Eternal Thief

Chapter 818 The Reunion (4)

On another small island, 

Ace and Alina sat on a beach close to each other while watching the beautiful sea sunset. 

Alina was leaning over Aceʼs shoulder with a blissful look in her dreamy eyes as if it was but a dream. Yet the sound of waves, cold winds brushing past her, and the familiar warmth she was feeling couldnʼt be any more real. 

”I missed you every day…” She muttered tenderly at this moment for the first time. 

Ace was enjoying this moment just as much as Alina and had a gentle smile on his face, ”I as well, missed you. Thinking about you, wondering what you wouldʼve been doing, were you healthy and taking care of yourself. Now seeing you all grown up into a beautiful young lady, time really flies, hasnʼt it?” 

”Itʼs been seventeen years, three months, and two days exactly since weʼd been separated, so yes, time flies.” Alina melancholically replied. 

Ace couldnʼt help but glance at Alina and chuckled in amusement, ”So youʼve been counting, huh?” 

Alina nodded lightly before glancing back at him with anticipation, ”Of course, havenʼt you?” 

”I mightʼve lost track of it at some point. Besides, you know Iʼm not good with remembering time.” Ace replied honestly.

A hint of nostalgia flashed past Alinaʼs eyes, and instead of getting dejected, she giggled, ”Hehe, I know you remember months by the time of your monthly salaries. When you get your salary, your new month starts, and the previous month ends.” 

Ace chuckled in nostalgia as he remembered how he used to be in the past, ”You make it sound like it was just me who used to do silly things. Donʼt you remember your glutinous self? I almost got broke by feeding you.” 

Alina blushed slightly as she retorted in embarrassment, ”It was Big Broʼs fault as well! You shouldnʼt have gotten me addicted to your cooking and then put up with my every demand. You even spent all your savings to fulfill my childish demands! And you just couldnʼt let me get a job either!” 

Ace smilingly replied while looking directly into Alinaʼs eyes, ”Iʼd done what a brother should do for his only little sister. Besides, that money was just gonna rot anyway since I didnʼt have anything to spend it on. So, donʼt make it sound as if I regret what Iʼve done because truly, I didnʼt for a moment and will do the same if given another chance.” 

Alina was captivated by Aceʼs words and couldnʼt help but feel her heart race as she remembered Ace just like this, and it appeared he hadnʼt changed it all. He still cared about her just as much as he did in the past. 

Alina finally lowered her head with a guilty gleam in her eyes as they turned misty with tears, ”I-Iʼm sorry! I shouldnʼt have left you in that city and should have taken you with me. You have no idea just how miserable I felt when I returned and saw the River Flower Cityʼs ruin. I-I…I thought you…*sob* Iʼm not qualified for your care or love. Youʼve done so much for a stranger like me, yet I a-abandoned you… Iʼm an ingrate…*sob*…” 

Ace could feel Alinaʼs trembling body and raging emotions filled with regret, sadness, guilt, and other negative feelings she had been bearing and suppressing in her heart for all these years. They all came out like torrents all at once now that she had finally been united with Ace. 

It would be a lie to say Ace hadnʼt thought about this direction, but he never blamed Alina; instead, he blamed their backgrounds and his helplessness. 

Ace sighed and took her in his arm, and said softly, ”Itʼs not your fault. You shouldnʼt blame yourself for something you had no control over. I was just a mortal back then, and you belonged to a prestige race and family. Even if I was in your shoes, I donʼt think anything couldʼve been different. 

”Maybe it was meant to happen this way. Since those past events made us what we are today. If your grandpa hadnʼt come back in time and given you that pill, you couldʼve been dead. Thereby, I wouldʼve blamed myself for that my entire life, just like I blamed my wretched fate. Heh, I even blamed Heaven for my own helplessness and ignorance. 

”A mortal like me had no right to expect anything from you or anyone. So, donʼt blame yourself since it hadnʼt been your fault in the first place. We are just born different and in different circumstances. 

”In fact, if you had taken me with you and your grandpa had come earlier, I wonʼt be what I am today and could never be able to stand toe to toe with you or face off with your family. 

”And besides, you came back for me, hadnʼt you? So, donʼt blame yourself unless youʼre unhappy about my good fortune and jealous, huh?” 

Aceʼs last teasing words made Alina look at him in a moment of daze before she burst into laughter despite her still self-blame expression. However, his words had some effect, and she didnʼt seem that self-depraved anymore. 

He didnʼt miss this chance and continued, ”Iʼve heard youʼre famous by the title, Ice Sword Fairy, but sorry to say, Iʼm even more famous than you, and my reputation struck like heavenly thunder. So, if youʼre jealous, I can understand and send some of my reputation your way.” 

”Hahaha… stop that! Whoʼs jealous of you, huh? And youʼre not famous but infamous, and donʼt sound so proud, or you might bite your tongue!” Alina laughed as she retorted, and her guilt seemed to be almost gone, and happiness replaced her heart. 

Ace snickered, ”So what if Iʼm infamous? Itʼs the same thing, anyway. At least admit my title is way more imposing than yours, right?” 

”No way~” Alina shook her head vigorously. 

Thereafter, both of them laugh heartedly, and the gloomy atmosphere vanishes, and the atmosphere becomes jolly and nostalgic again. 

After messing with each other some more, Alina no longer seemed self-depraved or self-blaming. She even seemed in a much lighter mood, as if a mountain had been lifted off her heart. It was as if they both had returned to the past. 

At this moment, she questioned Ace in a hesitant tone, ”Can I ask Big Bro how you became Sky Stealer? Why do you choose to be a thief instead of a being a fame cultivator? I know you are fully capable of that. Then why become everyoneʼs enemy and called a thief?” 

The jolly atmosphere suddenly changed the moment this question surfaced…