Ch 55 : Little Baby Sister

Auron stood at the door, his heart pounding as it slowly opened. His father, Alex, stood there, eyes bright with joy. Without hesitation, Alex pulled Auron into a tight embrace.

"Welcome back, little guy," Alex said, his voice soft with emotion. "Your mother's been worrying about you every day. And now, you even have a little sister."

Auron felt the weight of his emotions catch up to him as tears welled up in his eyes. He hugged his father back, the familiar warmth of home overwhelming him. Alex gently took Auron's bag, carrying it into the house as Auron followed.

Inside, Auron was greeted by the sight of his mother, Sarah, and a tiny figure lying in a cradle. His mother rushed toward him, tears already glistening in her eyes as she embraced him tightly.

"Welcome back, my little star," Sarah whispered, her voice trembling with joy. "I've missed you every single day."

Auron's heart ached as he held his mother. It had been nearly a year since he left for the academy, and he could feel the love and relief radiating from her. After a long hug, Sarah finally let go, smiling through her tears.

"This is your sister," Sarah said, motioning to the cradle where the baby lay. "Her name is Evelyn. She's already three months old."

Auron looked at the baby with awe, feeling a surge of protectiveness and affection. "My little sister…" he muttered softly, reaching out to touch her cheek. Evelyn had the same striking blue eyes and deep blue hair as their mother. She stared at Auron curiously, calm and unafraid of the new presence in the house.

I guess the hunting plan will have to be canceled, Auron thought. I've got a little sister to look after now.

With a gentle touch, Auron lifted Evelyn from the cradle, cradling her in his arms. His movements were confident, careful—almost instinctive. In his past life, he had been a father, and those memories guided him now. He softly hummed a lullaby, rocking Evelyn in his arms until her eyes fluttered shut, and she drifted off to sleep. Once she was sound asleep, Auron carefully placed her back in the cradle.

Alex and Sarah watched the scene in stunned silence. They exchanged glances, clearly surprised by how naturally Auron handled the baby, as if he had done it countless times before. But their shock quickly turned to smiles of gratitude. They had worried that Auron might feel jealous of his baby sister, but now, their hearts were at ease.

That night, they sat together for dinner, the table filled with laughter and stories. Auron shared many of his experiences at the academy, his parents listening intently. When he told them he had already reached the 5th layer of Tier 1 magus, their eyes widened in amazement. He left out the more dangerous parts of his journey, not wanting to worry his mother, but the pride in their eyes was undeniable.

After dinner, Auron felt a deep sense of peace as he climbed into bed, exhausted but content. He closed his eyes, letting the warmth of home soothe his tired soul.

As he slept, something within him began to change. His soul, already on the brink of transformation, started to synchronize with the Codex at a deeper level. Immersing himself in mortal life—reuniting with family, holding his baby sister, and feeling the simple joys of home—was a form of cultivation in its own right. Unbeknownst to him, this peaceful night would push him closer to the limits of Codex Synchronization, preparing him for the challenges ahead.

Auron woke early, feeling more refreshed than ever. He stretched, noticing that everything around him seemed sharper, more vivid. His senses were heightened, and his mind felt crystal clear.

"Why does everything seem so... distinct?" he wondered, his thoughts racing. Then it hit him. "My soul! It's reached the limit of the Codex Synchronization stage!" The realization shocked him, though he couldn't help but smile.

"A natural breakthrough, huh?" he mused, feeling a quiet satisfaction wash over him. He had been working toward this, but to achieve it during his time at home, in such a peaceful environment, was an unexpected blessing.

Jumping out of bed, Auron stretched his body, his mind already planning out the day. "I should set a new schedule for this holiday. I'll focus on comprehending the heavenly runes and refining my celestial aura. My soul and body have advanced far enough for now—they're leaving my aura cultivation behind." With Xiao Yu's suggestions in mind, he structured his day. He would focus on the "Order" and "Omniscient" fire heavenly runes in the morning and afternoon, practice archery in the evening, and meditate on the Veiled Obsidian rune at night when its energies were at their peak.

"As for new spells, I'll draft the framework but won't practice them here. Too risky near home," he thought. "But above all else, my baby sister is the priority. Everything else comes second."

With a plan in place, Auron headed to the kitchen to help his mother with breakfast. He decided to make pancakes and pair them with a wild berry jam he had saved from their journey. As he worked, Sarah came out of her room, curious about the delicious smell filling the air.

"What are you making today?" she asked, smiling at her son's cheerful demeanor.

"Pancakes with a homemade wild berry jam," Auron replied, offering her a taste of the jam. "It's got a sweet but tangy flavor."

Sarah tasted it and her eyes lit up. "It's delicious! Where did you learn to make this?"

"At the academy," Auron lied smoothly, though the truth was that he had learned the recipe in his previous life. With Xiao Yu's help, he had recalled recipes from Earth, and making the jam had been second nature to him. "I asked the cafeteria staff for a few tips."

The family gathered for breakfast, and even Alex, who normally didn't eat much in the morning, enjoyed the meal. He liked it so much that he packed some for his lunch at the training grounds.

After breakfast, Auron returned to his room to meditate on the heavenly runes. He sat cross-legged on his bed, closing his eyes as the Celestial Codex guided him toward the "Omniscient" fire heavenly rune.

"This fire is so pure," Auron thought as he sank into meditation. "It doesn't radiate heat or cold; it just exists, cleansing everything in its path." A soft, calming light radiated from the rune, filling his soul with a sense of clarity and wisdom. The whispers of ancient knowledge echoed faintly, each one carrying a deep truth.

"Why is it so easy to comprehend?" Auron wondered, as the outline of the rune began to take shape in his mind. Though still crude, he could feel its power. "It's because of my soul and my affinity to fire. It feels... natural."

Auron marveled at how quickly he was progressing. "Just a little more time, and I'll be able to carve this rune. This is the fastest I've ever comprehended a heavenly rune."

Suddenly, the peace of his meditation was interrupted by the sound of his baby sister's cry. Reluctantly, Auron stopped his cultivation and headed toward Evelyn's cradle.

With gentle hands, he picked her up, cradling her as he walked outside. "Are you hungry, little one? Let's find Mother," he murmured softly, trying to soothe her.

He carried Evelyn to the back of the house, where Sarah was hanging the laundry. "Here, she's hungry," Auron said as he handed his sister to his mother.

"Thank you, Auron," Sarah smiled as she took Evelyn. While she fed the baby, Auron took over the rest of the house chores, hanging the remaining clothes to dry.

Once finished, Auron stood back and surveyed his work. He quickly conjured a small, controlled fireball in his hand, using it to accelerate the drying process. His precise control ensured the fire heated the air without burning the clothes.

"Mother," Auron called as he re-entered the house, "I'm going to the marketplace later. Do you need me to pick up any meat or ingredients?"

Sarah, busy with Evelyn, looked up gratefully. "That would be wonderful. We're running low on a few things."

Auron nodded, already making a mental note of the ingredients they would need. He was ready to enjoy the simple, peaceful rhythm of life at home, while continuing his cultivation quietly in the background.