Chapter 13: Brothers
Zeke didn't know that he had laughed loudly. He was still immersed in his fantasies. After consoling himself for a while, his mind couldn't help but imagine himself in the future. He saw himself clad in a dazzling armor surrounded by his subordinates and allies. Most of the people by his side are women, and Zeke wondered if he was really that unrestrained. He stopped bothering about it and continued to indulge in his fantasy. Unbeknownst to him, he actually laughed on the outside. He didn't bother much about it, but the adults around him seem to misunderstand his laugh.
'He just laughed after getting close to us. Is it because of my daughter?'
'Is he already conscious enough to feel feelings toward the opposite sex? But he's only a month older than my daughter, how come he's already that aware while my daughter's still not conscious enough?'
'I knew it. This son of mine will have a very good future in terms of relationships. Just this young and he already knows how to feel towards their daughter. I wonder how much of a playboy will he become in the future?' Catherine seems proud that her son is already showing signs of interest towards the opposite sex.
'Sigh. My dear son, please don't be like us when we were young. We acted like young masters but we met my wife back then. I pray that my son won't meet someone like Catherine in her prime.' Charles seems to see his teenage self in Zeke when he grows up. Back then, Catherine was stronger than them and she beat them up miserably after they tried hitting on her. It was truly a traumatizing experience for Charles in his friends.
Zeke, the perpetrator of the misunderstanding, just got out of his fantasy and looked at the people in front of him. The middle-aged man brought them to a large room with a rectangular table filled with all kinds of foods at the center. He guessed that this establishment should be near the center of the plaza where they headed. There was already a beautiful woman sitting there holding an infant. Since he had the system, he already knew the name of them. The middle-aged man's name is Alcazar while the beautiful woman sitting is Mediula. The infant Mediula's holding is named Rosaline, and Zeke assumed that the infant is a girl. The three have the surname Hydrofrost. Zeke guessed that since the father is a close friend of his father, then the two families might have equal statuses for them to be able to dine in a place like this. He also checked their CPs and noticed that their CPs are a bit lower than his parents. Alcazar and Mediula have 4400 and 4300 CP respectively.
"Oh, you guys arrived a bit early. The feast is still an hour away, you know. Nice to meet you both, I'm Alcazar's wife, Mediula. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Mediula lightly bowed. Zeke could really see how refined the woman is just based on her etiquette. She radiated an aura that only nobles have; refined and high above the masses. Gazing at her eyes makes one's heart serene and peaceful as if a calm sea. The man and the infant also had it, but theirs were a bit unrefined than Mediula.
"Feast? I thought we're the only ones?"
"Ah, my apologies. I forgot to tell you Charles, I invited all four of us today to have a big feast... and talk about something."
Alcazar scratched his head. Zeke's first impression of this guy is that he's a bit clumsy and klutz, but seeing as he had a graceful wife, he guessed that Alcazar only acts like this with his close friends and aides, and he might have another side when talking business.
When Charles heard this, he felt surprised, as well as joy. It was a long time since they all bonded together. He wanted to meet with them all those years ago, but he knew they all have their own matters to take care of, so he didn't have any time to invite them all out.
"Really? Are those two really coming too?!"
"Haha, yes Charles. They accepted the invitation since they, too, are in a vacation like us. You see,
Grad's wife gave birth a year ago while Fritz's gave birth not long ago too. In fact, we all had our infants not exceeding half a year ago. Fritz's baby seems to be the youngest, followed by my baby girl, then Charles', and lastly, Grad's." Alcazar said with a smile.
"Really? They both married?" Charles was very surprised. He knew his two friends, and although they liked to fool around back then, they straightened up and focused on training after a few years. He never thought his brothers would have any interest in family matters, but after he thought about their status, he instantly understood. It's not that they wanted, but even if they don't want to, they were required to bear at least one child to continue the bloodline.
"Yes! although they didn't invite us, it's understandable since the distance from their place to ours will take several days and it seems their marriage was conducted in private. Still, I'm quite disappointed they didn't inform us."
"Sigh. Ever since those damn fools from the two continents started, our continent seems to have no peace. They always harassed us and wanted refuge near our shores. Hmph! I long for the day when I can vent my frustrations on those damn lowlives. They cause us to miss our brothers' weddings!"
"Don't worry, brother. There will come a day where we'll slaughter our way to their capital! But before that, let's just enjoy this big feast with them. Let's all catch up! I have a lot to tell about my journey to the wildlands..."
Just as Alcazar started his story, a gust of wind blew in their direction.
"HEYYYAAAAA fellows! Am I late? there were a lot of people so I had to use my power to avoid collisions. Oh? it seems someone's still not here? Oh, and who might you beautiful women be? It's my pleasure to meet such beauties here!" A slightly handsome man appeared near their table and extended his hand towards Catherine and Mediula. Both girls didn't seem to mind it at all, as if they already expected it, and they only smiled without reaching back.
"You already have a daughter. Why are you still flirting?!" The man received a slap on the back of his face as a slightly tall woman came in carrying an infant. She then smiled towards the two women. The two women then smiled back, as if they're communicating telepathically.
"Good morning, friends. I am Auretta, a pleasure to make your acquaintances. I deeply apologize for my husband's behavior. He's always like that when he meets a woman friend. I swear he just can't be stopped." The woman smiled then coldly gazed at his husband. The man shivered and avoided eye contact.
"Hum hum, I see you're still as goofy as ever, Fritz. These two women you flirted with are our wives, she's Catherine and this is my wife, Mediula. Are you still not satisfied? You already have a beautiful wife beside you, why are you still flirting with others?" Even though the statement looks like it's mocking the handsome man, his tone was friendly.
"No no Alc, you're misunderstanding me. I already knew they're you guys' wives, and I greeted them not only because of that but because they're top-notch beauties. Do you know what they taught us back then? It's to appreciate and admire beauty. It's what I did, and I'm only upholding the teachings! Besides, I already have my wife here, and believe me, even if I wanted to, I'm afraid I can't handle more wives!" The handsome man smiled and shook his head helplessly. Zeke thought this guy's the most shameless guy he's seen ever since being born. His tongue was just so glib that one couldn't help but be annoyed, but Charles and Alcazar seem to feel the opposite. Instead of being annoyed, they felt joy by reuniting with their sworn brother.
Zeke checked the man's name and he was surprised that his name wasn't Fritz, but Cypriz. He guessed that his Father and friends must have coined him the nickname 'Fritz'. What's more surprising is that his CP is higher than the Hydrofrost couple, with a CP of 4500, equal to his father and only slightly less than his mother. His wife has a whopping 4400 CP, also surpassing the other couple. Zeke felt that Fritz's childish behavior didn't match his high combat prowess.
The three fathers went into a corner and started talking about their own adventures. The wives also grouped up and talked about their own things. Zeke could see both infants and figured that Fritz's baby should be a female considering her name, Aura Viola. This family has the surname Featherflight, and Zeke assumed that the family had a high affinity for wind based from the spell they cast.
Half an hour before the feast starts, a big burly man along with a woman holding a baby arrived. The burly man exuded a solid aura as if he's as steady as Mount Tai. The woman, on the other hand, exuded an aura of a noble, quite same with Mediula's.
Seeing the three men in a corner, The burly man's aura disappeared completely and his face formed a warm smile.
"I'm nearly late for the party. Hello, big brothers!"
"Yo, if it isn't Grad! You sure work hard, huh! I see your muscles man. Do remember not to punch me or even flick me man, I feel like you can snap my bones with just a flick."
"Hahahaha, you jest again, Fritz, just like the good ol' days. I can't help it, my training automatically hardens my muscles, so even if I don't want to, it'll still grow and grow while I'm training. Man, you don't know how brutal training is for this element. It's literally you beating yourself! If I had at least one more element I'm well versed in, I'd surely drop this!" The burly man grumbled. He seems dissatisfied with how the training in his element is.
"This is not the time for your grumblings, Grad! Come introduce us to your wife and..?"
"It's a daughter, Charles. My wife, Meryl, gave birth a year ago. The earth even quaked a bit when she was born. Sigh, I already pity my daughter's future training. I hope she can endure it in the long run!"
"Oh for sure! I think your daughter will be twice as brave and headstrong as you Grad! Even though you have all these big muscles, you're still the most docile in our group! Cmon man, show your ferocity! Don't just use your ferocious aura for intimidation, embody it!"
"You jest, Brother Alc. I hone my aura for the sake of negotiations since I don't want unnecessary fights. Trust me, it's very useful!"
Thus, the group of men and women continued to chat until the time of the feast.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Zealotx
Zealotx Hey guys! On the next few chapters, I'll try to minimize infos as I realized that I write too much small details that should be unnecessary. Anyways, enjoy!
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