246 The Sun God (1/2)
”We didn't have enough time in the past,” the golden ball of fire said. ”Come to think of it, I wasn't able to give you my name back then.”
”Oh, that's right.
”My name is Sulien and I am the Sun God,” he said. ”But you can just call me 'Grandpa,' Winter.”
”Are you telling me to call you 'Grandpa' as a respectful way to call you or are you really my grandfather?”
That was his concern because the fact that Sulien was the Sun God didn't surprise him anymore. He always had the hunch about his identity. It wasn't that hard to figure it out because of his grandfather's pure Mana.
”What do you think, Winter?”
”Your flame feels as warm as my mommy's flame,” he said hesitantly. ”I think you are the father of Soleil Rosenberg.”
”You talk as if Soleil is a different person from your mother.”
”It's my parents' decisions to separate themselves from their past selves and to live in the present,” he explained. ”Most of all, I think for my Mommy, Lord Prescott will be the only father in her heart. I'm sorry if I offended you, Grandpa Sulien.”
He decided to still call the Sun God 'grandpa' because he wanted to be respectful to him. After all, he was the one who gave him another chance to correct the mistakes of his past life in this lifetime.
”I'm not offended. I completely understand, Winter,” his grandfather said, then he changed the topic. ”Do you remember when I told you to not tell anyone about your past life?”
He nodded. ”I kept my promise, Grandpa.”
”I know, grandson,” he said. ”I told you to keep it a secret because I didn't want the enemies who haven't retrieved their memories yet to take advantage of what you know. But now that everyone who is involved in the past war have retrieved their memories, I'm giving you the right to tell your parents what happened back then.”
His eyes widened in surprise. ”Really? I can do that now?”
”You discovered something in the past that your mother didn't,” his grandpa said seriously. ”Winter, you have an older brother in this lifetime, don't you?”
”Yes,” he said with a proud smile. ”He's called 'Julian,' Grandpa.”
”What if I tell you that he has the ability to kill you?” Grandpa Sulien asked. ”Would you still consider him as a brother instead of an enemy?”
His brows furrowed in confusion. ”Brother Julian can kill me?”
”The Holy Scepter has merged with that boy,” he explained. ”And the Holy Scepter is the only weapon in this world that could kill you, Winter. If the enemies hear about this, I'm certain that they will do everything to have your brother and use him to kill you. That's why the most logical thing to do now is to kill him before he turns into an enemy.”
”Didn't you hear me, grandson?” he asked strictly. ”That brother of yours is a dangerous weapon.”
”He's not a weapon,” he snarled angrily. ”I don't care if Brother Julian is the Holy Scepter or what. I know that he will never kill me. We will protect him and we won't let the enemies lay a hand on him.”
”Are you confident that you can do that?”
”Of course,” he said smugly. ”We are the sons of the Black Serpent and the Supreme Fire Mage. We can figure it out together.”
”Then, is that your final decision?” Grandpa Sulien asked. ”Do you still intend to welcome the Holy Scepter as a part of your family?”
”Brother Julian isn't the Holy Scepter,” he said firmly. ”He is my brother, and he is the oldest son of House Nystrom.”
”Very well,” the Sun God said in a satisfied voice. ”Now, I'll share your previous memories with your family so that you could figure out how to save Julian.”
His ears perked up at that. ”Really, Grandpa? Were you just testing me and my feelings for my family?”
”You can say that,” he admitted. ”That boy Julian's existence is very dangerous. But because you insisted that he's a part of your family despite the danger that he pose, then I shall accept him as my oldest grandson too.”
”Can we really save him, Grandpa?”
”I can only give you a hint through the important memories of your past life,” he said. ”It's up to you if you can make it work.”
He nodded firmly. ”We will make it work,” he promised, then his brows furrowed in confusion. ”But Grandpa, where were you all this time?���
”The Sky God and I are in a place that nobody could reach,” the Sun God said in a somewhat lonely voice. ”But don't worry, grandson. Soon, we will make our move to assist you. For now, you need to go back to your family and tell them my message.”
”Sure, Grandpa,” Winter said while nodding his head. ”We'll see each other again, won't we?”
”That is up to you, my precious grandson,” Grandpa Sulien said. ”I will pray for your success for the chance of us to meet properly next time.”
And just like that, the whole room was suddenly engulfed in a blinding bright light.
Oh, he's really the Sun God, huh?
***
KIHO WAS surprised when all of a sudden, the ice coffin that he enclosed Winter with started to melt fast.
He was startled because the Mana that he felt didn't feel like it came from Winter. After all, his youngest son's fire Mana was weak unlike his ice Mana. But this time, he felt an enormous amount of flame inside his son.
It almost feels like Tilly's Black Flame…
His thoughts were cut-off when Winter woke up and stood in front of him while rubbing his eyes with his hand.
When he saw his son's appearance, he was shocked.
”Good morning, Dad,” Winter greeted him in a lazy voice. When he couldn't come up with a reply, he opened both of his eyes and looked at him with a worried look on his face. ”What's wrong, Dad? Is there something on my face?”
”Yes,” Kiho said when he found his voice again. ”Winter, your hair and eye color have changed.”
”Huh?”
”It's black on the top and silverish on the bottom now,” he explained to his son. ”Your eyes were a deep shade of purple when you woke up but now, they have returned to being gold.”
But the most prominent change in his son was his Mana…
… ah, it would be more appropriate to say that his aura was now something akin to the pure energy that gods emit.
It's like Winter's power as the Moon Serpent has been half-awakened.
”Winter, do you feel alright?” Kiho asked his son who was trying to look at his appearance in the window. When Winter turned to him, he got down on one knee and put his hands on his shoulders. His youngest son's body still felt as cold as usual. Yet, he knew that something inside him had been literally ignited. ”Your scales are gone. Are you not in pain anymore?”
”I feel alright now, Dad,” Winter said, then he wrapped his tiny arms around his neck. ”But I feel sleepy…”