Vortex Origins
Chapter 67: Guz’s family - 1

Chapter 67: Guz’s family - 1

The air in the room thickened, an uncomfortable tension creeping in, heavy and suffocating.

A loud voice suddenly broke through the silence.

"Zoey!"

Zoey’s hand jerked away from Ash’s, her face brightening as she turned toward the door.

"Ugh, Nina’s here."

Ash’s heart skipped. The second girl—the one from earlier—stepped into the room. Nina.

She was different now, dressed in a flowing outfit that looked out of place here. Soft pastel colors shimmered under the light, a stark contrast to the worn surroundings. The elegance of the clothes seemed almost too perfect for a place like this.

She moved with a confident grace, but Ash noticed the slight tension in her every step.

"What are you doing with him?"

Nina’s voice was sharp, her eyes flashing as she looked from Zoey to Ash. There was a bite to her tone, tinged with something Ash couldn’t place.

"You know I saw him first. And aren’t you a little young for this, Zoey?"

Her eyes flicked to Ash for a moment, then quickly moved away, like she was hiding something beneath a veil of sarcasm.

’What a mess.’ Ash thought.

Stuck in the middle of this strange tug-of-war.

Zoey didn’t seem bothered at all. She leaned back casually, smirking.

"You slammed the door at his face."

she pointed out, her voice playful but biting.

"You already lost."

Nina froze, her face flushing a deep red.

"Don’t say that out loud!"

she hissed, horrified.

"I’m still embarrassed!"

Before anyone could respond, Nina’s gaze snapped back to Ash. Her eyes studied him like a predator sizing up its prey. For a brief moment, her stare was cold, distant, before she quickly turned away and sat down on Ash other side.

Ash blinked, confused.

’Wait, why are you sitting here too?’

Zoey caught his gaze, a gleam of mischief in her eyes.

"What’s with the change in clothing, Nina? Didn’t you just show up looking like a mess after doing chores few minutes ago?"

Nina’s expression darkened. Her lips thinned into a line, and she shot Zoey a glare that made Ash wonder if there was more to this rivalry than he realized.

Ash almost smiled at the back-and-forth, but quickly caught himself.

’They remind me of my brothers...’

A pang of nostalgia tugged at him before he could stop it. He glanced at Zoey again, his lips twitching into a small smile.

’She kinda reminds me of Evy...’

Nina’s voice broke through his thoughts, sharp and accusing.

"Wait—are you interested in my sister?"

Ash froze, caught completely off guard.

’What? No! Not at all.’

His mouth opened, but the words tangled in his mind.

"Wait, what? No."

Nina raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk curving her lips. Her eyes narrowed, watching him closely.

"Then why did you smile when you looked at her?"

Zoey, oblivious to the rising tension, tilted her head toward Ash.

"Wait—he smiled? Looking at me?"

She grinned, her voice teasing. Before Ash could react, she was on him again, throwing her arms around him in a sudden, unexpected hug.

Ash tensed, his body rigid with shock.

’What the hell is going on?’

Nina’s face twisted in irritation. Her fingers clenched the fabric of her clothes, and she snapped,

"Zoey, get off him!"

Ash sat there, caught between the two of them, frozen. The chaos swirled around him—attraction, jealousy, and something deeper, more complicated. It was like a storm he couldn’t escape, and he had no idea how to navigate it.

’This is insane. I don’t even know what to think right now.’

His heart raced, his mind struggling to keep up with the confusion. But the more he tried to make sense of it, the less clear it became.

All he could do was sit there, the uneasy smile he almost wore long gone, his thoughts now focused on one thing.

’C’mon, Guz. Where are you?’

As if on cue, A voice rose from the stairs, firm but not loud.

"Come on, girls, let go of him. He’s a very important guest."

Ash turned. Guz stood halfway down, one hand on the railing. His wife followed behind—tall, quiet, her steps soft but sure. Her face held beauty, but the kind that came after long days and harder nights. Tired eyes, kind eyes.

Zoey didn’t move. She stayed wrapped around Ash like she’d finally found something safe.

Guz stopped at the bottom, gaze drifting to Ash. A faint smile touched his face.

"I’m glad to see you’re okay. Honestly, I didn’t think you’d show up."

Ash gave a nod.

"I promised you, didn’t I?"

The smile faded. Guz’s shoulders dropped slightly.

"So... how did it go?"

Ash’s voice dropped, his eyes cold.

"Not so good. A lot of people died."

The word sat in the air, heavy and sharp.

Zoey’s hands slipped away like they’d been burned. Her body pulled back, her playful glow gone. She stared at him, quiet now. Something behind her eyes cracked open—worry, maybe fear.

Guz lowered his voice.

"I’m sorry to hear that. Your brothers... are they alright?"

Ash’s eyes narrowed.

"They’re doing well. They went to check the infirmary... for the survivors."

Guz tilted his head.

"And you didn’t go with them?"

Ash said nothing. He looked at the floor, jaw tight.

That silence answered everything.

Guz sighed, longer this time. He turned to the girls, trying to soften the edge of the room.

"Well... hello, troublemakers. Would you like me to introduce you properly now?"

Nina crossed her arms.

"I mean... yeah, Dad. A little context would help."

He let out a dry laugh.

"You’ve already met them—my daughters. Zoey, the spirited one... and Nina, the one with too much attitude for her own good."

"Dad..."

Nina groaned.

’No kidding.’ Ash thought.

Guz raised a hand toward the woman beside him.

"This is my lovely wife, Hannah."

Hannah gave a small nod, hands folded, her eyes calm.

Guz looked at everyone, his voice rising slightly.

"And everyone, I’d like you to meet Ash Burns—one of the sons of Flame."

The silence came fast.

Nina stiffened.

"Ash...? As in Flame’s son, Ash?"

She turned to him, eyes wide, her face pale.

"No way..."

Ash thought,

’Your father really did a number on you guys, huh. He turned you all into crazy fans.’

Nina stepped back, arms crossing her chest like she was trying to guard herself.

"No wonder you’re so quiet... It all makes sense now."

The room felt different to Ash now. Everyone looked at him like he was something out of a story. Something worn, something touched by war.

Ash felt their eyes.

Not the awe. Not the respect.

Something else hid beneath it all. A weight. A pressure.

’i am not my father and i will never be.’

That thought sat in his chest like a stone.

And still, they looked at him, hoping the myth was real. Hoping he would live up to a name that wasn’t his to carry.