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Chapter 205: The Mother and Son Talk 1
"Aldrian?" she said.
Aldrian tried to calm himself as his mother called out his name. Gently, he tried to shake her hand off his wrist while responding,
"Aldrian who? Did you mistake me for someone else?"
He did his best to appear confused, but his racing heartbeat betrayed him. Her gaze felt like it was piercing into his very soul.
"Listen, miss, I just happened to pass by when I heard the battle nearby. It so happened that you were fighting a devil—one of the Seven Deadly Sins, no less. I had to prioritize getting you to safety. Luckily, I have a high-level escape talisman with me, so we can get away from the Lust Devil."
Hearing his explanation, Irene frowned, but she still tried to position herself to sit up.
"Since you seem fine and out of danger, I’ll take my leave," he said, walking toward the door.
"Wait. Did I say you could go?" Irene’s voice was firm, leaving no room for negotiation. "Do you really think you can fool your mother, Aldrian? Or have you underestimated me this much?"
Aldrian felt a bead of sweat roll down his forehead, but he still answered her without turning his head.
"I really don’t know what—"
"Your energy! Do you think I wouldn’t recognize the energy my son possesses? I already know how special it is. There’s no energy like his—his golden energy is one of a kind," she said, standing up. Though she still felt stiff from the lingering side effects of the secret technique.
"How could I mistake the child I raised since he was in my womb? How could I doubt my senses and instincts when I look into your face, when I look into your eyes? Even if you’ve altered your appearance with some kind of disguise technique, I can still see my eyes in yours. Do you truly underestimate me this much, Aldrian?" she asked again.
A heavy silence hung between them for a few moments.
"Aldrian, can you turn and look at me?" she asked, her voice now soft.
Aldrian’s body trembled at the sound of his mother’s gentle tone. Suddenly, his black hair began to change, revealing his natural red hair. His disguised, handsome face shifted into a more dazzling visage, bearing Aldrey’s unmistakable features. Turning to face his mother, he offered a wry smile, now fully revealing his true self to her.
Irene’s body trembled as she looked at Aldrian’s face. Though much more mature, she could still see the little Aldrian who once followed her inside their small house in the secret realm. She remembered the child talking to her about his activities with his father, asking her to tell stories, and the times when he had nightmares that made her stay and help him fall back asleep. So many memories resurfaced at that moment.
Unconsciously, tears welled up in her eyes as she walked toward him. Aldrian’s own eyes began to water as he gazed at his mother’s beautiful face, seeing the deep longing in her expression.
"Mother, it’s good to see you again," he said softly.
Irene stood before Aldrian, who had grown slightly taller than her. She couldn’t believe how much he had changed in just five years. For cultivators, five years might be short, but for her, it felt like an eternity since she last saw him. She had missed him every day, and now, seeing him again, she marveled at how much he had developed in that time—even to the point where he was now slightly taller than her.
She immediately hugged her son, and Aldrian could hear her sniffling as he felt the wet sensation of her tears on his clothes. Aldrian smiled softly as he embraced her in return. They held each other for several minutes, saying nothing, simply savoring the moment of their reunion with a quiet hug. After a few more minutes, Irene regained her composure and gently took Aldrian’s wrist, guiding him back to the bed and making him sit beside her.
She looked at her son again, this time more intently. He was more handsome, and now, at 15 years old, he had grown so much since the last time she saw him. Despite his age, his growth and strength would make anyone doubt he was only 15. Though inwardly she was shocked to see he had already reached the peak Earl stage, more than anything, she felt a deep sense of pride for him.
She touched his face, stroking it softly, her eyes filled with a thousand emotions. In that moment, she felt that her life had been worth everything, simply to have a son like Aldrian. 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓅𝓊𝒷.𝓬𝓸𝓂
"Now, would you tell me why you’re here? More specifically, why are you outside the secret realm?" she asked. "To be honest, I planned to visit the secret realm a few weeks ago, but suddenly the area around the spatial entrance became filled with natural phenomena that even I couldn’t pass. I had to give up my plan, and then, coincidentally, the devil’s invasion happened."
"Well, I’m sorry, mother, but I’m the one who created the natural formation to hide my departure from the secret realm," Aldrian thought to himself, though his face only smiled at her.
"If I have to tell you everything that happened since I left the secret realm, it might take quite some time," he said.
"I will gladly listen to every word of my son’s story," she replied with smile.
Aldrian then began telling her the story of when he decided to leave the secret realm. Of course, he didn’t explain the real reason for his departure; instead, he fabricated a lie that his mother would trust. He spoke of his time in the Ivory Empire and how he came to know the imperial family. He then shared his experiences in the demon territory, mentioned the Forgeheart Kingdom, and finally, he told her about how he arrived at this place.
Aldrian deliberately left out certain parts of the story, as they touched on secrets he couldn’t yet share with his mother, or at least not at that moment. Irene, listening attentively to her son’s stories, displayed a wide range of emotions. Sometimes she frowned, other times she showed anger or shock, and occasionally she even laughed. However, most often, her face bore an expression of immense pride. Aldrian spent hours recounting his experiences, and for both of them, time seemed irrelevant. In that moment, all that mattered was their cherished bond, mother and son.
He wasn’t sure if his mother believed every part of his story, but he continued to recount the main events of his journey up until now. However, what he saw in Irene’s eyes was unwavering trust and pride. There was no doubt in those eyes, even when he told her about the more absurd moments.
"You’re already this strong, despite your age and cultivation level. I’m so proud of you," she said.
Seeing her unconditional trust, Aldrian’s eyes reddened once again, overwhelmed with gratitude for her unwavering belief in him.
Initially, he had planned to avoid meeting his mother and father, fearing he would cause them worry. However, fate wouldn’t let him remain hidden from his parents, and he had to come to his mother himself to save her. All the thoughts of "avoiding father and mother" were eventually cast aside, but he was glad he made that choice. It allowed him to save her and bring them together in this moment. Seeing his mother so happy was all that mattered to him now.
Suddenly, he felt his mother’s hand gently guide his head to rest on her thigh as she stroked his face. In that moment, a wave of nostalgia washed over him, as it reminded him of when she had done the same thing when he was just a small child.
"You’ve been through so much all these years, pushing yourself so hard. I feel like I missed a part of your life’s journey, and now I see my son has become so powerful. I’ve always known you were special, but to think you’ve accomplished all of this so soon after leaving the secret realm... you make me prouder than I can express," she said, her hand still gently stroking his forehead.
"Aldrian, you are my pride, the pride that carries both my and your father’s bloodline. I know your personality, and I understand the way you think after hearing about all your experiences. But listen to me, Aldrian, I believe in you. I believe in all of your stories, even if they sound absurd. As your mother, this is the least I can do. But I also hope for your happiness and safety. Even if you’re the strongest person on this continent, you’ll always be my son, the child who used to follow me around in our house in the secret realm. I can’t help but worry about you, about your well-being, about your safety."
"If the heavens push you into the limelight, as if it’s your fate, then I can only support you. You don’t have to worry about me or your father. You can pursue what’s best for you, and I’ll still support and believe in you—even if we don’t have the backing of our family, our empire, or even the entire continent. I’ve always believed that you are destined for greatness, to be the brightest star, whose light will blind all other beings."
