After seeing the group, Ray had climbed down from Noir to speak to the others just to see how the situation had become what it was. The last thing he had expected was to see his mother walking along with them.

  He hadn't seen his mother in years and truthfully seeing her now he felt kind of bad. She had left when she was young, but he knew she cared for him. One of the few people that genuinely did.

  Yet, he had never bothered to look into how she was or what she was doing. He was too focused on finding out the truth of his past life and not focusing on his current one.

  "Don't look so sad," Scarlett said as she walked over and started to pinch his cheeks outward.

  "She's touching Ray like that!" Kyle whispered in shock.

  "I don't think I've ever seen anyone approach him like that before without a fist to thier face," Harry added.

  "Oh, will you two calm down," Martha said. "It's his mother, of course, they can act like that."

  She then went in and gave Ray a big old hug and whispered.

  "You've been through so much haven't you, I'm sorry I wasn't there to see you grow up."

  A scent wafted into Ray's nose, and a fuzzy feeling was felt in his stomach. The smell had reminded him of the time when he was a child and how much she used to look after him. As if out of instinct, a smile had appeared on his face.

  Seeing this even caused Martha to drop her new beloved king tier Bow. There had been many times they had all seen Ray smile before, but it was one of joy, for beating someone. Or one of excitement. This smile was completely different; it was cosy almost.

  "I guess Ray's a mama's boy," Kyle commented quietly.

  The two stopped thier hug and now all ready to climb up on Noir to take them to the city gates, but before that. Ray placed his hand on the floor.

  [Ice bind]

  A trail of ice on the floor quickly went on over across the floor until it eventually reached Kyle's legs and kept him in place there.

  'Crap did he hear what I said?' Kyle thought as he tried to break free from the ice.

  The rest were already on top of Noir, including Ray, and they all waved Kyle goodbye.

  "We'll see in the city, Kyle!" Martha said with a big wave."

  "Wait, you're just going to leave me here! What about my legs. You can't just go, what if a beast or something comes and eats me!" Kyle shouted.

  "Jack and a few others will be arriving soon. Ask them." Ray said as the whole group left heading to the city gate.

  It didn't take long with Noir's speed to reach the city gate, and when they did, Ray was about to ask Noir to jump over and carry on until they were at the main building. The city guards had been informed of Noir, and her description to let her in, so they knew she was a safe beast.

  However, Scarlett had asked Ray to stop just at the city gate. As they all stopped and got down again, Ray decided maybe it would be best to just enter the city as usual, and allowed Noir to roam around near the stables. It wasn't fun for her to be kept inside his system the whole time, and there were no threats near the city. He could safely letter her explore.

  When they got off, they noticed something else as well. There were crowds of people at the front gate of the city. Many of them had even chosen to camp outside pitching up tents, while the others directly at the gate were trying to gain entrance, but the guards refused.

  "What is going on here?" Bliss said.

  "I don't know," Lenny replied. "It wasn't like this when we left. We've only been gone for three days."

  "Kids, go and try to gather information from the nearby citizens," Harry ordered to the two students. "And let us know what's going on."

  "Yes, sir!" They both said as they went to conduct some interviews.

  "It looks like you might have another problem to deal with," Scarlett said. "Anyway, Ray, I wanted you to stop here because I'm not staying at the city. I still have more work to do out there."

  "Work? But you can stay here, you'll be safe," Ray replied. "And maybe I can help, or get one of these guys to help. They're good at all sorts of different things."

  "Ray, I'm proud of you, and I'm proud of what you have built. I know these people are great. I've been with them for a while now and thanks to them I have my answer. But this is something I have to do on my own."

  Ray didn't know why, but it was hurting him as he heard this. All he knew was he wanted to stay. If he didn't know where she was, it would worry him.

  "If you go, then at least sign this!"

  Using the system, Ray immediately pulled up the contract and sent over an offer to his mother. It was a shame, that adjustments couldn't be made but the contract was something every perosn had to agree on. Thier life was in Ray??s hands.

  Reading this, Scarlett didn't know how to react, suddenly she realised what the seal was on the others as well.

  'What amazing power you have Ray.' She thought.

  Quickly, she declined the offer. "Ray, I'm your mother. Not the other way round. I'm still in charge of you. As long as this city is still here, I promise I will come back in the future. Also, I hear you have been getting involved in the empire. Do you remember that pendant I gave you before I left?"

  Ray quickly looked down, and could feel something around his chest, he brought it out around his neck, and it was still there. Not once had he ever taken it off.

  "Good, keep it. One day I'm sure it will come in handy for you. Or it might even bring you more trouble depending on how you see it."

  With that, a carriage was hired, and Ray's mother was on her own journey that Ray had no part off.

  "She was a nice perosn," Martha said.

  'Perhaps she played a big part in Sen's change of character' Bliss thought, seeing the interactions between the two. 'If the future of the world turns out well, I will have to greatly reward her.'

  Seeing the number of citizens standing in front of the gate. The group decided to take a detour around. An announcement that the king and other high officials being there could almost cause a riot with how many were trying to gain access to the city. The students returned to Harry as well, informing him what they had found out.

  "What is it?" Martha asked.

  "I think it's best if we all talk to Slyvia about this one," Harry replied.

  As soon as they gained access inside one of the head guards came rushing towards them.

  "King Ray, I have urgent news. Leader Slyvia has asked for everyone's prescience for a meeting immediately. She told me to inform you as soon as you return." The guard said.

  Just what was going on? They thought.

  *****

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