A Chemist's Interstellar Saga

Chapter 242: An Awkward Reunion
Chapter 242: An Awkward Reunion

”Mom, what’s going on?” Drexel asked, completely bewildered by her actions.

Fleur didn’t bother with an explanation. Instead, she flashed a bright smile and turned toward the door. ”Arix, Cassian, come sit here. I saved these seats for you.”

Drexel was certain his mother had no clue that Cassian would be coming, so those seats had clearly been intended for him!

’It’s one thing when Arix was around, but why does Cassian’s presence always push me to the sidelines?’ Seething inside, Drexel could only roll his eyes in frustration as he took a seat next to his father, Thaddeus.

Thaddeus, ever the attentive father, noticed his son being sidelined once again and offered a comforting pat on the shoulder.

The small gesture lifted Drexel’s spirits, but only for a moment. That brief sense of comfort evaporated when Thaddeus turned his attention fully to Cassian, showering him with care.

”Cassian, how is Arix doing in the Empire recently? Did she get you any trouble?” Thaddeus asked warmly. His eyes was filled with kindness as he looked over at Cassian, who was now sitting comfortably next to Fleur.

Fleur held Cassian’s hand, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

The young man wasn’t just easy on the eyes; he carried himself with a noble, gentle demeanor that impressed her. Even more, his devotion to Arix was something to be admired.

As both Fleur and Thaddeus observed Cassian, their approval of him grew by the second.

”No, no, Arix is doing very well. My parents like her so much. They even want her to stay a few more days,” Cassian said quickly, his gaze dropping shyly, as if embarrassed by their attention.

Fleur laughed softly, her tone warm. ”We like you too, Cassian. Why don’t you stay a few more days and keep Arix company?”

Cassian’s eyes lit up, though he tried to appear modest. ”Oh, would that be too much trouble for you?”

Fleur gently chided him, ”Don’t be silly. You’ll soon be my son-in-law; we’re family.”

Thaddeus, thinking Cassian was just being polite, smiled warmly. ”Exactly. She’s right. We’re family now, and you can stay with us for as long as you want.”

”Thank you. I can wait,” Cassian said, his voice full of gratitude. But as he spoke, his eyes briefly darted over to Scion on the other side of the table, a hint of smugness flashing in them.

Scion, however, was unfazed. He quietly focused on his pastry, completely ignoring Cassian’s attempt at a subtle power play.

Once Cassian felt he had made his point, he mentally scoffed. Then he turned his full attention back to chatting with Thaddeus and Fleur, the smugness in his gaze fading as he continued to bask in their approval.

Cassian’s attempts to charm her parents didn’t escape Arix’s watchful eyes.

The atmosphere might have seemed light and pleasant, but she was fully aware of his manipulative behavior.

Instead of finding it irritating, though, Arix observed his smooth-talking with a sense of indulgence. She had always known Cassian could be both charming and a bit two-faced, but she found herself enjoying it, even occasionally playing along.

”Arix, do you like him?” Vezgor suddenly asked in a soft voice.

Arix tore her gaze from Cassian and looked at her grandfather, nodding without hesitation.

Before, she might have just seen Cassian as her best friend. But now, understanding the depth of his feelings for her, she could no longer ignore the warmth in his eyes whenever he looked at her.

Arix just hoped that these budding romantic feelings wouldn’t grow too fast and distract her from the upcoming mecha competition.

”Is that so? Then that’s good.” Vezgor’s expression softened, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

However, the relief also seemed to weaken him, leaving him looking older and more fragile. It was as if the driving force that had kept him going was finally fading.

Arix noticed the change and felt a growing concern. A sudden image of her grandfather’s skeletal figure, something she had seen in a dream, flashed in her mind, filling her with a sense of dread.

Without thinking, she get closer and started observing him. She ignored his startled reaction, and checked his pulse, his eyes, and his skin. But Vezgor quickly backed up as if burned, his eyes filled with guilt. He struggled to find the right words to explain himself.

Though the moment was brief, Arix had learned enough. Her heart sank, and panic filled her eyes.

She had foolishly believed that once her grandfather escaped the clutches of the Moon Goddess Temple, he’d be able to live a normal life. But now, she realized his pulse was weaker than that of someone gravely ill, so faint that making it to tomorrow seemed uncertain.

’Does Mom know?’ Arix glanced toward Fleur, thinking of speaking up, but Vezgor quickly grabbed her wrist, his silent plea clear in his eyes.

”Arix, is something wrong?” Fleur’s voice, filled with concern, broke through Arix’s thoughts.

At the sound of her mother’s voice, she felt her grandfather’s hand tremble slightly. After a moment’s hesitation, Arix decided to honor his wishes. She forced a smile and shook her head. ”No, nothing’s wrong.”

Fleur still looked a bit uncertain but didn’t push the issue. She returned to her conversation with Cassian.

With the moment of suspicion passed, both Arix and Vezgor quietly exhaled in relief.

Then, Arix shot her grandfather a stern look and whispered angrily, ”We’re having a serious talk after this banquet.”

Vezgor could hear the real anger in Arix’s voice this time. He wanted to say something to comfort her, but she was done talking.

Annoyed, she began eating with exaggerated enthusiasm, even making loud chewing noises to express her frustration.

Cassian, thinking he was the cause of her sudden irritation, nervously kept adding more food to her plate.

Arix assured him it wasn’t his fault, but Cassian remained unconvinced. He became even more cautious around her.

After a while, Arix sighed, feeling both amused and exasperated.

Under her grandfather’s amused gaze, she finally relented, returning to her normal pace.

Cassian, noticing this, let out a relieved sigh.

From that point on, Cassian became increasingly attentive to Arix. He was always on edge, worried that he might accidentally overlook the girl he cared about so deeply.

Arix, seeing this, didn’t bother to correct him; she just let him continue with his newfound concern.

After the banquet wrapped up, Arix was too lost in thought to engage much with anyone. She slipped away quietly and headed straight to her room.

Later that night, when the moon hung high in the sky, the door to Arix’s room opened just a crack. She carefully stepped out, making her way to Vezgor’s door.

She knocked softly three times.

Vezgor, as if expecting her, responded with a resigned yet affectionate tone, ”Come in.”

Arix entered to find her grandfather busy organizing his Space Button. Without missing a beat, he slid one toward her.

”Arix, this is for you. When I’m gone, the money in here will be enough for you to live without worries.” Despite the grim topic, Vezgor seemed unusually relaxed, more at peace than he had been in a long time.

Arix stood there, fists clenched. She silently listened as her grandfather continued, almost as if he were giving his final instructions.

”Arix, I’ve failed your mother, and I can’t come up with a way to make up for it at the moment. When I’m gone, can you look after her for me? And also...”

Vezgor, not noticing the shift in Arix’s demeanor, went on cheerfully, listing off his final wishes.

”Enough!” Arix suddenly cut off Vezgor mid-sentence.

”These days, even an ordinary person can live to 150, and therians can reach 200 years. How is it that a therian like you, who’s only 60, is already in such a state? It’s because of me... isn’t it? It’s because of me that your life, which should have lasted naturally, has been reduced to just a few days.”

Arix’s voice trembled with despair, and tears began streaming down her face.

The words Ignathor had spoken in her dream had already weighed heavily on her heart like a thorn. Now, hearing them confirmed, the guilt was unbearable.

If it weren’t for her, her grandfather could have had at least another hundred years ahead of him. But now, even making it to tomorrow seemed uncertain.