The moonlight painted everything in silver. The weather was neither too hot nor too cold tonight. Rather, in Alice’s balcony, it was warmth that enveloped the world around her.
But she still sat frozen on the chair, her whole body trembling with fear. Fear of waking up from a dream. She feared that the moment she moved, this slightest stir would shatter this dream.
Because standing in front of her...
His black hair was slightly messy. His clothes were torn in some places. A faint trail of dirt still clung to his boots.
Her son... Her boy... Alive!
Her tears sparkled like silver fireflies under the moonlight.
"Logan..." she whispered again, finally mustering up courage. But with caution, as if saying it out loud might break the illusion.
But the boy took a slow step forward, and then another. His gaze was soft, gentle, and also filled with tears. He didn’t want to make his mother worry, but here he was—exactly doing what he shouldn’t have.
Without another word, Alice stood up on shaky legs and rushed forward.
She hugged Logan, wrapped her arms tightly around him.
As if he might disappear again if she let go. And Logan... he hugged her back as well.
This time, he didn’t hold back. He didn’t try to suppress the warmth bubbling in his chest.
The reunion didn’t need words.
Only tears that were louder and clearer than words ever could become.
Alice sobbed quietly against his chest, one hand clutching his shirt, the other gently cradling the back of his head.
"Honey! You came back... You’re alive..." she whispered again and again, as if trying to convince herself.
"I’m sorry, Mother," Logan replied softly. "For making you worry."
"You’re here... that’s all that matters..." she sobbed, kissing his forehead with affection that no wealth could ever compare to.
They stayed like that for a long time.
Until finally, Logan gently pulled away. He wiped her tears with his thumb and held her hands.
"Mother," he said with a serious tone now. "You can’t tell anyone I’m alive. Not yet."
Alice blinked. "W-Why?" She was taken aback with Logan’s sudden request.
"I need time," Logan said. "I need to disappear for a while. Get stronger and prepare. There are people out there who won’t stop. They want something from me. Do you remember, you asked me how I defeated those kidnappers back then? Even before that, you asked me how I kept getting stronger even with my mana core being sealed?"
"Yes." Alice replied.
"The thing is," Logan continued again, "I got lucky and stumbled upon a training method. It’s miraculous. And there are some really bad people who want it for themselves. If I stay here, the number of people like them will continue increasing. If they know I’m alive, they’ll come again... and next time, it won’t be just me who gets hurt."
Logan had already shared his cultivation secret with Rowan and Daliah. Keeping it from Alice felt like injustice to her. She was his mother after all.
"Then can’t you just give them what they want? After that, they should leave us alone, right?" Alice asked with a pleading tone. She didn’t want Logan to leave again.
"I could. But it will only bring chaos and destruction on the world. A weapon has both its usefulness and its curse. When in the right hand, it will bring blessings. It will protect those who can’t protect themselves, it will drive away bad and evil. But when in wrong hands, it will turn evil itself. It will become a bringer of death. I can’t let that happen. I will pass it on to others who really deserve it. But before that, I still need to be strong." Logan explained.
"But Logan!" Alice hesitated. She didn’t want to keep worrying about him.
"I’ll come back safe, mom," he promised. "I swear it. But until then, I need you to stay strong. Please... don’t tell anyone. Not even the servants. Especially Lady Mirena."
Alice stared at him. Her heart was torn between relief and fear.
Logan hesitated before coming clean. "I’m going to become a hunter. And join in different raids."
"What?! Dungeons? No way I am going to let that happen. You will surely die there, Logan. Please listen to me for once." She panicked. She had just got him back and didn’t want to go through the same trauma again.
Logan put his hands on her shoulders gently. "Have faith in me, Mother. Though I am still too young, I am not that weak. Deep down, you know it too, don’t you?" Logan asked with a smile.
"I..." Alice opened her mouth but didn’t answer. No way in hell she would confess that. She was afraid that it would only encourage Logan to jump into the midst of danger even more.
"I will not be alone either. There will be others.....stronger, experienced. They will take care of me." Logan kept trying to convince her.
"I will train harder and learn from others. And even after my death, people will still keep an eye here, but no one will think to find me there. And....."
He paused for a bit. Then continued...
"When I return... no one will dare to come even close this time." A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
Alice bit her lip hard, trying not to break down again.
Then she nodded. She had to trust him. She knew that what Logan said was the truth. This villa was more dangerous for him at the moment.
"I... I understand," she said finally.
Logan smiled faintly. "But I need to speak to Father once. Can you call him—quietly? No one else should know. Not even the guards."
Alice wiped her face and took a deep breath. "Okay. I’ll get him."
She walked out quickly but silently.
A few minutes later...
Rudeous entered the room with Alice. His brows were furrowed, clearly confused why Alice had called him without an explanation.
But the moment he stepped into the balcony and saw the boy standing there—
Rudeous couldn’t move.
His breath hitched. His eyes widened.
The name escaped his lips before he could stop it.
"Father," Logan said quietly.