Supreme Magus

Chapter 4520: Lesson about Compassion (Part 2)

"Your mother is right, son." Raaz stood up and moved to Trion’s side. "I can’t speak for the rest of the family, but I would have forgiven you. Maybe it would have taken me longer than Elina, but you can bet your shadow ass I would have welcomed you back in the family."

"Don’t look at me, the jury is still out on that." Lith replied to those staring at him. "But what Big Brother says makes sense, if one believes in forgiveness."

Lith returning the moniker without a shred of sarcasm or spite brooked no further doubt about the change in his relationship with Trion.

"Fine." Rena sighed. "After all, Althika didn’t hurt or endanger anyone but herself with her actions. We should at least get to know her before burning her at the stake."

"Big sis!" Tista was flabbergasted. "Since when are you the violent one? That’s Lith’s thing!"

"Shut up! Rena snorted. "Like it wasn’t already bad having to take lessons about compassion from Lith. You guys are making me feel like a monster."

Raaz hadn’t said much, but he had given the matter a lot of thought. Yet his mind and heart were still at odds with his rampaging trauma.

"Please, be honest with me, Lith." He said. "Is the baby..."

Silence stretched for long seconds as Raaz mustered the strength to finish his sentence.

"Really cured? Is there anything of Meln left in him?"

"I’m sorry, Dad." Lith replied. "The baby’s genetic material is indeed half Meln and half Dryad. Nothing can change that."

He paused, letting those words sink in.

"Yet Erkin is his own person. He’s no Vurdalak and carries no trace of either Meln or Night. He’s a baby no different from Dhiral or Leria. For what it’s worth, he has no conscience or morals yet, but he refused to feed on his mother.

"He perceived the threat Althika posed to him, yet refused to fight her. In my book, this says a lot. The little fellow hasn’t even seen the light of day, but he’s already nothing like his father."

Raaz mulled over the memories of what he had seen and heard during the mind link for a few seconds before making up his mind.

"I agree with you, son." Raaz nodded. "If you don’t mind, I’d like to meet my grandchild. You guys stay here and-"

"I’m coming with you." Elina said.

"Same." Trion nodded. "In a world of people who’ll hate Erkin for his blood, he needs someone like me to teach him how not to become a total fool."

"Gods, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m coming too." Tista sighed. "I hate Meln, but Erkin is a Demon, and Demons stick together."

"Kami, Senton, this leaves just us." Rena pinched her nose in frustration.

"Who’s us?" Kamila asked. "I didn’t say anything because I know how hard this is on every one of you, but I’ve made up my mind since Lith shared his inner struggle with us. He named Erkin and offered him hospitality. That’s more than enough for me."

Kamila and Solus were the only ones aware of Lith’s first life and also the only ones he had shared the entire procedure with. They knew about Carl and what the name Erik meant to Lith.

"Please, Dear, don’t tell me that the only reason you’re still sitting is that you don’t want to leave me alone." Rena said to her husband.

"I’ll remain silent, then." He gave her a warm smile and held her hand.

"Thanks." Rena stood up, still feeling unsteady on her feet and in her beliefs. "What are we going to say to the children? What do we do if they ask us who the father of their cousin is?"

"Aran and Leria are old enough to understand the truth, if we explain it to them clearly." Lith said. "As for the triplets, let’s keep things simple. We’ll tell them Althika is Trion’s girlfriend and the baby is his."

"What?" The entire family said in unison.

"It’s the simplest and most practical solution." Lith shrugged. "The triplets still believe that a child is born when a mom and a dad share a special hug that makes the mom bloat until the baby pops out by miracle.

"Moreover, Falco and his siblings have no idea how my Demons work, and Trion can still hug people. As for the toddlers, they have no concept of baby-making at all. We just point them at an alleged father, and they’ll buy it."

"I’m not saying you’re wrong, little brother, just that I don’t like your idea." Trion snorted.

"Then how do we explain our blood ties with Althika’s baby?" Lith replied. "Do you want to tell the children that Dad or I are the father?"

"Gods, no!" Trion shuddered at the idea. "Maybe..."

His mind went blank, and no matter how much he pondered the issue, he couldn’t find a valid alternative to Lith’s solution.

"Let’s go with your idea, then." Trion sighed. "A bit of embarrassment is worth sparing that poor child from being hated by the rest of our little ones. Where is Althika?"

"Inside my tower, resting." Baba Yaga said. "If it makes you feel better, she never left her room or set foot in the Mansion. Neither she nor her baby entered your home at any moment."

Raaz gritted his teeth at the allegation, but was secretly relieved at the news. And he wasn’t the only one. Despite their words and rational thoughts, most of the Verhens found the idea of Orpal’s blood violating the sanctity of their home revolting.

’Maybe things will change once I get to know Althika and the baby, but right now the best intentions in the world can’t stop me from seeing her like Meln’s whore and the baby as his accursed spawn.’ Raaz thought.

"Do you want to visit her, or do you want me to move her to the Blood Desert right away?" Baba Yaga asked.

"I think we should meet her at least once." Raaz said, color draining from his face. "If we’re going to be her family, we can’t send her away without even introducing ourselves."

"That’s thoughtful of you, dear." Elina said, yet the word her tone conveyed was, brave. "I agree with you."

The Verhens approved Raaz’s suggestion one after the other, until the decision was unanimous.

"There’s no point in delaying the inevitable." Raaz swallowed hard. "Let’s do it now and get it out of the way. Can you please bring us to her, Yaga?"

’Dad is making it sound more like a dentist appointment than a family reunion, but this is terrific progress from him.’ Lith thought.

"No problem." A wave of the Mother’s hand Warped everyone inside Bloodhaven, but in an antechamber outside Althika’s room. "She’s behind that door. Take your time to prepare yourself if you need.

"Also, if it’s of any help, she’s still sleeping. You don’t have to worry about losing your composure. I can wake her up after you’ve gotten used to her presence."

"For the gods’ sake, this is ridiculous!" Raaz snarled. "We are taking so many precautions that one would think we’re about to meet a ferocious Dragon instead of the mother of my grandchild. Even worse, we have Dragons as guests for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!"