Chapter 58 - I exploded Arisu's cake.

I woke up slowly, my eyes adjusting to the light streaming through my bedroom window. The sun was shining brightly, and I could feel the warmth of its rays on my face. I stretched my arms and legs, feeling the tension in my muscles slowly dissipate. As I sat up, a familiar aroma filled my nostrils. The signature rich, savory scent of beef stew wafted through the air, making me crave a bowl of it.

I looked around but there was no one inside my room. The window was open, the velvet curtains draped over it fluttering like waves on beach. As I looked outside the window, I noted that the weather today was beautiful and refreshing with a clear blue sky and warm breeze blowing that intruded through the windows. The blue sky was clear with only a few patches of fluffy white wandering about like lost travelers in a desert.

Feeling a weight on my arm, I was prompted to lift the covers as I saw Ellie and Sylvie, both nestled in cozy little balls, with Ellie snuggled up against my arm as if she were a diminutive koala clinging to a tree branch. Their forms appeared so serene, with each tiny breath of theirs producing a barely audible murmur. Ellie's body didn't seem as warm as Sylvie's and there was a gravy stain on the side of her cheek. "Looks like she ate breakfast and slept right after." I spoke to myself as I reached out for Sylvie through our link, but she too seemed to be deep in sleep as I couldn't wake her up.

From the looks of it, it seems like they were up all night and had slept just a while ago. But the smell of the dish doesn't seem to be cooked by Ellie. The aroma, the strength of spices and the secret ingredient in it (MSG), it all seemed way too familiar. It couldn't be possibly made by Ellie much less Sylvie who was horrible at cooking.

Receding my hand slightly away from Ellie, I stood up. She turned once but went back to sleep, her ashen hair totally covering her face. Standing up, I looked around, but I didn't need to look around too much as the door opened softly revealing Alice and Reynolds who had a tense look over their faces. Alice had placed a finger on her lips, ushering Reynolds to stay quite but his eyes went wide as he locked his eyes with mine, his jaw agape.

"Arthur!" He spoke as Alice pulled his ear, "Be quiet, he is tired. Let him sleep some mor-" However Alice's words remained hanging in the air as she saw me.

Not sure how to handle the current situation I just waved my hand at them, trying to smile a little, "I'm home?"

It has been 4 years since I last saw them. Alice was still the same, her youthful features still carrying the pristine edge to them. While her features felt a bit hard at the start, it soon disappeared, replaced by a warm and soft look. It seemed like her entire personality underwent some kind of metamorphosis in the few seconds she had been staring at me as her expressions went from that of scolding to surprise to utmost happiness and then contorting into that of sadness.

I walked forward, my steps uncertain but still unwavering as I arrived in front of her, "Good to see you, mom." I said and wrapped my arms around her little frame and pulled her into a tight hug. Her frail arms wrapped around my waist with an intensity that one can't expect just by looking at her frame. "My baby... you're finally back." She spoke, tears falling down like a violent downpour on a stormy night that drenched my shirt and stuck it to my skin and hugged me with all her might.

My fingers tangled themselves in her vibrant auburn locks and tried to comfort her. I held her tight, hoping that the strength of my embrace would be enough to make up for all the years that she had been apart for me and missed me. I couldn't let her break down just by this. As if her embrace wasn't enough, Reynolds joined into the bear hug as I felt my bones cave in.

"Rey! Let go, right now!" Alice squeaked as he released the hug, scratching the back of his head as he spoke, "Can you blame me? I couldn't resist. I am seeing my son after so much time," he said and then looked at me from bottom to top, "You finally out-grew your old man, huh?"

I just shrugged my shoulders as he laughed out loud, once again earning a slap on his shoulder as Alice told him to stay silent because of Ellie and Sylvie.

"Ow, sorry. But son, why didn't you meet us as soon as you arrived?" Reynolds asked.

"You were busy with mom, so I decided it was best not to interrupt." I replied and I could feel both of their faces redden in embarrassment. "Oh, we were preparing a gift for you." Reynolds blurted out as Alice blushed even further. I do not know how to respond to this. After all I am still getting used to Ellie. The thought of another sibling was something that I never entertained. But if I do end up having one, I would love another little sister. Since, I wasn't around much for Ellie. However, right now it would be a bad step. With the war approaching, they would want to participate at one point and a pregnant woman with an ever-worrying husband would be nothing more than dead weight.

"What are you thinking so intensely about, Arthur?" Alice asked and cupped my cheeks in her palms.

"Um, Can I have a bowl of beef stew?" I replied to her question. Both Alice and Reynolds giggled at my reply. Although, Reynold's giggled seemed more cursed that cute.

"You don't have to be so serious about being hungry. Come here. I've cooked all your favourites." Alice said and wrapped her arm around my shoulders, patting my back softly as she ushered me to sit on the chair next to table. Reynolds bent lower and looked over Sylvie and Ellie before covering them with another layer of thin sheets.

"They were up all night, playing and practicing with magic." Reynolds said with an amused tone as Alice placed her palm on her forehead.

"I swear she is getting more and more like you. Her curiosity about magic and being better every day is just like you," Alice said and smiled, looking at Ellie's sleeping figure, "She really looks up to you."

"She shouldn't." I replied calmly as I picked a plate and placed it in front of me.

"Why do you say that?" Reynolds asked, doing the same.

"Every person has different talents and different routes to achieve greatness. Even if her end goals coincide to be like me, taking the same route as I did won't guarantee in success. Every human is designed separately, and one should only choose a method of success that suits individual talents and capabilities." I spoke up as the memory of Horikita chasing after her brother flashed in my mind. She was talented enough, evident from her progress in year 2 and her unshakable determination that led to her ultimate evolution as a class leader in Year 3. But she was only able to do all that because she let go of her rigid nature and blindly following her brother.

"Our son really grew up, didn't he, Rey?" Alice spoke as she placed her face in both of her palms, looking at me with a happy and proud look.

"He sure did. Believe me, I didn't understand anything after 'Every'." Rey said sheepishly as Alice facepalmed making both of them laugh. Right now, they were happy, smiles and cheers radiating from them. It was because I didn't let them know about my past. Well, it seems like I should keep it to myself. It had been a few days since I had last eaten so all thoughts disappeared behind the loud growl of my stomach as Alice stifled a laugh and ruffled my hair, "My bad. You must be so hungry."

As Alice leaned forward with a gracious gesture, she ladled her signature beef stew into my bowl, allowing the tantalizing aroma to waft in my direction. The scent, which was infused with the mouthwatering fragrance of slow-cooked beef, carrots, and potatoes, permeated the air around me, instantly making my stomach rumble with days-long hunger. The stew was a symphony of flavors that blended together to create a perfectly balanced experience. The beef was succulent and tender, cooked to perfection with just the right amount of seasoning. The carrots, cut into small pieces, added a sweet and slightly earthy note to the dish, while the potatoes provided a starchy contrast that helped to absorb the rich broth.

Picking up a spoon as I slurped on the broth again and again as I felt my taste buds get overwhelmed. The broth was a work of art. It was evident that Alice had spent hours simmering the ingredients, coaxing out every last drop of flavour from the bones and vegetables. The result was a velvety, full-bodied liquid that coated my tongue with a richness that was both comforting, warm and invigorating. The broth was infused with the aroma of thyme and bay leaves, adding a subtle herbal note that complemented the beef and vegetables perfectly.

Each and every bite I took was a new experience as I couldn't help but admire the improvement in her recipe compared to last time. While it was pretty good at the start as well, now it seemed like it had improved by leaps-and-bounds. It was clear that she had a deep understanding of the ingredients and techniques that went into creating this meal. Her attention to detail was evident in every aspect of the dish, from the perfectly diced vegetables to the precisely seasoned broth.

Despite my hunger, I found myself eating slowly, savoring each bite and letting the flavours linger on my tongue, wanting to fully appreciate each and every flavour.

"Don't fill your appetite just by that. I've baked your favourite cake." Alice said as I stopped abruptly and looked up. It had been years since I had last eaten something proper, let alone something as luxurious as cake which was a luxurious delicacy in this world.

"Thanks...," I paused and I could feel her eyes still fixed on me. After a few fumbles I looked back at her, "Thanks, mom."

Her face radiated with happiness, "You're welcome, Arthur." She replied. However, a coy smile formed on her face as she spoke again, "Arisu would be bringing that any moment now."

I almost choked on the meat in my throat as I heard her name.

"Have you been talking to Arisu?" I asked, not sure what she had done while I was not here.

"Why yes, of course, why won't I talk to my future daughter-in-law!"

"She is not your daughter-in-law, mom." I replied, my voice monotone and my face as impassive as ever.

"Oh leave it to your mom, Art. I know you don't care about such stuff but having someone to spend your life with is crucial as well. I thought the opposite of what I just said before as well, when I was your age, but look at me now. I am a happy mother of 2 wonderful kids!"

Human nature.

It was designed in a way where if someone is helpless in a situation, it would find solace in that hardship and unwanted situation, even if it doesn't want to. Self-hyponotism to make yourself feel like you're happy when actually you're just helpless in a situation or stuck with someone.

After all human nature is a complex and multifaceted construct, shaped by a variety of factors such as genetics, environment, and upbringing. One of the more curious aspects of human nature is its ability to find solace in even the most challenging of situations. This phenomenon is known as learned helplessness, a psychological concept that describes the tendency for individuals to develop a sense of helplessness when faced with hardships.

Defined simply, at its core, learned helplessness is a form of self-hypnosis, a mental state in which individuals convince themselves that they are happy or content in a given situation, even when that situation is undesirable or even harmful. This self-hypnosis is often driven by a variety of cognitive biases and emotional coping mechanisms, such as denial, rationalization, and emotional numbing.

However, seeing Alice smile so brightly, I couldn't help but wonder. Does true happiness actually exist? Is it possible to be ever content with one's progress? Is it ever possible to be "truly" happy?

Can I feel it?

I guess I will never know.

"Mom?" I asked, trying to voice my inner monologue out loud.

"Yeah?"

"Are you really happy? Is this all it takes to make you happy?" I asked. The question seemed way more absurd when I voiced it out loud.

Alice tilted her head and then smiled again, "Aw, don't worry, my sweet little pumpkin," she whispered, her voice soft and soothing. "As long as I have you, Rey, Ellie, and now Sylvie by my side, my heart is full, and my happiness is complete. You're my whole world, my dear." She then planted a soft kiss on the top of my head. As I let my head lay on her chest, I felt my mind wander to a logical solution to the situation. But is a logical solution always the correct approach to situations like this?

Will a solitary act of selfishness... just this once ruin everything?

Deciding to stay like that, I slipped deeper into her embrace. It was warm. Cozy. I could almost feel a tangible aura of security surround me. It was strange. The sensation wasn't new as I had felt it before. Using Sylvie as a mediator, I used to feel multiple feelings through our bond. The sense of security was always the most comforting one. However, feeling this emotion myself felt something else. I am uncertain... uncertainty is scary. I had experienced it in White Room. So I decided never to be uncertain of anything anymore. As soon as the uncertainty was rooted away, I never felt the subtle hints of fear. However, this feeling of security that I felt just a while ago... just a minor spark of it.

It is scary.

"Well, we have to go and pack our things for some volunteer work in the tents in the wall." Reynolds said as I let go of her embrace.

"You're going?"

"Yeah. I know you will talk us out of it so I am not exactly participating in full out squirmishes with Alacryans. There are just corrupted mana beasts near the wall and I won't be on main unit. I asked Commander Virion to add me to an attack squad but he said you won't like it so he just added me to a backup squad. You don't have to worry about me, son, MUAHAHA."

"I wasn't worried about you, though." I replied as I could feel his confidence take a heavy blow, almost knocking him off the chair. I looked towards Alice and then at Ellie.

"I will leave Sylvie with her." I replied as Alice smiled.

"Thanks, Arthur."

"It's nothing."

The conversation suddenly died out. With no means to continue it, I addressed Reynolds, "Don't you have to get ready?"

"Oh yes. Let's go honey." Reynolds said and Alice followed him before giving me a hug.

Before they went away, Reynolds picked both Sylvie and Ellie from my bed. "Oof- When did Ellie became so fat?"

"Mmmph- I an newt fat..." Ellie awoke from her slumber for a while before falling asleep again. Since she feels really comfortable around Sylvie, I let her go with her too.

"Well, I think she would be here any moment now." I spoke to myself.

"Oh, were you talking about me?"

Speak of the devil. It was like as if she was waiting for my parents to leave.

"Give me the cake and go back," I said, my expression as serious as a cat in a suit.

"I just arrived, Arthur. Why don't we eat it together? You know, sharing is caring," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness and a cheesy smile on her face.

Caring? More like karen-ing.

"I don't want to care," I shot back, determined not to share the cake with her. It was the first cake I'd had in four years, and I wasn't about to give her a single crumb. Snatching the cake from her hands, I got away from her.

"Hey! For someone who was deemed the perfect human, you sure know how to act like a little baby," she said, panting as she ran after me. I could hear the sound of her high heels clacking on the floor as she chased me.

"That has nothing to do with my sweet tooth," I retorted, dodging behind a chair.

"Come on, Arthur. Let's be reasonable. We can share the cake and then fight over the last piece like normal people," she said, trying to reason with me.

"Normal people? This is my cake to begin with." I said, peeking over the chair to make sure she wasn't gaining on me.

"But I made it for you." She replied, "Won't you share it with someone who spent a whole hour making it?"

"Mom made it. You just took it out of the oven." I replied and her face flushed with embarrassment, and she charged towards me. Placing the cake on my study table, I gripped her arm, feeling the softness of her skin against my fingertips, and pushed her against the wall. Our bodies were now inches apart, the tension between us palpable. Her hand was pinned against the wall, and I could feel her pulse racing under my touch.

"Let's stop this now," I said, my voice low and husky. My gaze flickered to her lips that suddenly twisted into a subtle pout.

"What do you think would happen if someone would walk in right now?" she whispered, her voice suddenly changing, her eyes glinting with mischief.

"No one would," I said, my eyes still fixed on her lips.

"So?" she asked, a subtle pout forming on her lips. "Don't you want to do it?"

"No." I replied bluntly as she smirked.

"Guessed it."

Sighing, I let go of her, "You can have a piece." I said and opened the box the cake was in. The cake was already cut into pieces however, I noted that they weren't cut all the way. It seemed like Arisu didnot cut it all the way in a hurry. Picking up a knife, I started to cut it.

"Hey! Be gentle with it. It is a lava cake. The middle is filled with chocolate. You have to slowly put it in and turn it."

"Oh... Well, I can't be bothered, I will put it all in." I replied as she got closer to me.

However, the cake instead of being a chocolate lava cake, was actually an active volcano as the chocolate and cream burst open, caking Arisu's face with it while I pulled her by the arm and hid behind her. I figured there was something wrong with the way Arisu wanted to make it seem like she wanted a piece of cake but when I was about to cut it, she seemed to be wary of it. Turns out she wanted to play a so-called 'prank' on me. Good to see that my scared acting was on point.

"HEY! I told you not to do it like that. You got it all on my face now!" She complained, wiping the cream from her face while rubbing the cholate stain from her dress.

"Didn't you plan to do it to me?" I asked as she narrowed her eyes.

"Yes, I did. At least you could've let me complete it."

"No."

"So blunt." She said with a pout as I handed her a piece of cloth.

The doors suddenly flew open.

[Static Void]

The whole world came to standstill as I saw Tessia. From the look on her face, it seemed like she was baffled but still hadn't seen what was going inside. It was best to leave the rest to the girls. I had wasted enough time here. I didn't want to waste any more time. However, before I could leave, I slightly poked at the mana sensitive areas of Arisu that would destablise her footing. Afterall what she did was unforgivable.

(***)

After leaving Arisu and Tessia alone in the room, I was about to go to the Council Room.

It was about time.

The war was about to formally start. But before that I decided to pay someone a visit. Right now, I was in a dark alley, the stench of blood, grime, sweat, bile and semen lingering in the air.

"Do you want something?"

"I am looking for someone."

"Oho. Who could it be? An elf? A dwarf? We have every variety." He said excitedly.

"Not one of your products. One of those that you've kept in the basement to die." I said as the colour from his dark face vanished.

"H-Ho-How?"

"I am not here to arrest you or anything. I am looking for someone. A half elf. Blond. Green eyes. No testicles." I laid out the descriptions as his eyes widened.

"You mean the Wyke's banished son?"

"Yes. I want to buy Lucas from you. He is not a Wykes anymore." I replied as the man bowed, directing me to where Lucas was. He was thrown away in a basement cell, left to starve to death. Looking at him now--- all bones and no flesh, he seemed like death was just a mere flick away. His eyes - devoid of life looked at me.

"Ley...win"

Crouching lower, I looked into his eyes. "Do you want your freedom back?"

His eyes didn't show any reaction as he snorted, "Don't t...alk abou...t things that you're comm...oner ass is unable of."

"I can help you recover everything you've lost." I said but the look of someone who had accepted death never left his face, "Even your core."

His eyes suddenly lit up.

"All you need is to serve me with all your heart. I will take you out of your misery and give you what you deserve."

He stayed silent and lowered his head. He was a noble. It was true that serving someone would be the last thing on his mind if he was still in his previous glory. But now the situation was different. He needed me. He doesn't know I was the one who made him like this. And by acting his sole savour in the few moments before his death will grant me his undying loyalty.

Much to my surprise, I saw a reaction I wasn't expecting from Lucas. He was crying, his tears clearing the mud and grime from his dirty face. "Please... save me from this hell. I will do anything. I will serve you. You can even place the seal on me. Just sa..ve m...e." His whimpers became exceedingly slow as I placed my hand on one of the bars and broke them.

Placing index finger on his forehead, I casted a slave seal on him before injecting mana into him. I have never formed a brand-new core inside someone, but I guess there is a first time for everything.

If he dies... he dies. There isn't much that can be done in that regard.

(*****)

Not the development I was expecting to come up with. But eh, I made some changes. Also, I kind of tried to make Grey but this is the best I could make. He is around 6 years older than Kiyo who is 16 right now. He left Xyrus when he was 12-13. 4 years training so he is 16-17 rn. Nearing legal age.

And this was last somewhat wholesome chapter. Action starts from tomorrow.