Chapter 372: The Queen and Ivonne
While it was relieving that some top hero guilds started believing in the game's reality, the coin had two sides.
Some villains were in good contact with the antagonists.
They were thrilled about the second world and even Paradise. They understood that their villain role was not just a game but something more significant.
Those people became even more threatening than antagonists, for they could slip under the guardians' radar. And with methods provided by the antagonists, those people soon would start another wave of killing.
Fortunately, Harvey and other guardians had utterly given up on their daily jobs. That responsibility was more like a vacation for them and a taste of normal life after years of war against antagonists of their world.
Of course, not everyone had dropped their tasks. Harvey's friend still worked for the government, which was the fastest and easiest way to overcome many limitations and laws without betraying their identity.
Moreover, the guardians also started regularly meeting each other for spars in the mountains, far from the civilization. Their former allies had become stronger in their final battle against Blackburn Blade and his people.
Yasir's strength was proof of his power-up.
In this way, Earth became closer to the Avander World, for guardians started leveraging teleports and other paranormal means.
The worlds and time never stopped.
The gaming, the second chance, and the Deathwill Mao's lives continued despite all events happening in abundance.
[A few days later after Josh's funeral.]
Sara had decided to take a quick trip to the Dullahan Realm, for she knew her grandfather's circumstances. There was a chance that dullahans didn't know about their king's death.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})She already had an invitation from Thanas himself, so her journey was literally a few clicks of the system.
Because it was still dangerous for her to tread on those lands with her low level, Sara promised her husband that she would only be here for a few days. She would return to the Dullahan Kingdom for Ancestral Grounds with him by her side later on as she really wanted more levels to overcome that place and its trials.
Alex was thankful for her decision and didn't hide his relief.
"Your dullahan grandpa knows about your hidden strength. He praised you for having it, you know?" Alex said while having his daughter on his lap, gently stroking her hair as she silently listened to his story.
Celia felt Thanas' death more than others. She had been crying for a few nights and only now became closer to her old self.
She lacked her smile and usual exuberant self.
Alex held her in his arms to restore his usual little dullahan princess. He couldn't use the same method as he did to Olivia or even anything close to his understanding in Purgatory.
Thus, Alex shared a story about his meeting with the dullahan king.
"The authority?" Celia asked weakly, not lifting her eyes to look at her daddy. Instead, she clutched his clothes, wiping off her little nose and tears on them.
Alex nodded with a faint smile, "Yes. You can become the queen with that power-"
"I don't want to become the queen!" Celia suddenly shouted, pulling Alex's clothes while raising her blue eyes at him. Those gleamed in sadness and worry as if she would soon disappear from Alex's life.
He looked at her deeply, then patted her head, "Ok."
"Is that okay?" Celia asked, quite perplexed by Alex's instant reply. She understood that she wielded an unusual power, for even her dullahan grandpa praised her for it. He said that this power could save the whole dullahan race!
And as Alex said that Celia could become the queen, she believed it was how she should carry herself from now on.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})She didn't know what it meant to be queen. She only had Yumia as a reference. And her fairy grandma was always busy, moving around her tree or Deathwill Castle with people following her behind.
She rarely had time for a tea party or chess game with Celia's daddy. But every time Yumia could share some of her life with them, she would be overly joyful, her smile never disappearing from her beautiful face.
This made Celia believe that the queen was someone who never had time for her family. But there was naturally more to it.
"I don't want to leave daddy and mommy!" Celia shouted her feelings, not letting her father's clothes go.
Alex grinned, reassuring his daughter, "You follow your heart. It doesn't matter what it is; just follow what you feel in your chest. That's what it means to be yourself.
And if someone doesn't like or will try to stop you from being yourself, I will have a good talk with them. If that won't work, I will use [Daddy Fist] to explain my daughter's intent."
"Really?" Celia asked with more tears welling up in her eyes. After Alex nodded to her inquiry, she buried her face in his chest, crying loudly with tears drenching his shirt, "I love you, daddy!
I love you! I love you so much!" Celia let out all her feelings, which she had in her heart right now.
Alex ruffled her hair more, patting her back with his other hand, "Your grandpa dullahan was also quite free king. He spent time outside doing his thing while leaving all responsibilities to his family and loyal people.
You can be the same should a future force you to become The Queen. If that happens, daddy and mommy will help you find loyal people.
In fact, I recall your aunt Natalia. She was a quiet but smart and loyal lady. She will help her niece and ensure her happiness," Alex promised, his words turning Celia's mood better.
They cuddled like a good daughter and father, their lovely moment smearing honey on the hearts of everyone around them.
Harvey, Lavinia, and Stella couldn't take their eyes off the father-daughter duo, listening to their conversation with bright smiles.
They were here, for it was a perfect time to talk about someone important.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})A few days had passed after Yasir's visit. Harvey and other guardians moved forward, Celia's heart felt much better, and everyone else found some path for themselves too.
Alex was the same, even though he mostly spent time in his house on Earth or training in the barracks.
"Is she asleep?" Lavinia asked softly, her eyes on the sleeping dullahan princess.
Alex nodded, bringing his daughter close to Stella's hands, "Look over her."
"Ok," Stella replied faintly, going upstairs to Celia's room while tenderly holding the little girl. She was more than a good aunt because Celia was like everyone's daughter.
At last, Harvey locked his eyes on Alex's face. He deeply inhaled, finding the best words to ask his son the important question.
Finally, he asked, "Ivonne is alive within you, isn't she?"
"Yes," Alex replied without hiding anything, for Ivonne no longer could hide her presence from Harvey and Lavinia. He had a good talk with her after his battle with Yasir, not just to check his Asura Skills that stemmed from her but also to talk about his parents.
Harvey faintly smiled, "I'm glad…"
It was like some burden had been lifted off his heart. After all, Ivonne died because Harvey wanted to stop fighting. His decision to go to The Goddess' Statue caused Ivonne's death, for Blackburn Blade and his people had an easier time barging into this place.
Harvey knew that it was not totally on him. He knew that Ivonne was on the same side, yet he couldn't stop himself from taking some blame.
Ivonne was alive. And even if she was a demon, she had a bright future ahead. Harvey believed that Alex would continue evolving, and perhaps he would free Ivonne at some point.
And even if he wouldn't achieve such a feat, he at least would give a good life to Ivonne by being her partner for conversation, sometimes taking her out for common stuff, and more.
"She told me to tell you that you are an idiot if you blame yourself for her death," Alex said, gazing at his father. Even without Ivonne's words, he could tell that his father blamed himself.
Harvey chuckled, recalling Ivonne's sharp tongue and slight anger issues, "She's a loud, tough, and fierce, so you might soon have a bothersome hamster in your soul, Alex.
But… take care of her… I have already moved on from my past life. I'm sure Ivonne had the same thoughts after becoming a part of your strength.
I believe we both would like to have some talk with each other about past, future, and you, though… So my only wish is for you to give us a room to talk. I think your mother also would love to exchange a few words with her."
Alex's parents had also moved away from their previous lives. They never thought about a second child or didn't plan to expand their family.
They left it all to their son.
And they would genuinely love and care for everyone who became their son's lover, daughter, and more.
Perhaps, in a future where everything would resolve, Lavinia and Harvey would get thoughts about a second child.
But the man himself would never think of getting lovers, for trauma was too much for him.
Alex understood his parents, so he smiled widely, "I will always open my soul for you, father, mother. If Ivonne is what you just told me, I might rely on you to calm her down more than enough.
And if I happen to get enough power to let her stomp free on this world, you will not even need me to see her."
Alex wanted everyone to be happy.
And it seemed like at least everyone from his family had a good idea of their happiness that didn't really clash with each other.
Unfortunately, it was not that simple, for Alex had many wives, and he was just one man.
Time was his enemy when it came to everyone's happiness.
