203 Reminiscing 1. (1/2)

”He or she knew when I entered and left your tower and was also able to communicate from that distance back to the Church's people,” Ozul added, which made the two brothers frown.

”Did those bastards send their men after you!?” Raymond could not control himself as he shouted in anger.

”As a matter of fact, they did. But there were only a few Rank-8. They hadn't known my rank,” Ozul answered calmly. He assumed that Raymond's outburst was only because of his anger towards the Church.

”Damn them!” Although Raymond notably calmed down after his explanation, he still cursed the Church under his breath.

”Don't worry. We will take care of whoever it was,” Alver assured Ozul with darkened eyes. The two had lost their sister before. Now they wouldn't tolerate it if someone went after the only son of their late sister.

”Alright. That was it,” Ozul noticed that the two kept their silence for some odd reason. Since he had said what he wanted to, it was time to leave.

He was just about to stand up when Raymond mustered up his voice and said, ”Ha-ha... we have something to... say.” His voice started to thin out in the end till even Ozul had difficulty to understand.

Ozul nodded his head and sat back down. It had been a while since he noticed their mixed emotions as well. He figured that something must have happened. Though after he sat down, the two brothers could not muster up their courage.

What would their nephew think about them? Would he hate them for never searching for him? Would he ask them why they let their only sister die? Would he hate them for only telling the truth now? All kinds of thoughts tortured the two brothers from inside.

Meanwhile, Ozul did not disturb their thoughts as he calmly stared at their faces filled with worry. If there were anyone else in the room, they would be surprised since they were two Rank-9 Mages, and their current state was never seen before. Even in battles did they never worry so much as they did right now.

”I...” x2

A few minutes later, both of them spoke simultaneously and looked at each other.

”... Forgive us!” x2

Raymond and Alver bowed their head before Ozul, who was more than surprised at their actions. He guessed that it could be anything from asking him some difficult favor or adding some unfavorable conditions in their partnership. But he never expected that the two brothers would suddenly bow their heads before him and apologize together.

”...For what exactly?” Ozul asked, unsure if they had done something wrong, and he hadn't yet received the report from Irvin.

”You are my what?” Ozul was patient with the two because not only were they Rank-9 Mages, feeling their emotions made him not say anything harsh either.

Raymond, not being able to hold it any longer, decided that it wasn't going anywhere. He took a deep breath and said whatever came first in his mind, ”We are your uncle!”

”...”

”...”

”...”

Raymond and Alver kept looking at Ozul with nervousness growing with each passing second.

”What are you trying to say?” Ozul asked after staring at the two with a blank face for a while. How could that 'father' of his have two brothers all the way over here in the Ash-... Unless...

”Wait a minute!” it finally registered in his mind when he thought about how his own last name started with 'Ash' as well. At his sudden rise in tone, the two brothers, uncaring of their arrogance as Rank-9 Mages, straightened their backs in fear of what was about to come.

”You two are the brothers... of my...” Ozul did not need to finish his sentence as Raymond and Alver both nodded their heads slowly while looking down at the floor.

Getting his confirmation, Ozul leaned back on the couch, remembering the only memory he had of his mother.

”... my boy..... I won't be there for you..... please take care of yourself. Be yourself... my ozul... Ozul Ashfall...” These were the last and only words his mother had said to him the moment he came into this world. He paid no heed to anyone's thoughts about him and did whatever made him happy in all these years only because of those words that his mother had said to him. He was simply himself.