Way of the Knights

Chapter 893: Vanessa’s Worries

“Mom? Has Dad come out recently?”

“No, Sweetheart. He hasn’t gone out yet. Not even a shadow, really. Why? Do you need something from him?” 

“Not really.” Vanessa sighed, “I’m just getting worried you know? It’s been three years since the last time he came out. I’m starting to think that something happened to him.” 

Yes, that’s right. It has been three whole years since the last time Raven came out of his seclusion and spent time with his family. It has been that long since the last time they were updated about what’s happening to him and how far he had come on his quest. 

During the first year, Luna and Vanessa only found it weird but the longer time goes on without him showing up, the more worried his daughter got. 

“Oh, Sweetheart.” Luna raised her hand and brought up the sigil that represented her and Raven’s marriage. “The sigil looks fine. This means that your father is doing just fine as well. If something happened to him, I’d know for sure, so don’t worry too much okay?”

“Maybe he just received an inspiration and entered a state of enlightenment.” Luna suggested, “You know how that goes. Nobody could really say how long they’ll last.”

“…but three years?” Vanessa hesitantly wondered. 

“There were some people who remained in that state for decades, my love.” Luna chuckled, “I even heard rumors that there’s this one person who remained in that state for a whole century. They were so in tune with nature that it claimed their unmoving body and encased with a huge tree in order to not disturb them.”

“Of course I’m not saying that your father’s seclusion will last that long. I don’t think I’d like that either. I’m just saying that we don’t really know how long this state can last and being impatient won’t do anything so just relax. He’ll be fine. It’s your father we’re talking about here.” 

Vanessa couldn’t really argue with that. So, despite missing her father dearly, she can’t do anything other than to wait until he eventually comes out and at least say hello to them. 

She joined her mother for an afternoon tea. This was one of the days where they were idle so they can freely spend their time according to how they please. 

Well, aside from missing Raven, Vanessa really had a reason why she wanted to see him as soon as possible. This has something to do with what’s bugging her all this time. 

See, Vanessa tried to ignore it. She really did. 

She did her best to not pay attention to it and focus on more important things but as time passes, she felt the urging growing stronger and she doesn’t know how long she’ll be able to endure this. 

The urge to answer the calling of the Crest of Order is becoming a little too difficult to resist. 

Luna, the bearer of the Crest, was largely unaware that her daughter feels this way, which is weird considering she’s her mother. 

And trust Vanessa, she tried. Oh, she really tried to tell her about this. However, much to her disappointment, whenever she tries telling her about this, its either there will be a Divine Intervention or there’s this mysterious force that doesn’t allow her to speak of it. 

She had lost count on how many times she tried to tell Luna but whenever the chance came, her mouth refuses to open. She can’t articulate her worries properly. No matter how much she prepared herself, even going as far as writing everything she wanted to say on a paper, its of no use. 

She couldn’t do it. She even tried telling her friends but to her surprise, her words turned into gibberish whenever she tried to. She had used most of her options so far and nothing worked.

And it’s been bothering her ever since. 

Vanessa has no idea what she should do. The call was so strong that she’s nearly on the verge of giving in to it. She’s just resisting it because she really wanted someone’s opinion about it first because this might be potentially dangerous for her. 

Without anybody left to run to, Vanessa could only rely on her father. But just as luck would have it, he’s probably not going to show up anytime soon. Leaving her to endure this fearsome temptation a bit longer than necessary. 

While Vanessa accepted that she’ll have to endure this torture for much longer. It seems that fate has other plans for her today. 

“Why does my Princess look so down?”

Vanessa sharply turned her head to the source of that voice and was jubilant to see her father walking in strides towards their location with a weak and visibly exhausted smile on his face. 

“Dad!! You’re out! Finally!”

Vanessa nearly cried. She stood up from her seat and immediately ran towards him and gave him a hug. 

“Woah, there!!” Raven chuckled and patted Vanessa’s head. “Did my little princess miss me that much?”

“Yes! You’ve been in there for so long!”

Raven smiled wryly and looked apologetic towards her and his wife. 

“Sorry about that.” Raven sighed, “I got a brief moment of inspiration and I kind of ran away with it. I got carried away just a bit and forgot to rest. But no worries, I’m here now.”

Raven then walked towards the table and sat next to Luna. He kissed his wife’s forehead and Luna placed a hand on his cheeks. 

“You should rest.” She said softly upon seeing how exhausted Raven looked. 

She wondered how he even had the energy to walk all the way here just to be with them. She could feel the weight bearing down on him and can see how little energy he has left. 

“I will in a bit. I just missed you too a lot. Let me be here for a while.” Raven smiled and placed his head on his wife’s shoulders. 

“How were during these past years, Princess? Anything you want to tell me?” Raven asked softly, his voice sounded really hoarse that Luna had to give him something to drink. 

“Actually…yes, there are some things I need to tell you.” Vanessa nodded on her seat. 

“Okay, go on then. I’m listening.” 

Vanessa then took a deep breath and hoped deep down in her heart for this to work. 

“ThethingonMom’schestisbotheringme!”

Raven raised a brow and blinked at his daughter. He shook his head briefly and asked: “Sorry, Princess. You went a little to fast, I didn’t catch that. Say it again, please?” 

Vanessa on the other hand looked shocked, she whispered: “Oh my god! It worked! Yes! I knew it!” 

“What worked, Sweetheart?” Luna was confused. 

Vanessa then took a couple of deep breaths and said:

” ‘The thing on Mom’s chest is bothering me.’ That’s what I said earlier. Oh gosh, I really worked! I can finally tell you about it! Oh my god!” 

Raven visibly perked up upon hearing that. He then looked at Luna with a questioning gaze. 

“Don’t ask me, this is also the first time I’m hearing this.” She told him after seeing that look on his face. 

Raven turned to his daughter and asked: “Care to explain more, Princess?”

“Okay…” 

Vanessa then proceeded to tell her about the feeling she got from the Crest of Order. She told them how it started and how she felt it getting stronger everyday. She also told them how she struggled to tell Luna since there’s something prevent her from doing so. 

Luna looked visibly shocked, now she gets it. She initially wondered why Vanessa has been acting weird around her lately and now she knows why. She initially thought that she might’ve been in a relationship with someone and just finds it difficult to tell her about it. However, it seems that that wasn’t the case. 

“…that’s why I’ve been waiting for you to come out, because you’re the only option I have. And it worked! I don’t know why ‘whatever that mysterious force is’ stopped with its intervention but it’s okay now, I finally said it.”

“I see…” Raven trailed off, eyes gleaming with suspicion and a little bit of irritation. However none of this was directed to Vanessa. 

“Sorry, I wasn’t able to help sooner, Princess.” Raven smiled and patted her head once again. “Don’t worry, Daddy’s here. It’ll all be fine now. Let me take a good look at you.”

Vanessa then stayed still. She watched as Raven’s eyes shone with a rainbow colored light as he scanned her body and aura. 

He then switched his gaze to Luna, who looking a bit guilty and worried about the situation. Raven started at the crest embedded on her bosom, glaring at it as if he wanted to punch a hole in it. 

Moments later, the rainbow colored light in his eyes disappeared and sigh escaped his lips. 

“How was it?” Luna was the first one to ask. 

Raven smiled weakly at her and replied:

“It’s all right.” Raven shook his head, “It’s just a little bit of misunderstanding really. She’s not in danger or anything. Somebody’s just getting anxious to start and cannot wait for me.” 

“You mean…”

“Yeah.” Raven nodded and sighed tiredly again. “The Order wants us to feed the crest already.”