[RAYON KRATOR]
After a long search, we finally stood before Liam's uncle's manor, its towering presence looming over us. My master, Aurora, and I had arrived at the entrance, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as I glanced at the grand structure.
I turned to my master, who looked calm yet visibly on edge. Aurora, ever watchful, was silent by my side, her eyes scanning the surroundings. We were greeted by three guards standing tall at the gate, their posture rigid. There was no warmth in their eyes as they estimated us, but I didn't expect any.
We tried to explain who we were, but they refused to listen. I even mentioned my name, saying that I was Yuna Krater's son, but they just shook their heads, uninterested. Their unwavering refusal began to grate on my nerves. I could feel my patience slipping.
"Let us through," I demanded, my voice rising. The guards remained unmoved, their stern gazes unwavering.
I felt my master's presence shift beside me. He had been patient, but I knew his temper could only be held back for so long. The air around us grew thick, an unseen weight pressing down on the guards as the Master's aura began to intensify. One of the guards staggered, his eyes wide in shock, before he collapsed to the ground, unconscious. The remaining two guards tensed, but before they could react, one of them quickly turned and hurried toward the manor.
"That should be enough," my master murmured, his voice calm but firm.
But I wasn't looking at the guards anymore. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something strange. A small figure was darting toward us, running as fast as her little legs could carry her. She was barely two or three years old, her tiny feet kicking up dust as she made her way to the gate. Her black hair bounced with each step, and her large, amber eyes were filled with innocence and curiosity. She stopped right in front of me, her gaze fixed on me. For a moment, everything around me seemed to fade.
"Wo aer you?" she asked in a soft, almost timid voice, her small hands clasped in front of her.
I blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback. I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could say anything, a sudden wave of emotion washed over me.
I turned and saw her—a figure I had expected to see. My Mom.
She was running toward me, her steps frantic as tears streamed down her face. It was almost as if time had stopped. The world around me faded, and all I could focus on was her. My heart raced, and before I could process anything, she reached me, collapsing in front of me.
"My dear, Rayon... it's really you, isn't it?" Her voice cracked, filled with disbelief. "It should be you. There's no one else who can be."
Her words hit me like a blow to the chest, and I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. They fell, unbidden, streaming down my face. I had waited so long for this moment, but now that it was happening, it felt almost too much to bear.
"Yeah, Mom... It's me. It's me, your son... Rayon Krator," I managed to choke out, my voice barely a whisper.
She looked up at me, her eyes searching my face, as if she needed to make sure this was real. And then, without another word, she threw her arms around me, holding me tightly as though afraid I might disappear. Her tears soaked into my shirt, but I didn't care. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her just as tightly. In that moment, nothing else mattered. The world outside the gates of the manor, the years of silence, of uncertainty, all of it faded into the background.
"It's really you, my son. You're alive," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "You came back."
"Yeah, Mom... yeah, it's me," I whispered back, my voice thick with emotion. My own tears flowed freely now, and I could feel them soaking into her shoulders as I held her close.
The reunion felt surreal, like something I had dreamed of for so long. We had been apart for so long, and yet here we were. After all the trials and suffering, I was finally home.
We stayed like that for a while, just holding each other. It felt like time stood still. The only thing that mattered was this moment. When I was finally back where I belonged.
After a long while, she pulled away, her eyes still glistening with tears. She looked at me, her face soft with a mixture of joy and relief. Then, as if remembering something, she turned toward the little girl who had approached us earlier.
"He is your big brother, Elvina," my Mom said, her voice breaking the silence.
I froze. My eyes widened as I looked down at the small child standing before me. She was no older than three, her large amber eyes staring up at me with innocent curiosity. There was something about her that struck me—something familiar. But I couldn't quite place it.
My familiar's voice echoed in my mind, a soft whisper, 'Introduce me too to them.'
Elvina blinked, her gaze flicking between me and my Mom. Then, she gave a small, shy wave and said in a soft voice, "Hi is my borther."
My heart clenched. This little girl, this stranger who was somehow tied to me, was my sister. The words were simple, but the weight they carried hit me hard.
"Yeah," I said, smiling down at her, "I'm your big brother."
She smiled shyly, her small hands fiddling with the hem of her dress. "Hii, bg borther," she said, her voice soft and sweet.
I knelt down slowly, bringing myself to her level, and smiled at her. "Hey there, little one."
It was strange, looking at her. She had the same eyes as my Mom, the same innocence. And yet, she was a stranger to me. My sister, someone I had never met before, someone who had lived an entire life without me.
Before I could say anything more, my Mom turned toward the guard who had been standing by, watching us with a concerned expression. Her voice was shaky but determined.
"Go and tell Robert that his son has returned."
The guard nodded quickly and disappeared through the gate, no doubt on his way to fetch my Dad.
My Mom, with a soft smile on her face, motioned for me to follow her inside. "Come."
I followed her inside, with my master walking quietly behind us. His face was a mixture of emotions, his grin barely hiding the pride and joy he must have been feeling for me. We entered a grand hall, the scent of wood filling the air, the echoes of our footsteps making it feel like the walls themselves were alive.
We reached the room where we would sit, the door burst open, and there stood my Dad. His face was streaked with tears, his expression one of disbelief and relief. He ran toward me, arms open wide, and without a second's hesitation, he embraced me.
"Son..." His voice broke as he held me, his body trembling.
And then, in unison, my Mom and Dad both said, "Welcome home, son."
I closed my eyes for a moment, letting their voices sink in, the weight of the reunion pressing down on me. My voice cracked as I replied, "It's good to be back home."