Chapter 361 - 360. In The Name Of Family (1)
While talking, we hadn’t even noticed how late it had gotten. Time had slipped away, carried by the warmth of conversation.
"Father, you really must sleep now. It’s too late," I gently urged, glancing at the dimly glowing mana stone in my hand.
"It’s fine, Reina. I feel great now that I’ve talked to both of you," Dad said, his voice carrying a lightness that hadn’t been there earlier.
I could sense the vibrancy returning to him, the happiness that had been missing in his tone. It was subtle, yet unmistakable—like the lifting of a quiet weight he hadn’t voiced. This man, our father, loved both of us from the bottom of his heart. Yet, the cruel irony was that despite that love, the burdens we carried, the responsibilities thrust upon us, often kept us apart. We were his children, yet we were also warriors, bound by duty more than by time spent as a family.
"You should cherish your health more, Father," Rune spoke up, his voice firm yet filled with a quiet concern. "Please rest for now. We’ll be back soon, and then we can talk as much as you want."
A soft chuckle came from the other end of the mana stone. "All right, all right. I’ll wait for you two," Dad relented, the warmth in his voice unmistakable. "Good night, kids. Take care of yourselves."
"You too!" Rune and I spoke in unison, the synchronicity bringing another chuckle from him. The sound was comforting, familiar—like the echo of a home that had always been waiting for us, no matter how far we strayed.
Then, slowly, the soft glow of the mana stone faded, leaving behind a gentle silence.
As the silence settled between us, I glanced at Rune and spoke, my tone light but laced with concern.
"Well, you should also catch some sleep while you can, Brother."
He turned to me with a quizzical look, his brows slightly raised in question.