LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 23 : Reunion
Sora leaned forward. "I came back because of Prestige. After she killed me, I reset. But I needed time to grow stronger. That's why I've been gone for so long. The last month, I've been training, pushing myself to be strong enough to handle whatever comes next."
His father paced the room, his mind clearly racing. "This is… hard to believe, Sora. You… you can reset, you said? Start over like it's nothing?"
Sora nodded again. "It's not easy. I lose everything each time. My level, my progress, my possessions. But I get stronger. I wasn't able to come back because I hadn't reached that point yet. And even after I did… I needed time. I was not ready"
They both stared at him, the disbelief still etched on their faces. His father crossed his arms, trying to make sense of it all. "If it's really you, then… prove it. There must be something, something only Sora would know. You've told us things already, but… it's too much to believe without something more."
His mother wiped her eyes, still holding on to some sliver of hope. "Maybe… maybe we can test him somehow."
Sora nodded, expecting this. "You want proof? Let's go through it. Ask me anything."
His father stopped pacing, his brow furrowed as he thought. "Alright. Something from your childhood. What was the name of the treehouse I built for you and Nathan in the backyard?"
Sora didn't even hesitate. "Fort Griffon. It was half-finished for weeks until you finally got the supplies to finish it. We spent all summer up there, reading comics and playing pretend."
His mother gasped softly, her eyes lighting up with recognition. But his father wasn't done.
"And when you were eight, you broke your arm. Why?"
"I jumped off the tree in the park, trying to see if I could land like a superhero. Spoiler—I couldn't."
His father's gaze softened, but the tension in his body remained. "One more. What did you call your first bike?"
"Red Lightning," Sora answered, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Even though it was blue, not red. I thought the name sounded cooler."
His father slowly sat down, his stern expression melting away. His hands trembled slightly as he stared at Sora, the doubt beginning to fade. "It's really you…"
His mother, still teary-eyed, moved closer to Sora. "I don't understand everything you're saying… but I believe you."
Sora smiled sadly, feeling the weight of their belief settling on his shoulders. "It's me, Mom. I promise."
His father finally exhaled, running a hand through his graying hair. "We'll figure this out. Together. I don't care what abilities or powers you have now… I'm just glad you're back."
Sora felt a sense of relief wash over him. He had feared this moment, worried that his parents would never believe him, that they wouldn't accept the person he had become. But now, seeing the way they looked at him, he knew that no matter how much he had changed, he was still their son.
They embraced, and for the first time in a long while, Sora felt like he was truly home. But even as the warmth of their reunion filled him, he couldn't shake the thoughts of what lay ahead.
"I'll stay for a little while," Sora said softly, breaking the silence. "But I can't stay forever. There's still so much I have to do. I will have to leave the house for long periods to train and hunt Rachel"
His parents nodded, understanding but not liking it. His mother held his hand tightly, unwilling to let go just yet.
"Just… promise us you'll always come back," his father said, his voice gruff but full of emotion.
Sora smiled. "I will do my best. I promise."
The next morning, Sora stood outside his family home, feeling the crisp air on his skin. The heaviness of the previous night had started to lift, but the weight of his mission remained. His parents were still in disbelief over his abilities, but they had accepted him back, and that was more than he could have hoped for.
His mother's eyes were still red from crying, and his father had remained silent for most of the night, deep in thought. Sora knew they were struggling to process everything he had told them, but they trusted him.
"I'll be back regularly," Sora assured them again as they sat together for breakfast. "But I have things to do, and Rachel is still out there. I can't let my guard down."
His father nodded, though his expression remained serious. "I understand, Sora. But don't push yourself too hard. You've already come back to us once… don't take unnecessary risks."
Sora gave a small smile, appreciating the concern but knowing deep down that risks were unavoidable. "I'll be careful."
Before he could leave for the day, Sora remembered something important. "I need to get you both something first. A way for us to stay in touch, no matter where I am."
His mother looked puzzled. "What do you mean? We don't have much access to communication here in Ales. It's always been a problem."
"Exactly," Sora said. "I'm going to solve that today."
Sora headed to the auction hall after breakfast, his mind set on getting what he needed. The place was bustling, filled with merchants, adventurers, and collectors looking for rare items. As he walked through the hall, scanning the various goods on display, his thoughts were clear: [Mana Phones].
These items weren't hard to make, but they required rare materials, which made them expensive. A standard communication device was limited by natural barriers and magical interference, especially in places like Ales, which were practically cut off from larger communication networks. But Mana Phones operated differently, using pure mana to bypass those limitations.
He found a merchant selling them and quickly purchased three, each priced at 100,000 gold. It was a steep cost, but money was no issue for him. He had earned more than enough over the last month to afford them. Sora wasn't interested in anything else in the auction house—he had a mission, and this was just a tool to keep his family safe and in contact.
Carrying the sleek, palm-sized devices back home, he couldn't help but feel relieved. "This should make things easier," he thought, his pace quickening.
Back at home, Sora handed the [Mana Phones]to his parents, placing one in each of their hands. His mother examined it, her face a mixture of curiosity and surprise. His father turned it over, inspecting the craftsmanship, though clearly uncertain how it worked.
"These," Sora began, "will keep us connected, no matter where I am. Normal communication tools can't reach here reliably, but these Mana Phones don't have that problem. As long as I'm within a reasonable distance, we can talk."
His father raised an eyebrow, impressed. "How far is the range?"
Sora smiled. "Far enough to cover most of the continent without interruptions. No more communication gaps."
His mother looked up at him, grateful. "Thank you, Sora. This means… we won't have to worry about losing contact with you again."
Sora nodded. "Exactly. You can call me anytime you need to, and I'll do the same. There's one more thing." He reached into his bag and pulled out a large sack of gold coins, totaling 500,000 gold. "This is for you both. Use it however you need—food, repairs, anything."
His father stared at the sack, wide-eyed. "That's… a lot of money, Sora. We don't need this much."
"I want you to have it," Sora insisted. "You don't know how long I'll be out there. And I don't want you to struggle."
His mother's voice quivered slightly as she said, "We'll be fine, Sora. We're just glad you're back."
Sora smiled warmly, but his mind was already thinking of the next steps. "I'll be training outside the city for a while. I need to master the skills from my new class. I'll also be working in nearby big cities to level up my job when I can."
His father looked concerned. "How long will you be gone this time?"
"I'll check in regularly, I promise," Sora said. "I can't afford to lose focus right now. I need to master this class, and that means hunting monsters, testing my limits. But I'll keep you both updated."
His mother placed a hand on his. "Just… don't disappear again."
"I won't," Sora reassured her. "Not like before."
His father nodded, but there was a lingering tension in his gaze. "And Rachel?"
Sora's expression darkened. "I'll deal with her. I'm sure I'm stronger than her, but she had allies. And i have no idea how strong they were. I'm not strong enough yet, but I will be. Right now, she's not my main focus. But when the time comes, I'll make sure she pays for what she's done. For Nathan."
Silence hung in the room for a moment before his father finally spoke. "Then we'll leave it in your hands. Just come back to us. That's all we ask."
Sora gave them both a firm nod. "I will."
---
As Sora ventured into the wilderness, leaving the comforting sight of his parents' home behind, he began to focus on his next task: understanding his new class, [Martial Titan]. He had pushed it aside for long enough, prioritizing his speed and mana-related skills, but now it was time to see what kind of raw power this class could offer.
He found a quiet spot in the forest, sat down, and finally started going through the list of skills he had unlocked. The booklet the kid in Barcelona had given him described the class as one focused on extreme physical strength and endurance—abilities that seemed perfect for a warrior who didn't rely too much on mana, but instead on the sheer power of his body.
Sora smirked. "Let's see what we've got."