<strong>The same day evening;</strong>
After having a group dinner with Azzy, his friends, and family, Leah was about to return to her home along with her parents.
Shaking Azzy's hands for one last time, Leah reminded him once again, "Make sure to come to the party. And don't forget that Camelot will always be on your side. So, don't hesitate to call for help when you need it."
Azzy neither replied Yes or No as he knew that he might not be able to attend the grand party at Camelot which will be arranged a week later. After all, he will be returning to his original timeline.
At the same time, since he knew that Leah, as a user of Celestial grade Arcana, won't forget him, Azzy treated it as a normal farewell.
Once they parted, Azzy and others returned to the hotel. While others slept in their rooms, Azzy's foster family gathered in his room to talk about the thing that they have been postponing all day.
"So, what happened with you guys?" as Azzy, taking his seat like the other three.
Affea let out a deep sigh, "Last night, while we are in deep sleep, someone knocked on the door. When I opened it, I saw you standing outside with a panicked expression.
Well, at that time, I thought it was you as he possessed a strikingly similar aura to yours. He said that he was created by a unique skill known as the fragmentation technique, which will allow one to split a fragment of their soul to create a whole new body. I have seen it before. So, I believed it.
Of course, there was also a tiny suspicion in my mind as to why you need to risk your life to create a fragment but when he informed me that your uncle was abducted, I panicked.
And after reading the ransom letter, my brain stopped working and we rushed out. I had to bring Avia with me because of safety issues.
But, in the moment of carelessness, I was knocked out and when I woke up, all three of us were lying at the Cathedral. There, we saw him again, although he appeared a bit older and taller. Most importantly, he is in the legendary realm. That's when I realized that it wasn't you and tried to confront him.
That bas***d said that he was trying to play with our minds for fun. If not for the fact that I'm no match for him, I would have beaten him to death. What else can I do other than let him disappear right in front of our eyes? Sigh…"
As Affea recounted the whole story to Azzy, the latter understood that somewhere in the near future, he will return to this exact day to save his family.
He didn't know who that imposter is or what happened at the church but one thing Azzy realized was that his existence will constantly bring danger to his loved ones.
Feeling guilty about the incident, Azzy apologized to the three of them. "I'm sorry."
With no expression on his face, his straight tone only made it appear like an insincere apology. However, Affea could somehow sense Azzy's feelings. She hugged him and said, "You cannot blame yourself when you have done nothing wrong. In fact, we should apologize to you. Even if he was an 8-star realm expert, I should have seen through his disguise. You are my son and yet, I didn't manage to tell the difference between you two. On top of that, I only troubled you for a while, making you run here and there."
"But…" Azzy tried to shed a light on the truth to clear their misunderstanding but the words didn't escape his throat, fearing that it might eventually lead to the reveal of time travel. Since they were fine, he decided to stay silent.
Once they left the room, he lies down on the bed, "first, a cardinal of the church, then, an ambush from a mysterious assassin, and now, the abduction. The attacks become more frequent, lately. I guess I should ask Vice President Ramiel, a favor. See if he can influence the church to stop going after my loved ones."
*Sigh*
The next day morning, everyone returned to Aclein City to continue their daily lives once again.
Azzy and his family returned to their home while his friends went to their dorms. Claire didn't waste any time to start packing her things so that she can move into Affea's household on the very same day.
Now that she had gotten permission from her mother as well as Affea and Oakley, the second princess of Triastal was on high clouds as she left the academy.
Meanwhile, Azzy was in his room, thinking deeply. "Is it really okay to leave without telling them? Whether I tell the truth or not, no one will remember me anyway. And once I return to the original timeline, even if I come back to the same time period, everyone will see me as a stranger.
But, what about me? I will have to live with their memories, right? Then, how could I act like a stranger when we meet in the future?
At least, my future self promised me that he will make sure Claire will remember me.
Barbara, on the other hand, will not be able to reunite with her boyfriend. And I will be the sole reason for their forceful breakup.
If she remembers it, she will resent me but if she doesn't, then, I won't even get an opportunity to ask forgiveness. Whatever the case, I won't feel good in the end. Sigh…"
<strong>Sometime later;</strong>
"Ugh, can't I live in that other guest room on the first floor? This was too far from Rael's." Claire complained as she stared around the large bedroom on the ground floor. It is practically the room, next to Avia's.
"Nope, can't do that." Affea shook her head in response. She further explained, rather in a strict tone, "Both of you are too young to even think of doing naughty things in the house. When both of you become adults, I would permit the two of you to live together if you want to move into a separate house but for now, you will follow the house rules.
When you are here, neither of you will visit each other's room after 10 p.m. And in other times, when both of you are together, the doors will not be locked. So, that means there's no privacy for you.
Since you live here, I'll start to think of you as my family rather than a guest. Hence, my behavior toward you might be different from the past. Just so you know…"
While Affea started listing the house rules like a dormitory warden to give clarity to Claire on how her life is going to be at the mansion from the next day, Azzy was watching them from the living room in sadness.
After a while, he walked into the room and interrupted them, "Aunt Affea, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Azzy, I'm not lecturing her. Certain things happen when a couple lives together under one roof." Affea thought that Azzy was trying to side with his girlfriend and make her compromise on some of the house rules but the 14-year-old doesn't seem like he is interested in that topic.
He replied, "No, I want to talk to you about something else. You too, Claire."
"Okay, what is it?" asked Affea. Claire also looked at him curiously.
Azzy answered, "I wish to go on a three-day vacation with all of you."
"Hmm?"
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