A Chemist's Interstellar Saga

Chapter 241: Father And Daughter
Chapter 241: Father And Daughter

Arix, hide in her invisibility combat suit, moved like a shadow past the guards stationed at the Moon Goddess Temple. Her mind raced with thoughts of which wall to scale for a quick getaway when a familiar voice broke through the silence.

”Arix, it’s clear around here. You can fly out,” Cassian’s voice floated over from the other side of the wall. He sounded brimming with excitement, as he knew they were moments away from seeing each other.

’Wait, how did Cassian know I was here?’ For a split second, Arix was puzzled. Then it hit her—the necklace around her neck was more than just a gift; it tracked her location.

With that realization, she didn’t dwell on it any longer. Instead, she responded with a rush of adrenaline, flying up to the wall’s edge and landing softly into Cassian’s waiting arms.

”Arix, you finally made it out,” Cassian said, his voice warm and filled with the longing that had been building up.

”Sorry for keeping you waiting,” Arix replied, meeting his gaze with equally deep emotions.

”These past two days must’ve been rough on you. Look, you’ve even lost weight,” Cassian murmured, his fingers gently brushing through the soft fur of the cute creature he now held.

Arix glanced at her still-round form and felt a bit amused. She hadn’t lost any weight, but that didn’t stop her from snuggling into Cassian’s touch. She playfully protested, ”It wasn’t hard at all. You’re the one who’s had it tough, waiting for me.”

Meanwhile, Drexel, leaning against the wall nearby, was on the brink of rolling his eyes at the couple’s lovestruck banter. He had endured enough.

After a few more moments of watching them fawn over each other, Drexel finally cut in, his patience wearing thin. ”Alright, that’s enough. Mom and Dad are still waiting for us back home. If we don’t head back soon, our excuse isn’t going to hold.”

Arix had been missing for two days. Drexel had covered for her, saying that Alpha Leonidas and Luna Amethyst wanted Arix to stay a bit longer. This had kept Thaddeus and Fleur from worrying.

But now, with the couple leaving the palace for their trip, Arix’s reason for staying at the palace was quickly wearing thin. If Arix didn’t go back now, she would have some serious explaining to do.

The thought of getting caught brought Arix and Cassian back to reality, and they reluctantly eased off their affectionate display.

Arix swiftly shifted back to her human form and, with Cassian’s hand firmly in hers, they made their way home, content.

As for Drexel, the unfortunate third wheel, he once again found himself enduring their endless public displays of affection.

When they arrived back at the Tiger clan, Arix noticed right away that the place was buzzing with activity. Everyone seemed to be in high spirits.

”Did something happen while I was away?” Arix finally asked, her curiosity piqued as she spotted several clan members who typically resided on other planets.

Usually, those who lived off-world only returned for the annual bloodline test. They rarely came back otherwise.

”What else? Grandpa’s returned, so the clan’s throwing a big welcome banquet,” Drexel had been around the clan for the past couple of days, so he filled her in.

”Oh, that explains it,” Arix nodded, the pieces falling into place.

Their grandpa had been the Pontifex for decades, serving as a guardian of the Tiger clan. After all his years of sacrifice and dedication, it was only right to throw a grand celebration now that he had come back home.

Drexel nodded in agreement, but then something seemed to click in his mind. He turned toward Cassian, a bit puzzled. ”So, we’re back home now... Why aren’t you heading out?”

Drexel had expected Cassian to take off after dropping them off, but it was clear Cassian had other plans.

Cassian’s posture stiffened, and his eyelashes fluttered with a nervous hesitation. He had intended to leave, but the thought of Scion still lurking around made him uneasy. He couldn’t bring himself to go back just yet.

Noticing Cassian’s sudden quietness and the way his gaze dropped, Arix quickly jumped in to reassure him. ”It’s probably better if you stay with us. Your parents are out enjoying themselves, and you’d just be alone at the palace. Why not join us at the banquet instead?”

Cassian’s eyes lit up, filled with gratitude. ”Yeah, that sounds good. Thanks, Arix,” he said, genuinely moved by her thoughtfulness.

Arix, completely smitten by Cassian’s charm, replied with a warm smile, ”No, thank YOU for staying with me.”

Drexel, meanwhile, could only stare at the two of them, utterly exasperated. ’Here we go again. All I did was ask a simple question, and now I’m stuck in another round of their lovey-dovey nonsense.’

With a shake of his head, Drexel decided to cut his losses. He ignored their affection-fest and made a beeline for the main hall, his frustration clear in his every step.

The atmosphere inside the main hall stood in stark contrast to the lively energy outside.

The room was heavy with an unsettling silence. Every member of the Tiger clan seemed on edge, their attention subtly fixed on two key figures: Vezgor, the former Pontifex, and Fleur, Arix’s mother.

Normally, one would expect a close bond between Vezgor and Fleur, given that they were father and daughter. But since their arrival, they had been acting as if the other didn’t even exist.

The tension between them was palpable, and it hung over the room like a storm cloud, making everyone hesitant to speak freely.

No one wanted to say the wrong thing and risk upsetting the delicate situation.

...

Krylak, the tribe’s leader, was at a loss.

He wanted nothing more than to see everyone getting along, especially between Vezgor and Fleur, but no matter how many times he tried to start a conversation, the tension in the room only deepened.

Sometimes, when you haven’t walked in someone else’s shoes, offering advice can do more harm than good.

With a heavy sigh, Krylak decided to let things unfold naturally, shaking his head as he opted to stay silent.

Fleur, far from a child, could see the efforts being made to mend the rift, but she knew too well that some wounds couldn’t be healed with a few well-meaning words.

Vezgor had been missing from her life for as long as she could remember.

His absence left a void filled by the cruel whispers of others: ”Your father doesn’t want you,” ”You’re just a child nobody cares about,” and ”He must have had a reason for abandoning you.”

These repeated taunts wounded Fleur deeply. At first, she’d argued back, then fought back with her fists. Later, she grew quiet, and finally, she began to believe them.

Her mother eventually stepped in, showering Fleur with love and confronting anyone who dared to hurt her. But the scars from those early years had already formed, leaving marks on Fleur’s heart that were hard to erase.

As a child, Fleur had both hated and missed Vezgor. But in the end, she found that forgetting was the only way to dull the pain.

Vezgor was well aware of Fleur’s resentment. He knew that the damage had been done, and nothing he could say would make it right. All he wanted, in whatever time he had left, was to make amends with the daughter he had failed.

Now he just wondered if there was really enough time left.

As he considered his own limited days, Vezgor began to think that maybe this distance was for the best. When he was gone, maybe it would hurt less if she remained indifferent.

So, they remained locked in this awkward standoff—Fleur, too proud to reach out, and Vezgor, too weighed down by guilt to break the silence.

It was into this heavy atmosphere that Drexel walked, immediately sensing the tension in the room.

He spotted two empty seats between his mother and his grandfather, assuming they were meant for him and Arix. Confidently, he made his way over, but just as he was about to sit down, Fleur caught him by the arm and pushed him toward Vezgor.