The Innkeeper

Chapter 1962: I’ll make it up to you

Serene and Leon were quickly making their way through Arch-Heaven using a method of transport that was not as safe as the ferry, yet offered them far more freedom. They were riding Albino Daemon Eagles, which were also a part of the rules of Arch-Heaven since they were mounts specifically nurtured by someone with a relatively high official position.

"He’s left the Rohas," said Leon, sensing a change in Lex’s position. "Based on the speed and movement patterns, I’d say he’s taken a ferry."

"This son of mine is unusually active for someone so new to Arch-Heaven," Serene said with a hint of annoyance in her tone. Finally, finally they’d gotten a lead on Lex, who had seemed to disappear from the face of the universe. Before they left the Origin realm, they were somewhat constrained in their movements, but they had done the best they could at the time to find him. Yet, he was nowhere to be found.

Perhaps it was a strange twist of fate, or simply circumstances that resulted in such an outcome. Regardless, now that they had sensed him, they would not give up this opportunity to reach him.

Their task, however, was not made any easier by their son galavanting all across Arch-Heaven. Didn’t he know how dangerous this place was?

Maybe he did, but just like them, he had his own difficulties.

"Since it’s a ferry, he might use it to return to the fort. I say we continue heading towards there, and wait for him to return. In case he does, then we can follow him from there. We might even be able to learn why he went to the fort while we’re there," Leon said.

Serene sighed.

"Why do I get the feeling that this won’t be so easy?" she asked, a hint of anxiety creeping in her voice.

"Since when have we let easy or hard determine our path?" Leon asked softly. The two had been through a lot together in their lives, and none of it was simple or easy.

"I don’t care. Leon Williams, if my son gives me a hard time, so help me I will give up this accursed family name you’ve attached to mine."

Leon just smiled awkwardly, unable to argue against her. It couldn’t be helped. His own father, and the rest of their family, had given them a lot of trouble in their early years of marriage.

Who said being born in a rich and powerful cultivation family was great? Definitely not Serene.

"In the long run, things will be fine, even if he is upset at us for now," Leon assured her. "Once he understands our situation, he will eventually let go of any resentment he has. Towards his loved ones, Lex always had a soft heart."

Serene did not argue anymore, but the anxiety in her eyes did not fade. While what Leon said was true, that was a version of Lex that had ceased to exist long ago. Neither they, nor their clones had interacted with Lex ever since he stepped into the cultivation world. A lot could have changed since then.

"I hope the others are alright," Serene whispered as they continued to fly, her thoughts extending to her daughters. Not a single one of their kids had it easy, each one of them facing their own unique set of problems. Yet among them all, Moon was the one who suffered the most.

Serene suppressed the emotions rising in her heart. Those in extraordinary positions could not expect to live ordinary lives. For the greater good, they all had to make sacrifices. She just hoped that in the end, it would all be worth it.

*****

Lex sat in the ferry, looking awkwardly at Mango and Fenrir.

"Guys, I swear I’ll make it up to you. You don’t need to act like this," said Lex, feeling guilty over the fact that he had used up their Blessing Stones. Ordinarily, he would have been shameless enough to just go and ask Vox for more but...

When his power increased, and his aura spread out across the town, the residents had assumed that their fort was being raided again, and panicked. The guards were assembled, the houses shuttered, the weapons deployed.

The awesome power of someone at 11% power was tremendous and not easily combated, for which reason they even used their secret weapons, causing many of the townsfolk to sacrifice their own power percentages to deploy the weapons.

Yet after everything was ready, they could not find the enemies. Lex, feeling too embarrassed to explain the situation so he silently just boarded the ferry and quickly departed. He honestly felt kind of bad for the guys who sacrificed their percentages due to the misunderstanding and told Mango and Fenrir that he was thinking of compensating them with Blessing Stones.

Yet that was not such a good idea, because Lex hadn’t even realized that he had used up their stones too. The talk of compensation made them feel like they deserved some too, since they had sacrificed so that he could benefit. Yet instead of thanking them, or trying to make it up to them, he was talking about compensating others.

"It’s alright. No need to worry. I, the great and fabulous goldfish, am used to being taken advantage of by others. Who treats celebrities like normal people? No one. No one realizes that we’re just ordinary fish too, when we feel like it."

Lex smiled awkwardly, not realizing that his expression looked very much like his own fathers at that exact moment.

"Look, guys, I promise, I’ll make it up to you. I’ll get you double the Blessing Stones you guys gave me, I swear!" he exclaimed.

Yet his promises did nothing to Fenrir’s pout.

"This is going to be a long journey," Lex muttered to himself as he looked at the two of them.

"Oh now, he has an attitude," Mango said. "Come, Fenrir. We should know when we’re not wanted."