Chapter 178: Ch 178: No Leaving home

’Darn it! Isn’t this the worst possible scenario? How did I end up back home of all places?’

Kael wanted to ask himself this question, but he did not want to appear lost in thought in front of his mother. So he kept a clear mind and tried to get up.

The pain his body was feeling was nothing compared to the emotions running through his mind.

"What am I doing here? When did I come back?"

Kael’s voice was rough, but his words were clear. He also tried to glare at his mother to make her back down, but she just chuckled and reached for his shoulder, instantly pulling him up.

Pain erupted throughout Kael’s body from the rough treatment, and he let out a curse before straightening himself.

"You have become even more fragile than before. Back then, you did not even flinch when I touched you, but now you are making an expression full of pain."

His mother observed as she continued to vary the pressure on Kael’s shoulder. At this rate, she was going to end up breaking it.

So Kael decided to slap her hand away from his shoulder before leaning against the headboard to get comfortable.

"I am not in the best physical condition, so please refrain from touching me. Now, would you please enlighten me as to how I came to be here?"

Kael asked again, and this time, his mother decided to answer.

"You want to know why you are here? It’s because Emma picked you up. She went to check out the sudden surge of magical energy in our region, and she came back home with you. I have to say, it was a nice gift."

Kael...recalled something like that happening.

Now that he felt more stable, more memories came back to him, and one of them was of his elder sister grabbing him and deciding to take him back home.

"I...think I remember that happening. But now that I have spent some time back home, it is time for me to leave. I would like to take my leave now-"

"I cannot allow that, my dear child. I know you want to live your own life, but it is time for you to come back home."

An awkward silence filled the room as both sides looked at each other with blank expressions. Kael had no intention of following what his mother had just asked him to do. And his mother also seemed to have no intention of letting him leave.

Finally, Kael took a deep breath and rejected her outright.

"I am afraid I cannot do that. I will take my leave now-"

Kael tried to get up, only for his body to suddenly feel heavy. He looked at his mother, and she looked back at him with a stern expression. Her aura pressed down on Kael even harder, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

"My dear child, don’t you think I have been lenient enough with you until now? You left home when you were young, but I allowed it because you looked like you wanted to experience freedom. I also kept your siblings and father away, waiting for you to come back on your own. But you chose to stay away for too long."

Kael’s heart skipped a beat, and he did not dare look at his mother’s face. He had a feeling he would regret seeing her expression.

So he kept his gaze lowered, but his mother was not done speaking.

"You were born fragile in the middle of your strong and rough siblings. It has always been my regret that I was not able to look after you the same way I looked after your siblings. But even so, I cannot overlook your rebellion any longer. Otherwise, you will go and get yourself killed somewhere."

Kael wanted to protest that this would never happen and that he was strong enough to take care of himself. But just opening his mouth made him pant. His body was too tired and injured to withstand this pressure. And his mother seemed to know that as well.

So she pulled her aura back a little, but the pressure of her presence remained.

"I have sealed your magic away, so don’t try anything funny. Just focus on recovering for now so that you can live a normal life from here on."

Kael looked into his mother’s serious eyes with a deadpan expression of his own. He remained calm on the outside, but he was panicking on the inside.

’I cannot remain here! This world is depending on me, and I need to head back quickly before I make those kids anxious. But...can I break away from this place?’

As much as Kael wanted to say he could, he was not sure. He might be a Grand Master, but his whole family was filled with Sword Masters. Even his younger brother was on the verge of becoming one, making escape a headache.

"Whatever you are planning, don’t do it. Lie back down and go to sleep. I will remain with you until you do."

His mother assured Kael as she took a seat beside him. He felt a shiver run down his spine at her decision. She was truly leaving him no choice but to sit back and do as she had told him.

’I had better follow her instructions for now. But I will run away at the first chance I get.’

That was the plan, but the bed was too comfortable, and Kael felt his eyes growing heavy. He fell asleep before he even realized it, and his body finally relaxed.

He wanted to curse his body for being so weak and collapsing, but he knew that his current condition was his own fault.

’I will rest for a little longer, but not more than two days. After that, I will run away again and live my life the way I have been living it.’

Unfortunately, despite his best efforts, he was not able to do that.