Reaper's Resurgence - Book 6 - Chapter 28 (Patreon)

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Table of Contents

Click the following link for Chapter 28:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uIXmBZl8tLpHhpolZ_u-3wne-q4tOlVFtk1KzrmJrgM/edit?usp=sharing

Or you can read the unformatted version below:

Alexia

“Things have changed over the years,” Ethan states, his voice echoing out through the hall. “Before the System Reset, the universe was a dull and dreary place for me. I thought of anyone who wasn’t a Class S species as nothing more than ants, and treated them as if they weren’t there. The universe itself held very little meaning for me.”

I can’t help but raise a brow as I sip my wine. Because he hasn’t improved so much to warrant this speech.

He still treats most regular people as if they’re not there. Even if he has at least stopped being apathetic towards them.

“But then I met two sisters who changed that,” Ethan continues while looking between me and Astrid, surprising me for a moment before I take another sip of wine. “Seeing Lexi’s power and her attitude shook me. It made me realize that things were different now. And when I met Astrid, and saw how she became a Class S species, my mindset was shattered.”

I continue drinking my wine as Ethan talks about how he first fell in love with Astrid after beginning to speak with her from time to time out of sheer curiosity.

Curiosity about how a mortal became a Class S species. And about how she thought.

Then he goes on to talk about how they would spend time together regularly. Going on hunts, sparring with each other, and, eventually, going on dates.

If I’m being honest, it’s kind of nice to hear a bit about how Astrid spent some of her time while I was off killing corrupted creatures, clearing trials, and dealing with annoying Quantum Beings. And Astrid isn’t the most talkative about how she initially became close to Ethan. Even if she does still share some details.

Of course, some of that is also because I don’t exactly ask. But still.

Ethan continues talking about his relationship with Astrid for a while before eventually Astrid walks into the room in a wedding dress. Which is pretty much just a white version of my own dress.

I smile at the sight of her walking down the center of the hall towards the raised dais. And I’m not the only one, as I see Mom doing the same.

Dad, on the other hand, looks like he’s barely holding himself back from punching Ethan in the face.

Especially when Astrid reaches the raised dais and she and Ethan begin to hold hands up there. I swear I can see a vein throbbing on his forehead.

It’s kind of amusing to see.

Which is about what I expected.

That said, despite his obviously upset state, he doesn’t do anything. He just sits there at his table next to Mom while clenching his fist.

“When I first met Ethan, I thought he was an asshole,” Astrid says, opening her part of the speech with an insult towards her own groom. “And I still think he’s an asshole.”

I blink at that, and the other people in the hall look just as surprised. Even Ethan gives a doubletake towards Astrid.

But then Astrid continues, “His first greeting to me wasn’t even a greeting. He acted like I wasn’t there.”

Yeah, that sounds like him.

Ethan awkwardly looks away while rubbing the back of his neck. Meanwhile Astrid keeps speaking with a smile spreading across her face, “Which only made his growth over this time even more astounding. And heartwarming.”

Now this is getting sappy.

I drink more wine as Astrid begins to recount her own experiences with Ethan, and how she grew to care for him as well.

“It all started when Ethan invited me to run a few dungeons with him,” Astrid says with a smile on her face. “I was left with a pretty bad impression of him thanks to our first greeting, but he had already started showing interest in me at that point. I just didn’t realize it. So I was still thinking of him as that same apathetic dragon as when I first met him.” Astrid chuckles. “So imagine my surprise when he started trying to show off and asked me what I like in a guy.”

I barely keep myself from choking on the wine at that last part. Because, while I knew Ethan has changed, I didn’t know he changed that much.

A lot of the people in the hall look both shocked and amused. With just as many clearly finding it difficult to imagine Ethan acting like that. Just like me.

I notice movement at my table as Astrid continues talking about how she fell for Ethan. And when I look, I can’t help but be startled by the sight of Zal just sitting at my table drinking his own wine and wearing a tuxedo.

What the heck is he doing here?

“I thought I would watch,” Zal says with a shrug. “My workload has drastically declined thanks to the Quantum Enforcer and Quantum Balancer’s deaths.”

Huh. So he’s just bored?

Also, just how much of his work was caused by the Quantum Balancer and Quantum Enforcer?

Well, it doesn’t really matter to me what his workload is.

I turn back to look at Astrid and Ethan, deciding not to pay any attention to the Quantum Architect in our midst.

Although, while I ignore him, I’m the only one ignoring him. The other people in the hall are paying quite a bit of attention to him.

Which makes sense. He’s not holding back his aura as a Quantum Being, after all.

It would be weirder if people weren’t paying attention to him.

Like Astrid and Ethan. Neither of them are paying even an ounce of attention to him.

They’re just going on about how they fell for each other, clearly too caught up in each other at this point to notice. Which is kind of cute, in a way.

I smile at that while taking another sip of wine.

Then I notice Dad glaring at Zal.

Hmm. I guess he still has some unfinished business to discuss.

But that’s between them. I don’t have anything to do with it.

So I focus on my sister as I finish the last of the wine in the glass.

It’s nice to see her so happy.