Chapter 557 – It’s Been A Long While
"…and in this world, there could be no one else that deserves her hand other than you!"
Elor's impassionate words made Damien feel moved as he returned his warm hug, feeling that he got a cool grandfather-in-law.
"Thank you, senior," Damien wholeheartedly said.
"Still calling me senior after confessing that you are in a relationship with my granddaughter? Call me 'grandpa' already," Elor lightly chuckled and was astonished at himself that he was able to finally smile for the first time in a very long while.
He was already saddened by the news that his people in other Forsaken bases must have died before they could realize it, yet Damien's words made him feel like there was still light in this world. Who wouldn't want their granddaughter to get into a relationship with such a powerful and loyal man?
"Sure…grandpa…" Damien said with a smile and was already feeling close with his new grandfather-in-law. He couldn't help but smile softly, feeling happy to have gained another family member, and started to realize the importance of having a family and how fulfilling it could make one feel.
Elor pulled back Damien as he held his arms and said, "If the times were not cruel for us, I would have definitely held the grandest wedding for you and Reva as fast as possible since that is one of the lifelong wishes I carried with me all these years. To see Reva marry the person she loves and not someone she is forced to because of her fate, like her mother. I still feel like the worst father in the world for not being able to protect my daughter."
"Grandpa…please don't do that to yourself…I am sure you tried your very best to protect her, and Reva will soon know that too," Damien felt sad for Elor as he could understand the guilt he was feeling right now, just like how he was still carrying the guilt of being unable to save his lovers in the past life.
Even today, the intense feeling of his heart shattering when he saw Valentina die was still fresh in his mind, making him feel like his heart was being tightly squeezed every time he thought about it.
He was glad that Luna inflicted one of the cruelest punishments on Yohr and felt that nobody else could be better than her at giving punishments.
Still, his anger has not subsided in the least, and he could only direct it towards Ruthren for treating his daughter's life as a tool for him to use.
"Grandpa, do you know why Ruthren plans to open this Gateway of the Gods if it is so dangerous? Isn't he afraid of putting his empire in danger by letting unknown dangers inside? And how does he even plan to open the gateway without the cooperation of the other three empires? Or are they also in agreement with him on this matter?" Damien felt that Ruthren wasn't stupid to simply open a dangerous gateway for a chance of gaining precious treasures but for some other reason.
Elor's expression became contemplative as he said, "I still have no idea what kind of sinistrous plan Ruthren is cooking in his mind and how he even plans to open the gateway without the other keys like you asked. The easiest way would be that he must have enticed the other three empires into helping him open the gate since forcing them would be highly difficult or impossible considering the dangers on the other side."
"Possibly…sigh…I feel uneasy not knowing what that asshole must be planning…" Damien mumbled while Elor nodded at him with an appreciative look since he could count with just his fingers how many people dared to call the strongest emperor in the continent an asshole or something similar.
"D-Damien?" Suddenly the silvery yet tired voice of Reva startled the two as they quickly rushed beside her.
"Reva? You woke up already? Shouldn't you be resting?" Damien asked with knitted brows as he held her hand gently and helped her sit up while she was stirring awake, rubbing her forehead.
"No…I want to have some fresh air…after that, I will cultivate…" Reva said languidly before feeling that someone was staring at her from the other side.
Wondering why this unknown aura felt familiar to her, she turned her head to see an old man standing beside her with tears in her eyes and quivering chin as if he was suppressing the intense emotions he was feeling in his heart.
Elor wanted to pat her head but resisted the urge to when he saw how she was looking at him with those cold azure eyes that contained no emotion or feelings as she looked at him. It was as if she was looking at a total stranger, and realizing that the reason for this was his own fault only made the stabbing sensation in his heart feel even more painful.
Reva was already a bit surprised by where she woke up since she ended up falling unconscious near the beach, and now she was inside some old rusty house.
Her first concern was about her injured grandmother, but sensing her aura and seeing that she was resting peacefully on the bed adjacent to hers, Reva was able to feel relieved.
But now she was concerned about who this strange old man was, staring at her as if he was looking at a ghost. Usually, if a stranger stared at her like this, she would feel annoyed and make sure they avert their eyes.
However, strangely she wasn't feeling uncomfortable by his stare but instead, as she looked at his dull, soft eyes that were brimming with tears, she began to feel sad for some reason, especially when she felt that his blood's aura seemed familiar to her.
She couldn't help but pull Damien's hand closer as she asked, "Damien…who is—"
"He's your grandfather, Reva," Damien said with a low sigh and added, "And the ninth descendant of the Zirian Emperor, Elor Ziria."
"What…how…" Reva had a look of disbelief as she again looked at Elor, who said with a stifled smile, "It's been a long while, Reva. Forgive this old man for not being there for you when you needed me the most."
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