The Ancient Genes

Chapter 334: Selfishness

The revelation was a bit shocking but it didn’t take much time for Max to guess what had happened. If she really sent a message with something like a transmitter, then there was only one person who could have received it. And that person had to be a Mage.

Rolv…..

That guy still remained a mystery. What did he want? Why did he try to kill Max? Why did he blame Zack? Things were still not clear.

“Later on, I heard that you had met someone and decided to pursue Blacksmithing under him, leaving the home.”

‘So, she didn’t hear about the incident with Rolv?’ Max thought inwardly. His father had indeed passed him a message through his Master if he remembered correctly but nothing from his mother regarding the incident. His father had said about taking him back, it was obvious that Max wasn’t going to be taken into the family. It must have been some other safe location.

“Your father couldn’t seem to persuade your grandfather and days passed by. The next thing we knew was about your acceptance in the Academy….”

Lithiya continued to explain her days, she couldn’t contact Max directly because Zack had cited safety as the cause. Max after all was weak, there was no one to protect him as well, except for his Master. 

In the end, Lithiya could only hold back. Max entering the Academy somehow made her and Zack relax a bit. She accepted the fact. This led to them changing their aggresive approach to persuading Max’s Grandfather, which only led to Max being ignored for longer.

The rest of the story was not something new. The Arcane Disaster struck, making everyone’s life miserable. The truth about Lithiya and Zack’s marriage and why Max never awakened? Why did he need to live away from everyone?

Max had been listening to everything and  started to connect things in his head. He remembered the strange occurrence on the morning of the Awakening ceremony. The thing which was a dream but at the same time, too real to be considered one.

If what he saw was something that should have happened, then that meant he should have awakened the light element just like his Father.

He did inherit the genes from his mom but so did he from his father, but Vaccaria breaking the seal….must have led to the awakening of those genes. It was obvious which was more dominant, hence failed to awaken.

This indeed gave some answers to Max, but there were still several things that couldn’t be explained, like that dream itself….

Everything was said….the truth was out…but what now…

Did Max feel different now?

Max looked at his mom, he couldn’t say if he was feeling any different, maybe a little. It still didn’t change the fact that he hated seeing her cry.

“Let’s go, Max. We need to leave…..” Lithiya realised that they had been talking for too long.

She held Max’s hand and turned to leave. Max’s hand stretched out but his body didn’t move.

Lithiya stopped and spoke in a pleading voice, “Won’t you give your mother another chance?”

Max looked at her weak-looking back. It wasn’t just about giving her a chance, it was whether he wanted to get her involved in this…..she was strong no doubt….but…

Max wouldn’t want to, that is what his mind said. But Max knew how it felt to be all alone. If he let her go now, would she be feeling the same thing that he did all while still carrying that guilt….

Besides, his father had already lied to her too much….she didn’t deserve anymore…

But was he willing to put her life into danger rather than letting her leave a peaceful life in hiding all alone…

Max hesitated….and took a deep breath in as he thought about. What would he choose? If their roles were reversed, what would he want? It didn’t even take a second for Max to reach the answer.

Even though he didn’t hate her, even though he couldn’t say with confidence that he still loved her, there was one thing he was sure about, not abandoning her…

As Max was about to speak, Lithiya let go of his hand.

“It seems it was too soon for it, I understand…..”

Max looked at her with a calm look. She was indeed selfish….no…not only her….both of his parents….they were truly selfish…..he had inherited a bit from them as well….

“You can leave….I want to be alone for a while…” Lithiya spoke as she stood there without moving.

Max on the other hand didn’t move and stood there.

“I said leave!!” Lithiya screamed as turned around and tried to push Max, but she couldn’t make him budge. Her face went red as she used all her strength and when Max didnt move, tears streamed down her face as she began to beg, “Please…leave. …leave….”

“Hmm, am I possibly at the wrong time? Did I interrupt a happy reunion?” A voice sounded in the factory.

“You should stop it now, he is here already….” Max said with a calm voice.

“Why didn’t you leave?” Lithiya said in a painful voice, she didn’t want to get Max involved. She was no different than Zack, who didn’t want to involve her.

Max called them selfish because they weren’t considering the feeling of the person whom they were doing it for…

Lithiya turned her head towards the person who had just appeared, he wasn’t alone for sure. Max could sense a few more around.

“What are you here for, Uncle?” Lithiya asked as she stood in front of Max. Her weak stance from earlier had totally changed to that of a fierce one. She didn’t look weak at all and seemed ready to tear apart anyone who dared to approach. Even though she knew what kind of person he was, she could sense the killing intent he seemed to be hiding.

“You have lost the right to call me that.” The old man said as he took a pause, “As for why am I here? It’s  to deal with you of course. Letting an exile like you roam free will only tarnish our reputation. As the Grand Elder, I will do everything in my ability to protect the family.”

“It was a bad decision to allow you in the family in the first place. And it seems, I was right…..” The old man further said as he glanced at Max. “Now, I know why the reason for your exile was not stated. An illegitimate child…..you should have been beheaded for a crime like this. Don’t you feel any shame?”

“No!! He is mine and Zack’s child. You must have had some misunderstanding Grand Elder…..” Lithiya shouted with all her might.

“Then why have I never heard of him? Why were you exiled? He doesn’t even look like Zack at all, but he does take after you?”

It was half the truth, Max had initially started out like his father. But after awakening, he had changed rapidly. Now that he thought about it he might be more towards his mother’s side now.

There was no way to explain this situation. Even if they did, there was no way this old man would believe them unless his Grandfather truly showed up in person.

After all, Max had started powerless and hence been kept hidden but now he wasn’t. What was he to explain, here? He met a God. Bullish*t! He won’t believe….besides Lithiya was exiled without reason that was more than enough of a reason for him to believe what he did. 

Besides, killing an exile was something no one would care about. If a person was exiled, then he or she must have done something wrong to the family. No one would care for such a person.

Lithiya didn’t want a fight to break out, they were all family after all. The Grand Elder was Zack’s actual Uncle, only lower than then his Father by two years in age. He was someone who had always lived for a family. He didn’t even get married and never showed any intention of inheriting the family. People said it was all for the stability of the family and to avoid internal struggle among the children.

The old man had seen much in his time and knew what Max’s grandpa had gone through first hand. It was then that he decided to stay by his side and protect the family till his death.

“Max, take your shirt off…” Lithiya urged, there was a birthmark which she had put her hopes on. Even if it didn’t confirm anything, she was sure that the old man would understand it and refrain from taking any drastic decision.

Max didn’t know what it was all about but he didn’t put much thought about it and pulled his shirt without a second thought…only to realise that was one bad idea…..

Lithiya’s eyes went wide and Old man’s face twitched as well.

His body was riddled with scars. Cut, Stab, claw, burns, the marks were uncountable…

That was……it didn’t look like his body was filled with scars but as if the scars had a body attached to it…

Lithiya put her hand on her mouth, her eyes moistened.

There was no way for any kind of birth mark to be seen on his body in that state….