TBATE - To Right My Wrongs

Chapter 6: Meeting the Parents

Warning: This chapter contains detailed scenes of violence. If you are easily affected by such scenes, please skip the ??? portion of the chapter.

Chapter 6: Meeting the Parents

Arthur Leywin

After speaking with Virion, he left me to rest for a bit longer in my bed saying he would speak with the royal family about having a meeting with me. Although instead of resting, a million thoughts ran through my head. The events in this life had changed far too much, and I knew things weren't right.

Starting off, the animals in the forest were acting too strange. Recklessly attacking even in the face of a powerful opponent went against a wild animal's natural instincts, yet they had resisted the aura of both Sylvia and I. Along with that, their numbers were much larger than expected. What had caused them to relocate to that area and act so strangely?

Then there was the leader of the slave traders, Danton. He was incredibly powerful for what had been a dark red stage augmentor, and had clearly had horrific things done to his body. The constructs of his body weren't human, and he was barely alive - if that could even be called living.

Finally, there was Tessia. She had not only used the advanced wind spell "vortex blade," but had even used the plant magic spell "bind." This was all right after awakening, which had also been strange. Awakening was a process which normally took extreme concentration and a calm setting. Yet, she had awakened in what must have been a stressful and trauma-inducing situation.

All of this brought me to one conclusion. One question that had stuck itself in the back of my mind since my reincarnation. Was I the only one who went back in time?

As soon as I came to that thought, the door burst open.

Before I could even look up, I felt an impact hit my chest. A wave of silver danced before my eyes. Looking down, I saw two little pointed ears fluttering up and down ever so slightly. Although I couldn't see her face - which was buried in my chest - I knew who this was.

I laughed, and said, "Ow, Tess. Headbutting an innocent patient in recovery like this? How could you be so cruel?" Although I had only intended on teasing her, she stiffened at my words. When I felt her tense up like she was preparing to pull away, I wrapped my arms around her back and pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm only joking. I'm glad you're okay, Tess."

"Dwumy, hwo cwuld ywe de tht?" the muffled voice of my childhood friend asked, incoherently.

"What was that, princess? I can't quite hear you." I said, patting her head.

She raised her head, her tear stained face coming into my view, mere inches from my own. It seemed like she had been crying for a long time.

Suddenly, I felt a pinch at my side.

"Owch, Tess! Tess I give, I give! I'm sorry!" I yelped, playfully.

A serious, yet tearful and worried expression popped up on her small face. "Good. Then you're not allowed to do that ever again, understood?" her voice came out nasally as she asked.

I laughed, and pulled her back into a hug. "Okay okay. I'll be more careful from now on." I said, appeasingly. I'm not sure if she didn't believe me, but her hands gripped my shirt extra tight like I'd run off and get nearly killed again. "Tess, I promise. Now that we have a second chance, I'm not going to waste it." I said with a wink.

She looked surprised for a moment, before a smile appeared on her face. "I wanted to surprise you. How did you know?"

"How could I ever forget the person I wanted to see most?" I asked.