Chapter 343| To House Sudrath
Vwuuunggg...
The soft hum of the tactical Hover-Jeep’s mana-turbines sliced through the bustling afternoon of Iron Hearth.
The capital’s asphalt streets felt incredibly alive. Merchants busily pushed their carts, factory workers walked in droves after their shifts, and young children ran cheerfully along the sidewalks. The presence of a military armored vehicle cruising casually toward the castle didn’t shock them in the slightest. It was a familiar daily sight in the North.
Behind the wheel, Rianor Sudrath stared straight ahead.
His right hand gripped the steering wheel steadily. His left arm—encased in the Arcanotech Bracer—rested casually on his thigh. Its micro-circuits emitted a dim blue glow in standby mode, releasing a rhythmic whirrr.
His gray eyes, framed behind thin glasses, now radiated an unashamed warmth.
In the front passenger seat, Roland leaned back and relaxed.
The diplomat’s left arm was still wrapped in thick bandages—a souvenir from the three slashes of Ignis’s talons at the Altar of the Ancestral Breath. He rested his head against the window, a faint smile carved on his face as he watched the city’s hustle and bustle.
In the backseat, Adul was just rubbing his eyes.
The scrawny youth’s fingers busily inspected his radio’s cable connections. The lingering blue bruise on his jaw was beginning to fade, and a golden-yellow Aura flickered calmly across his skin.
Beside him, Eva rested her chin on her hand, staring out the window. Her black tactical attire was dull with travel dust, yet the line of her shoulders was no longer tense. She looked vastly more relaxed.
Roland drew a long breath, savoring the scent of factory smoke and cold earth. "Haaah... Finally, we’re home."
Rianor didn’t reply with words. However, the gleam in his gray eyes was validation enough.
The Hover-Jeep slowed down, coming to a halt right in the main courtyard of the Iron Hearth Castle. Hsssh...
The armored guard soldiers immediately snapped to attention. Yet, Rianor’s focus wasn’t on them in the slightest.
Near the marble steps of the castle, a modified Arcanotech wheelchair was already waiting.
Elara sat there. Her pale blue gown was draped with a warm wool blanket covering her lap. Her beautiful red hair was combed with captivating neatness. Her purple eyes were glistening with unshed tears. Behind her, Sera stood calmly, holding the push handles.
Click.
Rianor killed the engine and vaulted down. His footsteps grew suddenly hurried as he crossed the courtyard—not quite running, but the urgent rhythm of a man who had missed his home far too much.
Seeing Rianor approach, Sera offered a knowing smile and took a step back, granting them complete privacy.
Rianor stopped right in front of the wheelchair. And completely disregarding the dozens of soldiers’ eyes watching them in the courtyard... the genius architect dropped to his knees.
Thud. Rianor’s knees kissed the stone paving. He looked up, staring intently at his wife’s face.
Elara let out a soft sob. Her trembling fingers reached out, caressing Rianor’s thinning jawline, tracing his cheekbones, and brushing the small scar on her husband’s temple. Warm tears fell, dampening her pale cheeks.
Rianor caught Elara’s fingers, planting a long, tender kiss on the palm of her hand.
"El... I’m home," Rianor whispered hoarsely.
"You’re home..." Elara replied with the most absolute, perfect smile.
Elara tilted her head, looking at Rianor with sparkling eyes. "And you arrived right on time, Rianor."
Rianor’s brow furrowed in confusion. "Right on time?"
Elara took Rianor’s warm right hand. She guided her husband’s large palm to rest gently over her gown-covered stomach.
"Elena just examined me," Elara whispered incredibly softly, meant for Rianor’s ears alone. "The results are positive. I am... carrying our child."
Thump.
Instantly, every single instrument of logic inside Rianor Sudrath’s brain completely lost power.
The man... now froze like a statue. His eyes widened, his gaze locked onto Elara’s still-flat stomach. There was no physical bump yet. But beneath that fabric... there was a new life born of his own flesh and blood.
"A-Are you... serious?" he stammered in a whisper. His usually clinical voice trembled violently.
Elara chuckled joyfully through her tears, giving a firm nod. "One hundred percent serious, my husband."
"Well, well, well!"
An obnoxious voice interrupted from the side. Roland strolled closer casually, holding his bandaged arm. His trademark wide diplomatic smirk adorned his face.
"Congratulations, Brother Rianor!" Roland patted his older brother’s back, whose brain was still throwing an error code. "Wow, it seems your calculations in bed are extraordinarily precise! You’re going to be a father... and I am officially going to be the coolest uncle in this castle!"
In a corner of the courtyard separate from the Sudrath family reunion, Adul stood awkwardly.
The young man scratched the back of his neck, his radio box still hugged tightly to his chest. Beside him, Eva stood with her arms crossed, her eyes scanning the majestic architecture of a castle that felt incredibly foreign.
"Umm... Eva," Adul called out hesitantly. "Where... are you heading after this?"
Eva turned her head slowly. "Hah, beats me. I don’t have a home or family in this city."
Adul stayed quiet for a moment, then mustered the courage to meet the former assassin’s eyes. "If... if you don’t mind... do you want to drop by my house?"
Eva raised an eyebrow. "Your house?"
"Yeah! My mom is probably cooking soup right now," Adul smiled innocently, utterly genuine. "My salary from the Ghost Squad was enough to buy a house in the middle-class district. It’s really warm. We have sweet tea, too."
Eva stared at the teenager. Now, Adul stood tall, offering her a place of shelter.
The corner of Eva’s lips pulled up, forming an incredibly rare, faint tsundere smile. "You really have grown leaps and bounds, Adul."
Adul blushed and looked away. "I-I was just offering..."
"Alright," Eva cut in softly. "Lead the way. Tch, I want to taste this tea your mother makes."
That night, absolute warmth reigned over the castle’s main dining hall.
The Sudrath dynasty gathered. Except for Raveena, whose chair was left empty in the corner.
King Lucian sat at the head of the table in a simple gray coat. Queen Aurelia smiled gracefully as she poured drinks. Riven sat across from Elena, who looked alert as she restrained Kaelven’s hands.
The thick-haired toddler was hyperactively banging his wooden spoon. Clack! Clack! Clack!
On the other side, Rhea sat with Ana, her few-months-old baby, on her lap. Beside her, Arvid sat resignedly in a slightly wrinkled shirt with his glasses slipping down his nose. Roland, Rianor, Elara, Raphael, and Rumina filled the remaining seats.
"By the way..." Rhea opened the conversation while adjusting her hold on Ana. "Where is Raveena? I haven’t seen her happy face in a while."
Raphael instantly looked up from his soup bowl. A devilish smirk was carved onto his teenage face. "Sister Raveena? Oh, she’s currently a runaway, Sister Rhea!"
"A runaway?" Rhea tilted her head.
"Yeah! She followed Caelus to Sol-Regis!" Raphael blurted out with immense satisfaction, fully indulging his hobby of snitching. "I saw it with my own two eyes. She ran to the station and literally jumped onto the train while hugging Caelus!"
Rhea responded with a feigned, deadpan expression. "So she abandoned her teaching duties at the academy just to chase after a man?"
"It’s not just chasing, Sister," Roland chimed in from across the table, smirking. "It’s called the law of karma. She used to constantly lecture us to focus on our studies, and now she’s the one blindly lovesick in a train carriage."
Riven cut his meat, adding briefly. "At least she’s staying consistent with her own words: ’Don’t run away from your feelings’."
Rhea looked back and forth between her younger brothers. "Don’t you guys feel the slightest bit of pity for her?"
"Pity?" Raphael let out a roaring laugh. "Hahaha, absolutely not! I’ve already prepared a ten-page welcoming speech just to mock her when she gets back!"
Bursts of laughter exploded around the table. Even King Lucian slowly shook his head with a faint smile.
Arvid, sensing the atmosphere thawing, mustered the courage to speak up. "Umm, speaking of journeys... back in the Khanate, I discovered an ancient Beast-Kin artifact manuscript that is incredibly—"
"Arvid." Rhea cut him off flatly without looking, her hands busy patting Ana’s back.
Arvid instantly clamped his lips shut. "Y-Yes... alright... I’ll discuss it some other time," the professor squeaked in resignation, looking back down to eat his potatoes.
The family’s laughter erupted once more at the sight of Rhea’s absolute dominion over her husband.
At the same time, Kaelven slid down from his baby chair. He toddled over toward Rhea’s seat.
"Baby... baby shister!" Kaelven babbled in his toddler lisp.
With extreme care—exactly as Elena had taught him—Kaelven’s tiny hand reached out to touch baby Ana’s fingers. Ana responded with cheerful coos.
Kaelven jumped up and down in excitement. "Ana! Ana! Baby Anaaa!!"
Elena smiled tenderly. "Once Ana can walk, Kaelven can invite her to play in the garden, okay?"
Suddenly, Aurelia grabbed her silver spoon. Clink! Clink! Clink!
The dining room quieted down. The Queen stood up, her eyes sparkling as she looked toward Rianor and Elara.
"Tonight, there is joyous news that must be celebrated," Aurelia announced gracefully. "Elena has just confirmed it... Elara is expecting a new grandchild for our family!"
A moment of silence passed, before roaring cheers erupted!
Riven raised his wine glass high. "Congratulations, Rianor. You officially bear the responsibilities of a father now."
"Congrats, Brother!" Roland teased mercilessly. "I truly can’t wait to see an ice-cold scientist like you panic half to death while changing a smelly baby diaper!"
Rhea chuckled. "Arvid used to panic ridiculously too. But I think Rianor will be vastly worse, seeing as he’s never held a baby in his entire life."
Rianor merely shook his head in resignation. "Hah... I haven’t drafted a calculation for that matter yet."
"That is exactly the core of the problem, Brother!" Roland slapped the table in glee. "Welcome to the real world!"
"Do you think taking care of a pregnant wife’s cravings is easy, Rianor?" Arvid suddenly interjected, searching for an ally in suffering. "When Rhea was pregnant with Ana, I was once ordered to hunt down fresh Alpha Gorgon meat in the dead of the night!"
Riven chimed in, "That’s nothing. When Elena was pregnant with Kaelven, she once demanded I sing her a lullaby before she could close her eyes."
Roland’s eyes bulged comically. "Huh?! You sang, Brother Riven?! Your voice sounds like bricks grinding together!"
"Which is exactly why I’d rather fight a thousand Iron Empire soldiers than be ordered to sing again," Riven answered flatly. A loud roar of laughter erupted once more.
"And let’s not forget about the peaches in the middle of winter," Riven threw a side-glance at Elena.
Arvid nodded in deep sympathy. "I was once forced to massage Rhea’s feet for two hours straight without a single break."
Rhea shot her husband a sharp glare. "And you did it very happily, didn’t you, Arvid?"
Arvid swallowed hard. "O-Of course, darling... I was phenomenally happy to do it."
At the far end of the table, Rumina, who had been quietly flipping through financial ledgers this entire time, suddenly looked up.
"If you think laboratory research costs are expensive, Brother Rianor... wait until you see the itemized costs of milk and baby diapers," Rumina stated coldly while adjusting her glasses. "I have already calculated it. You must increase your household budget contribution by twenty percent next month."
Roland smirked, swiftly shifting his crosshairs to the end of the table.
"Speaking of budgets... how about the news from Frostmere, Rumina?"
Rumina’s movements froze stiff. "What news do you mean?"
"I heard..." Roland leaned forward provocatively. "...Lord Adrian Vinter has been diligently sending you letters every week?"
Rumina’s face instantly flushed crimson to the tips of her ears! "W-Who is spreading that garbage gossip?!"
Riven answered casually, "Father is the one who told us. He said Lord Adrian referred to you as the ’physical embodiment of breathing statistics’."
BAM!
Rumina slammed her spoon down! She stood up, her face as red as a chili pepper. "THOSE ARE JUST FINANCIAL REPORTS! PURE TREASURY REPORTS!! NOT LOVE LETTERS!!"
"But you reply and read them every week, right?" Roland prodded further.
"BECAUSE IT IS MY DUTY AS HEAD TREASURER!!" Rumina roared in frustration, hiding her face behind a leather folder.
Raphael, totally oblivious to the Frostmere incident, stared at his sister in awe. "Wow... Sister Rumina has a secret admirer?!"
"I DO NOT HAVE A SECRET ADMIRER, RAPHAEL!!"
Aurelia smiled meaningfully. "I haven’t heard her yell this loudly in a long time. Lord Adrian seems like a very fascinating man."
"Ugh!! I don’t need a partner! I just need budget allocations!!" Rumina grumbled, clicking her tongue loudly.
"A budget for a wedding reception?" Roland pressed relentlessly.
"A BUDGET FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE THIRD RAILWAY LINE, ROLAND!!"
The loudest explosion of laughter that night echoed through the room. Kaelven joined in, banging the table joyfully, blending with Ana’s happy babbles.
After the wave of laughter subsided, King Lucian slowly stood up.
A deeply respectful silence instantly embraced the long table. The Wolf King looked at his children and their spouses with a remarkably proud, fatherly gaze.
"Raveena may still be in Sol-Regis... but I know my daughter will surely return home safely," Lucian spoke, his voice heavy and commanding.
"You all have accomplished impossible feats. The Luminara mission, Draconian diplomacy, Khanate stability. Yet, remember this... the true storm of war on this continent has not yet begun."
Lucian raised his glass of red wine high.
"But tonight... let us cast aside matters of swords and tactics for a moment." Lucian looked across at all his flesh and blood. "Tonight, we gather whole as a family."
"To House Sudrath!"
Every family member raised their glasses in unison, their voices echoing through the room. "To House Sudrath!"
As the night grew late, a comfortable quiet embraced the castle’s back garden.
The stone lamps cast a golden light. The Snow Seruni tree slowly shed its white petals, letting them fall onto the grass.
Rianor sat leaning against a stone bench, the arm of his Bracer glowing a dim blue. Beside him, Elara sat in her wheelchair, wrapped snugly in a wool blanket.
"Roland told me a bit about the Blood Duel in Draconia," Elara whispered, breaking the quiet. "He said he nearly died at the hands of that dragon prince."
"But he won," Rianor answered flatly. "He managed to survive. That is enough."
Elara smiled faintly. Her pale fingers reached out, holding Rianor’s warm hand. "You promised me before you left yesterday that you would come home... and you kept your word."
"I always keep my promises," Rianor replied softly.
A moment of silence passed. The night wind carried the Seruni petals, letting them dance in the air.
"Rianor..." Elara stared intently at her husband. "Are you... terrified of becoming a father?"
Rianor remained silent for a very long time. His gray irises stared straight at the fallen flowers on the grass.
His defense mechanisms crumbled.
"Honestly... I am terrified," Rianor confessed, a rare honesty slipping from the lips of the genius. "I have no idea how to raise a child. But... I desperately want to see them grow. I want to learn to become a better man."
Elara carved an incredibly sweet smile, resting her head against her husband’s sturdy shoulder. "You are already a very good man, Rianor."
"Not yet," Rianor tightened his grip on her hand. "But I will keep trying."
Beneath the canopy of the Northern constellations, the sky bore silent witness to the reunion of two souls in absolute peace.
At the exact same time, thousands of kilometers away in the Southern lands.
Behind the window of a chamber in the Sol-Regis Palace, Raveena sat at the edge of the bed. Her knees were pulled up, her chin resting upon them. Her eyes stared straight through the night, pointing toward the Northern constellations. Toward her home.
Click.
Caelus stepped inside without a sound. The blue-cloaked prince sat down beside Raveena, then wrapped his arm warmly around her shoulder.
"Are you doing alright, Raveena?" he asked gently.
Raveena didn’t look away from the sky. "I just... miss my family so incredibly much, Caelus."
Caelus kissed the top of Raveena’s head. "You will be returning home there soon, my love. I promise."
Raveena smiled faintly, tilting her head onto Caelus’s shoulder. "I know. But... just for tonight, let me miss them for a little while."
The two of them sat in silence. Staring at the very same constellations in the night sky.
A large family that might be separated by distance and territories... yet could never be broken apart by anything.