A distinctive chime rang out as the Emperor stepped out of the Stormbird, accompanied by a towering Custodian.
"Hm?" As the Emperor emerged from the carpeted belly of the craft, he and Lycaeus, who had come to greet him, voiced puzzled sounds at the exact same time.
"No, wasn't the Emperor supposed to be a six-meter-tall, mighty golden hunk? Why did he look just like those bald middle-aged men from my previous life who could suddenly drop dead at any moment?" Sandman stared at the Emperor emerging from the cabin with an utterly bewildered look.
The other puzzled sound had come from the Emperor. From the man standing beside Korax, he sensed a familiar power—his own power. Yet he had no memory whatsoever of this man.
Yes, Sandman had yielded the place of honor to Korax and stood behind him, half a step back. This was a reunion between father and son; it would not have been appropriate for him to occupy the main position.
The Emperor and Sandman exchanged a glance, then tacitly looked away. Just as Sandman had said, this was a family reunion. Whatever questions they had could wait.
"Korax, my child. I am your father. I trust you have already felt it. You have suffered these past days." Having descended from the craft, the Emperor spoke to his genetic son.
The Emperor's voice was unique. Though his tone was calm, it carried an air of looking down upon the entire world, as though he alone reigned supreme over heaven and earth. Even when he expressed concern for Korax's recent hardships, Sandman somehow felt that it meant, Why are you so useless?
As for how Korax felt about it, only he himself knew.
"Welcome, my... father... Please forgive us. We have only just ended a war and