Mage Association, Capital….

A few minutes after Max had left the place along with the Lord of Edwinson House.

There was an odd silence in the hall as everyone glared at the Mage King.

"It's as you all heard….there is nothing else to it…." The Mage King spoke breaking the ice.

"Why didn't you say it sooner than? Was there even a need to go through all of this when your Former Lord had already decided to fight till the bitter end…" The Lord of Frost House said with an unpleasant look.

They would have expelled Max normally, but if this was the case there wasn't any reason to do so,…. If the kid did anything wrong in the future, Walker House will be held accountable.

The other Lords chimed in as well, this was an utter waste of time.

"Still, it's unbelievable to think that of it…..your daughter certainly has an unique taste.." the Lord of Ovens House said with a mocking smile on his face.

"Well, she is one in a million after all. She has a refined taste, I believe…...What about yours? Isn't it time for you to worry about your child instead of mine….I hope your son didn't inherit you in terms of popularity. After all, back then you were quite a sight to watch…" the Mage King replied with a smile and most of the Lord's faces lit up remembering the days of the past.

Lord Ovens was the only exception, his face had turned dark, "You don't need to worry, my kids are doing well. You will be really surprised when the time comes…."

The Lord of Achilles's house felt his eyes lock with the Lord of Ovens House for a second.

He knew what that smile meant, but he still wasn't done yet.....he would make sure it was the right guy before handing his daughter over.

Suddenly, all the Lord present in the hall turned silent leaving the one's on the screen confused.

"It seems, we are going to get busy…"

"Boom!"

The next instant, a thunderous noise accompanied by a shockwave shook the hall.

…

Recycling District, Capital..

"Mom…"

Lithiya felt the voice piercing through her heart. She slowly turned around and her eyes fell on Max who had injuries all over.

She realised that the commotion outside must have been...…...and yet she didn't leave.

Scared of missing her chance to be able to see him again. To be not there for him again…

Maybe she was being selfish here, thinking only about herself….

What would Max think about her if she was not here? Would he hater her? Would he not see her anymore?

It was all her….

She took a step forward and walked towards Max, she didn't know anymore. Being an adult didn't mean you would have every answer. She didn't know what kind if mother she was. People might as well call her selfish but she just didn't want to be hated by her own child.

It had been a while, Max had become taller than her. The last time, he was still a head or two shorter than her.

"I...am..sorry….Max.." Lithiya said those words as she embraced Max, her tears couldn't stop and Max could feel it on his neck.

How much time had it been? Max had always thought of hearing those words, or maybe not....he wondered if it would change his feeling, would it help him or would it be just a bunch of random words to him…

"Do...you hate... me? Do you... hate being born to me?" Lithiya's pitiful voice entered Max's ear.

"No…." Max replied in a low voice.

Lithiya felt the ache in her heart ease, but Max's peculiar tone made her ask a question which she didn't want to…..she was afraid of hearing his reply….but she had to know…

"Do you...still love me? Love your... father?"

It was true that he didn't hate her but it didn't exactly mean that he loved them..

Max clearly heard her, but he knew that he had lost it somewhere…..he didn't even remember what the familial love was….the first five years in Trial, that was what was clearly etched in his mind…that wasn't true….yes it wasn't….but that was most strongest impression he had of his parents…..it just went to show….how his childhood was...

The silence was what Lithiya took as her answer and tears couldn't just stop leaving her eyes.

"I am sorry, Max. It was all my fault. But I won't leave you anymore. I will always be at your side from now on…."

Even though Lithiya knew that it wasn't enough, she still wanted to give him all the love he deserved. Everything which he had missed due the complicated situation of her and Zack. She would make sure that he could feel being loved once again and love them back too….

"How was it your fault?" Max asked as he got out of her embrace and looked into her eyes.

"Because your father chose someone like me….I forced him and ruined his life….." The guilt she had been holding in finally found its way out. It wasn't like Zack was happy with the situation, he might have lived a happier life had he married someone else.

"So it was better for both me and Lilly to have never been born then…." Max said as he looked at her, he was not here to hear her go on about her father and some other random sh*t…..he just wanted...

"No..Its not what I-"

"THEN STOP COVERING FOR HIM!!!" Max's enraged voice echoed throughout the factory.

"HE CAN SPEAK FOR HIMSELF!!...he will have to….but now…" Max took a pause as he looked at her, "I want to know what you feel? why didn't you do anything? Why did you leave me behind? Is it because I didn't have enough value….is it because I was not normal….did I embarrass you? Are you here now, only because things have changed?"

Max spoke as his voice got louder and louder. The memories….some real, some fake.. all flashed past his eyes.

Why?

The question revolved in his mind.

"No….No….I never wanted to leave you behind. I have regretted that decision every single second…..I don't care how you are, whether you are unique or not….you are just my child…" Lithiya couldn't control herself as she hugged Max once again as she slowly began to talk about the incident, "I didn't want to leave you behind but…."

She had no choice. Max's grandfather had called for them as Lilly was showing signs of awakening. It was better to be in a place like the capital in case some complications occurred. After all, Variants were different. You never knew what might happen to them during the awakening.

Both she and Zack had thought of using this opportunity to tell father about Max not awakening. It was better to have a conversation in person.

In Capital, they never contacted Max directly. Afraid of someone tracking them…..all the messages were passed through the transmitter…..of course Max couldn't use one and someone else had to pass the message onto him….

"I passed you messages every hour…not just back then but from the very beginning…whenever we were away on task...I made sure to pass a message every two hour…"

Max who was hearing those words didn't know what was going on? What message? He didn't remember any of those things…..he never heard from them…..