Return of the Legendary Runesmith-Chapter 562 - 561- Welcome back
Elana stepped out of the restroom and froze when she saw a familiar woman standing there, uncertainty in her stance and hesitation in her eyes.
"Mother?" Elana asked calmly. The earlier frustration and hurt had faded after her long conversation with her professor and the tenderness her brother had shown her.
"Elana..." Natasha called softly, but then she fell silent.
She lowered her gaze, choosing her words carefully before speaking.
"I won’t try to explain myself. It would only make things worse."
"No, please," Elana insisted. "Tell me what you meant back then. Professor Adrian said you were worried about me, but I want to hear it from you, Mother."
Her calmness felt strangely out of place in the tension filling the room. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
Natasha let out a slow sigh and spoke in a resigned voice. "Do you doubt what he said, dear? Do you think your mother would ever worry about anything more than her own flesh and blood?"
Elana crossed her arms, her tone remaining the same as before. "You have always been direct with your words, Mother. You never spoke in circles. That is why I took what you said back then at face value."
Natasha nodded faintly. "You are right. And truth be told, a part of me truly was worried that my daughter might have been corrupted and that this world would corner you once the secret came out."
Elana had expected those words. Yet hearing them now didn’t hurt as much as it had back then.
Perhaps it was the natural calming presence her professor seemed to bring to her.
The woman then looked into Elana’s eyes and said, "But, Elana, it is also true that I am worried about your situation. I have never heard of anyone going through something like this, and yet I know it must be difficult for you."
Natasha stepped closer. Her eyes softened, her voice turning gentle. Her warm fingers rose to touch Elana’s cheeks.
The young woman’s arms slowly loosened as she listened to her mother speak.
"Elana... my child... you have been through a lot, haven’t you? I am sorry we weren’t by your side all this time. I am truly sorry."
Elana’s voice grew heavy as she replied, "No, Mother. It isn’t your fault. Forget about you, even I never expected that one day I would discover my origin was somehow connected to the Fallen Deity."
Lowering her gaze, Elana continued softly, "Professor Adrian was upset with me for not telling you both about it. That is the only reason we came here now instead of waiting until after graduation."
Natasha’s fingers trembled slightly as she spoke.
"I am sorry, Elana... that you felt hesitant to reveal something so important to us. Perhaps I failed as your mother, and that is why you came to that conclusion."
Elana shook her head. "No, Mother. If it had been anything else, you would have been the first person I told. But this... my hesitation came from your deep devotion to the deities. I thought you might..."
She didn’t finish the sentence, unwilling to voice the conclusion she had once reached, afraid it would hurt her mother.
Natasha, however, understood the meaning behind the words Elana left unsaid.
Elana had believed that Natasha might reject her, perhaps even report her to the Church once the truth came out.
And it wasn’t an unreasonable fear.
Wiping the tears from her mother’s cheeks, Elana said softly, "Mother... trust me when I say this, the situation is under control. Things may have become strange because of my connection to Nytharos, but Professor Adrian has found a way to suppress the curse within me."
Natasha looked at her in surprise.
"Really?"
Elana nodded. "Yes... in fact, Mother..." She hesitated for a moment before revealing it. "Nytharos once tried to take control of me. Or maybe it wasn’t Nytharos, but someone using him. Either way, I completely lost control."
Natasha stiffened at those words. "Dear... you should have prayed to the Great Rulers for help. They always aid those in need."
Elana gave a wry smile. "Mother... they have completely rejected my presence. I can’t even enter a church without feeling a crushing pressure on my chest. And any holy ritual I try to participate in simply erodes and fades away, as if they have already judged me a criminal."
Natasha frowned.
How could this be?
The benevolent ones were always kind. They were meant to deliver fair judgment. How could they punish a girl who had lived her life without wrongdoing and had never used her powers for evil?
"Don’t think too much about it, Mother," Elana said gently. "Just know that asking a priest about this would only complicate things further. So please... keep this information to yourself."
Natasha slowly nodded in understanding.
She knew the situation Elana had found herself in would only cause people to look at her with fear, as if she were some kind of plague that could erode society.
And if she was being honest with herself, Natasha might have been no better.
If it had been anyone other than her own daughter, she too might have called someone connected to a Fallen God evil.
Natasha nodded and reassured her, "I understand. Don’t worry, I won’t say a word about this to anyone. However, the solution Professor Adrian mentioned... what exactly is it? Some kind of ritual?"
Elana froze for a brief moment.
The memory of being pinned against the wall and fiercely kissed by the man flashed through her mind. Her cheeks immediately began to heat up.
Natasha hummed softly. "What is it, dear?"
Elana panicked. "Ah, it’s nothing. He just does a few things to contain the curse. Don’t worry about it."
Naturally, she couldn’t tell her mother that despite not being in a relationship with the man, they had kissed.
And she had even kissed him back once, fully aware of what she was doing.
Aaahhh!
"Elana? You’re scaring me now." Natasha looked concerned as Elana’s face turned deep crimson and her body fidgeted restlessly.
Elana quickly shook her head and suddenly hugged her mother, burying her face against her shoulder.
"I am back, Mother."
Natasha let out a gentle sigh, a soft smile appearing on her lips.
"Welcome back, dear."
