Chapter 260: Summoned

Around six in the morning the next day, the Lumberjack family checked out of the inn and made their way to the teleportation array built outside the city.

Even in the early morning, pillars of light flashed every now and then from the multiple teleportation arrays along the city wall as people entered and left the city.

"Eat and sleep on time," Elaria said in a low, calm tone.

"Hmm," Vlad answered.

"Don’t push yourself too hard. Take proper rest as well," Elaria added, her voice growing even softer.

"Okay," Vlad replied.

"A-and enjoy your academy life... along with the training."

"Hmm."

"A-and send letters... sniff-sniff... to your parents as well." She could no longer keep her voice steady as tears trickled down her cheeks.

"I heard you, Mom," Vlad answered with a sigh. "Now, could you let me go?"

She had been hugging him for a while now, her arms wrapped around his head, which was nestled just below her chin in a firm embrace.

"How insensitive," Elaria cried in retort. "So you don’t love your old mom anymore?"

She removed her hands from his head, finally setting him free. Her sulking face, with damp cheeks, came into Vlad’s view.

"Come on, Mom. You know that’s not true at all," Vlad coaxed her, gently wiping away her tears with his sleeves.

"Hmph." She merely gave him a sidelong glance, her lips jutting out.

Now Vlad knew where Chloe had learned to sulk like a child.

"Y-you were thinking something rude just now," Elaria hissed, her dark eyes, still wet with tears, narrowing at him.

"I’m not," Vlad chuckled. He gently kissed her forehead and said, "I love you, Mom. Now stop crying, hmm?"

"Unh." Elaria nodded, calmer now. Her eyes turned toward Chloe beside Vlad. She placed a hand on each of their cheeks and said, "Vlad, treat her like a princess. Chloe, take care of our Vlad."

"I will." Both of them answered simultaneously.

Elaria withdrew her hands from their faces.

Edren stepped forward, patting Chloe’s head with a warm smile. His other hand rested firmly on Vlad’s shoulder. "Protect each other at the academy."

The duo nodded.

An awkward silence followed. Edren had nothing more to say. He was never good with words, after all.

"Al-alright, then." He awkwardly pulled his hand back. He was about to turn toward the array platform when Vlad suddenly moved forward.

He grabbed Edren’s wrist and placed a small pouch in his hand.

"This is?" Edren asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You don’t need to worry about us anymore, Dad... Mom," Vlad said, rubbing the back of his head. "Your children have grown up and can take care of themselves."

Edren opened the pouch, finding around fifty gold taels inside. His heart nearly jumped out of his chest upon seeing such a large amount of money. He immediately closed it and looked around, making sure no one else had seen it.

"Where did you get so much money?" he asked in a low whisper.

"I earned it by doing some academy missions," Vlad stated casually.

"But we can’t take this!" Elaria stepped in, firmly refusing the money. She would rather have them use it on themselves.

"Keep it, Mom, Dad. With your son here, you will enjoy all the luxuries of the world," Vlad declared, placing his hand over the pouch and pushing it toward Edren.

"Your happiness is our greatest luxury," Elaria stated, reluctantly accepting the money.

Edren quickly placed it in his storage ring and slipped his hand into his pocket, afraid that someone might try to rob him of his storage ring.

The duo stepped onto the array platform. A pillar of light ascended into the sky. When it vanished, the couple was gone along with it.

Vlad could not help but feel his heart grow heavy and his throat grow sore the moment they vanished. He had met them after almost a decade, yet the time they had spent together had been too brief to make up for all those lost years.

A soft hand grabbed Vlad’s firm one.

"Let’s visit them during the semester break," Chloe suggested, sensing the sadness on Vlad’s face.

"It’s a plan, then," Vlad answered with a warm smile.

From there, the duo booked a carriage to drop them off in front of the Convocation Hall. They needed to return to the academy before seven since the outing time granted to them was only twenty-four hours. Naturally, using Mana inside the city was prohibited unless it was an emergency so they had to book the carriage.

It didn’t take them long to enter the academy and reach the other side of the Main Building, revealing the vast campus of the academy.

Once they reached the crossroad where each path led to the boys’ and girls’ dormitories, Chloe asked, "Will you attend the classes today?"

"I don’t have any reason not to," Vlad replied. It had been so long since he had last attended a lecture that he had almost forgotten there was such a thing. "If nothing comes up, I will definitely attend the classes. I will drop you a message accordingly."

"Unh." Chloe nodded.

The duo kept stealing glances at each other, both of them reluctant to leave. Neither of them could believe that they weren’t just childhood friends anymore.

"See you soon," Chloe whispered shyly, pivoting on her heel.

She strode away in quick steps before Vlad could even reply.

"So adorable," Vlad chuckled. He had only just turned around when the smile vanished from his face upon seeing the familiar figure standing before him.

"Good morning, Professor Aldric," Vlad greeted respectfully, finding the sea-green-haired man standing before him with a cane in his hand.

"Good morning, Sir Vlad." Aldric’s voice was as professional as Vlad remembered.

Vlad raised an eyebrow at the respectful title. Being called Sir by the Vice Principal of the academy wasn’t something that had been on his list.

"Knights are to be addressed respectfully even if they are still students," Aldric stated, knowing what Vlad was thinking.

Vlad nodded. "Could I help you with something, Professor?" he asked, although he already had an idea why Aldric had come to meet him.

"Yes." Aldric blinked. "The Principal has summoned your team to receive the rewards for the S-Ranked Quest. Your party members are already there. Only your presence is awaited."