Chapter 70: Seven Years Later (1)

Is this Sos and Avi’s child?
Hmm, it does seem quite similar when you think about it—look at this nose, these cheeks…
And the child has a strong innate Fire element… With both parents being Fire mages, it’s no wonder the child has such a strong Fire element…
Liza and Lailira whispered to each other, pointing at the baby in Dia’s arms. Along with Allen’s snickering expression, Scott shaking his head in exasperation, Nina’s lost and melancholic sighs, and Ulric and Katerina’s puzzled looks, Sos and Dia both felt awkward.
Just then, the baby’s cry broke the strange silence in the room.
“The child must be hungry. I’ll go warm some milk for him…” Dia snapped out of her daze, lowered her head, and rushed to the kitchen with the baby in her arms.
“I… I’ll help you…” Sos followed closely behind.
Watching the two in such a flustered state, Allen couldn’t help but laugh.
Arriving in the kitchen in a hurry, Sos saw Dia leaning against the wall, holding the baby in one hand and clutching her chest with the other, breathing heavily. He awkwardly stepped forward, gently wrapped his arms around her, and said in an apologetic and embarrassed tone, “Dia, I…”
Seeing her husband’s guilty expression, Dia couldn’t help but laugh. While soothing the crying baby, she whispered, “I’m not angry or sad. I’m just very surprised. I didn’t expect…”
“I didn’t expect it either…” Sos scratched his head awkwardly.
Seeing her husband’s helpless expression, Dia couldn’t help but sigh, then said softly, “Lavia must not be far away. Go quickly!”
“Go?”
“Yes. Although my relationship with her wasn’t very good, I think she must be extremely distressed right now—having to give her own child to another woman to raise…”
“Huh?” Sos looked at Dia in surprise.
Facing her husband’s strange gaze, Dia’s eyes showed a hint of shyness. She pushed him gently and said, “If I’m not mistaken, Lavia must be watching from somewhere. Go quickly… Even though she’s a Fire mage, standing outside in such a cold winter… Hurry, don’t let her return to Altak alone…”
“How do you know?” Sos asked curiously.
Dia smiled, soothing the baby in her arms, and whispered, “Perhaps it’s just a woman’s intuition…”
A woman’s intuition?

Thos stepped outside, using teleportation magic—after all, if he had to go through the living room, Allen might say something else. It was dark and cold outside; even in Vanod’s winters, it was unbearably chilly. On such nights, every household kept their doors and windows tightly shut, spending sweet dinner times with their families. Yet at the corners of the streets and alleys, there was a woman in a cloak leaning against a wall, sighing repeatedly. Though she was covered in a large cloak, it was still clear she was a beautiful woman—tall, with a striking face and fiery red hair that was unforgettable. Especially her eyes, like rubies, seemed to emit a fiery passion even in the bitter cold. “Go back, Avi!” the woman murmured to herself. Just as she turned, she suddenly froze. She saw a man in the alley ahead—a man she knew very well. “Do you really want to leave like this?” Stunned by the smile on the man’s face, the woman covered her mouth, her gem-like eyes filling with tears. Suddenly, she ran over, threw herself into the man’s arms, hugging him tightly and crying softly to vent her sorrow. “Bastard, bastard, bastard…” Enduring the gentle punches on his chest and seeing her crying face, Thos felt bad too. He held her tightly, letting her express her feelings. “Avi…” However, after a minute, the woman took a deep breath and calmed down. She buried her head in Thos’s chest and said softly, “Please apologize to Dia for me. I said I wouldn’t bother you anymore, but… I really don’t want my child to grow up without a father…” “Avi…” “I know I have a bad temper and can’t give you what you want. I don’t regret it because I chose a path completely different from other women. But still, I hope my child can have a complete family… our child…” As she spoke, Ravia raised her head, smiled at Thos, and said softly, “Holp Vomisley Klaest—what a nice name, right? Please take good care of him, Thos. I know my request is selfish, but I have to do it. I hope my child can have a complete family…” “Avi…” Thos instinctively hugged Ravia tighter, unwilling to say, “Shall we go inside and talk?”

“No,” Ravia shook her head slightly and said softly, “I’ve said it before—I will never set foot in that house again…”
“Are you still worried about that? It’s not really our fault at all…”
“It doesn’t matter who’s to blame. All I know is that place isn’t mine. My home is in Altak…” As she spoke, Ravia raised her head, looked at her beloved man, and smiled softly. “If you really want to, you can come to Altak to see me, bring my child with you…”
“Avi,” Thos hesitated for a moment before saying softly, “Allen, Lisa, and Ulric are there too…”
Seemingly understanding his feelings, Ravia giggled, buried her head deep in Thos’s arms, and said softly, “Then I definitely can’t go in. Don’t worry about me. I’m not like your precious one—I’m the queen of Altak!”
“That’s true…” Thos gave a bitter smile and held Ravia tightly in his arms.
After a brief silence, Ravia suddenly said softly, “Alright, I should go. I need to return to Altak. One of the barbarian tribes wants to negotiate with us in Altak. If everything goes well, we can resolve some border issues…”
“Hmm…” Thos nodded, but seemed unwilling to let go of Ravia.
Seemingly understanding this, Ravia forced herself to push away from her beloved man, stepped back despite her reluctance, bit her lip, and said, “I really have to go. It’s about the entire Altak…”
“Oh…” Thos nodded gloomily.
Suddenly, Ravia stepped forward and covered Thos’s lips with a passionate kiss.
“I’m leaving. Take good care of my child. Every year… I hope you can bring him to Altak. It doesn’t have to be often… If you don’t have time, I can ask Connel to pick him up. I just want to see him…”
“Avi…”
Just then, several armored soldiers from Altak hurried over, came to Ravia’s side, knelt down, and said, “My lady, it’s time as you planned. The carriage outside the city is ready!”
“Hmm!” Ravia nodded, gave Thos a loving glance, bit her lip, then suddenly turned around and said in a tone that seemed free of any reluctance, “Let’s go back to Altak!”
“Yes, my lady!”

Thos stopped trying to stop Ravia and watched her walk farther into the snow, knowing that no words of his could hold her back. She was no longer the stubborn and willful girl from the academy; she had become the ruler of Altak, its queen, a leader respected by all its people!
Ravia never entered that house again, and even before falling asleep, Thos still felt deep sorrow over it.
“What are you thinking about? Is it about Avi?” Suddenly, a gentle voice came from the other side of the bed.
“Yes,” Thos replied instinctively, then seemed to remember something and apologized, “I’m sorry, Dia…”
“It’s okay,” Dia turned slightly, lying on her side facing Thos, and said softly, “It wasn’t your fault in the first place. If anyone is to be blamed, it’s me…”
“Dia…”
“Let’s not talk about it,” Dia wisely changed the subject when she saw Thos was upset. “From what you said, Ravia wants me to raise this child?”
“Mm, she said she couldn’t face you, so she had to ask you… At that time, I couldn’t bear it, so I agreed right away. I…”
“You don’t have to feel that way, Thos. I really like that child too. With both parents being so outstanding, the child will surely become an excellent magician!”
“Dia…”
“Giggle, okay, just joking. I understand Ravia’s intention. I’m not opposed to it. It’ll be more lively with one more person at home. As the ruler, Ravia is very busy, and I can understand why she’s temporarily sending the child here…”
Thos sighed deeply and said softly, “It’s not temporary…”
“No…” Dia was stunned.
“She means for us to raise this child in the name of its biological parents…”
“What?” Dia was shocked, saying in surprise, “So… Ravia isn’t…”
“Ah!” As if understanding Dia’s thoughts, Thos nodded.
Dia sighed slightly, speaking with some reluctance, “Letting one’s own son call her ‘aunt’? If it were me, I really couldn’t bear such pain… Has Ravia really made up her mind?”
“Ah, she’s never gone back on a decision she’s made!”
“Sigh…” Looking at the child sleeping soundly between them, Dia sighed softly and said, “I suddenly feel very selfish…”
“Dia…”

—Seven years later—
Ulric, who had been traveling, returned to Vando and knocked on the house of the Kleist couple. Though he was also a resident of Vando City, he spent very little time there each year; this peace-loving vampire always longed to travel to every corner of the world. Suddenly, the door opened, and a red-haired little boy rushed forward, hugged Ulric, and exclaimed joyfully, “Uncle Ulric!” Looking at the adorable child who seemed to be seven or eight years old, Ulric’s face lit up with a smile. He stroked the boy’s head and said with a grin, “Oh, little Kupe, look what I brought for you!” Then he took out from his arms a animal tooth as big as a palm. “Wow!” The boy happily took the tusk of some animal. “What about me?” A little girl wearing a floral dress, about five or six years old, ran out from behind him and looked at Ulric with a slightly upset expression. “Hehe, this is for little Kari!” Ulric took out another exquisitely crafted necklace, which immediately made the little girl laugh. “You should say thank you!” At that moment, a woman’s voice came from inside the house. Dia, now a mature woman, stepped out and looked at Ulric with some apology. “Thank you, Uncle Ulric!” Saying that, the two children ran into the house happily. “It should be Uncle Kulard!” Dia shook her head helplessly, invited Ulric inside, and said with a smile, “I heard you were coming back a few days ago, and those two kids have been very happy… Really, these two kids!” “Hehe,” Ulric politely accepted the black tea offered by Dia and chuckled, “It’s nothing special. Allen gave it to me; that’s what’s truly valuable!” “Don’t even mention it. Last time Allen gave Kupe a knight’s sword, and the kid was so excited he almost hurt himself. This child…” As she spoke, Dia suddenly noticed the two kids stealing food from the table and hurried over. Seeing Dia notice, little Kupe quickly swallowed the meat in his mouth and pretended nothing had happened, while the little girl Kari was caught in the act by Dia and scolded. “Brother also stole food! Mom only punishes me—she’s biased!” The little girl cried sadly as she was the only one to be punished. Dia opened her mouth, then reluctantly knelt down, hugged her daughter, and said softly, “This food is meant to entertain guests later. If you eat it all, what will the guests have?”

“Then big brother ate it too!” The little girl glared at her brother in frustration.
Just as Dia felt embarrassed, footsteps came from the second floor. Soon, a man in his twenties came down and smacked little Cupe, who was snickering, on the back of the head.
“Still laughing!”
“Dad…” Little boy Cupe shifted awkwardly, putting on a obedient expression.
“Oh, Ulrich!”
“Good morning, Thos!” Ulrich nodded with a smile.
“Dad!” The little girl ran to Thos crying, grabbing the hem of his clothes and saying plaintively, “Mom is being unfair again, scolding only me…”
Seeing Dia’s helpless sigh, Thos picked up his daughter and comforted her softly, “Don’t cry, don’t cry. I’ll take you to the street in a bit…”
“I want to go to Vandelta to see Aunt Lily. Aunt Lily knows magic…” the little girl said timidly.
“Okay!” Thos nodded with a smile.
“I want to go too!” Little boy Cupe shouted.
“Stay right here!” Thos frowned at his son and said irritably, “Did you study magic at the academy just to bully your classmates? And dare to cause trouble in class?”
“You… you already know?” The little boy looked embarrassed.
“Nonsense!” Thos snorted.
The little boy scratched his head dejectedly and defended himself in a low voice, “It’s not me who bullied them. They bullied Karry, that’s why I hit them!”
“Mm-hm!” The little girl nodded repeatedly.
“What about in class?”
“I didn’t cause trouble in class. I just thought those professors’ classes were too boring…” As he spoke, little Cupe looked up at Thos with hope, “Dad, everyone says you’re the strongest magician in the empire. Why don’t you teach me…”
“I teach you?” Thos sneered twice. “Are you still thinking about fighting with other classmates?”
“No…”
“Alright, alright,” Dia couldn’t help but step in to defuse the situation. She said to Cupe, “Cupe, don’t make your dad angry. Be good and go upstairs to pack your clothes. We’re going to Altak as guests in a few days!”
“Oh…” Hearing Dia’s words, Cupe’s expression immediately drooped.
At that moment, Thos, holding his daughter, walked over to Ulrich and asked softly, “Ulrich, how’s the situation outside lately?”

“Not optimistic,” Ulric shook his head and said in a low voice. “The spatial barriers in this world have become quite weak. Not to mention those demons, I’m a bit worried about the Ancient Willings, especially Mammon. That guy has gradually taken control of some lower-tier demons and is building strength in the areas north of Gron. The reason he hasn’t done anything yet is simply because he’s cautious about the presence of other Ancient Willings, as well as you and Belial…”
“Hm!” Thos nodded, then frowned and said, “Mammon has officially allied with Leviathan…”
“Don’t worry. We still have Sammael and Asmodeus on our side, right? And Little Lily and Lilith are on our side, aren’t they?”
“Hey, Lily is indeed on our side, but as for Lilith… it depends on Belial’s attitude!” Thos couldn’t help but laugh.
“Lilith has considerable power. I hope Belial won’t push her to the other side…”
“Indeed!” Thos shrugged helplessly.
At that moment, Little Kupe quietly approached Dia and said reluctantly, “Mom, can I not go to Altak?”
“Why?”
“I… I always feel like Aunt Lavia doesn’t like me. When my sister and I go to visit her, why is it only my sister who gets to go out and do whatever she wants every day, receiving lots of gifts? Meanwhile, I have to go through all kinds of training—etiquette, swordsmanship, horsemanship… Please, it’s vacation!”
“That means Aunt Lavia has high expectations for you, which is why she’s so strict with you!”
“But… she even hit me when I talked back to her that time…”
Seeing Kupe’s angry expression, Dia couldn’t help but sigh. She knelt down and said softly, “Trust me, when Aunt Lavia hits you, she must be in more pain than you are…”
Kupe stared at her mother strangely and pouted, “Anyway, I just feel like she doesn’t like me!”
“No,” Dia shook her head slightly and said softly, “Trust me, she’s the one who cares about you the most and loves you the most!”
“Hm?” Little Kupe raised her head in confusion and asked curiously, “More than Mom?”
Dia nodded as she stroked the child’s head.
“Hm!”
—Meanwhile, in Altak—
As the ruler of Altak, Lavia Vayer Verti Vomisli had been governing this region for eight years. This proud female ruler abandoned Altak’s policy of compromising with barbarians and imposed strict, iron-fisted rules that made the barbarians fear her.

Over eight years, Altak launched eleven counterattacks against the barbarians, winning nine and losing two. Her prestige had surpassed that of any previous ruler of the Vomisli family. Even the barbarians did not dare underestimate this female lord, and the weaker tribes among them surrendered to Altak one after another. Only the three largest tribes continued to resist against the borders of Altak, GG-long, and Galik.

“Disseminate this message to those barbarians: if they surrender to us, they will have ample food, stable jobs, and even the chance to join our army in Altak. But if they still insist on rebellion and continue to plunder under my rule, death awaits them—there is no other outcome!”

In the council chamber, Ravia, dressed in knightly armor, spoke to her three subordinates in an unyielding tone. One of the nobles hesitated for a moment before frowning and saying, “Isn’t this too risky? The barbarians are still very powerful. What if this proclamation angers them and prompts their three tribes to unite against us in Altak? What if Count OGil of Galik fails to arrive in time to help us?”

“‘What ifs’—how many more ‘what ifs’?” Ravia slammed the table sharply and said sternly, “It’s because of all your ‘what ifs’ that Altak suffers such heavy losses every year! Even if those three tribes unite, so what? If they really dare to attack, I’ll bury them all in the snow-capped mountains for thousands of miles! Tell them that!”

“…Yes, my lady!” Feeling Ravia’s formidable presence, the three nobles instinctively bowed their heads.

“Go! And remember, at this time tomorrow, I will inspect our army in Ureel. This is the army you’ve trained for a whole year—I expect it not to disappoint me… Keep in mind one thing: in Altak, food is precious. It is not given to those who are useless! If you fail, there are plenty of people who can replace you in Altak!”

“Yes! Yes!”

“Go!”

“Yes, my lady!”

Watching the three nobles hurry away, Queen Puppet Queenin, holding a cup of black tea, shook her head helplessly and said softly, “They’re quite scared!”

“Hmph,” Ravia snorted lightly, pinching the bridge of her nose as she spoke with fatigue, “Some guys need to be kept on their toes all the time; otherwise, they’ll think Altak can’t function without them… It seems the barbarians in the north intend to fight us. At a time like this, I absolutely won’t allow any negligence!” She took a deep breath, picked up the tea on the table, took a sip, and said softly, “Are there any further plans?”
“Hmm,” Quin thought for a moment before saying, “Everything on today’s schedule has been taken care of…”
“What about tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow, the main task is to inspect the troops—troops from three locations, a total of forty thousand!”
“Hmm, I see. What else?”
“Well… there are also personal matters!” Quin said with a smile.
“Personal matters?” Ravia was momentarily stunned, then seemed to remember something, a faint smile appearing on her face as she said softly, “I see. Tomorrow, you go and pick up Cupe in my place. I’ll return after inspecting the troops!”
“Shouldn’t we go pick him up first?” Quin asked reluctantly, “He’s your son, your own son. It can’t wait a little, right?”
Ravia sighed softly and said in a low voice, “I’m afraid that once I see him, I won’t have the heart to leave… I’d better inspect the troops first. I should be able to return around dinner time!”
“Again!” Quin shook his head helplessly, speaking in a slightly reproachful tone, “Aivi, Cupe is still just a child. Don’t expect too much from him. Can’t you treat him like that girl, Keri, and let him have some fun here for a while? Swordsmanship, horsemanship, magic—he’s not even eight yet. Last year, he even secretly asked me if you didn’t like him…”
Ravia fell silent. After several minutes, she said softly, “I hope my child can become an outstanding person. Dia is a very good woman, even as a mother. But her gentle nature makes her a failure as a parent. Just look at how spoiled Cupe has become now…”
“Isn’t that good? At least she raises Cupe as if he were her own child…”
“It is good, and I’m grateful to her. But I also don’t want my own child to grow up to be incompetent. Since she can’t be harsh, then I’ll take on that role!”
“Aivi, doing this will only make him hate you in his heart!”
“…It doesn’t matter!”

Just then, a dark curtain suddenly appeared in the room. To Ravia and Quinn’s surprised gazes, Thos, in his semi-divine state, stepped out of the spatial portal along with the two children, Kupé and Kairei.
“Aunt Ravia!” The little girl ran up to Ravia with joy.
“It’s you, little girl. You’ve grown so pretty!” Ravia smiled gently, stroking the girl’s blue hair. Then she turned to look at the shy little boy beside Thos.
“Whoosh!” A blue flame appeared on Thos’s body and soon took shape into a figure—Belial. He glared at Thos irritably, saying with a hint of frustration, “Well, I’ve delivered you here. I’m going back now!”
“I’ll need your help again later,” Thos said with a smile.
“You!” Belial glared at Thos angrily before stepping into the spatial portal and disappearing with a whoosh.
Looking at her beloved man, Ravia said with surprise, “Why did you come today?”
“We were delayed, so I asked Belial to bring us here…” Thos said, lowering his head and nudging Kupé beside him.
“Aunt Ravia…” The little boy called out timidly.
“Hmm,” Ravia’s eyes showed a fleeting surge of affection before turning stern as she looked at Kupé. She reached out and asked, “Where’s Riox’s report?”
Kupé handed her a piece of paper with his head down. Ravia glanced at it and immediately frowned.
“Alright, alright. You must be tired from the journey. Come, I’ll take you to your room!” Seeing Ravia’s expression, Quinn quickly led the two children away.
Watching Kupé leave, Thos stepped beside Ravia, wrapped his arms around her gently, and whispered, “You’re too strict with him. Even Scott wasn’t that harsh on his son…”
Holding Thos’s waist gently, Ravia finally showed a hint of her vulnerability as a woman.
“Because he’s my own son…”