A Good Reunion

Victor drove his car into Kingswood Estates, an elite residential area where grand, luxurious homes lined every block. This was where Kassandra lived.

He remembered her house vividly. In the past, he had visited so often that even when it was empty, he stayed there as if it were his own. The Mikhailanova family didn't mind. Their close bond with the Lothbroks meant they considered Victor part of the family.

As he approached, his car came to a stop in front of a grand three-story mansion that resembled a palace, complete with a sprawling front yard that looked more like an exquisite garden. Victor smiled as he glanced at Kassandra. "Told you I still remember where your house is."

"Yeah, great," Kassandra replied tersely, her tone dismissive.

Victor didn't let it faze him. At that moment, the security guards opened the gates, and he drove into the property, stopping in front of the house. They stepped out of the car, and the sound of a door opening drew their attention to a man stepping out to greet them.

"Victor Archfindor, welcome to our home. It's been years since you last visited. How do you feel now?" Gareth greeted warmly.

Victor smiled. "Not much has changed. This place looks just like I remember it."

"Well, my wife and I love the front garden. No need to change what works. Now, let's head inside. My wife has already prepared lunch," Gareth said, gesturing toward the door.

"Very well," Victor nodded. The three of them walked into the house. The interior was just as grand as the exterior—gleaming white marble floors, luxurious furniture, and elegant decorations.

Nostalgia washed over Victor, stirring a strange mix of feelings. Even with his reincarnated memories, something about this place tugged at his heart—a connection to his past self.

"You two used to run around this very room. Look at you now—all grown up," Gareth said, smiling as he looked at Victor and Kassandra. "I can barely remember your little faces, but you've both grown well."

Victor smiled politely, while Kassandra's expression remained hard to read. Being here with Victor seemed to awaken something in her, but it wasn't clear if it was good or bad.

"Anyway, let's go to the dining room. I'm sure you're both hungry," Gareth said, leading the way.

They entered a spacious dining room with a long table and eight chairs neatly arranged. A silver-haired woman dressed casually and wearing an apron was setting the table. She turned to greet them, her stunning features glowing with warmth. Despite her age, she looked like a more mature version of Kassandra.

"It's been a long time, Victor. Welcome," her voice was soft and elegant.

Victor smiled. "Long time no see, Mrs. Anastasia. You still look as beautiful as ever."

She chuckled softly. "You've grown so much; I almost didn't recognize you. And you're still as charming as I remember."

"Well, some things never change," Victor replied with an easy smile.

Anastasia chuckled, "Come, let's sit down. Lunch is ready, and my husband and I are free today," she said, motioning toward the table.

As they settled in, Gareth turned the conversation to Victor's visit. "Victor has asked Kassandra for help extracting something. It seems to hold some unusual energy."

"Oh?" Anastasia's interest was piqued. "May I see it?"

Victor nodded, pulling a small black orb from his spatial ring. It emitted a sinister, almost magnetic energy that filled the room. The orb floated from Victor's hand toward Anastasia as she examined it closely.

"This is certainly unique. The energy is unlike anything I've encountered," she said, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "But with Kassandra's skills, I believe it can be extracted."

The orb floated back to Victor's hand and disappeared into his ring. "That's what I'm hoping," Victor said with a small smile.

"Then you can start after lunch," Anastasia said, her tone calm yet intrigued.

The four of them enjoyed the meal, which featured a variety of delicious dishes. Gareth and Anastasia engaged in lighthearted conversation, while Victor remained composed. Kassandra, however, stayed unusually quiet, lost in her own thoughts.

By the time lunch ended, the real work was about to begin.

---

About thirty minutes later, lunch was over. Victor had effortlessly rekindled a warm rapport with Anastasia and Gareth, discussing family updates and reminiscing as if no time had passed.

Kassandra, however, sat quietly through most of it, her emotions a tangled mix of nostalgia and unease. She didn't want to admit it, but a small part of her missed moments like these—though she'd never confess, especially with Victor around.

Now, standing in the backyard, the air between them felt different. A large stone table sat in the middle of a beautifully landscaped area, and on it rested the ominous black orb, retrieved once more from Victor's spatial ring. Its sinister energy pulsed faintly, casting an eerie atmosphere over the serene garden.

"So, how do we do this?" Victor asked, his tone casual as he watched Kassandra begin drawing an alchemical circle on the table with chalk laced with crystal dust.

Though he already knew plenty about alchemy, he feigned ignorance.

Kassandra didn't look up. "I'll handle it. Just stay quiet and don't interfere," she said, her tone clipped.

Victor smirked. "Still bossy, I see. Some things never change."

Kassandra froze for a split second, then shot him a sharp glare. "And you still love to underestimate me. I don't need a reminder of that."

Victor raised his hands in mock surrender, his smirk softening. "Just trying to lighten the mood."

"Don't bother," Kassandra retorted, her focus returning to the circle. "I'm only here because I owe you. Nothing more."

Victor studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a calm sincerity, he said, "Whatever your reason, I appreciate it."

Kassandra huffed softly, refusing to look at him, though a faint blush colored her cheeks. She poured her concentration into the alchemical circle, her movements precise and deliberate. She placed small blue crystals at specific points within the design, their placement calculated to stabilize the energy flow.

As she worked, the circle began to glow faintly, a soft golden hue radiating from the intricate lines and symbols. The orb on the table pulsed in response, as though acknowledging the power emanating from her work.

"This resonance feels completely alien," Kassandra muttered, her sharp eyes fixed on the orb. "Ordinary catalysts might not be enough, but I'll manage."

Victor watched her carefully, his usual smirk replaced by quiet interest. "Ready?" he asked, his voice steady.

Kassandra nodded, her gaze still on the orb. "Follow my instructions, and don't interrupt."

Victor chuckled softly, shaking his head. He understood her coldness—it was justified after the way he had treated her in the past. For now, though, he chose to hold his tongue, letting her take the lead.

Kassandra began chanting in an ancient language, her voice low yet clear. The alchemical circle began glowing brighter, drawing energy from the orb. The orb quivered, and tendrils of dark aura seeped out like thick smoke, being absorbed into the circle.

But within moments, the glow of the circle shifted to a deep crimson, and the blue crystals began shattering one by one with sharp cracks. The orb trembled violently, its dark energy surging beyond the circle's boundaries.

"We're short on catalysts!" Kassandra said in a controlled but tense voice.

"What do we need?" Victor asked, quickly stepping closer.

"Something to absorb the excess energy! Without it, this process will backfire and destroy everything!" Kassandra attempted to channel her own energy into the circle, but it wasn't enough to stabilize it.

The orb's dark aura expanded rapidly, threatening to overwhelm the circle entirely.

"Victor, break the circle now!" Kassandra shouted, her usual calm replaced by urgency.

Without hesitation, Victor stepped forward and disrupted one of the circle's key points with a swift touch. The glow immediately faded, and the orb stilled, its dark aura slowly retracting.

They stood in silence for a moment, Kassandra breathing heavily.

"This thing is more stubborn than you expected," Victor said evenly, though a faint smirk played on his lips.

Kassandra shot him a sharp look, her eyes narrowing. "If you know so much, maybe you should do it yourself."

Victor raised his hands in mock surrender again. "Relax. I'm just admiring your brilliance."

"Shut up, Victor," Kassandra muttered, examining the shattered crystals scattered across the circle.

Victor chuckled and took the orb back, seeing nothing had changed. He knew very well that this thing could not be extracted with a normal catalyst.

"So, what went wrong?" he asked, feigning ignorance even though he already knew.

"We're missing a critical material," Kassandra replied, her frustration evident. "For an orb like this, we need a much stronger catalyst. Ordinary crystals aren't enough. Something like a Heartstone—a gem capable of holding immense magical energy. But those aren't exactly easy to come by."

Victor smirked faintly, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Then we'll find one."

Kassandra stared at him skeptically, as if she had just heard the most ridiculous thing. "You don't understand, Victor. Heartstones aren't just lying around. They're found only within Soul Beasts of at least Star Rank 3. And creatures like that are not only rare but incredibly dangerous."

Victor raised an eyebrow, seemingly unfazed. "Dangerous how? Not more dangerous than an angry ex, I'd wager."

Kassandra scoffed. "Very funny. But I'm serious. A 3 Star Soul Beast's power is equivalent to that of a spirit-realm magus, sometimes even an origin-realm one. They're not just physically powerful; their magical abilities could kill you in an instant."

Victor seemed to ponder her words for a moment before his smile widened. "Then we'll hunt one."

Kassandra crossed her arms, looking at him with disbelief. "You really haven't changed, have you? Always making reckless decisions with a smile on your face."

"And you've always been the one cleaning up my messes," Victor replied nonchalantly.

Kassandra let out a long sigh, rubbing her temples. "Fine. If that's the only way to extract the energy from this orb, I'll go. And after this, we're even. But if we die, I'll make sure to haunt you first."

Victor chuckled. "Fair deal."