Chapter 176 A Personal Call

The connection connected after she entered many codes and locations, numbers, and things like that.

Though I understood what they were, I had no idea why do all these procedures.

Was there any need to set so many defensive spells while talking on a long-distance communication that 'might' get tapped and heard?

Then, more than anything, they should just improve the security of the channels and connections and reinforce the entire network with different barriers.

Or... was the real human world more behind in technology than I was familiar with?

Well, they could be, so let's think about that later.

The connection was established, and an image cleared up inside the crystal ball.

< "This is the first time I'm getting a personal call from a special lady like this. What do I owe this pleasure to receive this call, young Reinelle? Did- hmmm?" >

It was him.

This was the voice that I hear in every few words of those letters.

The same voice that I longed to meet and a voice that carried the same warmth as it always does.

And as soon as the image cleared up, he saw me.

Our eyes met, and we looked at each other, and I smiled at him warmly.

"Grandpa. Have you been well?" I asked with that same warm smile that I always showed them.

I was just happy this time and had no tears or even sadness in my voice.

And he just smiled warmly at this and nodded his head like he usually did.

He knew I was the real one, talking to him normally and with this smile that only I would have.

Though my appearance was somewhat different, I knew his experienced eyes wouldn't fail to notice these insignificant details.

There was no way he, one of the highest ranking knights, wouldn't recognize his own grandson.

So he just sat down on his chair in a dark-looking room and looked the three of us in the eye.

Rein first bowed her head respectfully and placed her right hand first on her heart in a slate.

And after that... they both laughed.

< "Hohoho. Same as always, hum? I should tell Maweth his 'aunty' is still teasing a little old me~?" >

"Ok, ok. Master. Hehehe. It is really nice to see you again like this but, your beloved hero has something more to tell." She said with a radiant smile filled with respect, and I shook my head in disbelief.

She was definitely someone special to be able to make grandpa smile like that.

Hmmm... we now had more to talk.

Grandpa looked at me warmly, and I looked at her.

"Do I have something to tell?" I asked with a happy smirk, and she looked back at me.

The smirk on my face looked funny, lovely, and mocking to her, and then... she smirked back at me and looked at grandpa.

He was integrated by this interaction between us and when she smiled at him, a smile unexpected to both of us appeared on his face.

But she continued her own thoughts.

"Oh, dear sir. You see~, your grandson is begging me to take him home. He wants to come with me even before going to his own house.

To his family that's missing him like this, to all of you, this is how he wants to do it.

And even after I consoled him, he's not listening to me at all.

What should we do now~?"

She was... flawless.

Where was this level of acting back at that time, lady Reinelle?

And this little prank didn't go well with either of us.

< "Eon?" >

He looked me in the eye, asking if this was true or not, despite understanding she was just joking around.

I glared at her in a little anger but, I can't even deny her words as a whole.

"Yes... I have to. But, I will be back as soon as I'm done there. And grandpa… I'm back."

There was a radiant smile on my face, so he understood I was fine and things would be ok.

So he nodded and looked back at me.

< "We will be there by night." >

"Hm? Padron?"

He just said something I didn't want to happen for some reason, and I heard it loud and clear.

< "It's ok~. Those four will be happy to meet you. And they will be as happy to see everyone together after a long time too." >

Were these two families that close or something?

Why did I never know of this thing?

Well... damn.

I was speechless and blank as to what to do now.

But a sudden thought crossed grandpa's mind, and he looked at both of us.

< "Anna will be there too." > He said, especially looking at her.

And in an instant, a surprised smile painted her face.

"Really?!" she shouted in disbelief with an overjoyed smile and…

"You never met her?" Was the instinctive question that escaped my mouth.

"You have?! How is she!? She's adorable, right? Yes~! I will finally meet the little angel~!"

"Aren't you too excited? I do understand your happiness. She's marvelous but, calm down, Rein."

I held her hand, and she flinched in surprise.

And then... calmed down intently.

"Yes... But. Eon... Anna. THE Anastasia. The one who rules the house of Heliox. Do you even know just how many are desperate just to catch a glimpse of that cutie?!"

'The one who rules? Now that was some amazing title. My little sister truly was amazing.'

I sighed and looked at grandpa who had a pleased smile while looking at 'us'.

Oh, yes...

"Grandpa. This is Zoe. My master's..."

< "Is she..." >

He understood just from the sudden grave silence from me, and I smiled helplessly.

"She is now one with nature and her last wish was for me to be her big brother. So, I hope you will tell mom and everyone else.

I can't repay her even with all my life for what she had done for me so, all I can do is fulfill that last wish of hers.

Haaa... let's talk about this one later ok, grandpa."

There were tears at the end of my eyes but, they didn't come out.

I had just lost someone important to me and... he understood this feeling perfectly.

< "Yes, let's end that one there. So, hello, little one. If Eon is your big brother, then you can call me grandpa, or anything like that if you want.

Even though your mom isn't with us anymore, there's an enormous family with you.

I believe everyone will be happy to meet you~." >

His warm voice was filled with genuine emotions, and she was better at emotions than me.

"G-grandpa. Is that ok~?" Zoe asked while hiding behind me and he just nodded his head.

We all smiled at her sudden shy behavior, and I patted her head.

< "Hoho. Aren't you adorable, little lady?" >

She blushed at his comment and fully hid behind me.

This little one will be well with them. I knew she will.

And so did grandpa from his warm smile and genuine expression.

I wanted to talk more, just not like this, so I looked at him and Rein.

"I think this should be ok, right? We should talk more, with everyone, when we get there."

She nodded and so did he.

< "It will be even better now that you are back. Everyone will be overjoyed. Yes... let's talk when we meet." >

He smiled one last time at me, at Rein, and at my little Zoe.

He waved his hand, saying 'see you soon', and she waved back with the same shy face.

The connection ended with his image slowly fading away, making me remember how I would talk with them in the past.

'Maybe... this is how they felt every time I was going away in that mirror.'

I sighed again, and the chat ended happily.

Though it was short, I knew it will take the entire night when everyone gathers there.

'I hope... everything goes fine.'

Something like a fight with my two other siblings was inevitable to some extent but, I wanted to do that in a safe place.

A safe one where I can challenge grandpa and her grandpa if the opportunity arrived.

It would be great but, I had to cure her grandma first.

Curses were easy to cure if you had the right thing, so I wasn't worried here at all.

I was looking forward to meeting one of the few (Tier-8) mages of the empire and one to be a (tier-9) in the future.

'Haaa... and there was the chat I promised her too. That one will be the most difficult one.'

I knew, for some reason, it will be.

We both had this weird feeling and different trains of emotions that were difficult to understand.

But, I had lived one life and she had lived far more longer then both my life combined.

Even then this feeling was there for sure.

But... this weird feeling wasn't bad at all. I liked it for some reason.