"!!!"

The four Elders quickly stood up as the sound of Van slapping Vanya right in the cheeks pierced their ears. It wasn't loud; as a matter of fact, it was minute-- almost like a whisper. But as soon as they heard that silent snap in the air, they could not help but take in the deepest breath they have ever taken in their garrulous lives.

One of the four Elders almost lost his life there and then, while the three others held on to their consciousness as their blood reached the highest levels it could. They felt weakened and bruised, even though they were not the recipient of Van's slap.

Oh, how they wished it was actually them that received his slap, not their Mother, who was peacefully resting in dreams long past. To think their tears were about to shed, for the fated meeting that had long been prophesied was about to pass.

But the only thing that almost passed was them.

"K… King Van. What have you done?" Finally, one of the Elders gained the courage to speak, "Even if you are our Forefather, I do not think it gives you the right to-- No!"

Alas, before the Elder could even finish her words, she was interrupted by the sound of Van once again lightly hitting Vanya.

"Goodness no!" One of the Elders could not help it anymore and fell to the ground. With this chaotic situation, maybe it was best that their greatest ancestor had never arrived in the first place.

The worst part of the situation was that they could not even reprimand or admonish the young-looking man in front of them, as doing so would make a mockery of their very own existence as Elders.

They were there to ensure and uphold that their kind do not forget their progenitors, to ensure that they will always be worshipped and respected, no matter what. They wanted to stop him, but how could they?

And so, they could only watch as Van once again slapped Vanya, trying to wake her up from her long-lasting slumber. But finally, after the 5th slap, the Elders could finally release a sigh of relief as Van stopped hitting Vanya.

They then quickly rushed to check on Vanya as soon as Van stepped away, and although her cheeks were a little red, there doesn't seem to be any harmful damage towards her person. Once again, all of them released a sigh of relief, even the one that was crawling on the ground.

"She will only wake up when she wants to, King Van," the Elders said, "I am afraid that even the Great Mother, Artemis, has not been successful even once in waking her up when she is in this state. But fret not, we assure you that she could understand any words you say to her as-- What are you doing?"

The Elders then looked at each other as Van's body suddenly turned to a kneeling position, with both one of his palms sticking on the ground. The other was stretched sideways, with the palm facing them, specifically towards Vanya.

"...What are you doing, Great Ancestor?" The Elders all said in unison as they also gulped at the same time.

Van, however, did not answer their words. Instead, the only response they got from them was a buzzing-- a thunderous noise that flickered through their ears as the ground beneath them started to shake.

And soon, light entered their eyes, brightening up the dim interiors of the colossal tree. The reflection on their eyes was that of a pair of wings, with its span almost equaling that of the tree's grit.

"P… please stop, King Van!"

"Do not do this! There are certainly other ways to scold Vanya!"

There may be, but Van had only known a single method to discipline a child; the only thing that he had known during his life in the Relic Graveyard-- violence. And although he promised himself that he will never do what his father did to him, a little slap never killed anyone.

"Is Vanya as strong as her mother?" Van then asked as his raised palm started to release a hum.

"Yes?"

"We believe she is stronger, King Van."

"Her traits have always been peaceful, but the power hidden inside of her is enough to--"

And as soon as they said that, the buzzing from Van's hand grew even louder, instantly making them regret their answers.

And while the situation inside was turning dire, the scenery outside could not be said the same.

"Look, the leaves of the Ancient Tree are trembling!"

"The land must be happy that the Great Ancestor has finally graced us with his presence!"

"We love you, King Van! Please stay with us for eternity!"

Almost all of them pointed at the colossal tree, their eyes trembling with excitement and some even releasing tears of triumph. They thought that the journey of their race was coming to an end, as their numbers have already dwindled.

But with the unexpected arrival of Van, their wilting forest was once again starting to bloom. They were going to abandon this location soon, but it would seem that for once, they wouldn't have to move.

But alas, if only they knew that the leaves of the Ancient Tree were not trembling in excitement, but because of Van getting ready to wake Vanya up with the only method he could think of.

"Please, she will only wake up when she wants to!" The situation inside the tree has not changed, the 4 Elders were still begging Van not to do what he was about to do.

"Wait, I think I saw her eyelids trembling! She's waking up, King Van! You don't have to do this!" They were trying everything to stop Van, even losing themselves in blasphemy as they lied to him. "I can hear her humming! She's waking up, so please stop this!"

But alas, even with all of their cries, Van's eyes were still locked on Vanya's right cheek. He then let out a long and very deep breath, and as he did so, the 4 Elders could do nothing but make way to him.

The branches and the roots, however, were already slowly making a wall to guard Vanya. But from their stuttered and hesitant movements, it would seem that they were somewhat afraid of impeding Van's path.

"Wait…" One of the Elders then whispered, "...I think I really saw her move." The Elder then pointed towards Vanya's face, which now showed signs of… anxiousness. There was even a drop of sweat trailing from her forehead.

"Wait, King Van… I think she's really waking u--"

But before he could even finish his words, a thunder erupted throughout the hollowed tree, almost deafening them right there and then. They could somewhat feel themselves being sucked in as if the air itself cracked from the skirt of wind that suddenly presented itself to them.

The only thing they could see was a trail of light, almost in the shape of a winged serpent.

"Jor...Jormungand!?"

"Father?"

And before the trail of light could reach Vanya's face, it suddenly faded. And as it did so, the 4 Elders felt themselves being thrown through the air, with the sun suddenly waving hello towards them as a part of the Ancient Tree exploded, opening up from the sheer force of the thunderous gale.

"...I want to go home." One of the Elders muttered as he rolled across the ground several times, and surprisingly, his wish did come true-- his body was stopped by a tree, which also happened to be his house, "...Oh."

"W… what happened!? Aren't those the Elders? What are they doing!?"

"Did something happen!? Why did the Ancient Tree explode!?"

"Is King Van mad at us for making too much noise!?"

The people outside could not help but scream in terror as they saw a part of the Ancient Tree crumbling, with the 4 Elders being spit out from it. They all scurried their way to check on what happened, ready to kneel and beg for forgiveness for whatever transgressions they might have committed.

However, before they could even take 3 steps, the huge hole that was made from the sudden explosion quickly mended itself, completely returning it to what it once was, and forbidding them from entering.

But with the chaos outside, the same could not be said inside the Ancient Tree, as inside, there was only silence.

Van's hand was only inches away from Vanya's right cheek before he stopped moving, but now that it was only the two of them, his hand once again continued towards her face. But this time, only gentleness touched Vanya's cheek.

"...Hey," Van then whispered as he once again caressed her daughter's cheek, "Do… you know who I am?"

And this time, his touch finally gained a response. Vanya's cheek slightly flinched, with her eyes struggling to open themselves.

And as soon as they opened, a faded and stoic pair of eyes revealed themselves. But even though they seemed emotionless, the tears that instantly trailed from them showed otherwise. Vanya then slightly tilted her head to the side, resting it on Van's palm.

And although the palm touching her cheek was small, it felt as though she was resting her head on the world itself. "You… are father?"

"...I think so," Van let out a small chuckle as he looked Vanya straight in the eyes.

"You are." Vanya said in a monotonous tone, "Welcome home… father."

"Hm," Van nodded as he wiped the tears on her daughter's face, "I truly am…

...home."

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