Chapter 191: Heading Out

Words : 1256 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

Chapter 191: Heading OutKaiden let out a sigh before rising from the water with Bastet still nestled in his arms. With a few exchanged glances and silent nods, the group knew what had to come next. They changed clothes and called for the twins. Moments later, Riven and Rae, their bodyguards who were known as the ’Creation & Destruction Twins’ in many prominent awakened circles, entered. Riven’s expression was neutral. Rae, in contrast, had a lollipop in her mouth and looked like she’d just woken up from a nap. "We’re heading out," Kaiden informed them. "I’d like you to secure transport." Riven gave a nonchalant nod, knowing the protocol and what her duty entailed. "I’ll notify the higher-ups of our exit pattern." "Let’s roll, bossman," Rae added, her voice muffled around her candy before she flicked it into her mouth with a loud crunch. Within minutes, they were moving. Their vehicle was one of the government’s hidden transport prototypes. It was artifact-enhanced, silent, shielded from tracking and most forms of magical or mana-based detection. It looked like a sleek, matte-black SUV from the outside, but its frame was reinforced with mana-threaded alloys, warding runes, and cloaking enchantments. Riven took the driver’s seat, and her fingers soon began gliding across the control interface. Once they began moving, beside the vehicle, Rae ran. Not just jogging but running at full speed, keeping up with the transport without even breathing hard. Her powerful legs moved like pistons, her eyes scanning every shadow, every movement of wind or bird. Within thirty minutes or so, the vehicle turned down a dirt road that didn’t exist on any maps, one that passed through an illusionary barrier and into a dense, mountainous forest where few dared tread. As they approached their destination, a sprawling mansion nestled deep within a shrouded grove of stone and shadow, Rae’s eyes widened. Her tan skin visibly paled. "Wait..." she muttered, looking from the barely visible house to the road behind them. "This isn’t... this isn’t where I think it is, right?" The tanned chick was practically vibrating now, her usual manic, chaotic energy cranked into full-blown hype mode. She tiptoed and squinted her eyes at the mansion, pupils dilated, a feral grin spreading across her face. Before anyone could respond, Aria clapped her hands cheerfully with so much gusto that the seatbelt across her lap barely kept her from bouncing in place. "I can’t believe it~! I’m getting to see Mom, Lux, and Damian so soon after being separated!" she said with sparkly eyes, radiating pure joy. Rae’s head whipped toward Kaiden, eyes wide with gleaming excitement. "... Kaiden!" Her voice was low but electric, like a fuse about to go off. Kaiden only smirked, amused by how the girl was outright tweaking at the prospect of visiting this place. He didn’t know she harbored such strong feelings about ’them.’ In the next moment, the subtle hum of artifact-powered wards triggered around the perimeter, followed by a ripple in the air as a black-clad squad phased into visibility, surrounding the vehicle with cold professionalism. Every one of them wore tactical bodysuits lined with reactive armor plating, matte-black and trimmed with lines of glowing crimson circuitry. Each soldier carried high-tier mana weapons slung across their backs and artifact-tech visors obscuring their faces. No insignias. No visible rank markings. Pure shadow unit. Immediately, Riven and Rae moved into bodyguard mode, sensing the immense threat these guards could pose to their charges. Riven snapped open a compact barrier drone from her utility belt while Rae simply clapped her hands together, always eager to crack some heads wide open. But then, Kaiden lifted a hand. "Stand down." The twins paused, then stepped back into neutral positions. Though Rae still bounced slightly on her heels like a spring wound too tight. One of the armored soldiers stepped forward, clearly the leader. His helm retracted just enough to reveal a chiseled jaw and silver eyes, sharp and unreadable. "Kaiden Grey. I’m under strict orders not to let anyone pass beyond this point unless they are aligned with the Ashborn family... and only with explicit permission from the heads of house." Kaiden’s smirk faded into a thin, bitter line. His jaw clenched slightly. ’Of course. I’m disowned, after all.’’ He was reaching into his pocket for his phone, ready to call her, when the soldier’s comm flared to life. The air turned cold. "Let them in." The voice was mechanical, sharp, and unmistakably female. Calm in a way that carried command without needing to raise in volume. Rae froze, pupils shrinking. But then, in the next moment, she practically launched forward like a human rocket toward the gates, vibrating with pure starstruck energy, eager to meet her idol, the one and only Vespera Ashborn. But then the voice came again. "Keep the government hounds away from my home." The comm went dead with a soft click. Rae skidded to a halt just before the mansion’s massive garden gates, her eyes wide and sparkling, heart hammering like a war drum. "Oh my god, that was Vespera for sure... She just looked down on me like I was some filthy mutt about to piss on her porch... And I—" Rae clutched her chest, the manic glint in her eyes stronger than ever. "—I didn’t know I was like this! Why does my heart feel so full all of a sudden?!" Riven let out a slow, tired sigh, the kind that came from a sibling who had clearly seen this madness one too many times. She de-summoned her floating defensive drone with a flick of her wrist. Her generous chest rose and fell beneath the reinforced chestplate she wore as she strode forward and firmly grabbed Rae by the arm. "Hopeless. Utterly hopeless..." Riven muttered, then turned her gaze toward Kaiden. "We’ll stay here. Signal me if things go sideways. But..." Kaiden nodded with understanding. "I know. Don’t expect miracles. I appreciate it, Riven." The guards standing nearby made no move to stop them now. Kaiden stepped past the open gates, his Valkyries and felinid lover flanking him as they moved into the estate’s outer garden. The transition was surreal. One step from a random location in the greenery into otherworldly tranquility. The garden was impossibly pristine, its stone paths lined with glowing crystal-bloom flowers, carefully curated brush, and whispering willow trees. The air was rich with floral perfume and distant mana signatures, while the sound of running water guided them deeper into the heart of the estate. But then... Something shifted. A tremble in the air. Kaiden paused, eyes narrowing as he sensed something. Then, just ahead, peeking from behind a tall, carved pillar of white marble, a girl’s face became visible. She looked barely older than a teen, though anyone who knew her wouldn’t be fooled by appearances. Long, inky black twin-tails draped past her waist. Her skin was pale like porcelain, smooth and flawless. But it was her eyes that told the real story of what was going on in that head of hers. Crimson red and wide with disbelief. They shimmered violently with emotion, the edges trembling with unspoken memory and longing. Her legs visibly shook, and she reached out toward Kaiden with trembling fingers. For a second, she looked like she might collapse entirely. Her lips parted, but no sound came. Kaiden stopped in the center of the stone path, his gaze softening at the sight of the girl. A faint smile curved his lips. "Long time no see, Alice."

Chapter 191: Heading Out

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