Chapter 172 - 170

Chapter 172: Chapter 170

My mind immediately went back to my life in my original world.

"The necklace..."

I instinctively touched my chest.

"What about the necklace? How did it suddenly heal me?"

Grandpa Benjamin was quiet for a moment before answering.

"That necklace healed you because it contained the accumulated power of our previous generations."

I frowned. "Our previous generations?"

"Yes... and possibly the power of those who cursed our family."

’What kind of family curse needs multiple generations of magical power stored inside a necklace?’

My thoughts became even more tangled.

"Then why did he send me to our world?"

"Why?"

"I thought he wanted to live here with Mom."

"So why did he send me away?"

"Someone was after both your lives," Grandpa Benjamin finally said. "When Hephan opened a rift to send you here, I saw him and Callsta surrounded by Rogues, desperately trying to protect you."

The white space suddenly felt colder.

"It was chaos. I tried to get through the rift and help them, but it was one-way. I couldn’t cross it, and all I could do was watch."

I swallowed hard as my hands slowly curled into fists.

"They handed you to me, and I still remember how terrified your mother looked. I couldn’t hear most of what they were saying over all the noise."

Grandpa’s voice became quieter.

"But before the rift closed, there were only a few words I managed to hear clearly."

My heart stopped.

"Tell Blanca we love her so much..."

A tear slipped down my cheek.

"And we’re sorry we won’t be there for her when she grows up."

The tears I had been holding back came rushing out, and suddenly I was crying like a little kid who lost sight of her parents in a crowded market.

"Those..."

My voice cracked as I pressed my hands against my face.

"...Those idiots."

Grandpa Benjamin didn’t say anything.

I sniffed, wiping at my cheeks even though the tears kept coming.

"They couldn’t even say goodbye properly."

My shoulders trembled.

"How am I supposed to be angry at them now?"

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

"...Blanca..."

"...Wake up."

"...Is she crying?"

"Why is she crying?"

I jolted awake, and the first thing I saw was seven pairs of eyes staring down at me.

’...I’m back again.’

I blinked several times, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.

"Blanca?"

"She’s finally awake!"

"Are you feeling okay?"

"Can you hear us?"

I just stared at them.

Why are they all here?

More importantly...

How the hell did Soren and Vesphyr even find me?

Not only that, Kayden was standing near the foot of the bed, looking down at me with an expression that was somehow relieved.

’...Why is Kayden here too?’

Before I could process anything, Remington suddenly leaned closer and waved a hand in front of my face. "She’s not speaking! Has she gone blind?!"

Smack!

Colt immediately smacked the back of his head. "Not blind. Deaf."

"Why would you hit me?!"

"Because you were being stupid."

"She probably just woke up. Give her some space," Kayden said, apparently deciding that the twins’ usual nonsense could continue later.

Gawain pointed at him. "You’re one to talk. You nearly climbed onto the bed when she opened her eyes."

"I was making sure she was breathing."

"She was breathing before you started staring at her like a funeral portrait."

Kayden’s eye twitched. "Would you like to be thrown through a wall?"

"Would you like to explain why you’re threatening her brother?"

While they were fighting, Gavin stared at me with relief, holding my hand. "Why were you even yelling at the ceiling in the first place?"

Soren’s eyes narrowed immediately on Gawain. "The better question is, why is she here in the first place?"

Gawain stiffened. "Why are you looking at me?"

Vesphyr crossed his arms. "I’ll give you an even better question. How did she end up here in the first place?"

Gawain immediately pointed at Kayden. "It’s all his fault!"

The headache hit me before I could intervene as everyone started talking at once.

Gawain added more fuel to the fire, blaming Kayden.

Soren demanded answers.

Vesphyr interrogated Kayden.

Kayden began defending himself.

Gavin tried to calm everyone down.

The twins joined in despite having absolutely no idea what was happening.

I clutched my head. ’Why did I have to wake up to this?’

"Can everyone keep quiet for a moment?"

They all shut up, but I was even more stunned when I didn’t hear myself say Nya.

I looked down to see that I was human again.

’How?’

I didn’t have an energy stone. So how the hell was I back in my human form?

I immediately looked at Gawain.

If anyone knew what happened, it was probably him.

"You know the energy stone?" he began cautiously.

"..."

"The one that always launches you like a missile?"

"Yeah."

"The one you always hated?"

"Yeah, and?"

"Well..." Gawain scratched the back of his head. "That energy stone dove into your mouth."

"What?"

Everyone also looked at him.

Soren was the first to speak. "...The energy stone did what?"

"It went into her mouth," Gawain repeated.

I pointed at myself. "Why would it do that?!"

"I don’t know!"

"You’re telling me a stone that spent weeks throwing me across rooms suddenly decided to crawl into my mouth?!"

"Technically, it dove."

"That is NOT better!"

Colt smacked Remington again when he started laughing.

"You have dark circles under your eyes," Colt said, looking at Gawain suspiciously. "Are you sure you weren’t hallucinating that whole thing?"

"I wasn’t hallucinating!" Gawain snapped as he immediately turned towards Gavin. "Dad, tell them!"

Gavin, however, completely ignored him as he smiled innocently at me. "Would you like some water, Blanca?"

The men slowly looked back at Gawain.

Colt crossed his arms. "Maybe you should go get yourself checked by a psychiatrist."

"I DON’T NEED A PSYCHIATRIST!" Gawain threw his hands into the air. "And anyone who is NOT FAMILY, get out!"

No one moved.

Gawain’s eye twitched. "How bold of you to assume we’re family," he said, glaring at Soren, Vesphyr, and Kayden.

Soren raised an eyebrow. "She lived in my house."

Vesphyr immediately looked at me with the saddest puppy-dog eyes imaginable. "You were playing house with him?"

"He—"

"To which she moved out already and is staying at the university dorms," Gawain interrupted.

Soren’s expression immediately changed. "That was only temporary."

"Yes, but—"

"At least she visits me every weekend," Vesphyr added.

Soren turned towards me next, looking genuinely hurt. "And you can’t bother replying to me?"

"No, I—"

"Don’t be delusional," Gawain cut in again. "She only goes there for business."

Vesphyr frowned. "That still means she visits me."

"NO. FEELINGS. INVOLVED."

Gawain smirked while Vesphyr looked crushed.

The room went quiet for a moment before they all stared at Kayden.

Soren raised an eyebrow. "What about you?"

Kayden suddenly became very interested in the floor.

Vesphyr waved at Kayden’s face. "Hello?"

"Well...?" Gawain’s smile slowly became more threatening. "You don’t have any memories with her, do you?"

Kayden finally looked up. "She performed a dance for me."

’Wait, when did I—?’

My eyes widened when I remembered something.

’That night after the orientation. So that’s why it felt like someone was watching me.’

I stared at Kayden, demanding an explanation, but he only gave me an awkward smile.

"It was a very good dance..."

Gawain’s smile completely vanished as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny remote.

"Anyone who is NOT YET FAMILY, get out!"

Click.

In an instant, three massive weapons emerged from hidden compartments, rotating into position as they locked onto Soren, Vesphyr, and Kayden.

Gawain smiled sweetly at them. "Please leave."

The three men didn’t move.

Gawain’s smile widened. "...Or don’t."

Just as he could press it again, I spoke calmly. "Everyone, please leave..." I narrowed my eyes at Gawain. "Except for you."

Gawain’s smile vanished. "No. Everyone can stay here—"

Vesphyr immediately looked offended. "Why only him?"

"Didn’t you miss me?" Soren asked, looking at me with an almost wounded expression.

"What—" Kayden scratched his chin, clearly trying to come up with a reason he should stay. "What about..."

He thought for a few more seconds as I patiently waited for to hear what he was about to say.

"We still need to talk about business."

’That’s the best you could come up with?’

I massaged my temples again.

Apparently, waking up had done absolutely nothing for my headache.

"Are you feeling dizzy again?" Gavin immediately asked.

"No," I sighed, then turned back to the others. "I will talk to all of you but I need to talk to my dear brother first."

My smile remained perfectly pleasant but my eyes said something entirely different.

’You better explain everything. EVERY SINGLE THING. Or I will forget that you’re my brother.’

Gawain’s lips twitched into a nervous smile. "Of course, little sis."