Eternal Winter's Reign - Book 2 - Chapter 77 - Home
Added 2024-07-19 14:56:20 +0000 UTC----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't mind this. It's so that free readers can't see half the chapter.
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Next two chapters are slightly shorter due to being an epilogue and the last chapter before it.
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For those of you who are reading this on a website that is not Patreon, please stop. You're reading a pirated version. Instead, if you would be so kind, please click on the table of contents link below and go to my Patreon instead. Or even read it off of Royal Road, which is free.
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Alexander North
I don’t manage to tell the entire story before we reach the refuge staging area within one of the flagship’s hangars. A secluded corner within the massive hangar far away from the cold energy field blocking the Eternal Winter from entering the ship while also blocking air from leaving it.
And everyone immediately kneels when they see the emperor. Everyone but Cynthia, who is instantly recognizable due to being the only one not kneeling amidst thousands of people.
From what I understand, this is just one of the many refugee staging areas. But I also happen to recognize quite a few people here. Which is interesting.
They’re all people from the bases nearby the capital.
Cynthia walks out from the group of people and immediately gets swept up in a hug by her father. Then, after at least a few minutes of hugging each other, they separate and he immediately begins talking to her at a rapid pace while guiding her away from the refugees.
Refugees who don’t look the least bit surprised by this.
Which makes sense. Everyone knows that the emperor adores his daughter.
I give a wry smile at them before following after, the three of us entering a more private room.
Then Cynthia starts sharing her own story with her father as I sit here and occasionally chime in myself.
Until the door opens and Alexia immediately runs straight to me, leaving an officer standing at the door while bowing. Letting the door shut behind the girl.
I pick Alexia up with a smile of my own, purposefully ignoring the amused look Uncle Rainald is sending me.
Alexia doesn’t say a word though, seemingly looking a little intimidated by the emperor while burying her face in my shoulder. So I go ahead and tell her while rubbing her back, “Don’t worry, he may look a little rough around the edges, but he’s your grand-uncle. My mother’s brother.”
The girl doesn’t remove her face from my shoulder though, leading me to just shrug at the emperor. Who looks rather disappointed by that.
“So,” he eventually says after waiting a few seconds, “how exactly did you get a daughter? No one ever filled us in, and the ship detects the same energy signature coming from the two of you, confirming she is your biological daughter.”
I open my mouth at that, only for Alexia to finally glance at him and answer, “He’s Dad because he’s Dad.”
That makes me close my mouth again without a word, feeling bemused by her own words.
“Yes, but how is that-” the emperor begins before stopping when he sees the look she’s sending him. Then he just looks at me.
“I’ll explain it later when Dad is-” I begin, just to be cut off by the sound of the door opening. Followed by a familiar voice.
“Well, I’m here,” Dad says as he walks in, “how about you tell me all about my new granddaughter?”
I focus on him. But I quickly find myself surprised when Alexia looks up at him and smiles. Albeit not saying a word.
“Well, it’s a bit of a long story,” I tell him while glancing between Alexia and Dad. Feeling a little bit surprised by how friendly she seems to be with Dad. All things considered.
He is also a public face as well, not to mention he’s personally a lot stronger than Uncle Rainald.
Dad smiles at us as he walks over to the two of us and says, “That’s fine. Take all the time you need.”
When he reaches us, he stops about half a meter away.
Then, to both our and Uncle Rainald’s surprise, Alexia reaches her hand out to him, making Dad immediately smile in response before he takes her hand. Only for Alexia to pull him over towards us, following which the three of us somehow end up in a hug.
In the corner of my eye, I see Uncle Rainald and Cynthia smiling before hugging each other again as well.
Both of our families having finally been reunited.
With an additional member now.
My smile grows as Alexia wraps her arms around me and Dad’s necks, with Dad hugging the both of us. As a feeling of warmth spreads through my chest.
As I feel really happy and relaxed for the first time in a while.
No current dangers. Not with Dad here.
No more anxiety. No more living in fear.
Now we’re reunited.
And more powerful than ever.
The Sun God, the Winter God, the past death of Collapse and First Rain, and the Vanguards across the many planets. The refugees filling the ship as we speak and the people who still need saving on other planets. The Frozen Lords that I need the energy of all across the universe to grow stronger.
To grow strong enough to defeat the Winter God.
And to take the Winter God’s place.
But for now, I enjoy peace.
I enjoy my family.
And I enjoy the happiness that comes with it.
We can deal with everything later. And with far more numbers than we had before on Arran. Both in terms of quantity and quality, with higher Tier Symbiont Hosts.
Because now I’m home.
Where my family is.
