Chapter 346
Drowz and Wulv exchanged a glance, their own expressions mirroring the gravity of the situation. Wulv nodded. "Please, let us know if there’s anything we can do to help."
Zephyr inclined his head in gratitude, then turned to Terra. "Come with me, brother. Father will want to hear of this."
Terra stood, his footsteps now echoing with a strange heaviness, each one leaving a deep impression on the floor. Yet his face remained calm, eerily so, as if he were containing a storm within.
When they reached Ikem’s quarters, the door opened before they could knock. Ikem, seated calmly with a drink in hand, looked as though he had been expecting them. Ursula was beside him, braiding his hair.
He sighed as he glanced at his sons. "I sensed a disturbance. What has you both so serious on this day of celebration?"
The brothers bowed to both Ikem and Ursula before Terra spoke, recounting what his daughter had reported about the attack and the stolen relic. Contrary to their expectations, Ikem did not react with alarm. Instead, he regarded his sons with a thoughtful gaze.
"You’re both smart enough to recognize my current position," he said quietly. "The only advice I can give is to keep your actions measured and controlled. Remember all that I’ve taught you."
A wave of sadness passed between Terra and Zephyr. They had held onto the faint hope that their father’s reaction might be different, that he would be there to lead them through this crisis. But now, they saw clearly that he was preparing to leave, that his time on this plane was nearing its end.
Sensing the shift in the room, Ursula knocked Ikem on the head before drawing both sons into a warm, firm embrace. "Your father means to say that he will be watching you closely," she reassured, her words filled with both strength and love.
Ikem let out an indignant huff. "I never said that, woman!" He looked ready to argue further, but a stern glance from Ursula silenced him, and he downed his drink instead.
Terra and Zephyr exchanged a look, their hearts lightened somewhat by the scene. They saw a glimpse of the carefree side of their father, a side that carried far less weight than before. He had done all he could for centuries; now it was their turn to carry on his legacy.