LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 157: Reunion
The drive back was quiet and Sophia sneaked glances at her brother, trying to process what she'd just witnessed.
When they arrived home, August dropped his bag on the couch and gestured for Sophia to sit down.
"We need to talk," he voiced with a serious but not harsh tone.
Sophia hesitated, then plopped onto the couch, crossing her arms. "About Madeline? She deserved it."
August shook his head while sitting beside her. "Not about Madeline, About you."
She raised an eyebrow. "Me?".
"Yeah." He leaned forward before resting his elbows on his knees. "When I came to your school for that parent-teacher meeting a while back, your teacher told me something. She said you don't talk to anyone. You push people away."
Sophia's expression darkened, and she looked away. "So what? People suck."
August sighed. "Not all of them. Soph, you've been like this ever since... you know."
She frowned, refusing to meet his gaze. "Ever since Mom and Dad died? Yeah, because people don't get it. They act like they care, but they don't. They just want to feel good about themselves."
"That's not true," August said gently. "I get that you're scared. I was, too. I still am sometimes. But pushing people away isn't going to make things better."
Her voice cracked as she snapped, "You don't understand! You're not the one who has to go to school every day and deal with people like Madeline."
"Madeline's a spoiled brat," August rolled his eyes, which earned a small, reluctant smile from Sophia. "But not everyone's like her. There have to be a few normal kids in your class, right?"
Sophia huffed. "Doubt it."
August nudged her playfully. "Come on, not everyone can be a stuck-up rich kid with zero personality."
That finally got a laugh out of her. She shook her head while smiling uncontrollably. "I guess not."
He leaned back and looked at her seriously again. "Soph, I'm not saying you need to make best friends with everyone. But you deserve to have people in your corner. Friends who care about you, who can make you laugh, who can help you when I can't."
Sophia bit her lip as her eyes glistened. "What if I don't know how? I've been on my own for so long."
August reached out, pulling her into a hug. "You're not on your own. You've got me, always. But I want you to try, okay? Just one person at a time."
She nodded against his chest in a muffled voice. "I'll try."
They sat like that for a moment as unspoken emotions lifted slightly. Then August pulled back, grinning. "Besides, it'll be easier to make friends at the new place."
Sophia blinked. "New place?"
"We're moving tomorrow," he said before ruffling her hair. "Better apartment, better neighborhood. No more weird neighbors who blast country music at 3 a.m... no more leaking roof and bad service..."
Sophia's eyes lit up. "Wait, really? Like, for real?"
"For real," August smirked. "And you'll have your own room and bathroom."
Her jaw dropped. "No way."
"Yes way."
Sophia laughed while throwing her arms around him again. "You're the best, Augie."
"Don't I know it," he teased before wrapping her in a hug. "Now, go pack. I don't want to hear any whining tomorrow about lost stuff."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her grin as she headed to her room.
...
...
The glow of the Enders Light login screen illuminated August's face as he settled into his gaming pod.
He cracked his knuckles, feeling the familiar rush of excitement.
After a long week of grinding and climbing levels, he was ready to push himself even further tonight.
---
System Notification:
[ Welcome back, Aleman! You are now Level 34. Keep up the grind! ]
---
The virtual world materialized around him. August, as Aleman, stood in the middle of a dense jungle grinding zone.
The air was humid, filled with the distant cries of magical beasts lurking among the trees.
His ever-cloaked avatar blended into the surroundings and his boots added a touch of menace to his aura.
Without hesitation, he pulled up his status screen.
---
<< Player Status Panel >>
Name: Aleman
Class: Assassin/Mage
Level: 34
EXP: 200,400/2,000,000
HP: 19,000/19,000
MP: 14,000/14,000
Title: Sovereign of Anti-Darkness
Gold: 12,400
---
"Let's get to work," August muttered to himself.
--
The jungle was soon loud with activity as Aleman sliced through mobs of beasts, hunting them one after the other.
A pack of level 20 Shadow Panthers leaped out from the underbrush, fixing their glowing red eyes on him.
August smirked while raising his hand. "Let's see how you like this."
He conjured a Thunder Spear, illuminating the dark foliage with electrifying energy.
In the next instant, he hurled the spear into the middle of the pack.
---
System Notification:
[ Thunder Spear (Tier 2) used. Damage dealt: 12,400 to multiple targets. Critical hit! ]
---
The resulting explosion shattered the beasts, leaving behind charred remains and glowing loot.
"Too easy," August dashed forward to collect the spoils.
His Void Stepper skill activated, making him vanish and reappear near a treasure chest hidden among the trees.
---
System Notification:
[ Treasure found: Rare Mana Stone (x2), Toxic Fang Dagger, 5 Gold. ]
---
Before he could celebrate, a familiar voice boomed behind him.
"LORD ALEMAN!"
August groaned while turning to see Gregarious barreling toward him with a massive two-handed sword slung over his back. Despite his heavy armor, Gregarious moved with surprising speed.
"Gregarious? Where were you when Tagharium was getting obliterated?" August raised an eyebrow.
Gregarious waved a hand, grinning. "Ah, my lord, a most tragic tale. I was… uh… otherwise occupied."
"By what, exactly?"
"Important warrior business!" Gregarious declared. "Very classified. You wouldn't understand."
August rolled his eyes. "You mean hiding in a tavern, don't you?"
"I'll have you know," Gregarious said while puffing out his chest, "I am now Level 15! That's right, my lord, fifteen. A true warrior of legend."
Before August could respond, three more players emerged from the trees: Lilo, Boris, and Ezran.
"Look who we found!" Lilo voiced with àher bow slung over her shoulder.
Her bubbly energy was contagious, and she flashed a grin at August. "Grinding alone again, huh?"
Boris gave August a pat on his back heartily. "Thought you'd be ahead of us by now."
"Technically, he is ahead, but not because of levels," Ezran chuckled.
"I wasn't expecting company," August voiced with a smile. "Don't guild players usually stick with their own?"
"Pfft," Lilo scoffed. "Phoenix Celestial doesn't mind. Besides, you're way more fun than some of those stiff guildmates. No offense to them."
"None taken," Boris shrugged. "But she's right. We'd rather team up with you."
Ezran nodded. "You're efficient and unpredictable. It's… interesting."
The group decided to tackle a nearby area infested with Emerald Manticores.
The beasts prowled in a clearing with their emerald scales shimmering and their tails tipped with deadly stingers.
"Formations," August took charge. "Lilo, keep your distance and take out the stingers. Boris, you're on crowd control. Ezran, focus on area damage. Gregarious…" Experience new tales on empire
"Yes, my lord?" Gregarious asked eagerly.
"Don't die."
"Understood!"
The group burst into action.
August dashed forward, activating Phantom Blitz.
Many shadowy forms of himself scattered around as he landed a series of precise strikes on a manticore's legs.
---
System Notification:
[ Phantom Blitz (Tier 2) used. Damage dealt: 8,900. Target movement reduced by 25%. ]
---
Lilo's arrows zipped through the air, pinning down the creatures' tails, while Boris swung his massive axe in wide arcs, keeping the beasts at bay.
"Coming through!" Gregarious bellowed, charging headfirst into a manticore with his sword raised. The impact sent the beast staggering, but Gregarious ended up flat on his back.
"Still a work in progress," August muttered, casting Ethereal Storm spell.
The storm of mana shards rained down, tearing through the manticores and leaving glowing craters in their wake.
---
System Notification:
[ Ethereal Storm (Tier 2) used. Damage dealt: 15,200 to multiple targets. ]
[ Target defeated: Emerald Manticore(×10). EXP gained: 42,000. ]
The group stood victorious among the piles of loot and glowing EXP orbs.
System Notification:
[ Loots: Rare Gem Cluster, 50 Gold, Party EXP Boost (x1). ]
---
"Not bad for a night's work," Boris wiped sweat from his brow.
"Not bad?" Gregarious huffed. "That was a masterpiece of warrior teamwork!"
Lilo giggled. "You mean a masterpiece of you falling on your butt."
August opened his status screen, grinning as his EXP bar ticked upward.
He was just getting started.
"Good work, everyone," he said. "Let's keep grinding."
"How about we take on a party quest?" Boris suggested.
"I would have said okay but TG guild was taken down during Malrik's assault so I don't necessarily know where to head to for quests,"
"We can go to Gallorn Kingdom. There are a ton of party quests over there," Lilo Suggested.
...
...
The party arrived at Gallorn Kingdom, entering a bustling quest hub at the heart of the city.
The building was massive, lined with gilded pillars and glowing sigils marking the entrance. Inside, players gathered in groups, poring over quest boards and strategizing.
"Place is packed," Lilo remarked while scanning the crowd. "Guess everyone's out for the big rewards tonight."
August approached a large board marked with quests ranging from low to high ranks. He gestured toward the section labeled C-Ranked Quests then proceeded to go through the options until one caught his eye.
---
[ New Quest Accepted: Royal Rescue ]
Quest Rank: C
Objective: Rescue an abducted royal, Lord Cavriel, held hostage by rogue mercenaries in the Abandoned Caverns.
Rewards: 1000 Gold, Royal Favor, Rare Equipment Chest
---
"Rescue mission," August turned to face the others. "Looks like this will be fun."