Odyssey of the Renegade Sovereign
Chapter 27: Reunion (2)

Chapter 27: Reunion (2)

There, Standing just behind the doorframe, another figure stood, tall and poised. His eyes, a deep auburn, shone with warmth and the quiet sharpness of someone who had seen too much to be easily shaken.

Elara. She stood there silently, hands over her mouth, shoulders trembling.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, but they were the kind of tears that needed no explanation. Astrael’s eyes met hers, and despite everything, he smiled.

She returned it with a watery nod, wiping her face roughly with the sleeve of her shawl.

But then—

Cough!

A cough interrupted Astrael’s heartfelt reunion. Everyone’s eyes landed on the elderly man, who stood with a straight posture.

"I see you are doing well, Young Lord." Doctor Harman said with a slight smile.

Astrael blinked, startled for a moment. Then his smile widened.

"Long time no see," Astrael replied"Long time no see, Doctor Harman."

The doctor raised a brow slightly, lips twitching upward in the barest hint of amusement.

"It’s only a few months, though."

"Felt like a lifetime," Astrael replied, shrugging one shoulder.

That earned a small chuckle from Elara, who now stepped fully into the room, brushing her eyes again and composing herself.

Do you feel any lingering pain?" he asked, already pulling a small device from his case. Numbness? Disorientation?

Astrael shook his head, but hesistated.

"Not pain. Just.... tired. And something feels different."

"We’ll run diagnostics shortly," Harman replied, setting a crystal orb on the nearby desk. It flickered with soft light and hummed faintly. "Your vitals are stable, but considering the energy readings we detected... well, let’s not make assumptions."

"Your vitals are stable, but considering the energy readings we detected... well, let’s not make assumptions."

Doctor Harman offered a polite nod, but his gaze stayed on Astrael.

"Of course, Lady Laira. But I would be remiss if I didn’t investigate. What happened to him was not... ordinary."

Astrael’s eyes dropped for a moment.

"It wasn’t."

His voice came out quieter than expected.

Doctor Harman didn’t respond right away. Instead, he stood still, gaze quietly fixed on Astrael’s face, watching him not just as a physician, but as a man who’d seen enough strange things in this world to know when something didn’t add up.

Astrael met the gaze evenly. Calm. Honest.

At last, Harman exhaled.

He withdrew a small vial from an inner pouch—its contents glowing with a soft blue shimmer—and placed

"Take one drop of this each morning for the next seven days," he instructed. "It will help restore your body’s natural rhythm. You’ll be back to peak condition within the week, assuming you don’t go leaping into any more rifts."

Astrael gave a sheepish smile, raising one brow.

Doctor Harman closed the bag, straightened his collar, and stepped toward the door—but not before glancing once more at Baron Kaelen, who had been watching the exchange silently from behind Laira.

The two men shared a quiet nod—one of mutual respect.

"My lord," Harman said formally, inclining his head.

"Doctor," Kaelen returned.

Then Harman looked back at Astrael, and this time, his eyes held something gentler—fondness, perhaps, or a rare flash of paternal warmth.

"Take care of yourself, young man."

He offered the smallest of smiles, and for the first time in a long time, it reached his eyes.

"Try not to make us all worry so much next time."

Astrael gave a small laugh.

"I’ll do my best."

And with that, Harman turned and exited the room, footsteps echoing softly down the hall.

Everyone’s attention returned to Astrael.

Baron Kaelen approached the bed once more, his strong frame now softened by the gentle light pouring through the windoww.

He looked down at Astrael, not as a nobleman surveying his heir, but simply as a father watching his son.

He placed a hand on Astrael’s shoulder, firm and steady. That one gesture held more comfort than any speech could deliver.

"Rest now, son. Just call Elara if you need anything," His voice was quiet but resolute.

Astrael nodded

Kaelen gave one final, approving glance, then turned toward the door and left.

His voice was quiet but resolute.

"Take care, my love," she whispered, her voice still thick with leftover emotion."Your mother is here. Always."

She bent down and pressed a gentle kiss to his brow, lingering just a moment longer than usual.

Then, straightening, she turned toward the doorway.

"Luna," she called softly. "Come now, let him rest."

Luna hesitated, eyes red but sparkling with lingering joy. She gave Astrael one last quick hug, then followed their mother out, glancing back with a quiet smile before disappearing down the hall.

Silence descended in the room. Astrael sat on the edge of his bed, his eyes fixed on the floor.

He exhaled slowly. "It feels good to be back..." he muttered under his breath. But even as the comfort of home settled around him, his mind wouldn’t stay still.

But what was that sigil? As it was somehow connected to him. It felt... alive." Astrael thought, rubbing his temples, trying to concentrate, but his thoughts were already slipping through his fingers like water. The stars. The rune.

"Ahh...why is my brain not braining today?" he groaned, flopping back onto the bed.

"Because you are a fool, dumbass." The voice came out of nowhere, a pleasant, feminine voice laced with mockery.

"I am not a fool," Astrael replied before getting stunned. He turned around, scanning the room.

Astrael blinked. "...I am not a fool," he shot back instinctively, then froze.

"Who?" He questioned. "Maybe stress got me in my head, I am getting hallucinations."

Wait.

What?

He shot upright, eyes scanning the room like a cornered animal. His heart picked up pace. There was no one here. The door and window were shut and locked.

No answer.

He rubbed his temples again, shaking his head. "Great. I’m hallucinating now. Must be stress." Astrael thought, dismissing it.

"Or maybe you’re just naturally dumb. Has anyone ever told you that? I bet they have. Repeatedly."

Astrael’s eyes widened. This time it wasn’t his imagination.

The mysterious voice was clear this time. Definitely real.

"Who’s there? Show yourself!" he barked, standing quickly.

His right hand reached out automatically, and with a small flash of light, his sword materialised in his palm.

"Are you deaf? I knew you were stupid, but not hearing impaired," Again, a voice sounded, mocking him, clearly.

"Who’s that? Where are you?" Astrael gets up before bringing his calling out his sword from his inventory, gripping it, ready to battle.

He gripped the hilt tightly, blade pointed toward the centre of the room.

"Come out! Now!"

"Ooooh, scary. Are you gonna swing that thing around like an idiot until you chop your bed in half? Hehe~"

The mysterious voice continued.