The pouring rain was pattering against the mana barrier and slowly falling down towards the edges of the mountains that acted in the Inner City’s wall. Now that Elijah was looking into the sky and observing much closer than normal, the sight reminded him of being stuck inside a snowglobe.

“Welcome back younglings.” The butler greeted Elijah and Alexia, and tipped the driver before he left.

The estate seemed quiet, only to walk into the kitchen to grab a glass of water and see every adult calmly waiting for their arrival. Don was sitting in his wheelchair with a straight face as Phloria had her hands on his shoulders. George and Gloria had their hands raised in praise at the sight of two new hunters. And Mitch and Lea were running towards Alexia to hug their beautiful daughter who had entered an entirely new world.

“I assume things went well Elijah.” Don was the first to speak, albeit in a condescending tone.

Alexia walked in the room and smiled at the sight of everyone, but Elijah walked in the room with a straight face. “We passed, but at a great cost. Two lives of our party were lost…”

George was stunned. “What! How is that even possible? The examiner shoul–”

“The examiner left at the very start. She said something that was related to outside the city. Thankfully no one I knew or we knew personally was killed.”

Alexia’s parents tightened their hug before letting go and brushing her hair with their hands. However, Alexia was confused as to how Elijah was reacting. It was understandable, but didn’t make sense based on how he was acting with Novius and in the carriage.

“How pitiful. Did they atleast compensate you? This isn’t the first time something like this has happened…” George seriously asked.

“Yes, although I feel like I wasted my compensation. Lorsen Creveron doesn’t seem to like water mages, and I asked for a guaranteed spot on the frontlines. Of course when I am at a certain level of power. However, I don’t think he knows I fully understood what I wished for.”

“Ah, yes. That Creveron member is quite discriminatory towards hunters who have what he calls, lesser affinities. Which just means any affinity also geared for support and healing.”

“I guess that makes sense. I am going to go up to my room now. What time will dinner be served?”

“As soon as Novius returns home. I’d say within the next three hours.”

Alexia stayed with the adults, and Elijah slowly walked up the carpeted stone stairs. Why has father been acting so distant lately? It’s obvious it has something to do with his condition, by why is he taking it out on me? I wonder what Novius is up to. That group seemed to be waiting for something.

Over one-hundred-fifty pushups and one-hundred cossack squats were completed in three sets until failure. Elijah saw black hair that was combed back on his head with just a bit of volume. An incomplete middle part with blue eyes that seemed to have a slight glint to them. His muscles that looked like the peak of newbie gains had sweat dripping down them. Body weight exercises can’t get me much further than this at my age, which isn’t a problem considering that I can do everything I need to physically, without even thinking about my flight ability.

Elijah took a swig of lightly salted water, and heard a knock on his door. His mother was asking to enter.

“Come in!”

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“Hey honey, I just wanted to let you know that your father is acting the way he is for no reason other than his own body.” Phloria was concerned about how her son was being affected by her husband's behavior.

“I know. I just wish he realized he saved my life before I saved his…”

Phloria looked at Elijah’s eyes of sorrow, and hugged him while massaging his back. “After understanding the state of the kingdom, the only thing he wants to do is help. But since this recovery is taking longer than expected, he can’t help but relish in what he feels is embarrassment. Also, I can tell you have been working your body a lot lately. Is it for a specific reason? A reason involving a girl?”

Elijah knew exactly what she was getting at, and instead of seeming like a child much older than his body, he let his emotions free. An attempt to fully realize his reality. “What?! No not at all! I’m doing it so I can be a strong hunter!”

It felt fake. It is true he had grown quite close to Alexia, but still, he had his sights on something far more grand. Freedom!

“Sure honey. Just remember to enjoy life, and make the most of it. After all, that is the point of not living forever.”

Enjoy life… Make the most of life.

It felt like Phloria’s words hit him like a train. A tingling feeling started spreading through his body, and tears started dripping out of his eyes.

Elijah couldn’t hold back his cries. This life wasn’t something he ever wanted. To this day, he was still unsure of whether he wanted to live or not. ‘I could simply go into the catacombs… and never return…’

While Phloria was partly confused at his reaction, she also understood he also just went through a very traumatic experience. While Elijah never descriptively shared the details, everyone in the kitchen felt remorse coming from Elijah’s words.

Previous memories of his grandparents, parents, friends, wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were passing through his mind as he was soundly asleep in his bed. Elijah had no idea he had all these bottled up emotions in his closet. However, after waking up, he felt like a new person, and had new emotions in his chest. He couldn’t let go of his past. Elijah wanted to see all the people he loved so much again, to reminiscence on the memories they made together. He felt dismayed at the idea that immortality was not possible, and wished for lives to be extended.

Elijah wanted more time.

Knocks were heard at the door followed by words from the butler. “Dinner is ready, Elijah.”

Being completely naked, Elijah unearthed the sheets on his body and stood out of his bed in between two windows. The night was already dark due to the season slowly returning to winter. Thankfully, the cold doesn't reach too far into the crater, but only the snow, which would pile up on the mana barrier and bring back the madness. If Elijah could guess, his birth month would be early November, which is around the same time he died. Coincidence, or deeper meaning.

After clothing himself with the simplest cotton and linen garments, he walked outside his room to see Alexia walk out of her room. Lot’s of voices were heard downstairs which signified guests were here. “There are guests here, we should probably put on more respectful clothing hahaha.” Alexia had the exact same idea as Elijah.

Downstairs, George was chatting it up with Vyn Rusteire in the grand foyer, the council member of the Outer West. And Orin Vandenburg, a noble man who was groomed into a family of transport by his father, Aelric, who was the elder of the Vandenburg family, as well as being present at this unexpected gathering. The moment George saw two familiar faces walking down the stairs, he introduced them both to each other.

Vyn commented first. “Ah, I see you have many talented mages in this household George. I am impressed. It’s a pleasure to meet you Elijah. And you as well Alexia!”

“I think my wife told me about you Elijah. She saw something in you during the gathering at the grand park.” Orin said after he sipped his tea.

“Yes, I remember your wife quite well. She found me when I got lost.” Elijah responded.

George finished the conversation by leading them into the living room that had been converted into a formal dining room. Five large circular wooden tables were spread across the room, and each served a purpose to house an age group or gender for the adults. The tables were quite large and in total had the capacity to fit 41 people in the majestic living room. More chef’s and maid’s than usual were rushing in and out of the living room and kitchen, which made Elijah think this gathering was on short notice. However, Elijah saw yet another familiar face talking to his father while entering the loud room. Lorsen Creveron.

The sight of the large number of people excited Elijah and filled him with warmth. He loved gathering like this. Only large amounts of preparation could allow them to go smoothly, and it seemed George had some serious people in his pocket that he could call on.