Chapter 1004

The meeting was dispersed. Everybody quickly exited to go complete their various tasks and possibly grow stronger.

Time was of the essence. Unless they were like Grey, it would take months for them to be able to manifest a domain.

Some may not even be able to in the little time they had, but they still needed to try.

Grey was supposed to return back to Vayun but instead, he decided to check up on somebody before he left.

Asking around, he was led to the base’s canteen where even before entering, he could hear her loud chatter.

"... Then do you know what happened next?"

— What?

"My brother kicked them. Then sent dozens of lightning arrows flying towards them. They couldn’t even dodge in time. Hah-hah. Isn’t my brother so awesome?"

— He really is. You got a strong brother huh?

"Of course. And I’m proud of him. He will always protect his family no matter what. And don’t worry eh? He will protect you all too if you are ever in trouble."

Grey paused at the entrance. His chest tightening at the words he just heard.

He could see Jesse surrounded by more than a dozen men as she sat on a table devouring a plate of chicken while speaking to the men.

Elara sat a few steps away with a soft smile on her face as she watched the cute girl continue yapping about her brother while eating. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Kindly leave us." Grey’s voice rang out with intensity.

"...."

The room fell silent immediately as all eyes turned to the entrance.

"Ah... brother Grey!" Jesse shouted excitedly.

The dozen men scanned the young man before them.

They were part of the people who had gone to defend the kingdom against the threat of Velzoria Kingdom so they knew who exactly this figure is.

The strength he wields and how angry he could get.

Unless they were ready to lose their lives, they needed to comply.

Hurriedly scrambling to their feet, they darted out of the canteen.

Glancing at the server in the corner of the room, the woman hurriedly exited leaving Jesse, Elara and Grey behind.

"Ohoy brother Grey, why did you have to scare them all away with your mean face?" Jesse pouted as she grabbed a chicken breast and then ripped into it immediately.

Grey paused. His heart thumping loudly in his chest with every step he took towards the little girl.

"Jesse," his lips cracked apart. "I-I-I need to tell you something."

Jesse shrugged and continued eating.

With her mouth full, she lifted a brow.

"Sure."

Grey stopped before her then proceeded to kneel in front of her.

His eyes suddenly grew moist as an ache pressed down on his chest.

"Broth-Brother Grey? What’s wrong?" Jesse asked as she forcefully swallowed the meat in her mouth then dropped the breast in her hand back on the tray.

She was alarmed. Why was her brother suddenly teary eyed?

"... I want to seek your forgiveness Jesse. I tried. I tried my best but I just couldn’t save her. I was there, I had the power and magic but I couldn’t save her. I-I-I lost Jesse. Yo-Your brother is no hero, he is a villain. He couldn’t even save her."

Tears began falling down his face as he looked at Jesse’s panicked face.

"Wh-Wh-Who couldn’t you save? What’s going on brother? Yo-You are scaring me."

Grey gulped the tears down before looking deep within the girl’s golden eyes.

"Mu-Mu-Mu-Mu...."

’... I can’t do this. How do I tell her?’

"Do it, Grey. It’s better you get this out of the way before it’s too late." Noir chimed in Grey’s mind.

"Bro..."

"Jesse, mum is-mum is dead. I-I-I couldn’t save her. I’m-I’m sorry...." Grey blurted out immediately as tears streamed down his face in waves.

Jesse froze.

Her hands had been reaching out for Grey’s face when her body stilled. Shock enveloping her as she looked at the sobbing Grey.

His head had been bent down. Tears falling to the marble flooring as he began narrating all that happened.

From when the tournament was over and they were allowed to return home to the assassin in the house who turned out to be from the Otherworlders, to the offer made to him, the debate between Clara and the man up to her death.

Up to how he was forcefully transported to another world, lost his memories after the battle and death of the assassin.

He brushed past some of the struggles he faced. He even summarised some things about the Otherworlders to her so she could understand the grand scale of things.

Even though she was young, she needed to know these as she had came across the Otherworlders when they attacked the elven village.

She needed to know who those attackers were.

The only thing he didn’t talk about was the war coming in a few months.

Soon, he was done as tears welled up in Jesse’s eyes the next moment.

Grey was unable to see them as his head was bent down.

"I’m sorry. I tried all I could. But..."

Jesse sniffled then quickly wiped her face clean from the drops of tears that had unknowingly rolled down her face.

"Brother Grey," The girl called out then reached for the tray beside her.

"... Do you care for some chicken?"

"....?!"

Grey was confused as he slowly lifted his head to stare at the girl like she had gone mad.

He couldn’t find his words. Jesse smiled softly and grabbed a chicken lap before handing it over to the warrior mage.

"Here. Have some chicken."

"Jesse...?"

Has the girl gone mad from the truth?

"Come on. Have it." Jesse urged.

Grey slowly reached out and then collected the meat from her.

Lifting the tray, she placed it on her lap while patting to the now empty spot where the tray had been.

"Come. Come sit."

Grey complied as he slowly stood up and sat on the table directly beside her.

The girl lifted her unfinished chicken breast before looking at a stunned Grey.

"What? Come on, eat." She urged before biting into her meat.

Grey couldn’t bring the meat to his mouth.

"Jesse? What’s going on?"

Mid bite, the girl froze before slowly setting the chicken down on the tray.

"Sigh... Mother Clara had told me this before. She said that there might come a time when she will no longer be with us. A day where she will become a star in the sky.

She said I shouldn’t cry over this. We shouldn’t be sad. We shouldn’t remember her as a dead body. But we should remember her for who has been to us,"

Turning slightly to face her brother, she smiled painfully.

"... A good mother. Mother Clara was a good human and she definitely didn’t deserve what happened to her. But there’s nothing we can do to change the past. Even if I cry from now till the following year, she wouldn’t come back.

I lost my parents in a beast attack. She took me in even despite your complaints. She cared for me like her very own. The pain and sadness I feel at the moment can’t be quenched but still, I want to uphold her words to me."

Jesse lifted the chicken breast on her lap and raised it in the air slightly before beaming.

"We should remember her for who she had been because she’s always in our hearts and nobody will be able to remove her from that position in our heart. So let’s celebrate her life by eating some chicken."

Grey’s hands quivered. Sadness overwhelming him followed by tears flowing down his face like a tap unleashed.

"Tha...Thank you. Thank you for being so mature. I’m so sorry for failing her." Grey cried loudly as he pulled the girl into a tight hug.

Tears began streaming down Jesse’s face as she hugged Grey tightly.

She was bawling loudly. Unable to hold the pain anymore.

"... I’m sorry mother. I’m sorry Jesse." Grey cried along with Jesse.

His tunic soaked with tears from the little girl.

Elara stood at the corner. Watching while sobbing at the same time.

"Aaaaaah!" Jesse cried loudly as she gripped her brother’s tunic tighter.

Several minutes passed as the two siblings remained in eachother’s embrace trying to console one another.

A few more minutes passed and Jesse regained control of herself.

She pulled back. Wiped her face clean while Grey did the same.

Painfully smiling once more, she lifted her chicken.

"Come on, let’s eat."

Grey’s eyes grew moist as he lifted his chicken with a nod of his head.

"Let’s."

He bit into his meat. Chewing calmly while his mind raged immediately.

’You will all pay. I promise you all. In three months, I will tear and rip you all to shreds for all I have lost and endured. This is my solemn promise, vengeance will be mine in due time.’