Chapter 1049 - 1049 – Aris And Gravis (1/2)

When Gravis heard Aris speak, he felt like he was meeting someone completely new.

Aris had always had inner conflicts. Some parts of human psychology and beast psychology battled in his mind. One side told him that he should get into contact with others more and join a group, while another part of himself told him that he didn't need all that. He only needed power.

Gravis knew of all these inner conflicts, but when he saw Aris again, he felt that the conflicts had been resolved.

The Opposer had told Aris that he should go into a world where the tempering was organization-based, not species-based. In that world, humans and beasts joined the same powers, and they lived in relative harmony with each other. The enemies were not the ones that didn't look like them, but the ones belonging to other powers.

Apparently, living in such a world for such a long time had done a lot to shape Aris' personality.

Well, that and time. After all, Aris had spent nearly 200,000 years in that world.

”Aris,” Gravis said with a smile on his face as he came closer. Then, Gravis looked Aris up and down. ”Honestly, when I just saw you, I thought that I saw another version of myself. You really resemble me.”

Aris smiled slightly.

Pack!

Gravis' eyes widened as Aris pulled him into a hug.

”I missed you, father,” Aris said.

Gravis was taken aback as he heard Aris' words.

Without noticing it, Gravis' feelings were going wild.

Gravis had always told himself that his children were beasts and that it was normal for them to not want to spend any time with him. He knew that, and that was why he always gave them their free space.

However, this didn't mean that Gravis didn't wish for a deep connection with his son.

After all, Aris was his son!

Even if they hadn't met for a long time, Aris was still one of the most important beings in his life.

Gravis returned the hug and embraced his son.

This was the first time that Aris had hugged him of his own volition.

”Sorry for being such a burden back then,” Aris said.

”Don't say that,” Gravis answered as he gently pushed Aris away. ”As your father, it was my duty to help you on your way. I've never seen you as a burden.”

Gravis and Aris looked into each other's eyes.

”If I didn't know that you were an honest person, I would have doubted these words,” Aris said with a smile. ”When I joined my Sect, I saw how hard it was for human parents to let go of their children. I also saw how difficult it was for them to allow their children to temper themselves.”

”I saw so many parents break down when their children left for a fight, and whenever I saw that, I was reminded of you. Was this how you felt when we left?” he asked.

Gravis sighed with a bitter smile. ”It was difficult. It was hard to see you guys growing up in the wilds while constantly having to fight off other beasts. It was hard to see you guys leave for the Tribes to temper yourselves, but the hardest part was watching you guys leave for the higher world.”

”The chances were not high for you to return alive, and we wouldn't see each other for a long time.”

Then, Gravis smiled as he put his arms on Aris' shoulders. ”But here you are! You've grown up as a person!”

Aris smiled. ”I have matured, and I now realize how much of a burden I must have been back then.”

”Don't say that,” Gravis repeated. ”You've never been a burden.”

”I'm not just saying that,” Aris said with a more serious voice. ”Even now, I am riding on your power.”

Gravis looked at Aris, and he saw that Aris fully meant everything he said.

”In my time in the higher world, I have been saved by sheer luck a couple of times,” Aris said. ”For Heaven, I count as a beast, and I shouldn't have any Karmic Luck. Yet, if I didn't have Karmic Luck, I wouldn't be saved by luck several times.”

”The reason why I am still alive is precisely because I am your son. Even when you were not there, you protected my life.”

”You are probably working really hard to stay important to Heaven so that we don't die.”