Chapter 613: The whole family [2]

Brandon stood in the center of the room with one arm firmly around Rheanne’s neck, holding her against his side while she continued to laugh quietly into his shoulder.

The women of present just looked at Brandon’s face in utter confusion.

The Brandon standing in front of them no longer looked like the young man who left for the tower a week ago.

His hair was longer, falling past his neck in slightly untamed strands.

His face had a quiet maturity that was not there before... now he has the look of someone who lived for years rather than days.

The difference was not dramatic enough to make him unrecognizable, but it was impossible to ignore.

Florence’s eyes moved slowly from Brandon’s altered appearance to Amelia as she desperately tried to reject the conclusions her mind was creating.

’Is this... woman my daughter... huh?’

Selene, still standing close to her father, glanced around at the frozen household curiously, not grasping just how catastrophic the reveal felt to the people who only know the younger version of him.

Charlotte finally broke the silence and asked in a careful voice "...Kael... how long..."

"How long were you gone? In that tower... how much time did you actually live through?"

Hearing her question, Brandon smiled faintly "More than... five hundred years."

Charlotte’s eyes widened in pure horror "...Five hundred...?"

Elize closed her eyes, and a quiet breath left her lungs.

Florence’s legs seemed to lose strength for a moment.

She reached for the arm of the sofa and sat down heavily with one hand still covering her mouth.

Eira stared at him with complete disbelief "Five hundred years...?"

Dhayun looked at Brandon in utter confusion.

Jiyeon had both hands pressed against her lips.

Yverine sat frozen while Ravene’s usual teasing nature was nowhere to be found as she stared at him in silence.

On the other side of the room, the women from the past were also confused.

’What tower is she talking about...’

’More than five hundred years? The days Kael spent with us?’

Rheanne looked at the devastated faces of the women who had only lost him for a week, and a soft sadness touched her face.

She glanced atthe woman of the past and hand-gestured for them to stay silent.

Charlotte looked at him with trembling eyes "You lived... five hundred years... without us?"

Brandon gave a faint nod "Yes... I will explain everything from the start."

He looked first at the present household, Charlotte, Elize, Ravene, Florence, Eira, and the others before his gaze moved briefly to the women who lived those centuries beside him.

"When Lyssandra dragged Charlotte and me into the Dead Clock Spire, she used a special gem tied to that tower. The moment the time storm hit, Charlotte lost me."

"From her side, and from all of yours, I disappeared for about a week."

Charlotte’s eyes lowered slightly as she remembered the moment she lost him.

"For me, it was more than five hundred years."

Charlotte’s hands curled into fists at her sides while Florence remained seated, listening with a pale, focused expression.

"I didn’t land in some empty place or something..." Brandon continued.

"I landed in the past. From 2051 to 1502. A time before awakeners even existed... except for one person."

He glanced at Rheanne.

"Her. Rheanne Himelle. The first human to ever wield what we now call ether."

A ripple of shock moved through the present side of the room.

But the ones most shocked were the women of the past.

Amelia’s eyes shrank, and she glanced at Freya, who had the same reaction.

Camilee and Lisette stared at each other in astonishment while Scylla tilted her head in confusion.

Amelia was about to ask something, but Rheanne stopped her with a hand gesture and mouthed ’Let him finish.’

Seeing this, Amelia nodded and stayed silent.

"I spent years fighting beside her," Brandon uttered.

"Clearing towers and dungeons that had just started appearing. Living in the Eurasania Empire. Meeting people. Building a life because there was no clear way back."

His eyes moved to Amelia, then Freya, then Selene. "I wasn’t alone the entire time."

Charlotte’s voice was hoarse when she finally spoke "So while we were going crazy searching for you for a week... you were living entire lifetimes?"

"...Mhm."

"And these women," she said slowly, looking at Amelia, Freya, Selene, Scylla, Camille, and Lisette. "They are the life you built there?"

Brandon nodded again "They are. Just as all of you are the life I have here."

With a chuckle, he spoke "Its not like I forget any of you. Time simply... forced me to keep living."

Rheanne rested her hand lightly against his back, a silent show of support.

Brandon inhaled softly "There is more. About how the Holy Land was founded, about the first mass awakening of women, and about how Rheanne eventually ascended. But the core of it is this:"

He looked at every woman in the room "I lived more than five hundred years in the past because of that tower. I built a life there and loved people there."

"And after spending those years... I eventually reached 2051 and met you all again."

A heavy silence filled the hall as every woman except Rheanne was utterly bewildered and has so many questions in their hearts.

Elize’s gaze settled on the young woman still standing close to Brandon "...Is that your daughter?"

Brandon lifted his hand and gently patted Selene’s head in affection "Yeah. She is my first daughter... Selene Bleaufort."

Florence’s lips parted in pure surprise "...Bleaufort."

Her eyes slowly moved from Selene to Amelia, who stood only a few steps away.

"...Then you are..."

Brandon glanced at Florence and spoke "She’s your ancestor."

Florence’s eyes widened in complete disbelief while Eira froze mid-breath beside her mother, staring at Amelia.

Ravene blinked slowly "...Ancestor?"

Amelia’s gaze narrowed as her mind raced through the implications, "...That would mean..."

Freya, standing beside her niece, suddenly looked intrigued "Oh. Oh, that’s interesting."

Selene tilted her head, looking between her mother, Amelia, and the present-day Florence.

"Wait... so that means..."

Brandon gave a small nod "...Five hundred years. That’s how far apart you two are."

Eira was confused for a second "Wait, wait... Brandon. Did you have other kids with... uhm... my ancestor?"

Looking at her, he nodded "Yeah. I had three kids with Amelia."

(☉_☉) Eira’s face grew pale as she stared at Brandon "D-Doesn’t that mean... I-I-I am your descendant?"

"WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?"