Odyssey of the Renegade Sovereign
Chapter 26: Reunion

Chapter 26: Reunion

Astrael found himself suspended in a place of void. He was no longer falling, but he wasn’t standing either, caught between dream and reality. He was no longer falling, but he wasn’t standing either.

An endless void where darkness stretched in every direction, where countless stars shimmered, casting their light upon the vast emptiness. Between them, strands of silver light twisted and wove together into a mesmerising complex web, forming nexuses and constellations that pulsed with quiet energy. It was a sight of absolute wonder, truly breathtaking.

And at the centre of it all... lay the heart.

A sigil, massive and ancient, floated in the void, etched in complex runes that spiralled outward like a blooming lotus. The script glowed with shifting colours: silver, violet, pale blue. It pulsed steadily like a heart. Each beat sent out a thrum of energy that made the strands of light shimmer.

Astrael was awestruck by the scene happening. It was beautiful beyond words.He didn’t question what it was. He didn’t wonder how or why.

Unknowingly, His hand rose slowly, almost involuntarily, reaching toward the glowing sigil.

CRACK.

The void trembled.

A thunderous fracture splits the void, like shattering crystal. Suddenly, the space around him collapsed inward.He plunged downward, swallowed by the darkness.

"Ah..."

Astrael was about to scream, but at that moment, he found himself vanishing,

...

Astrael’s body seized, his lungs expanded violently as he drew in a sharp breath.

"Ugh-!"

Astrael’s eyes snapped open,inhaling a mouthful of air.

Inhale... exhale...

For a long moment, all he could hear was the sound of his breathing. His fingers clenched the sheets beneath him. Then, slowly, the fog in his mind began to cleaar.

"Just a dream..." Astrael sighed before getting back to sleep. He lay there a moment longer, his eyes fixed on the ceiling above. That same ceiling—plain, off-white, with the same little crack that ran across the corner

His body was too heavy to move. Not from injury, at least, none he could feel—but from exhaustion, the kind that sank into the bones and spread through the soul. The kind only those who had looked death in the eye and walked away could understand.

He let his eyes drift shut again.

When his eyes opened, the warm daylight filtered through the windows.

He blinked. Then blinked again. The same familiar ceiling of his room hung above him appeared in his sight. He sat up, his eyes swept the roo,m seeing the familiar room, the same room he lived in. It was not aesthetically beautiful, as someone would call it, but it was the most beautiful sight to him. Only now he realised how much he had missed his home.

It was safe and familiar. No goblins, monsters, blood...There was no constant fear of death

It was home.

’I survived’

He couldn’t help but asked himself.

Then his gaze focused on his side, then froze. There, beside him, sitting in the small chair by the bed with her head resting on the edge of the mattress, was a figure. Her soft hair spilt across the blanket like a curtain of warmth, though it was slightly tangled, and her robe looked slept in.

His mother.

She looked pale. Her face was puffy, her eyes red rimmed. Her hands clutched his blanket.

He opened his mouth to speak, but his voice caught.

"Ugh..."

Her lashes fluttered, eyes opening slowly. There was a moment—half a second—where confusion lingered in her gaze. Then she saw him watching her.

Laira groaned before opening her eyes. As she watched the figure of his child watching her, she couldn’t help her red, rimmed eyes, soaked with tears, got red again.

"My child!" she cried, voice breaking into a sob as she surged forward, arms wrapping around him tightly.

She clung to him like someone afraid he’d vanish the moment she let go. Her lips pressed to his cheek again and again as if trying to convince herself he was real.

"You’re awake—thank the gods—you’re awake!"

"What happened to you? Are you hurt? Are you in pain? Astrael, talk to me!"

Astrael blinked, stunned by the sudden warmth pressed against him. His arms moved slowly, hesitantly, before wrapping around her shoulders.

"I’m okay, Mother," he murmured.

"I’m back."

Laira pulled away just enough to look at him, her eyes searching his face for signs of pain, wounds, lies—anything. She cupped his cheeks gently, as if afraid he’d vanish if she blinked.

"I thought I lost you," she whispered. "I... I thought..."

Astrael couldn’t speak. He had faced death. But this—this expression on his mother’s face, this pain...This hurt more than any blade ever could. But beside it, there was something else burning.

Resolve.

CREAK!

The door groaned open with a sound. A figure stood in the doorway.

It was his father. His pale face etched with worry, but the moment he saw her clutching Astrael to her chest, a wave of relief washed over him.

Astrael turned his head slowly to meet his father’s gaze. For a heartbeat, they just stared at each other.

And then—

He moved.

Astrael didn’t think. His legs swung over the side of the bed and hit the floor with a soft thud. Before he even knew what he was doing, his body had closed the distance.

He hugged him.

He doesn’t know why his leg moved automatically and hugged him. Atrael, surprised, hugged him back.

Then the arms wrapped around Astrael’s back.

Tight. Steady. Strong.

No words passed between them. None were needed.

This was not the kind of man who cried in front of others. But right now, his hands trembled as they gripped Astrael’s shoulders.

His mother joined them moments later, arms wrapping around both from the side. Her sobs had softened, but they hadn’t stopped.

It didn’t matter anymore.

They were together.

Then—

Suddenly, a figure dashes over, embracing him.

Thump. Thump. THUMP!

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway outside. Astrael barely had time to glance over before a figure darted into the room like a streak of light.

"Brother!"

A voice cracked with emotion, high and trembling with joy.

Before he could turn fully, a figure dashed over him with their arms flunged around him. he staggered but didn’t fall.

He knew that voice. Who could be except his big sis Luna.

She clung to him like she was afraid he’d vanish all over again, burying her face into his shoulder, her words muffled by choked sobs.

"I..I thought you were..." she didn’t finish.

Astrael blinked rapidly.

Family.

He smiled.

A small, tired smile. And with quiet arms, he hugged her back.

His hand rested gently on her back as he whispered:

"I’m here, Big sis."

She cried harder.

His father stepped forward again, placing one strong hand on Luna’s shoulder, the other back on Astrael’s. His mother’s arms looped around all of them.

For a moment, the world outside that room didn’t exist.

Just four people. Together.

A family.

Astrael, smiling, wraps his arms around her, hugging her back. Then his father and mother also joined. The family of four hugging each other in bliss. They stood in that embrace longer than any of them could remember. Not

From the doorway, a soft sniff broke the silence.

Astrael turned his head slightly.