章節 6: Ch 6: A Kiss on the Hand

Vivek immediately started looking for his family. Upon seeing them he began to enthusiastically wave. He became even more excited when he saw his wife's stomach.

It took all his control not to leave the customs area and take her in his arms.

A number of tents and desks were around the gate and everyone coming through had to go through inspections. Even though the gate only had three Sources, someone from each Source inspected those coming through for diseases and contraband.

Every item they brought back had to be logged and appraised. For an elite group from the Explorers Union this process usually only took 20 to 30 minutes.

When it was getting close to an hour since the inspections started, Hogart began to get upset. He looked over to where Pantel was still chatting away with the captain of the Gate Guard.

Just as he was about to head over to complain, the captain gave the signal to finish up.

While he was the last through the gate, Vivek was the first to reach those waiting for them. He took Levanya and spun her around. After setting her down, he placed his hand on her stomach and gave her a passionate kiss.

Baldeur looked away with a look of disgust but also used the opportunity to take a peak at Pantel.

The young noble was walking over with a slimy smile on his face. His ill intent was strong enough to pull his parents' attention along with others.

"It has been a long Vivek. Why didn't you tell me you had such a charming wife?" Pantel said.

"I guess it just didn't come up." Vivek had only met Pantel twice during official district functions. Levanya hates those types of events, so avoids them as much as possible.

"Well she was a splendid companion for the day. Let me know the next time you are out of the city. I'll make sure to keep her company." Pantel said.

"That won't be necessary." Vivek's tone gave an intended threat.

Hogart clenched his jaw as both his people and Pantel's guards started to reach for their weapons.

"I guess we'll see." Pantel moved quickly to take Levanya's hand and gave it a kiss. He did this quick enough to avoid Vivek's push.

Baldeur was aware of his father's speed. So that told him that Pantel wasn't just a spoiled noble. He was already sure that he was going to kill this man, so it was good to have an idea of his abilities.

Baldeur had already assessed that each of Pantel's rings held a curse related to the nine sins of Infernius and that his Source was Mana. He also had to be at least a sixth circle mage to cast a spell that would let him move as fast as his father.

He quickly moved away before Vivek could touch him and one of his guards stepped forward.

Everyone was so focused on the kiss that they missed the weak curse that slipped out of one of Pantel's rings.

Baldeur, however, didn't miss it. He immediately took the same hand and planted a kiss of his own. He hummed a chord of Divinus and slipped some Infernius energy into her hand to pull the curse out of her.

The combination of the two Sources destroyed the curse without anyone noticing. One of the high ranked demons that was also absorbed by the gluttony abomination was an incubus that had seduced a number of other wives and husbands.

This allowed him to know that the curse Pantel tried to place on his mother was a slow building lust spell. Over the course of months, she would think of Pantel more and more. Her thoughts would eventually be filled with the desire to pleasure him.

Baldeur had to use all his restraint to keep his face looking like that of an angry child and not the death glare that his emotions reflected.

"Hahahaha." Vivek couldn't help but laugh at his son's action. This also helped alleviate the tension that had been building between the two sides.

"Come on, let's go home." Vivek pulled his family close and started to leave the gate courtyard.

"Levanya, I look forward to seeing you again." Pantel called after them.

Baldeur kept his scowl in place but laughed in his heart.

'The bastard doesn't even know his plan has already failed.' He thought.

Vivek was much more physically affectionate on the way home than he normally was. Which impressed Baldeur since his parents were always physically affectionate.

He just didn't know if it was because Levanya was pregnant or because of their encounter with Pantel.

"So Baldeur, have you been keeping my little Arisha company while I've been gone?" One of Vivek's companions, Leonid asked. He was a well built man that had a Psychic Source with the physical enhancement discipline.

"Humph, why would I want to hang out with a brat?" Baldeur replied.

Leonid and his parents laughed. Leonid's wife had given birth a few months before Levanya and the parents thought their children would become good playmates.

Arisha's ideas of play differed somewhat from other children, so Baldeur dreaded when she would come over to play.

Both sets of parents thought it was adorable and secretly paired the two together.

"I'll make sure to bring her over later tonight. I'll also let her know you called her a brat." Leonid said.

"Please don't." Baldeur pouted. His dislike wasn't fully an act.

This caused even more laughter from the adults.

Leonid broke off as they neared his home, as did others of their friends. Though they wouldn't be apart for long.

It was tradition for them and their families to gather at Vivek and Levanya's after being away. So as soon as they arrived back at their townhouse, they started cooking and preparing for guests.

Baldeur loved watching his parents cook together. It was the mundane way they used their abilities in tandem to make a meal. Both his parents were good cooks, but their best meals were always made together.

A few hours after they parted, Vivek's exploration team joined back up at his home to celebrate another successful return.