Chapter 556: Sons' Returned
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Boarding a transport ship, Gerald's body sank on his seat in relaxation.
Inwardly, he couldn't help but feel satisfied with this spacecraft. The seats were soft, warm, and could even give awesome massages to the passengers. His cabin was also large enough to function as a room. The service crew was welcoming and provided many amenities to provide excellent comfort to their passengers. Furthermore, the ship flew so smoothly that he couldn't even feel any turbulence. If he were to wake up in this room out of nowhere, he wouldn't have been able to guess that he's riding a spaceship.
But beyond the comfort of the transport ship, Gerald's mind was focused on something else...
Excitement bubbled within him at the thought of coming home after many years. This was the longest he and his brothers spent without their parents or with each other. They pursued their own adventures but stayed in touch. During their weekly virtual family dinner, they'd catch up, but ultimately, there are things that remain untold. Moreover, a virtual meeting was just not the same as being with them physically.
Gerald has grown up to be an outstanding young man. While he still remains mostly indifferent to everything, it's only like that at the surface now. His recent adventures imparted him with important life lessons that allowed his mindset to change.
Gone was his naive and somewhat self-centered attitude. Now, Gerald might look cold and indifferent at the surface, but his eyes shone with wisdom and insight. He's observant and flexible, capable of adapting on the fly.
Throughout his adventures in the alliance, he had made a handful of friends. Some he even entrusted his life with in times of need. Gerald never thought that he'd be capable of forging bonds like this, but here he was, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
As his thoughts drifted to this, he wondered how his brothers were doing.
Gilderoy was chasing after a girl, and Godwyn was constantly on a business trip. That's mostly the extent of what he knew about his brothers through the years they spent away from each other.
It's like they had this unsaid agreement to not worry the others about their personal matters or something. Some would see this as a rift in their relationship, but for Gerald, personally, he sees it as mutual trust and respect.
If things went awry, they'd still have each other's back. After all, their brotherly bond was forged strong since birth, and it wouldn't easily be broken just because they hadn't seen each other for a while.
Their not asking for help meant that they could still handle their own problems. Interfering otherwise would be seen as a disrespect, which will certainly create a rift between them. That's why they don't usually inquire too deeply about each other unless it was brought up.
Then, of course, there are their parents...
Their mothers were doing well. Although they personally didn't leave Prime Earth to pursue their interests, they could do so with the virtual universe.
Gerald can understand why his mother and his aunts didn't want to leave. It's because Prime Earth was entrusted to them by their husband, his father.
Sure, their family barely interferes or even pays attention to what's happening in the mortal world. They've long since maintained distance from them and would only step in if a severe crisis occurred.
The one that really kept eyes on the world was Godwyn, given that he's the current Governor of Solaris Prime, but even so, Godwyn doesn't show up in front of them very often. At most, his actions to improve the conditions of Solaris Prime happen in the background.
Prime Earth was the Stormriders' home. Born and raised there, it would make sense why they would feel reluctant to leave. But aside from this, his mother and his aunts just don't see the point of leaving.
In their opinion, they could pretty much do everything in the virtual world, so much so that there's barely any difference in reality, so why leave?
This point of view, however, didn't hinder their willingness to let their kids go out to pursue their adventures beyond the world. These women knew that Prime Earth was ultimately too small for their children, and for them to truly grow to their full potential, they must explore the unknown and search for their fortune.
Gerald sighed as his thoughts arrived here. He could still remember the slightly resentful and very reluctant face of his mother before he left. Her words back then didn't agree with what she actually felt; he even found her words rehearsed. However, Gerald didn't point it out. Instead, he took it in stride and left anyway.
Remembering this, Gerald thinks that his mother might still be holding a grudge because of that. It never came up during their weekly virtual family dinner, but it must be rectified nonetheless. He can't allow his relationship with his mother to sour even more, or else his father would beat his ass.
Speaking of his father...
'It's been 10 years, huh? Time flies so fast,' Gerald inwardly mused.
The thought of seeing his father again, in person this time, excites him. Meeting him at the Virtual Universe just wasn't the same. The virtual world can't capture the unique presence and awe-inspiring aura that his father had.
Gerald wondered just how strong his father was now after spending 10 years with the Border Patrol Guardians. He imagined that his busy schedule wouldn't easily allow his life evolution to progress. But he also knew that his father was a man of progress; there's no way he'd remain stagnant within these 10 years.
So, he should be stronger now but not that much. After all, only 10 years have passed since he left, and his father must've spent most of that time working to help the Border Patrol Office.
If only he knew...
'Father always told us that he's proud of us.' Gerald smiled wryly. 'It never mattered whether our cultivation speed was slow or fast. Hell, I think he'd be happy and satisfied with us so long as we remain upright citizens and decent human beings.'
'But we brothers always worked hard to make him prouder, for some reason.'
'I guess it can't be helped. Father's the legendary hero, the Sun Sage, of Prime Earth. As his children, we took it upon ourselves to become as, if not more, impressive than he ever was or is.'
Cedric has always been the idol of his children. Gerald and his brothers would even dare say that they couldn't have possibly hoped for a better father than him.
It's probably because of this that they are working so hard to follow in his footsteps in their own way. They fear the day when Cedric becomes disappointed with them. However, with how he is as a parent, so long as they never forget to apply the core values he taught them, that day will never come.
[Ding!]
Attention, dear customer. We have arrived at your destination. Please prepare to exit the ship.]
The message alert of the transport ship rang in Gerald's ears. He opened his eyes and stood up from his seat. He was already ready to leave the ship; he didn't bring many items with him in the first place; most of them had been left in his personal inventory.
Before leaving, he made sure to give a positive review for the service crew and the ship. He didn't have to but did so anyway.
There were no landing zones for transport ships anywhere near the Solaris Prime. It's still, after all, an isolated cosmic realm. Unless Godwyn lifted that status and ordered his men to make them, it'd remain this way.
Gerald just hopped off the ship and began walking on the vacuum of space like it was solid ground. If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't do this all the way here, he wouldn't have boarded a transport ship. But one day, he'll be able to.
"Geld! Over here!"
The unmistakable voice of Gilderoy reached his ears via sound transmission. He looked over and saw that he and Godwyn were already together, meaning that they arrived here earlier than he did.
"Gwyn, Lover Boy. Long time no see!" Gerald smiled as he approached his brothers and gave them a bear hug.
"Hmph! Somebody has learned some humor." Gilderoy snorted but held his brothers tight anyway. Meanwhile, Godwyn just laughed.
"Come on, guys. Let's go home," Godwyn urged, a barely concealed excitement in his voice.
The three of them didn't notice a pair of eyes watching them. It belongs to Roderika, who's already been informed of their arrival. She wasn't interested in appearing before them, but she did remember their faces for future reference.
The brothers easily passed through the enchantment. Once they did, they were stunned for a bit.
"Strange. Is it because we haven't been here for too long, or did things actually change that much within 10 years?" Gilderoy frowned as he felt somewhat estranged in their home.
"It's the latter," Godwyn replied. "Must've been Dad who did it. Come on, let's go home."
Holding both of his brothers, Godwyn took a space-warping step that took him directly to the entrance of the Sky Island. As soon as they landed there, their father's voice echoed in their ears.
'Come, join us for lunch.'
'Oh, and greet your mothers first.'