Cloud Thinking

Have a safe and smooth journey.

Every day, Helia would eat and chat when she opened her eyes, and sleep when she closed her eyes. Occasionally, when she stayed in a place for a long time, she would wander around with Hilda to experience the local customs and culture.

Naturally, they had to buy some local specialty products, so their luggage kept increasing along the way.

Hilda was the newly appointed marshal and the hero in the fight against the monsters, while Helia was a hero in the fight against the dragons, not to mention the representatives from Carterth Academy. So naturally, from the moment they entered the city, a large number of people lined the streets to greet them, shouting their names and cheering for them.

Helia smiled and waved at them through the carriage window, thinking that if she had known she could act so pretentiously, she should have discussed with Levita to bring back the dragon's head. Then she would ride on the horse and enjoy the cheers of the crowd.

Just thinking about it makes me happy! Who can resist showing off? Isn't the reason why she wants to become stronger just to show off?

If she had known earlier, she would have learned how to ride a horse from Hilda. Now she was sitting in the carriage, looking at the bustling and grand scene outside through the small window.

Seeing Claude again after three years, Helia felt that she had a lot to say, but she couldn't say anything. Claude looked a little older, and she saw the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and his dim eyes.

Helia felt that he was a sun that was about to set. Although it was still emitting light and heat, it was still struggling. The light became dim, as if foreshadowing the coming of night.

Eric, who was standing next to him, was like the rising sun, full of vigor and vitality, but his gestures were steady and calm like an adult. However, this calmness was immediately broken when he saw Helia.

He smiled and took a step forward, saying to Helia, "Aya, welcome home."

Helia felt like she was about to be blinded by her brother's brilliance. When he smiled, it felt like the ice and snow had melted, as if spring had come. It was truly amazing.

Helia looked at her father, then at her brother, and couldn't help but let a big smile appear on her face.

"Father, brother, I'm back!"

The guests were arranged to their corresponding accommodations one after another. As they were tired from the journey, they were asked to have a good rest first. As for the welcome dinner, it was scheduled for the evening.

It was just that Helia's family and Hilda had a simple meal together first. After all, they were a family, so they talked about some family matters in private.

"Aya, you look thinner. Eat more. You're still growing." Claude, who always kept silent while eating, actually took the initiative to pick up some food for Helia today, which made her feel flattered.

"Thank you, father." Helia smiled and took the chicken leg that Claude had brought with her on a plate, but she just put it aside without moving. She reached out her other hand under the table and touched Eric next to her, looking at him and asking what was going on. Could it be that her father's temperament had changed drastically after not seeing him for three years?

Eric shrugged his eyebrows towards Hilda, meaning that this was because Hilda was present. Everyone knew that the Antonio family was the most protective of their own people. The two families had repaired their relationship now because Helia acted as a bridge. Claude had to act out the affectionate father-daughter drama in front of Hilda to reassure her.

Hilda saw Helia and Eric flirting with each other and couldn't help but sigh, "Xiaoya and Eric have a good relationship and are very close."

Hilda was older than Eric, so Eric should have called her sister, but both the one calling her sister and the one being called sister felt uncomfortable, so they just called her by her name or by her job title. For example, Eric called Hilda Marshal Hilda, because of his seniority, he couldn't call Hilda by her name, but Hilda could call Eric by his name, after all, he was the elder.

"Eric has loved his sister since she was young. He treasures her more than his own eyes. Even I can't compare to her." Claude smiled and replied, "After all, they are siblings and grew up together."

"It seems that you still need to spend more time with Aya in the future, otherwise you might forget your brothers and sisters." Hilda joked.

"No, I won't. Every time I look in the mirror, I think of Sister Hilda and Brothers Okalai and Blott." Helia retorted.

Indeed, among the four people at the table, Eric and Claude looked the most alike, and one could tell at a glance that they were a family. However, because of her conspicuous red hair, Helia looked more like a family member with Hilda.

"I'm really sorry to bother Marshal Hilda to help take care of Aya during this period. She likes to make trouble on weekdays. If she has caused you any trouble, I would like to apologize on her behalf. Please don't mind it, Marshal." Eric raised his glass and tilted it slightly towards Hilda, then drank half of it.

"We are all family. Saying these polite words will make you seem distant." Hilda also returned half a glass of wine. After all, Eric could be considered as her younger brother. Although the two had contact in the past, they were always very polite. After all, the two really didn't look like a family.

"Brother, I'm not always causing trouble. I clearly helped a lot, okay?" Helia said unconvinced.

"Yeah, if it weren't for Aya's help this time, I'm afraid it wouldn't be so easy to end it." Hilda said.

"Aya has changed a lot since she left home." Claude said with a look of satisfaction, "She has grown up."

"Yeah, my sister has grown up and doesn't need her brother that much anymore. She even starts to find her brother's nagging annoying. Alas..." Eric pretended to be melancholy.

"Brother, I can't stay like this forever. You should be happy about this because I can also be a brother and a support for father." Helia patted her chest and said proudly.

"Yes, Aya grew up too fast. It's a pity that I didn't get to see you more. You've grown up so much, and I haven't been able to experience what it feels like to be an eldest sister." Hilda said regretfully.

"Ah, are Brother Okalai and Brother Blot both very worry-free people?" Helia asked back.

When talking about these two naughty brothers, Hilda's smile fell a little. "No, they are not easy to take care of. When they were young, they wanted to hang on my legs all the time..."

"Besides, these two kids are very noisy on weekdays. They always run home dirty after playing and insist on being held by me. I hate them so much. I always want to have a sweet and soft sister to accompany me."

"I've always wanted to have a sister, but fortunately I have one now, so I have no regrets." Helia said.

"What? When you were little, I wore a skirt and pretended to be your sister to make you happy. You even put makeup on me. How come you don't recognize me in the blink of an eye?" Eric said angrily.

The three of them burst out laughing after hearing this. They didn't expect Eric to have such a dark history. Playing house with his sister and pretending to be her elder sister was something only someone like him who loves his sister so much could do.

The originally somewhat stiff atmosphere melted away after this meal, and the family was talking and laughing happily. Even though they were still a little reserved, they got along pretty well overall.

After dinner it was time for business. Helia only had time to go back and change her clothes, then she followed Clo's instructions and went to the Executive Hall to report the situation.

Before her came Hilda, who briefly summarized the current situation on the border and discussed some details with Claude before she had the opportunity to go back and have a good rest.

There were only Helia, Claude and Eric in the Executive Hall. Helia was not nervous at all. After all, she had experienced so many things outside. She was no longer the little girl who would be scared by Claude's words and couldn't sleep all night.

She sat down on the soft chair that Claude had arranged for her. The chair was facing Claude, with a long table between them. She felt like she was being interrogated.

"Your brother briefly told me about your life experience and the year you disappeared. Please repeat it again," said Claude.

Sure enough, when Hilda was away, he treated Helia the same as before, not coldly, but definitely not enthusiastically enough.

Helia looked around and asked curiously, "Is mother here? I would like her to listen too."

Claude paused rubbing his head. He raised his eyes to look at Helia. His deep eyes made Helia inexplicably frightened.

Although it was unclear when Helia learned that her mother was still alive and in the palace, it was obvious that the mother and daughter could not meet, otherwise, based on Madeline's personality, she would have come to find Helia.

"You can't see her, but I will convey what you said." Claude said.

"Okay." Helia didn't force it. The reason she wanted Madeline to listen was just to prove to her that her overly heavy love was already hurting her daughter.

From beginning to end, she told everything except some information about Watersise, and she talked for nearly an hour until her mouth was dry.

Claude's expression was indifferent after listening to it. After all, he had already heard part of it from Eric, and now he only heard a more detailed version. Now everything has become a reality, even if he is angry and annoyed, it will not help, so he did not react too much.

But Eric couldn't help but tear up. No matter how many times he heard it, he felt that Aya had suffered. He never thought that Aya's birth would be so difficult, nor did he expect that his mother would do so much to save Aya. He wanted to blame his mother, but if he stood in his mother's position, he would probably do the same, so he could only wipe away his tears secretly.

"So what are your plans now?" Claude asked.

"My current plan is to continue to develop my magic career and travel outside." Helia said. Of course, the purpose is definitely not just to travel. The two things of Yanlong and Golesa have inspired her. She wants to become a glutton and look for food everywhere to strengthen her own strength.

For example, as the southern continent is the battlefield of the gods, she will definitely make a trip there. If she finds some remains of ancient gods, if she can take a bite of them... she is already imagining her bright future.

Claude knocked on the table to call Helia back to her senses. He stared at Helia's silly face and asked, "Do you remember that I gave you the position of major general?"

"Of course." Helia patted a star on her shoulder, and then patted the rank badge hanging on her left chest, "But I am now a fifth-level magician. Instead of staying in the army, it would be better for me to venture into the magic world."

Seeing Claude was silent, Eric spoke up for Helia, "Father, Aya's magic is indeed powerful, but it is a waste of talent to place her in an army full of ordinary people."

Claude thought seriously for a moment before slowly saying, "Since you like magic so much, why don't you manage the Royal Magic Academy for me?"

"Father, you think too highly of me." Helia said modestly, "I am only a fifth-level magician now. How can I manage a research institute full of high-level magicians?"

"Father, I feel that my age is suitable for going out to explore the world. The imperial capital is too small and I can't use my hands and feet."

"I have no objection to your traveling." Claude did not refuse outright, but he had his own concerns. "However, you have been studying abroad for three years. You should do something for your family."

"You have to know that there are only two heirs to the royal family now, you and your brother. Now that you have grown up, it's time for you to share some of the responsibilities with me and your brother. You can't leave everything to your brother."