Chapter 307: Reunion [1]

A few hours earlier, while Noah was still unconscious...

Thornveil Estate.

It was morning, yet the entire estate was filled with chaos and hurried footsteps. But strangely enough, it wasn’t because some powerful being had attacked them.

Nor was it because the mysterious monsters that had been pouring out of the unknown portal had suddenly returned.

Quite the opposite, it was because they had all died.

Every single one of those terrifying creatures scattered throughout the forest had suddenly collapsed and perished at almost the exact same moment.

It was an unbelievable sight. A month ago, a mysterious portal had suddenly appeared in the forest outside Everhold City.

From that portal, countless strange creatures had emerged without end.

At first, their numbers hadn’t been much of a concern.

Everhold was home to many powerful humans, including several peak-level mages and formidable warriors. Dealing with the creatures themselves had been difficult, but far from impossible.

The real problem had begun when the portal refused to close.

No matter what they tried, even the strongest mages had been unable to seal it.

For weeks, they had fought desperately to find a solution while the creatures continued pouring into the world.

Eventually, after countless attempts, they finally discovered a method to seal the portal. But by then, it was already too late.

Far too many creatures had escaped into the surrounding forest.

Even after weeks of hunting them down, only about half had been eliminated. The rest remained scattered throughout the vast wilderness, making the forest an extremely dangerous place.

And then, without warning they all died and that also the same time.

Naturally, everyone was relieved. But alongside that relief came an even stronger question.

Why? What had caused so many creatures that even strong warriors struggled to kill to suddenly perish all at once?

---

Inside Thornveil Estate, a young woman hurried through the corridor.

She wore black trousers and a neatly tucked white shirt. Her dark-blue hair was tied into a ponytail, swaying slightly behind her as she walked.

Her expression was filled with curiosity and concern. She had been trying to find someone who might know what had happened.

Instructor Morgana.

Morgana had been staying at the Thornveil Estate for the past month while searching for Noah, who had mysteriously disappeared.

The young woman had decided to speak with her. However, when she reached Morgana’s chamber and opened the door, she found it empty.

She frowned.

"Where did she go?"

Before she could think any further, loud voices suddenly echoed from downstairs.

"What happened?"

"Everyone, hurry!"

"They’re here!"

"Open the gate!"

The voices of servants and knights filled the manor. Footsteps thundered through the corridors as everyone rushed toward the main entrance.

The young woman blinked in surprise. Curious, she quickly followed them.

When she reached the main hall, she found nearly every servant and knight gathered around the enormous entrance doors.

She squeezed through the crowd and stepped outside. Her eyes immediately fell upon two familiar figures.

Her father stood near the entrance.

Lionel Thornveil.

The Duke stood tall and imposing, his dark-blue hair neatly combed and his emerald eyes fixed toward the estate gates.

Beside him stood his now wife, Sofia. The woman wore an elegant gown, her light-brown hair falling gracefully around her shoulders.

The young woman was about to approach them and ask what was happening when something beyond the gates caught her attention.

Two figures were walking toward the estate.

The first was someone she knew, Morgana. The instructor was walking slowly, carrying someone in her arms.

The moment the young woman recognized the person in Morgana’s arms, her eyes widened. It was Noah.

His clothes were completely tattered, his body covered in dirt and injuries. His eyes were closed. He was unconscious.

’He was found?’ She thought.

But then her gaze shifted. There was another person walking beside Morgana.

A woman, she was wearing a kimono that had been torn and damaged in several places.

Her black hair was tied into a messy bun, and her face was partially covered with ugly, blackened patches of damaged flesh around her cheek and neck. She looked unknown to her, at first glance.

Yet those blue eyes. Those familiar blue eyes.

Ophelia’s breath caught in her throat. Her heart suddenly began pounding against her chest.

She knew her. She didn’t need anyone to tell her who that woman was. She had spent countless nights wondering what it would be like if her mother was alive.

Countless years imagining what it would feel like to see her again.

And now she was standing right there.

Her mother Akari.

Ophelia took a hesitant step forward, then another.

Her legs trembled beneath her. For a moment, she couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe properly. Her mind seemed to go completely blank.

Was this real? Was she really standing there? After all these years?

Akari had also noticed her.

She suddenly stopped walking. Their eyes met. Those familiar blue eyes widened in disbelief.

Neither of them moved. Then Akari’s expression slowly changed. The shock in her eyes softened.

Her lips trembled. Tears began gathering in the corners of her eyes.

"Lia..."

Her voice was barely more than a whisper. But to Ophelia it was loud enough to shatter every wall she had built around her heart.

Lia, that was what her mother used to call her, no one else but only her. The moment she heard that name, the emotions she had kept buried for years finally broke free.

Tears immediately filled Ophelia’s eyes. She tried to speak. She wanted to say something.

’Mother.’

But no words came out. Her throat tightened. Her vision blurred. And then before she knew she ran.

"Mother!"

She rushed forward and threw herself into Akari’s arms.

Akari barely had time to react before Ophelia wrapped both arms tightly around her.

The moment their bodies touched, Ophelia broke down. She buried her face against her mother’s chest and began crying uncontrollably.

Her shoulders trembled. Years of loneliness, longing, confusion, sadness of her death.

She had imagined this moment so many times. Even though she knew it was impossible. Sometimes, she had imagined herself angrily asking god why her mother have to die so early.

But now that it was actually happening. She couldn’t say any of those things. She didn’t care about the questions. How could she still alive? She didn’t care about that right now.

She only wanted to hold her. To make sure she was real. To make sure she wouldn’t disappear again.

"Mother..."

Her voice cracked.

"I... I thought I’d never see you again..."

Akari’s eyes trembled.

She slowly wrapped her arms around her daughter. The moment she felt Ophelia’s warmth, something inside her broke.

She had imagined this reunion countless times during the sixty years she had been trapped. She had wondered how Ophelia had grown.

Whether she was happy. Whether she was enjoying her life. Whether she had forgotten her. And now her daughter was standing in her arms, crying like a little child.

Akari’s tears finally began falling. She gently buried one hand into Ophelia’s hair and held her tightly.

"I’m sorry..."

Her voice trembled.

"I’m so sorry, Lia."

Ophelia shook her head violently against her chest.

"Don’t..."

She tightened her arms around Akari.

"Don’t apologize..."

Her tears continued to fall.

"I just..."

She struggled to breathe between her sobs.

"I just wanted you... I thought... you died... but now you are here mom."

Akari closed her eyes. Hearing those words hurt more than any wound she had suffered. She held her daughter even tighter.

"I’m here now."

Her voice was soft and trembling.

"I’m here, Lia."

After a long sixty years. Akari could finally hold her daughter again. Ophelia could finally feel what it was like to be held by her mother once again.

---

[A/N: Don’t curse me as why i wrote this Chapter!! I just wanted to give you rough summary about what happened in city while Noah was inside, how much time pass, and short reunion. Hm.. it’s definitely not because i was confused for what to write further. Yup definitely not!! Now don’t look at me with suspicious gaze!!]