Chapter 57. Visitation

“Welcome home Ken! Wow! The elf princess is even prettier in person!” Ken’s younger siblings shouted and screamed as Ken teleported home with Emma, Genesis and Clare.

After greeted and introduced his siblings and adoptive mother to Clare, the family got busy cooking and preparing a large feast to welcome the elf princess for her stay.

“Are you going to be okay? I don’t think the others understood what you did but aren’t you in a lot of trouble?” Gwen asked Ken as the two got some alone time gathering crops from their small field.

“I am in so much trouble that I don’t even understand how much trouble I am in. All I know is that many powerful people want to see me dead.” Ken replied with a chuckle as Gwen looked on with disapproval.

“Is there anything anyone can do to get you out of this mess?” Gwen asked, full of concern for her older brother’s wellbeing.

“I think the only way out is to get so strong that rather than wanting me dead, those powerful people want me as an ally but who knows. Things have just been spiraling out of my control and I don’t really know what I am supposed to do anymore.” Ken replied sheepishly.

“Don’t forget Ken. You got your family. If school gets too tough, just come back home and return to a simpler life.” Gwen offered.

“Thanks Gwen! You have really grown up haven’t you. With how smart you are, I bet you will get selected and be attending Dragonspire yourself in a month!” Ken replied with a smile.

“I doubt it. You are just forgetting how special and talented you are.” Gwen replied as the two headed back with the crops and to help with cooking the feast.

Like Gwen said, life at home was simple and much easier compared to school. Without the constant belittlement from the likes of Luke, without the stress of having to always perform and get stronger, with only 3 girls to keep happy, two weeks flew by as Ken enjoyed the much simpler life.

“Sorry Gwen, I won't be able to take you to the selection.” Ken apologized as the family ate the leftover cake from Ken’s birthday for breakfast while he and Genesis got ready to be teleported to Feirvenn.

“I am 15 already Ken. I don’t need you to treat me like a baby.” Gwen replied firmly.

“Genesis, make sure he doesn’t even look at another girl.” Clare added while giving Ken some dirty looks before hugging him goodbye.

Saying goodbye to Clare, Emma and the rest, Genesis and Ken disappeared from their quiet little village and were teleported halfway across the world to the outskirts of Feirvenn where the pair will be spending the next few weeks before school restarts.

“Wow you were right Genesis! It’s freaking warm here in December!” Ken said happily as the pair is now on the continent of Iruth on the southern hemisphere of the globe where it’s summer during December and winter during July.

“Do you want to stay in this village for the day or should we head for the city now?” Genesis asked happily as she grabbed Ken. Finally able to be alone with just the pair of them.

“How long would it take to get to Feirvenn? I knew we couldn’t teleport to the city directly but how far out are we?” Ken wondered as he looked around the small uneven dirty road not so different from those back home.

“If we start walking and flag down a carriage it should only take about half a day to reach the city. If you want to carry me and run, we could probably get there faster.”

“Yea, I am not carrying your big butt and running for however many hours. We will just walk until we see a carriage.” Ken replied with a smirk.

“My butt is not big!”

“Really? That’s a shame. I like my butts nice and meaty.” Ken said as he flung Genesis over his shoulder with a pat on her behind and started walking.

“Ken. Can we just stay in a small village? Just the two of us. We will live a simple life, have a bunch of kids and grow old together.” Genesis asked softly.

“Nope. I trained too hard to let it all go to waste and live a life as a nobody. Don’t you have any goals, Genesis? Even though Cecilla loves me, she is still trying her best to become the number 1 hero. Clare is also not giving up on that goal. Alice might complain and pretend but she is giving her all studying and training now that I am above her. Lovetta’s always giving it all to improve as well. Seraphina is obviously also aiming for that number 1 hero spot and even Emma is spending most of her free time studying and learning to get better. Isn’t there anything you want to achieve?” Ken asked as he walked nonchalantly with Genesis over his shoulder.

“Yep. My goal is to somehow get you to leave the rest so we can be happily ever after, just the pair of us.” Genesis replied happily.

“At least have a realistic goal. You know I can’t leave any of my girls.”

“If you just love me, you wouldn’t be in this situation where you have who knows how many bigshots that want you dead.”

“If it’s not for Alice, we would never even have met! You know, Professor Aleheart said I am kind of talented but she made it sound like you are some crazy once in a generation level talent. Don’t you think it’s a waste for you to just not do anything with such a gift?” Ken wondered.

“You know Ken, ever since getting to know you, I can barely remember anything or what life was like before I met you. It’s almost like nothing was real before I met you. I have decided to follow my heart and the only thing my heart wants is to be with you and nothing else.” Genesis replied, showing zero interest in wanting to persuade any academic achievement.

“Hey, I tried. If you are happy just being a loaf of bread, no point trying to convince you to be a gourmet dish.”

“Who are you calling a loaf of bread! I am at least a delicate cake!” Genesis countered.

As the pair chatted happily about nothing in particular, Ken managed to flag down a carriage as the two slowly made their way to the capital city of the Feirvenn kingdom.

After reaching the city wall of Feirvenn, Ken had the easiest entry to any big city he had to deal with so far. Not only was he welcomed without any question due to his recent publicity from the tournament, traveling as a pair of humans to a human kingdom had definitely made things easier as well without the side glances or whispers.

“Wow, for the second largest human kingdom, I didn’t expect the city to look so different from Yelwraek and Darrumburgh. Let’s go find a good restaurant, I am starving!” Ken said happily as the pair reached inside the walls and paid for the carriage ride and started exploring on foot.

Just as Ken observed, unlike the stone buildings of Yelwraek, Darrumburgh or Vespera. For the second largest human kingdom and the 5th largest kingdom overall, the buildings here in Feirvenn are mostly built from clay and lack the magnificence of the other major cities.

“I think even the buildings in Miodod looks better than here.” Ken commented as the pair walked hand in hand while Ken observed the area.

“This continent consists mostly of flat grassland so unlike Yelwraek or Darrumburgh where they are close to large mountain ranges with plenty of rocks to mine, every kingdom has to use what they have available. Even for a city of this size, they would only be able to import fancy stones to build the likes of the royal castle.” Genesis offered.

“So in your case, you got the most magnificent marble stones all over to build the best castle in the world but decided you are fine with a straw shack?” Ken questioned, trying one last time to see if he could rile Genesis up to try harder at school.

“Yep! I won’t even mind living on the streets as a homeless beggar as long as you are begging with me.”

“Yeah, no thanks. I will at least make sure my girls have a roof over their heads. I won’t feel comfortable making love in the streets with whole crowds watching.” Ken replied as the pair joked and laughed while exploring the city before settling at a busy restaurant with lovely aroma coming out for lunch.

After spending the afternoon wandering around the city and eating some delicious local delicacies for dinner, the pair checked in at a plain looking hotel in the business district and got ready to call it a night.

“I can’t believe I can finally have you to myself!” Genesis said happily as she jumped in bed with Ken as she snuggled with him after the pair took a quick shower.

“You know, I hate saying this especially to you but it’s nice to just enjoy some alone time with a girl I love without the extra drama and worries.” Ken replied.

“We can always ditch the rest and just live happily ever after.” Genesis answered as the two started making out.

“You know I can’t live happily ever after without the rest. If I knew how hard life would get and how much of a mess this would become, I would have just stuck with Lovetta, Emma and Clare and called it a life.”

“Isn’t Clare like the entire reason you are in this mess? It's not good to show so much favoritism when you have so many girls in love with you.”

“Not favoritism Genesis. You know I would not abandon any of you. I would do anything and everything in my power for any of you.” Ken replied as the two started getting intimate.

“Oh yeah! How many guys have you slept with before me and how much better am I?” Ken asked jokingly.

“What do you mean? Why are you accusing me of such a thing!” Genesis shouted in confusion.

“Calm down Genesis! I am not accusing you of anything. I could care less what or who you are with before me.” Ken replied, regretting making the joke.

“NO ONE! You are my first and only. How could you say such a thing?” Genesis replied as tears started rolling down her face while Ken knew he had definitely messed up.

“Sorry! I just suddenly remembered what I asked Alice a while ago. I didn’t think much of it, Genesis.” Ken apologized as he hugged the upset girl closely trying to calm her down.

“What did you ask Alice and how did you come to such a stupid conclusion!” Genesis asked angrily.

“Well, after having sex with all of you. You were the only one who didn’t bleed the first time we made love. I didn’t think much about it until I had to sleep with Lucia to make my deal with her and she didn’t bleed either so I got curious and asked Alice about her.

She told me a girl will only bleed the first time she has sex and obviously I know Lucia’s had plenty of partners so I just assumed you had a boyfriend or something before the academy but obviously I don’t know anything.” Ken answered apologetically.

“Ken… I told you my mom had to sell her body to make a living to support us. For you to say what you said was really hurtful.” Genesis replied as she calmed down slightly.

After apologizing some more for trying to tell a stupid joke, Genesis eventually forgave the dumb boy for making such an insensitive remark.

“You know, dummy. Girls are born with a protection which is why we bleed the first time and probably how the protection spell was thought up in the first place.

But unlike a protection spell, our natural one is worthless and could break from any random things. People like Alice, Genesis and Clare have had a protection spell since birth so obviously their natural one was protected but just because a girl doesn’t bleed doesn’t mean she has had sex before and you are obviously my one and only.” Genesis said while Ken continued to apologize.

“Well, now that I have ruined the mood, guess we can just go to sleep and maybe I won’t be such an idiot tomorrow.”

“Nice try! I finally got to have you alone to myself for the first time in almost 3 years and you want us to just go to sleep? You better try extra hard to make me happy!” Genesis counters, not giving Ken the opportunity as the couple made love late into the night.

“Time to wake up Ken.” Genesis whispered softly into the young man’s ear as he yawned and started to wake from his slumber.

“Morning Genesis, happy birthday!” Ken replied as he pulled the beautiful blonde girl close and gave her a passionate kiss.

After making up and spending the night making love, it was around noon before Genesis decided it was time to wake Ken up and the two got ready to spend the day exploring the city on the last day of the year which also happens to be Genesis’s birthday.

With the selection happening the day after, the streets were full of families accompanying their 15 year old children, most from smaller villages and have never seen a major city similar to how Ken was when he went to Miodod for his selection.

“I remember how I went to the capital of Miodod the first time 3 years ago and was so impressed by everything.” Ken said happily as he watched excited families getting mesmerized by the sheer size of the city even when it lacked the grand structures compared to some of the other major cities Ken has visited.

After grabbing a nice lunch since it was already noon, the pair decided to head for the cemetery where visiting her mother’s gravestone was the sole reason Genesis wanted to visit Feirvenn after three years.

“Wow, what a huge grave site.” Ken remarked after the pair carried some beautiful flowers they bought and arrived at the cemetery.

“Why can’t I find her grave!” Genesis shouted in frustration as the pair wandered around the massive gravesite for an whole hour searching for the gravestone of Genesis’s mother without any luck.

“Calm down Genesis, it’s only been three years, I know the place is huge but think hard and you should remember where her gravestone is.” Ken suggested, trying to calm Genesis down. For some reason, the airhead could not remember where her mother’s gravestone is located.

After another hour of wandering around without any success locating or remembering where her mother’s gravestone could possibly be at, Ken decided to approach an old man who looked to be a caretaker of the cemetery.

“Hello sir! Is it possible for you to guide us to graves that were built around 3.5 years ago?” Ken asked the old man with a broom politely.

“Of course! I have been taking care of this site for the past 30 years!” The old man said as he guided the pair.

“Who’s gravesite are you two looking for?” The old man asked.

“We are trying to find her mother’s grave. It should have been built around 3 and half a year ago but this airhead somehow forgot where the gravestone is.” Ken replied while Genesis gave him a sharp jab.

“What a pretty lady! I must be getting old to not remember such a beauty!” The old man commented as they reached the area where the old man advised were the sites for graves that were established between 3 to 4 years ago.

“Are you sure this is the right place, Genesis? How many cemeteries are in this city?” Ken asked the old man after the trio failed to locate the grave once again.

“This is one of the biggest cities in the world. There must be hundreds of cemeteries in the different districts.” The old man replied.

“Genesis, are you sure this is the cemetery?” Ken asked softly, trying to keep the girl calm.

“Ken… I just don’t remember. My memory is getting so fuzzy from before meeting you that I honestly don’t even know anymore.” Genesis replied while getting frustrated and upset.

“Well, can’t worry about spilled milk right? Sir. How much does it cost to set up a spot here?” Ken asked the old man.

“Oh, I am just the caretaker. I will take you two to the office and you can speak with the owner.” The old man replied while guiding the pair through the giant cemetery.

After talking with the site owner and discussing the price, Ken paid 2 gold coins to buy the largest plot of land offered and when the owner happily suggested a company to build the headstone, Ken smiled and told him that he will be creating the gravesite right now.

“Are you sure you don’t want a professor company to make the headstone for you? If you can pay 2 gold for the plot, you should have the wealth to make it look good.” The old caretaker asked while guiding the pair to their new spot with a dubious look.

After arriving at the site and confirming the area, with his master level earth element magic, Ken began to conjure a magnificent granite slab that covered the entire area he paid for and with Genesis guiding him on how she wanted the site to look, after an hour, one of the best and most magnificent grave was built to the shock of the old man.

“Man, that drained me. I guess it’s not realistic for a city to be built from conjured stones. Well Genesis, I know it’s not the same since her body isn’t here but it’s your feelings that matters.” Ken offered as he carved the gravestone for the grateful girl.

“Thank you Ken.” Genesis replied while hugging the young man.

After placing the flower in front of the newly finished gravestone, Ken gave Genesis some alone time at the grave while paying the old man a gold coin to give the site some extra attention to keep it clean.

“Let’s go Ken!” Genesis said happily after having some alone time and was able to properly visit her mother’s grave even when it’s not the original.

“Thank you sir for taking care of the area for us.” Ken said politely to the elated old man who has never seen so much money and promised he will do everything he could to keep the gravestone in top condition.

“You know Genesis. I think you should have a goal to work towards. You have been so scatterbrained the past few years, I think your brain is rotting away.” Ken offered, having no idea how this girl could learn space magic in 3 days yet can’t even remember where her own mother’s grave is after only 3 years.

“I told you Ken. It’s all your fault! Ever since I fell in love with you, everything else just started to not matter and faded from my memories, I can barely remember anything about my life that happened before meeting you.” Genesis replied having no desire to do anything to get stronger or have a goal that’s not just being close to the young man.

“Fine, blame me! Everyone just blames me for everything anyways! Let’s go get some good food to celebrate your birthday at least. I want cake and ice cream afterwards as well.” Ken requested after taking the blame as Genesis happily agreed.

With Ken able to resolve the gravesite issue and Genesis forgiving him about the incident from the night before, the pair was able to be in a good mood as they strolled around the city looking for a good restaurant to eat at and eventually had cake and ice cream after a satisfying dinner before calling it a night and returned to the hotel.