Affinity: Chaos



Grey stood on the spot, confused with the request of the Old man. He heard his Grandfather's remark, but he didn't expect this Old man to tell him to call him Grandfather. 

Thinking about it, there was no harm in calling the Old man grandfather, so he did. 

The Old man beamed with a smile as he nodded to Grey, complimenting his talent and good looks. 

Grey's grandfather appeared and gave the Old man a cold stare. The Old man acted like he didn't see anything and disappeared. 

"You said brought a little girl who's already at the Peak of the Sage Plane?" Grey's Grandfather asked. 

"Yes, I'll go get them." Grey walked back into the portal. 

….

In the Chaos Battlefield. 

Cori and Arthel were still standing outside the temple, unaware of what occurred on the other side. 

When Arthel saw Grey return, he heaved a sigh of relief. He didn't know if they would be able to leave, especially when he was attacked the first time. Now that Grey came back, he felt he had sorted the issue on the other side. 

"Let's go." Grey smiled at Cori. 

Void, who was being carried by Cori, jumped to Grey's shoulder. 

Arthel took a long look behind him, he never thought he would get the chance to leave this place. The Chaos Battlefield possessed some remarkable treasures that came with unimaginable dangers. There were also a few limitations there, but on the Aurora Continent, he felt he would get the chance to grow further than his current realm. 

Arthel turned around and walked into the portal. It was the start of a new journey for him. 

….

Aurora Continent. 

When Grey's grandfather saw Cori, he was astounded by her. He had never seen such a case. 

"You blocked her body from increasing its essence capacity?" He asked Grey after taking just a glance at Cori, he had checked her body and noticed the irregularities. 

"Yes…" Grey explained his reason for doing so and his grandfather nodded in agreement. 

Grey's thoughtfulness was impeccable, if not, Cori would've exploded from too much essence. Her body isn't strong enough to take in so much essence, had she broken through to the Elemental Venerable Plane, she would've died. 

"She's lucky she met you at the right time." Grey's grandfather said. 

He looked at Arthel who was behind them and accessed him.

"Not bad." 

After commenting on him, he waved his hand and the trio vanished. 

The Old man appeared once again, standing beside Grey's grandfather. 

"What do you think of the man he brought?" 

"Not bad. If he wants to build something big, he will need loyal people who would fight for him. This is a good start." 

"I don't think he has any plans of building anything. He was just unable to reject him, so he brought him with him." 

"What do you know? He's my grandson."

"He's my grandson." 

"He acknowledged me a few minutes back." 

"Aren't you too old to be this petty?" 

The duo bickered for a few more seasons before Grey's grandfather asked a question. 

"He's the last one out, correct?" 

"A few who went in with Eirik haven't come out yet. I believe they've met with some misfortune, but I'll wait and see if any of them will come out within the next few months." 

"Eirik came out two months ago. If they were alive, they would've come out by now." 

The two old men spoke about the possibility of their family youngsters being dead inside the Chaos Battlefield and couldn't help but feel sad. Although they are well aware that was the cruel fate of some people, they still couldn't help but feel bad about it. These youths were the future of the family, yet they had died trying to find better opportunities to grow. 

Life truly was cruel to those who aren't strong enough. 

Grey's grandfather never had a doubt about Grey dying inside due to the confidence he had in his grandson's ability and decision making. 

"I'm heading back to the manor, you should come too. There had been unrest in the Continent over the past few months. It's common knowledge now that the seal will be broken in a short time." 

"I'll wait a month or two more. If no one comes out, I'll seal this area and come over." 

Grey's grandfather nodded at the Old man before disappearing. The task of guarding these portals has always been very important and for one such as the portal to the Chaos Battlefield, it must be guarded by a powerful figure in the family. 

The two old men might like bickering with each other, but they always put the benefit of the Family first, no matter what happens, they always try to settle all the unease in the family. 

….

Grey and his group who were still in the void were wondering what was happening before they suddenly appeared in a familiar garden. They had arrived in the Dawson Family manor, his grandfather's courtyard to be precise. 

When Grey arrived, he noticed there were a few people who were present there. His father being one of them. 

"Father." He paid his respects to his father and turned to do the same to his mother. 

The duo nodded in relief when they saw their son. With Eirik coming out a month earlier than Grey, they were a little worried, but then again, they knew Grey would never travel with Eirik. 

Everyone's attention soon turned to the duo standing behind him, their gazes were naturally caught on Arthel given the fact that he was a man and was already in the Elemental Venerable Plane, but they soon forgot about him when they saw Cori. 

Cori was only around ten years or so, and it was very evident, yet they could all sense the boundless essence around her, she was a powerful Elementalist for those on the same stage as herself. 

"Grey, who are these?" Lucas asked. 

Other than Lucas and Martha, there was also the current family head and three other Elders. The shock they received from Cori was even more than what they received when they found out Grey was Lucas' son. 

"This is Arthel, I met him in the Chaos Battlefield and he asked if he could follow me out." Grey introduced Arthel first. 

Arthel stepped forward and bowed to the people present with his head down. The pressure he was feeling from each of them shocked him to the bones. He knew these people could kill him with just a sneeze. He took a peek at Grey's parents and understood why Grey was so astounding. With such powerful parents, even an idiot would grow powerful. He also knew everything couldn't be credited to Grey's parents, but he felt at least eighty percent of Grey's success was thanks to them. 

If he were to find out that they abandoned Grey and he literally had to fight for his life over and over again to get to where he currently is, his respect for him would shoot through the roof. 

Those in the courtyard nodded, but their interest was more on the little girl in the group. He stepped back a little awkwardly. The first time he saw Cori he also had such a reaction, so it was very understandable. 

"This is Cori, a little Space Elementalist I chanced upon when trying to take a treasure that got her brother killed." Grey said with a light laugh. 

It was still strange that at the time, he was more interested in the treasure. If Cori hadn't come the time she did, then he would've left there without a care in the world. He didn't know if it was fate that took him there at that time or it was greed. Either way, he was pleased with the little companion he gained who was like a little sister. 

He had the same encounter with Arya, so it was quite easy to travel with a little girl. Since he had never had a sibling, he didn't mind taking her as his younger sister. Besides, there was a sense of pride with having such an outstanding younger sister.

"Cori? What a beautiful name for a beautiful little lady." Martha commented as she caressed Cori's face. 

Cori didn't sense any malice from Martha, so she let her do as she pleased. Since she was Grey's mother, she didn't believe she would want to harm her. 

"You've improved a lot as well." Lucas said when he sensed Grey's aura, his gaze lingered on Grey as he gave him a questioning look. He could sense there was something else about Grey. 

Grey gave him a smile and he understood that it was a conversation for later. 

Lucas couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. Grey was wary towards the Family Head and the other Elders, hence his reluctance to speak about what he must have acquired. 

"Oh right, I was attacked by some Gnomes." Grey spoke, "Apparently, they tracked me there." 

"Their means are quite fascinating." Grey's eyes glowed with great curiosity. 

Lucas' expression didn't change when he heard this. Everyone knew of the hatred the Gnomes have for Grey. 

"I wonder why they're so hellbent on killing you?" The Family Head spoke to Grey for the first time. 

"I camped outside their portal in a secret realm and killed whoever entered. They didn't dare to send anyone inside for over a month." Grey laughed cunningly.