TBATE - Not Bound By Fate

Part 15

It's finally the day I will be going to Xyrus and reunite with my family. I'm both excited and nervous. Excited that I will be seeing my family again after so long, especially dad. And nervous about how they will react to my new appearance. Even though they eventually came to terms with my reincarnation, me looking more like Sylvie than them might change that. Tess and Sylvie did what they could to reassure me that everything will be fine, and while I don't plan to tell them about it before I did in the original timeline, I'm still worried about what will happen when the time comes.

After a few minutes thinking about what is to come I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind and started getting ready for my last lunch with Tess for a while. I thought she would be a bit down that we wouldn't see each other for some time, but I guess having a way to talk and me being able to teleport helps with that.

Entering the dining room I was greeted by Merial and Alduin, who now insist I call them mother and father, and took a seat beside Tess. As we ate, we talked about how the tournament taking place in Xyrus will help bring the three races together and other things like that. It was only when we left the dining room that I noticed Viron didn't join us for lunch like usual.

"Hey Tess, do you know where Gramps is?"

"No, he said earlier he had to prepare something with Alea before you left but he wouldn't tell me what." She answered but for some reason I felt a chill run down my spine at her words.

"I doubt anything good will come out of whatever he's preparing."

"I'm sure it's nothing bad Art."

"I hope you're right."

After this little exchange with Tess I went back to my room to finish packing. I actually had quite a bit to take back with this time. Mostly the clothes Seele gave me and some from mother after I proposed to Tess, but I guess that's better than only the clothes on my body and the medallion like last time, maybe I'll be able to avoid the shopping trip tomorrow.

Yeah, no. There's no way to avoid that hell.

Letting out a sigh of defeat I finished organizing them on top of the bed and put them in the storage rune.

"Ready to go Regis?" I asked him. He's been laying on the couch sulking for the past few hours.

"No. I didn't get my daily dose of Aya today."

"What do you mean daily? She's been gone for a week now because of a mission."

"You're only making it worse." He complained.

"Just get up already. Alea came back from the glades to see us off and I'm sure there are plenty of pretty ladies waiting for you in Xyrus." I said hoping that would be enough to make him get up.

"Fine." Regis said after a few minutes of pondering my words. "Where is the gecko princess by the way?"

"Sylvie went to see elder Rinia yesterday. She should be getting back any minute now. Now get up, we're on a schedule."

Regis grumbled a bit but got up and we made our way to the entrance of the palace to wait for father and mother. As we were waiting for them Sylvie came back. I asked her the reason she went to see elder Rinia but all I got was that a lady needs to have a secret or two.

Not long after Sylvie came back the Eralith family arrived followed by Alea and some staff that would accompany them. Before we went outside to board the carriage Viron and Alea pulled me aside. She looked at me with an apologetic expression while gramps had a look of mischief. Once we were far away enough for everyone else, gramps finally spoke.

"Lance Alea, did you finish it?"

"Yes elder." Alea answered in a regretful tone.

Just as I was about to ask what they were talking about Alea took out something from her dimensional ring. It was red with purple needle-like spikes covering it and had a dark, sinister aura around it. It was as long as Dawn's Ballad and girthier than my thighs. As I analyzed the thing in front of me, Virion spoke.