Chapter 23: The Hidden Connections

"Lady Josephine!" Hundreds of guards kneeled down to greet her. She ignored their existence and entered the estate in a cold manner.

A minute later, she was inside the hall with King Meron of Griffin Kingdom, her brother.

"How was your trip?" King Meron asked as he offered her a seat.

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

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

"I have got something for you," Josephine snapped her fingers, and a ring on her right wrist radiated a blue light.

The light flew towards the table between them, and suddenly a metal ingot appeared on the table. The metal was davross.

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

"Wonderful," King Meron was pleased as he smelled the aroma. "It is genuine. I was just thinking about it moments ago."

King Meron controlled his emotions and pointed his index finger towards the metal. The next moment, the metal disappeared into a twinkle of light.

"You have made great contributions to our family," King Meron wasn't stingy in his praises. "As per the rules of the Guardian, 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," Josephine said without any emotion in her voice.

"As you wish," King Meron nodded his head. "Honestly, I am surprised you aren't using the request right away."

"I have my reasons," Josephine stood up from the seat and said, "I have to leave."

"Are you still searching for him?" King Meron asked as Josephine reached the door.

"Yes, and always will until I find him," Josephine stopped and answered.

"We all are sorry for what happened back then," King Meron 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," Josephine said in a cold tone. "The words of the sovereign are supreme."

"...."

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

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

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

"Leyla, how is she?" Josephine asked as she arrived in front of a room.

"Same," Leyla respectfully answered.

Josephine slowly opened the door of the room and entered. The room was a large bedroom modified into suiting the needs of a hospital.

At the corner of the room, a girl in her teens was sitting in an advanced wheelchair looking at 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 after the door opened.

"Kirstie," Josephine 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 started appearing. Illnesses which 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 in his forties next to him.

"Good, Mike," Josephine answered.

"You took a year," the man in his forties said in a slightly annoyed tone.

"Brett, I'm in no mood for an argument," Josephine coldly glanced at him.

"You never are," Brett 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 Josephine, wings of fire started appearing.

The entire room was freezing as the flame enveloped around her.

"Mom!" Kirstie shouted in protest.

Josephine 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," Josephine coldly said. "Otherwise, you are just a hypocrite blaming others without thinking of your faults."

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

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

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

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

"I'm sorry, sweetie," Brett looked at her and said.

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

"We won't fight from now on," Josephine 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 their heads.

Inwardly, Brett was laughing.

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

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

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

"Really?" Kirstie asked with a hopeful gaze.

"Yes," Josephine nodded her head. "So sleep now."

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

"Of course," Josephine lay beside her after making sure all the medicinal equipment was working in case of an emergency.

Mike and Brett took their leave, allowing the mother-daughter duo to catch up.

"Mom?" Kirstie suddenly spoke.

"Hm?" Josephine looked at her.

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

"...I don't know, but I hope you do," Josephine covered her daughter with a blanket.

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

She thought of Samuel, the son she had to give up to protect him from the dangers of their world. The pain of that decision still lingered, but she had no choice. Samuel's safety was paramount, and she trusted the nuns at the orphanage to care for him.

Josephine's mind drifted back to her meeting with her brother, King Meron. She knew she couldn't keep Samuel hidden forever, especially now that he was showing extraordinary magical potential. The academy was a safe place, but she needed to ensure his identity remained a secret for as long as possible.

As she lay beside Kirstie, Josephine whispered a silent promise. "I will find you, Samuel. And when I do, I will make sure you know the truth. Until then, stay safe, my son."

With that thought, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift into a restless sleep, dreaming of the day when her family would finally be reunited.

AN- New Volume will start With Itachi's entry into Academy and meeting with main cast

1 or 2 update per day

5 Power Stones = Extra Chapter