays and celebrations to 'remember' these noble events. This meant the masses took the history at face value.

In turn, this ensured the masses would forever defend the government, for it was the result of 'the blood and sweat of their ancestors'. They might hate the individuals running the government but never the structure itself... never realizing this was what the forefathers of the government wanted!

Of course, the ignorant masses believed the government was democratic, not knowing that it was a smokescreen. The true power has always lain in the hands of the World Council.

In the last few decades, the council has expanded with the addition of powerful representatives from Atlantis, Eden, and a few others.

While this greatly modified the power structure, the main power still remained with the original founding members of the council.

The Nine Sovereigns!

According to popular legends, old age and injuries brought natural death to them. The revolutionaries, on the other hand, claim the sovereigns were in suspended animation. No one knew the exact truth.

Presently, the authority of the sovereigns was enjoyed by the families they established.

Nine Aristocratic Families!

These families enjoy benefits the masses can never imagine. Taxes, resources from the outer world, mutated genetic inheritance... everything existed at their disposal!

Even though it has been close to ninety years, the aristocratic families continued to survive in the ever-changing world of mutants and technology.

Naturally, the power enjoyed by the families varied given their individual standing, but from the inception of the government, the strongest family has always been the same.

Hestia.

The strongest of the nine sovereigns was a woman named Hestia. To honor her, the entire family took her name as their surname.

-----------

Valley of Fire.

Located in the state of Avalon, it was a restricted area owned by the Hestia Family.

When the age of evolution started, one of the meteorites created this valley spanning thousands of kilometers.

Some miles away from the valley was a large estate where the main branch of the Hestia Family resided. Thanks to the high fertility rate of mutants, the size of the Hestia Family was enormous.

Only those of the main bloodline were allowed to reside in the estate, and as for the rest, there were other luxurious locations. The estate spanned approximately 50 square miles with state-of-the-art facilities.

In a large hall somewhere in the estate, an elderly bald man sat. He had an emaciated appearance with dry skin and deformed facial features, making him resemble a mummy.

He was none other than Lord Harley, a councilman.

In front of him, the virtual projection of a servant appeared in a kneeling position.

"Any progress?" Lord Harley asked.

"Slight progress, my lord," the servant answered politely. "We have reasons to believe a scientist named Lisa Rey was involved."

"Lisa Rey?" Lord Harley thought for a moment before asking, "Is she someone important?"

"No," the servant answered, "She is just a Rank III scientist."

"Then how can a lowly scientist be involved in a matter related to Cosmic Spark?" Lord Harley inquired.

"We don't know, my lord," the servant answered, "it was just that she disappeared the day the incident took place... along with her team and ability-nullifying device."

"Oh?" Lord Harley was taken aback, "how could she have access to such a weapon given her low rank?"

"She had an affair with a Rank VIII officer, so..." the servant stopped as Lord Harley waved his hand.

"I understand how she got the weapon," Lord Harley said. "I want to know why she was in the city, and if her superior was involved."

"Her superior claimed she wanted to gain something in the city," the servant replied. "We don't know what exactly, but I'm sure it wasn't Cosmic Spark."

"I see," Lord Harley was disappointed. "Any clues on her activities in the city?"

"That's the problematic part, my lord," the servant trembled as he explained. "We only know about her activities at parties and public gatherings, but otherwise, we are clueless. Her accommodation in the city has been cleared out, and all modes of communication destroyed, leaving behind no traces."

"So it's a repeat of Castor Damon's situation?" Lord Harley observed in an annoyed tone. "Just like him, we don't know if this Lisa is alive or not?"

"Yes," the man nodded.

"The main investigators should arrive in the city soon, so there should be progress sooner or later," Lord Harley contemplated. "But there are chances they would fail to find something useful."

Lord Harley waved his hand, and the projection disappeared.

"I don't have much time, though," Lord Harley looked at his reflection in the mirror. "My only hope is Life Retrieval Fruits from Desolate Blood Forest."

Lord Harley sighed and wrote a message on a tablet nearby.

"Hmm?" Lord Harley turned his face towards the window. "Rebecca?"

Far away from the estate, a huge bird of fire flew among the clouds, radiating terrifying strength. The air distorted with speed fluctuations as the bird approached the estate. With a buzzing sound, the invisible force field surrounding the estate opened up.

The bird entered through the open force field and landed on the ground. In the flicker of a second, the bird started transforming into a humanoid creature: a woman with a fair complexion, dressed in white.

From her appearance, it seemed she was in her early twenties, but the extraordinary grace and charm she carried were something only a mature person can have.

She had dark red hair reaching her shoulders and her eyes were dark as the night sky. If Felicity were to look at this woman, she would be shocked.

Her facial features resembled Zed's! Her eyes and hair were different from Zed's, but there were many similarities with him.

"Lady Rebecca!" Hundreds of guards kneeled to greet the woman. She ignored their existence and stepped into the estate.

A minute later, she was inside the hall with Lord Harley.

"How was your trip?" Lord Harley asked as he offered her a seat.

"Better than expected," Rebecca replied in a detached manner.

"I'm glad," Lord Harley said with a smile that didn't suit his face.

"I have something for you," Rebecca snapped her fingers, and the bracelet on her right wrist radiated a blue flash.

The flash shot on the table, and it turned into what appeared to be an apple. The apple was deep red like blood, with its aroma resembling that of honey.

Lord Harley's eyes widened in disbelief. He touched the fruit to make sure it was real, and moments later, he started laughing loudly.

"Wonderful," Lord Harley was pleased as he smelled the aroma. "It is a genuine Life Retrieval Fruit. I was just thinking about it."

Lord Harley controlled his emotions and pointed his index finger toward the fruit. The next moment, the fruit disappeared into a twinkle of light.

"You have made great contributions to our family," Lord Harley wasn't stingy in his praises. "As per the rules of the sovereign, you are entitled to a request as long as it is within the scope of our family and doesn't exceed the limits of your contribution."

"I will use the request in the future," Rebecca replied without any emotion.

"As you wish," Lord Harley nodded. "Honestly, I am surprised you aren't using the request right away."

"I have my reasons," Rebecca said as she rose to her feet. "I have to leave."

As Rebecca reached the door, Lord Harley asked, "Are you still searching for him?"

"Yes," Rebecca stopped and answered. "And I will continue to, till I find him."

"For what it's worth... we all are sorry for what happened back then," Lord Harley said with a deep sigh. "But I'm glad you never held a grudge against the family."

"All for one and one for all, united we stand divided we fall," Rebecca replied coldly. "The words of the sovereign are supreme."

"...."

"I'm bound by the ties of blood and honor even if others are not," Rebecca left the hall without waiting for his reaction.

----

A few minutes later, Rebecca entered another part of the estate.

"Lady Rebecca," a raven-haired woman in her thirties gave a deep bow.

"Leyla, how is she?" Rebecca asked as she arrived in front of the room.

"Same," Leyla respectfully answered.

Rebecca slowly opened the door of the room and entered. It was a large bedroom modified to suit the needs of a hospital.

At the corner of the room, a teenage girl sat in an advanced wheelchair, looking out of the window.

Next to her was a man in his forties and a man in his mid-twenties.

"Mom!" the girl and the man in his mid-twenties said together as they felt her presence.

"Kirstie," Rebecca muttered with a hint of sadness as she saw her wheelchair-bound daughter.

The age of evolution has not always been a blessing to everyone. As the diseases of the past were cured into oblivion, new innate diseases and defects emerged. Illnesses that not even advanced genetic labs could cure without severe side effects.

"How was your trip, mom?" the man in his mid-twenties asked. He had blond hair just like the man next to him.

"Good, Steve," Rebecca answered.

"You took a year," the man in his forties remarked, annoyed.

"Kurtis," Rebecca eyed him coldly and said, "I'm in no mood for an argument."

"You never are," Kurtis returned her cold gaze and said, "but you are always ready to overstep our marriage."

Swoosh~

The temperature inside the room started falling rapidly. Behind Rebecca, wings of fire emerged.

The entire room froze as flame enveloped her.

"Mom!" Kirstie shouted in protest.

Rebecca glanced at her and then sighed. The temperature returned to normal, and the wings of fire faded.

"Before calling me names, remember your own history," Rebecca said. "Otherwise, you are nothing more than a hypocrite—blaming others without thinking of your faults."

"I never had children outside of our marriage, even with all my affairs," Kurtis reminded her in a voice filled with venom. "Can you say the same?"

"Do you really want to die?" Rebecca was incensed. "The rules of the sovereign won't save you if I lose my mind."

"Why don't you try?" Kurtis stood up from his half-crouching position.

"Dad, stop it please," Kirstie placed a hand on her father.

"I'm sorry, sweetie," Kurtis looked at her.

"Why do you two have to fight always?" Kirstie asked.

"We won't fight from now on," Rebecca came next to her and rubbed her head in a loving manner.

"Promise?" Kirstie looked at her mother and father.

"Yes," both of them nodded.

Inwardly, Kurtis laughed.

"No need to fight any longer now that my twenty years of preparations are complete," Kurtis thought with a smirk. "The bastard she gave birth to... will die in two weeks, no matter where he is!"

Kurtis smiled at his daughter, promising there would be no more fights.

"You should get some rest," Rebecca carried Kirstie to the bed and said, "We will go outside tomorrow, so you need to have enough strength."

"Really?" Kirstie asked with sparkling eyes.

"Yes," Rebecca nodded. "So sleep now."

"Only if you sleep beside me," Kirstie pulled her mother's hand.

Rebecca nodded with a gentle smile. After ensuring all the medicinal equipment was working fine, she joined her daughter.

Steve and Kurtis took their leave, allowing the mother-daughter duo to catch up.

"Mom?" Kirstie suddenly spoke.

"Hm?" Rebecca looked at her.

"Will I ever get to meet brother?" Kirstie asked.

"...I don't know, but I hope you do," Rebecca answered as she covered her daughter with a blanket.

Half an hour later, Rebecca closed her eyes as the memories of the past resurfaced.

=====

*

On a sea surface, a cruise swiftly sailed. At the deck, Rebecca stood beside a black-haired man.

The man's facial features were striking, especially his eyes that were an icy shade of blue.

The man and Rebecca looked at the sea waves and then at each other. He rubbed his hand over her belly in a loving manner.

"What are you thinking?" Rebecca asked.

"The name of our child," the man answered.

"I'm only a few weeks into pregnancy and you are thinking about a name?" Rebecca looked at him with an amused expression.

"I know what the future holds for me and our child," the man said with a hint of melancholy in his voice. "So I might as well decide on a name when I have the chance."

"The future is not set," Rebecca reasoned. "We can change it."

"Only if it were that easy," the man turned his head towards the twinkling water droplets of the sea as he continued, "Anyways, we shall name our child Zed."

"We are having a boy?" Rebecca asked, startled.

"Yes," the man turned his head towards the night sky and said, "I wish this moment would last for a lifetime."

"...."

---

In a snowy forest, a blood-stained Rebecca dashed among the trees while holding a crying infant in her arms. Alongside her, a brown-haired man followed, similarly drenched with blood.

"They are getting close," the brown-haired man said.

Rebecca gritted her teeth and looked back. She then turned towards the man and said, "Red Fox, take Zed with you."

"What?!" Red Fox was stunned.

"I would handle the ones behind," Rebecca wiped the blood from her mouth. "Later on, I would join you at that place."

"You have just given birth and are in no condition---"

"We don't have time to waste on discussion," Rebecca cut him off coldly. "I will pay you tenfold our initial agreement. Just get him to safety."

"As you wish!" Red Fox took the infant from her hands and charged forward.

Rebecca glanced at him and then turned back. The snowy forest soon turned into ashes of fire...

===

In the present.

Rebecca opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she thought of the events that unfolded after the separation.

"Zed, I hope we have our reunion..." Rebecca whispered with sadness. "I will make sure our family gets a happily ever after."

In a distant future, for better or worse, her wish for a reunion would be fulfilled. Alas, not a happily-ever-after, for the wrath of her son would lead to extermination...