A Son's Return

The Seraphis estate had fallen into disarray in the past few years, but despite its decline, it still stood tall—a shadow of its former glory. Within its cold stone walls, a tense silence loomed. For days, the Viscount and Viscountess had been trapped in agonizing distress, torn between hope and sorrow. Their eldest son, Vael Seraphis, had vanished without a trace, leaving nothing behind but whispers of uncertainty. —2 DAYS AGO....."My lord, we have searched everywhere," a knight reported, kneeling before the weary Viscount. "There was no sign of young master Vael."The Viscount clenched his fists, his once-proud posture now weighed down by grief. "Keep looking," he ordered, his voice rough from sleepless nights. "We must find him."The Viscountess sat nearby, her hands trembling as she clutched a delicate handkerchief, her face ghostly pale. "My son..." she whispered, eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Where could he be?"Elara, their youngest daughter, sat silently beside her mother, gripping the fabric of her dress with small, trembling hands. Her blue eyes were red-rimmed from crying. She had asked for her brother every night, hoping he would return, but no one had an answer for her. Lucian, the second son, stood stiffly by the window, his jaw clenched, his emotions tightly guarded.The estate's servants moved with hushed caution, fearful of disturbing the fragile state of their masters. The house, once alive with noble gatherings and laughter, now felt empty—lifeless.—PRESENT DAY....On the evening, a scout rushed into the manor, panting. "My lord! My lady! The young master—he has returned!"The air in the room thickened with shock. The Viscount pushed his chair back so forcefully that it clattered to the floor. "What did you say?""He's outside the gate! He looks... weary, but unharmed."The Viscount and Viscountess didn't wait. They rushed through the halls, their hearts pounding. Elara followed close behind, her tiny feet struggling to keep up. Lucian hesitated but he too moved toward the entrance. The heavy wooden doors of the estate were flung open, and there he was—Vael Seraphis, covered in dirt, his clothes torn, but very much alive.The Viscountess let out a strangled sob and ran to him, wrapping her arms tightly around him. "Vael! My son! You're alive!"The Viscount, a man known for his unwavering control, found his throat tightening as he placed a firm hand on his son's shoulder. "Where have you been? Do you have any idea what we've been through?"Behind them, a soft gasp echoed. A small figure stood in the doorway, her hands clasped tightly to her chest. Elara, Vael's younger sister, trembled as she took hesitant steps forward. Her blue eyes, so much like their mother's, shimmered with tears."Brother...?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.She ran to him, flinging her arms around his waist. Vael stiffened but did not push her away. Her quiet sobs soaked into his tattered tunic.Lucian, his younger brother, stood a few paces behind her, his expression unreadable. Unlike the others, he didn't rush forward. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides, and his sharp gaze was filled with something between anger and disbelief.The Viscountess pulled back, her hands cradling Vael's dirt-streaked face. "Where were you?" she pleaded. "Tell us everything."Vael hesitated for only a moment before speaking. "I... I was attacked by bandits while traveling," he said, his voice carefully measured. "They took everything and left me for dead in the wilderness. I barely managed to survive."The Viscountess sobbed harder, clutching him tighter. The Viscount exhaled a sharp breath and pulled him into a firm embrace."You're home now," he murmured. "That's all that matters."Whispers spread among the gathered knights and servants. Some sighed in relief, while others exchanged wary glances. A few doubted his story, but no one dared to question the returned heir in the presence of his grieving parents. ~~~~~~~~~Vael's POV:ONE HOUR AGO...After a day and a half of relentless travel, Vael Seraphis finally reached the estate just as the evening sun dipped below the horizon. The path before him was familiar yet distant, like a half-forgotten dream. As he stepped through the main gate, memories that were not his own surfaced—recollections of a once-glorious estate, now faded with neglect. Even so, it stood tall, a shadow of its former glory. The journey had left him weary, but there was no time for hesitation. As he moved down the stone path, a group of estate scouts caught sight of him. Their eyes widened in recognition before they turned and sprinted toward the manor. He didn't know them, but it wasn't hard to guess where they were going—to inform the Viscount of his return.  As he neared the entrance, the silhouette of the grand house loomed through the misty twilight. A strange unease settled in his chest, a whisper of something foreign and intrusive."No. I have prepared for this. I am not Elias Varn anymore. I am Vael Seraphis," he muttered under his breath to reinforce his thoughts.He had barely taken another step before the sound of hurried footsteps reached him. The heavy doors of the manor burst open, spilling warm light into the cold courtyard.His mother was the first to reach him."Vael! My son! You're alive!"Before he could brace himself, she enveloped him in a tight embrace, her warmth pressing against the cold that had settled deep in his bones. She trembled as she clung to him, her breath hitching with every sob. The scent of lavender and faint perfume filled his senses—a scent both familiar and foreign at once.His father came next. The Viscount stood rigid at first, but soon his firm hand settled heavily on Vael's shoulder, gripping it with restrained emotion. "Where have you been? Do you have any idea what we've been through?" His voice, thick with unspoken grief, wavered just slightly.Vael hesitated, glancing at the faces around him. The estate's servants had gathered, their whispers cutting through the cold air like brittle leaves in the wind. Then, from the doorway, a small gasp reached his ears."Brother...?"Elara.His younger sister stepped forward hesitantly, small hands clasped against her chest. Her blue eyes—so much like their mother's—shimmered with unshed tears. And then, before he could say anything, she ran to him, throwing her arms around his waist.He stiffened. The touch of another person—this kind of familiarity—felt unnatural. And yet, he did not push her away. Her quiet sobs soaked into the fabric of his tattered tunic and he slowly, awkwardly, rested a hand on her head.Behind her stood Lucian. Unlike the others, he did not rush forward. His expression was unreadable, but Vael could see the tension in his stance, the way his fists clenched at his sides. There was no relief in his gaze—only doubt, and something dangerously close to anger.His mother pulled back, her trembling hands cupping his face. "Where were you?" she pleaded. "Tell us everything."Vael knew the story he had to tell. "I... I was attacked by bandits while traveling," he said, his voice carefully measured. "They took everything and left me for dead in the wilderness. I barely made it out alive."It was a lie. Or rather, a half-truth. The real Vael Seraphis had been attacked by bandits, but not while traveling. He had been running—fleeing from this home, from his past, from everything he was too weak to face. A pathetic coward.But the truth was not an option. This was the only story that made sense, the only explanation that would be accepted. They couldn't know the reality—that Elias Varn, the scientist, had taken over the body of their son. They couldn't know that Vael Seraphis had died in the wilderness long before Elias had ever set foot in this world.The Viscount and Viscountess seemed to accept his explanation without question. Relief flooded their faces as they pulled him into another embrace. His mother, once composed and elegant, was now a woman undone by grief and joy, clinging to him as though he were the last piece of her broken heart. His father exhaled sharply before wrapping his arm firmly around him in a rare display of affection."You're home now," the Viscount murmured. "That's all that matters."Around them, the gathered knights and servants exchanged glances. Some whispered in relief. Others cast wary, uncertain looks in his direction. Not everyone believed his story. Not everyone was convinced. But no one dared question in the presence of his grieving parents.Elara still clung to him, her sobs muffled against his chest. Her hands, small and desperate, clutched at him as if afraid he might disappear again. He could feel the tremors in her frame, the way her breath hitched with each whispered "brother."But they were nothing but stranger to him. their love, their grief, their relief... none of it was real to him. They mourned and rejoiced over a man who no longer existed. A role he had no choice but to play.No, you are Vael Seraphis now, he reminded himself, his mind sharpening with the thought. There is no going back to Elias. Not now. Not ever. they are your parents and family now.Vael remained still, allowing their emotions to wash over him. They cared for him, mourned him, rejoiced in his return.