In the realm of Eridoria, two years had passed since Aster Theodoros departed with Angel Zephyr to hone his skills. The town of Brindlemark remained unchanged, its residents going about their daily lives.
Suddenly, a portal materialized in the sky, and a figure emerged from the dark void. Aster's piercing light blue eyes gleamed through the portal, his gaze cold and calculated.
As he stepped out, his 6'2" frame towered over the town. His hair had grown longer, reaching the end of his leg, and he wore a sleek black jumpsuit that hugged his frame perfectly.
Through the jumpsuit, Aster's physique was evident, and it was clear that he didn't have the typical 6 or 8-pack abs. Instead, his abdominal muscles were chiseled into a remarkable 10 distinct segments, a testament to his exceptional physical conditioning.
The stretchy material shimmered in the light, radiating confidence and strength. Aster's face remained emotionless as he gazed down at the town.
He floated in the air, his senses heightened, taking in the sights and sounds of Brindlemark. The chatter of pedestrians, the clanging of pots from food vendors, and the rumbling of carts filled the air. Children's laughter echoed through the town square, where kids aged 3 and 4 played tag around the large, ornate fountain. Aster's eyes narrowed slightly as he observed the scene, his mind processing every detail.
Without warning, Aster descended and landed outside a familiar house in the neighborhood – his childhood home. He stood before the cozy, earth-toned dwelling, surrounded by similar homes with sloping roofs and thatched or tiled coverings. Aster's eyes fixed on the wooden door, and he raised his hand to tap on it gently.
The door swung open, and his mother, Sophia, stood before him with a warm smile. However, her expression faltered as she took in Aster's appearance. Her eyes widened, and a tear rolled down her cheek as she whispered, "Aster...?"
Aster's face remained impassive, his voice calm and measured. "Mom."
Sophia's emotions overflowed, and she rushed to hug Aster tightly. "Is that really you? Oh, Aster, it's been so long!"
Sophia tears were streaming down her face. Aster slowly brought his hands up and hugged her, his calm demeanor unwavering. "Don't cry, Mom," he said softly. "I'm back."
"Why shouldn't I cry?" Sophia replied, her voice shaking with emotion. "It's been forever since I last saw you. I was worried sick about you."
"I apologize for not coming earlier," Aster said, his voice calm and measured. "I had to take care of some things."
"You got me so worried, I thought I would never see you again," Sophia said, her tears continuing to flow. "But now that you're here, I'm okay, now."
Aster moved his hands upwards to Sophia's hair and patted her gently. "It's okay. It's okay, now," he said soothingly.
Just then, the door opened again, and Aster's father, Ethan, walked in. He was taken aback by Aster's presence, but a warm smile spread across his face. "Aster, I knew you would come back," he said, his voice filled with gentleness.
Ethan rushed to Aster and gave him a pat on the back. "Aster, my son, you've grown up well and healthy, just like your dad," he said, his eyes shining with happiness.
Ethan stood beside Aster and measured his height against his own. "Whoa, you've grown taller than me now," he exclaimed.
"Yeah," Aster replied, his voice calm.
Ethan's expression turned emotional for a moment, but he smiled again. "I'm glad to see you, Aster," he said, his voice filled with warmth.
Just then, the door opened once more, and a little girl with black hair and light blue eyes walked in. It was Reina, Aster's 4-year-old sister. She looked up at the group and asked, "Mama, Dada, what you doin'?"
Her height was 3'5 (105 cm).Reina looked like a younger version of Aster with her black hair that reached her neck and light blue eyes that sparked brightly too. But mostly she resembled her Mom still looking young.
When she saw Aster, her eyes widened in curiosity. "Who dat?" she asked, her English still developing.
Sophia turned to Reina and smiled. "Reina, this is your big brother I once told you about," she said. "You were so young when you met him that you might not remember."
Reina's eyes lit up. "Ma Big bro," she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.
Aster's expression remained calm as he looked at Reina. "Reina, how are you doing?" he asked.
Reina replied, "Me fine," her voice cheerful.
Aster bent down and patted Reina's hair. "I will take that as a yes," he said, his voice gentle.
Reina giggled and smiled, enjoying the gentle touch. "Ma Big bro, did you buy sweet for me and Mama?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with hope.
Aster replied, "You like sweet, huh? Next time, I will get you some."
Reina brought out her pinky finger and said, "Pinky promise. If you buy me sweet, I will let you be Ma Big bro."
Aster brought out his pinky finger and touched it to Reina's. Reina giggled and laughed, her eyes shining with happiness.
Aster then held Reina's hand and said, "Let's go inside." Reina smiled and held his hand, and they walked into the house together.
As Aster and Reina entered the house, Sophia and Ethan held hands like a couple, their faces beaming with happiness as they watched Aster and Reina bond together. Despite their youthful appearance, which made them look like they were in their teens, they exuded a sense of warmth and maturity.
"Ah, Aster is back, and Reina gets along with him," Sophia said excitedly, her eyes shining with joy. "This calls for a feast."
"Yes..." Ethan replied calmly, his voice gentle and soothing. "But don't you think it's time to tell Aster?"
Sophia's expression turned thoughtful, and she replied, "You're right. But what if he already knows?"
Ethan's response was measured. "It might be a possibility, but we agreed on this from the start and can't go back."
Sophia's excitement returned, and she exclaimed, "Right! But the feast still continues." With that, she rushed into the house, holding Ethan's hand, leaving him barely enough time to react.
In the house, Aster and Reina entered the main hall, where four chairs stood, each accommodating two to three people, and a wooden rocking chair sat in the middle. Other rooms lay at the downside, including bathrooms, toilets, and the kitchen. At the end of the main hall, wooden stairs led up to the second floor, where four rooms awaited, three of which were bedrooms, and the fourth was a spare room.
As Aster sat down with Reina, the little girl's nose twitched as she caught the scent of her mother's cooking. "Mama is making food!" she exclaimed, her English still broken. She quickly hopped off the chair and said, "I'm going to hwep Mama make food!" before dashing off to the kitchen.
Aster sat alone in silence, his expression calm and collected. Ethan approached him calmly and gently, saying, "Can I talk to you about something for a second."
Aster's response was immediate. "I know it all already. From the beginning of my birth when I was sealed till how you hid your use of magic from me because I was a non-magic user and everything else till I was unsealed."
Ethan's expression remained calm and gentle as he replied, "I sincerely apologize. Your mum and I decided to go with that, even though we knew that you went through a hard time."
Aster's response was devoid of emotion. "Don't worry about that. That was a thing of the past."
Ethan's face relaxed, and he said, "I see... Then, welcome back, Aster Theodoros."
Aster's reply was calm and measured. "Thanks, Dad."
As they spoke, Reina's laughter echoed from the kitchen, mingling with the sounds of cooking and the warmth of the household.
As time passed on, the afternoon sun from before became evening. In the kitchen, everyone sat quietly at the dining table. The kitchen looked exactly like a modern one, with a wooden table in the center of the room where meals were prepared and eaten.
The kitchen was also equipped with various utensils and cookware, such as pots, pans, knives, both metal and plastic spoons. There were 5 chairs in total, and everyone sat down. Reina sat beside Aster, and the other person sitting beside Aster was Sophia. Ethan sat by Sophia. On the table, everything was filled with food. Pancakes, rice, big meat, and many more.
"Let's begin, shall we?" Sophia said, smiling warmly.
Then they all dug in using their spoons and forks. Aster ate the pancakes carefully and gently.
"It makes me happy when you eat the food I made out of love," Sophia said, her eyes shining with warmth.
Aster then noticed her, and Sophia smiled big as ever and said, "You still remember those words. I said it to you almost every day when you are eating, happily enjoying my food."
"I will always enjoy your food," Aster replied calmly. "It's the best in the world."
"Awww, those were the words you'd sometimes say when you eat my food," Sophia replied, her voice filled with nostalgia.
"Ma Big bro, you cheater," Reina said, looking serious. "Mama say that to me too."
Sophia laughed and replied, "That's right, sweetie." She was excited.
Everyone was having fun, and after eating, Aster said, getting out of the kitchen, "This is delicious."
Reina then replied, "Yesh, the bast food in the world."
Aster now out of the kitchen walked upstairs, going to his room, which was just in front of the end of the stairs. Aster entered his room, and everything seemed neat and clean. The bed was tidy.
Aster walked to the bed and sat down, his gaze sweeping across the room with a detached air. He took in the familiar sights and sounds, his expression a mask of calmness.
Then, his eyes locked onto the panel – the invisible barrier between him and the audience. He spoke directly to the viewers, his voice devoid of emotion.
"I'm addressing you directly, and I'll navigate this story as I see fit. No promises about what might happen next, but I'm curious to see how things will play out. My powers, for now, remain in check – a restraint I've maintained for quite some time."
Aster's face remained emotionless as he continued, "My powers are fully unsealed, but I'm choosing to hold back for the sake of balance. If you're curious about the extent of my restraint, I'd say it's comparable to a vast, unquantifiable amount. To put it into perspective, the power I'm holding back is greater than the sum of every number in existence."
He paused for a moment, his voice steady and calculated. "However, to make things more relatable, I'll be using a fraction of my abilities – less than a Graham's number, to be precise. I'm confident that even at this reduced capacity, I'm unmatched. In fact, using less than a Graham's number of my power would still be more than sufficient to demonstrate my superiority over anything or anyone, whether in this realm or beyond."
Aster's gaze never wavered as he concluded, "I have no end. I don't mean to brag , but I have my reasons for saying all this. That's it for now, and time for me to play the character in this story."
In an instant, Aster's gaze shifted away from the panel, and he lay down on the bed, his movements fluid and controlled. "I don't sleep, eat, get tired because I transcend everything in and out of fiction, creation, existence, and many more," he thought to himself, already immersed in the role he was about to play.
Later that evening, as it was almost midnight, Aster was lying down on his bed, not sleeping. Then, his door opened, and Reina came in, wearing pink pajamas for both top and bottom. Reina looked down, and Aster got off the bed and went to her.
"What brings you here this late in the evening?" he asked, his voice calm and gentle.
Reina rubbed her eyes, feeling tired and bored. "Big bro, I can't sweep. Can I sweep beshide you?" she replied, her English still not well pronounced.
"Sure, I don't mind," Aster replied, rubbing her head gently. Reina went to Aster's bed and lay down there, her eyes then started to close, and she fell asleep quickly.
"Good night," Aster said, as he watched Reina sleeping.
The next day, as the sun shone brightly, Aster was still awake and was lying on the bed with his legs crossed. Beside him was Reina, who had turned her sleeping position and still looked comfortable.
Then, the door opened, and Ethan came in. When he saw Reina sleeping comfortably with Aster, he said with calmness and gentleness, "Awww, what a wonderful reunion."
Aster got up and looked at his dad, his expression devoid of emotion.
"Sorry, did I wake you up? I will just leave now," Ethan's said as he closing the door in front of him.
"I just woke up, don't worry." Aster said
"Breakfast is almost ready, so be prepared soon," Ethan said gently. "Come downstairs with Reina, okay."
"Sure," Aster replied calmly.
Ethan then went and closed the door. Aster got off the bed, ready to start the day.
As Aster got off the bed, Reina's eyes started opening, and Aster noticed it. Reina woke up, stretched her arms and legs while snoring at the same time.
Aster noticed some familiarity in what Reina was doing. "She reminds me of the younger version of me waking up in the exact same way," Aster thought.
Reina then noticed Aster watching her and said, "Big Bro, what you doin'?"
"You're finally awake, huh," Aster said calmly. "Let's get downstairs, breakfast is ready."
"Yesh," Reina said excitedly. "I'm hungry."
Reina then got off the bed and followed Aster downstairs.
...
In the kitchen, the entire family was seated in the same position they sat the previous day. Aster and Sophia had tea for breakfast, as was their preference. Ethan preferred coffee, and Reina had a glass of milk and four pancakes on a plate.
As they started eating, everyone ate calmly and quietly, except for Reina, who ate quickly and drank all her glass of milk in one shot already.
Meanwhile, Sophia gazed at Aster and thought to herself, "I better get a new pair of clothes for Aster... Maybe something that will fit his style."
Aster had already noticed her gaze. "Don't worry about me," Aster said to Sophia. "Today, I'm planning on getting a new pair of clothes for myself."
Sophia was taken aback. "How do you know exactly what I'm thinking?" she asked.
"I have known you for a long time, Mom," Aster replied calmly, his face emotionless. "I'm just reading your expression."
"Oh, really," Sophia said. "You're observant, huh."
Ethan then joined in and said gently, "Your Mom is right, Aster. That's so like you."
Reina was still eating, as she was about to finish her food. Aster didn't say a word and got up. "I'm done with breakfast," he said calmly. "It's time for me to go and buy it."
"Wow, that's so soon," Ethan said gently.
Sophia also said, "Yeah, where are you going to get the money from?"
"I have my ways," Aster replied.
Aster then got out of the kitchen. Reina, who was done eating, also got up and went out of the kitchen.
Outside the house, as the sun was shining, Aster was standing outside. The door opened, and Reina came out and said to Aster, "Big bro, I want to also come with you."
"Sure," Aster replied. "I don't mind."
Reina then showed a happy smile. "Thanks a bunch, big bro," she said.
Aster then brought out his hand and said, "Let's go." Reina held his hand, and they walked as if their bonding was inseparable.
As they walked, Reina looked up at Aster and said, "Big bro, I'm so happy to be with you."
Aster looked down at Reina and replied calmly, "I'm happy too, Reina."
Reina then asked, "Big bro, what kind of clothes are you going to buy?"
"I'll decide when we get to the store," Aster replied.
Reina nodded and continued to walk with Aster, enjoying the sunshine and the company of her big brother.
As they walked, Aster thought to himself, "I'm glad Reina is enjoying herself. She's been looking forward to spending time with me."
Aster's expression remained calm and emotionless, but he felt a sense of satisfaction knowing that he was making his little sister happy.
After 30 minutes of walking, Aster and Reina arrived in front of the store. The store looked like a fat and big building in front of the narrow streets where carts were passing by. And on top of the store, it was written boldly, "STYLUM" and below it written in brackets, "We get clothes from different nations. For all men, women, and children of all genders."
"Let's get inside," Aster said to Reina, his voice calm and collected.
"Okay," Reina replied, her eyes wide with excitement. "Dresses from this type of store are pricey."
"I've got this covered," Aster replied back, his expression unwavering.
"If Big bro says so, then it's true," Reina said excitedly. "Let's go inside."
And with that, they opened the door, and there were rows of hanged clothes that filled the entire place. People were also inside the store, selecting dresses for themselves. Some were with their kids, some alone, some were couples, and many more. They were also people working in the store, wearing full black with coats. They were both male and female. Not only that, the place was cold, and that was because there were machines that were hung on the walls. They looked like modern air conditioners but weren't fully like that. Half was like a spinning fan that turned, and with the help of magic inside the machine, it blew a very cold and refreshing air. The place was lit with lots of light bulbs infused with magic to last long.
Aster came and watched his surroundings first, as he saw everything and what the people were doing. Meanwhile, Reina was getting excited for enjoying something this fancy, as she said, "Big bro, this is so cool."
Then, one of them came, and it was a woman dressed in a black shirt and top with a coat. The woman had black hair and normal black eyes. Aster also noticed the design written on the coat, "Stylum Stylists."
The woman gazed at Aster and noticed his ten-abs. Her face now became completely red. "Oh my gosh, am I seeing a guy with ten abs?" she thought to herself.
"He must have gone through hard training to achieve this, and he's so handsome and manly," she thought, her eyes fixed on Aster's physique.
She then took a deep breath and thought to herself, calming herself down, "I need to keep my cool and do my job normally."
"I'm here to help you pick the type of clothes you need," the woman said, trying to sound professional. "How may I help you both?"
"Can you pick a beautiful princess dress for my little sister and get her dressed?" Aster said, his voice calm and collected. "Something that she will prefer too...As For me, I'm still looking for my preference."
"I see," the woman replied, still blushing. "Come on, let's go and pick a beautiful princess dress for you," she said to Reina.
Reina then said to Aster, feeling excited, "Big bro, you're so amazing. Thank you."
"Anytime," Aster replied. "Just be good and wait for me when you're done."
Reina then followed the woman and went to the children's clothes, which were at the far end at the left. Aster then went to the far end at his right, which was the men's clothing, and was ready to pick his dress.
As Aster walked towards the men's section, a man suddenly appeared from the stocks of clothes and approached Aster quickly. The man had light brown hair reaching his neck and brown eyes. He was wearing a black shirt and trousers, similar to the woman who had taken Reina, with a coat that had "Stylum Stylists" written on it.
The man breathed heavily, "H-huh, I'm sorry for acting like this... I've worked here for a while, but I rushed here looking for you." He paused, composing himself. "How may I help you?"
Aster's expression remained emotionless as he replied, "I need a cloth that will make me stand out without being too flashy. And I'll buy more clothes here too."
The man's eyes lit up with a professional smile. "No problem. Follow me."
As they walked through the rows of hanged clothes, the man helped Aster select different dresses. After a while, Aster finally found one of his preferences – a black top and bottom with a brown coat with a brown boot attached to it.
The boots are a rich, dark brown color with a subtle sheen to them. The leather has a warm, earthy tone that evokes feelings of comfort and sophistication.
"I'll take this one," Aster said, his voice calm and collected.
The man nodded in agreement. "I like this one too. You really have great fashion taste."
As they walked to the changing room, the man said, "I'll take you to get changed."
Once inside the changing room, Aster changed into the outfit. When he emerged, the man was taken aback by how well the clothes suited Aster. The contrast between the dark top and bottoms and the earthy, warm coat created a stunning visual effect.
The man's eyes widened in admiration. "Woah! This is so damn cool."
Aster's expression remained neutral. "I appreciate it. And I'm buying more clothes."
The man chuckled, smiling. "I know that, and I'll continue helping you."
As the man admired Aster's outfit, he thought to himself, "This guy has an incredible sense of style. I need to make sure he leaves here satisfied."
....
Meanwhile, at the children's section, the woman who had taken Reina with her finally brought a dress out from the rows of hanged clothes. The dress was a stunning white princess gown made of silk, with a fitted bodice and a full, flowing skirt. Delicate lace trim adorned the neckline and hem, adding a touch of whimsy and romance. The sleeves were short and puffy, framing Reina's small shoulders.
Reina's eyes widened as she saw the dress. "I wan this!" she exclaimed excitedly, her voice squeaking with delight. "It is cool and shiny!"
The woman smiled, but her eyes betrayed a hint of concern. "What?" she thought to herself. "This dress costs a lot." She looked at Reina and said, "Are you sure about this?"
Reina nodded vigorously, her face lighting up with a smile. "Yesh!" she said, her voice filled with conviction. "Pwease, can I have this?"
The woman looked at Reina's cute face and sighed. "Well, as long as your big brother can pay for it, then I have no problem," she said with a smile.
Reina's face lit up with confidence. "I trust Big Bro," she said, her voice filled with faith. "He will pay for me."
The woman raised an eyebrow. "You're confident in your big brother, huh?" she said. "Are you sure he won't disappoint you?"
Reina nodded again, her ponytail bobbing up and down. "I know Big Bro won't disappoint me!" she said, her voice filled with conviction.
The woman smiled, charmed by Reina's confidence. "I see," she said. "Then do you want to get changed now?"
Reina's face lit up again. "Yesh!" she exclaimed.
The woman laughed and said, "Follow me, and let's get you changed." Reina cheered and followed the woman to the changing room.
After a few minutes of changing, the curtains opened, and the woman looked at Reina with pride. "What a beauty!" The woman thought, her cheeks turning red. "She's a real princess!"
Reina looked at herself and jumped up and down in excitement. "I'm so cool!" she exclaimed.
The woman quickly brought a small mirror from her pocket and handed it to Reina. Reina looked at the mirror in admiration, her eyes wide with wonder. "I look like a beautiful princess now!" she shouted excitedly. "I can't wait to see Big Bro!"
The woman smiled and said, "Let's go back to your big brother right now. We'll look for him together."
Reina yelled excitedly, "Yay! Let's go to Big Bro!" She jumped up and down, her white princess dress fluttering around her.
As they walked out of the changing room, the woman thought to herself, "She's so adorable. I hope her big brother can see how much she loves this dress." She smiled and followed Reina, who was already running towards the men's section.
Reina's white princess dress was perfectly suited for a little princess like her. The dress was made of silk, giving it a luxurious sheen. The sleeves were short and puffy, framing Reina's small shoulders. And Reina also wore a white earring in both her ears, making her look extra beautiful. The dress paired with a pair of white shoes that resembled modern-day ballet flats, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to her overall look.
...
Back at the checkout counter, Aster stood calmly, his expression unreadable. The male stylist was busy searching for someone, and the four large plastic bins filled with clothes sat on the table. Aster's voice was flat as he asked, "How much will everything be in total?"
The man turned to him, slightly flustered. "Can you give me a minute? I need to do something urgent. You can ask one of the stylists working here and pay for your clothes."
Aster's response was curt. "Sure, I don't mind."
The man nodded hastily. "I apologize for not helping you to the end." With that, he hurried off, leaving Aster alone.
Aster's eyes followed the man's departure, his mind already shifting to his next priority. "I need to go and look for my sister, before it's too late," he thought to himself.
As he walked towards the children's section, he moved with a purposeful stride, his eyes scanning the area for any sign of Reina. He saw a familiar woman running towards him.
Suddenly, she bumped into him. It was the woman who had taken Reina to try on clothes.
The woman's face was etched with worry, and her voice trembled as she apologized. "I'm sorry... I'm very sorry." She looked like she was on the verge of tears.
Aster's expression remained expressionless as he asked, "Where's my sister?"
The woman's eyes welled up with tears. "Some unknown stranger took her and left. They've kidnapped her."
Aster's face didn't flinch at all. His face giving away nothing, still expressionless as ever.
Aster's voice was calm and even as he asked, "Tell me exactly what happened." The woman took a deep breath and recounted the events, her voice shaking. "We were just looking for you after your sister got dressed, and then a stranger came out of nowhere and grabbed her! They just snatched her and ran out of the store."
Aster listened intently, his eyes never leaving hers. His face remained a mask, giving away nothing. As the woman finished speaking, Aster's gaze narrowed slightly. "I'll find her," he said, his voice low and even.
The woman's eyes locked onto his, a glimmer of hope flickering in them. "P-please, you have to find her. I'm so sorry this happened."
Aster's response was brief. "I'll handle my part. You take the clothes to checkout. I'll collect them later."
"I'll take care of the clothes at the checkout. Let me handle it," the woman replied, her voice filled with a promise.
With that, Aster turned and walked away, leaving the woman standing alone, her eyes filled with worry and fear. Aster's calm demeanor belied the calculating mind working behind the scenes, analyzing the situation and planning his next move.