Life Of A Nobody - as a Villain-Chapter 401: Reunion - III

After having a short talk with aunt Artemis, who seemed way too pleased whenever she looked at Rio, and had the happiest smile he had seen for years now, they reluctantly parted ways.

Becca said her goodbyes before following her mother and departing for the Royal castle. While Rio, Amelia and the rest of the entourage left for Damascus.

By the time they reached Damascus, it was already near midnight, the lively city was covered in a shadow of silence under the twinkling stars in the sky, as people just slept peacefully in their homes.

Some songs and chatter could still be heard from the open pubs, bars and other places, but it all passed and ended the closer they got to their home.

"Home sweet home." Amelia said excitedly, leaning over the railing of the ship and looking at the familiar walls and the gardens of their estate. "I can't say how much I missed it."

"Yeah, Cause you didn't at all." Rio replied with a chuckle, "I can count on one hand about the times you mentioned this place while we were at the academy."

Amelia gasped, before turning to face him with mock indignation. "Hey, that's not right!" she protested. "Remember the fresher's party? Or the time we went shopping outside? Oh, and don't forget the VR match where I kicked your ass. We talked about home then.."

Rio rolled his eyes, a smirk playing at his lips. "Yeah, pretty sure those times were just you missing Mom and Tanya's cooking, saying that's the secret to your energy, and not the actual 'home sweet home' thing."

Having no response to that, Amelia just turned her head over to shoulder and shouted, "Father, look he's picking a fight again."

"..." Hearing her complain, Rio just gave her the look, 'Seriously' , and in return she just poked her tongue and mocked him, before running towards the stairs where their father was standing.

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Ignoring this complaining snitcher, Rio just looked back down, staring at the rows of maids and guards standing in the garden, surrounding the place where this ship was about to land.

Despite the darkness he could still see many familiar faces, - Esme, Erza, Tanya, Aina, Asher, Ariosh, Myra, _ and many more… . All their faces filled with anticipation awaiting their arrival.

But Rio just took a glance and turned his head again, scanning everyone to find the one person whom he was searching for, until a charming voice sounded behind him.

"You looking for someone?"

Rio turned back with a smile, but before he could even open his arms, he was held tightly and squeezed together. The familiar scent of lavender and fresh rain filled his senses, and his initial joy at seeing her turned into a mild sense of panic as the pressure around his ribs intensified.

"Hello, Mother," Rio said, his voice strained as he tried to wiggle free from her death grip, before giving in and just gently hugging her back. "I see you haven't changed a bit."

Rio was feeling happy in his heart, thinking home really does feel like heaven, until he felt a stinging pain though his ears.

"Mother, what are you doing?" Rio said, twisting his head in an attempt to escape, while asking her to let go. "We haven't even landed yet, and you're already beating me?"

"That's what you get for scaring me, did you know how worried I was when I heard there were cracks on your life crystal. How dare you pull this kind of prank on me." Artemis said in complaint, before raising her other hand and slapping his cheeks.

Rio's screams echoed as he tried to wiggle his way out of her grip, while everyone around them just looked at his helpless state and laughed at his misery.

"ow ow ow, mother, please, see everyone's watching, can we do this later?" Rio begged with what he thought was his cutest expression to date, he even pulled out some fake tears in his eyes to improve the impact.

But alas what greeted his innocence, was yet another slap. And he swore this one was twice stronger than the last one.

Amelia, who had been watching with barely-contained glee, finally decided to throw her two cents in. "Yeah, Mother! Beat him! He's such an idiot. Acting all innocent now, like he didn't know what he was doing."

"Give him two slaps from me too." She said as she left her father's side and pointed at her brother. Not realizing that in excitement of drama, she left the safety zone and stepped too close to the line of fire.

"And you. How many times have I told you to not pick a fight, you can't finish without using chaos." Artemis said as her attention shifted to her daughter, her hand, already moving before Amelia could retreat, a step. And then, a loud smack echoed through the air as Artemis delivered a sharp slap to the back of Amy's neck.

Amelia's hands shot up to cover the back of her head, her expression filled with pure shock as she whined, "Ow, ow, Mother, not me too."

"Three months outside and both of you have grown wings, haven't you?" Artemis said, twisting her ear.

"Mother, _mom, _mamma, atleast go inside please, you're ruining my image." Amelia begged, looking at her brother, who even dared to pull out a magic crystal and record this scene.

"Your image huh, what about mine, you know how haggard I look, worrying all day about you two. What if I get wrinkles and the white hairs huh, what then?"

"Wait, you're worried about getting old, _ cause I have a potion that can.. Ow ow sorry, I was joking. Brother, save me." Amelia joked as she tried to free herself, wiggling as her mom grabbed her collar and rotated 360° while slapping her skull.

"Forgetting everything I told you and taught you. See if I don't drill the lesson into your head this time." Artemis said, before turning to Rio.

"And don't think you're off the hook." she scolded as she grabbed him by the collar, pulling both of them closer before bumping their heads together with a solid thunk. While swiping the recording crystals from both their hands, and putting it into her own ring.

Finally Artemis looked at both of them who fell to the ground, staring back at her with real teary eyes, with puffy red cheeks, and aggrieved expressions with their hearts feeling wronged, and finally ended her assault with clapping hands,

She gave a charming smile and bent down to their heights, placing one hand on each of their swollen cheeks, gently caressing it. Switching personalities faster than Aparichit and Kevin ever did in the movies of earth.

"Let's go, I've made all your favorite dishes." She said softly and gave each of them a light forehead kiss, "You must be tired, so let's have a quick dinner together, and then you can go rest." Artemis finally released them, but not before giving their arms a playful squeeze that bordered on being painful.

The ship had landed some time ago when they were getting beaten, so Artemis just stepped down and walked away, so did Agnus and everyone else. Leaving only the duo behind on the deck.

"Brother,." Amelia whispered, her face pale as she watched their mother disappear into the estate.

"Yes." Rio muttered, already dreading what was about to come.

"She made dinner."

"I know."

"But I already…"

"It's your own fault, I warned you.."

"I'm sorry. But can you_ ."

"No. Definitely no. I can't get any more slaps today, or my teeth will fall out." Rio refused immediately.

"Please_" Amelia said, turning her head with a pleading expression. But Rio just pushed her face away. "I'm really full. I don't know if I can eat another bite."

"Me neither." Rio replied, reminding her that he was there on the same table too.

Both siblings stared at each other, before sighing to their luck. Maybe staying at academy wasn't so bad, after all.

".... Let's just cover each other, so she doesn't focus on one okay." Amelia suggested.

"Just like back then?"

"Yeah. When I get scolded you play defense, and when it's your turn, I save you." She explained..

"You're not gonna turn tail and run to father, leaving me to bear the brunt will you?"

"I would never. I promise."

"Fine. We'll just say we're too tired and have no appetite, before slipping into our rooms." Rio said, making a plan to escape.

"Good." Amelia nodded her head vigorously, while wondering, since she already had dinner, maybe a small bite of dessert before going to bed, won't hurt. Plus if it's her favorite then…

Rio looked back at her, only to see her lost in thought about her favorite sweets, with stars in her eyes and a little drool lingering at the corner of her lips.

"...."

[....]

After a long silence of speechlessness, he just resigned himself to fate. Until he saw a bunch of messages popping up in front.

[Pain relievers - 1000 points per pill.]

[Swelling reducer - 1111 points per pill.]

[Digestion enhancer - 2000 points per pill.]

[Tear inducer - 10000 points per lens.]

System saw a chance and it took it. Opening a shop and listing the items of public demand on display, like a proper businessman looking for profits.

"...."

'Traitors, just surrounded by traitors.'