CHAPTER 339: THE AFTERMATH...[2]

Florence’s eyes, still clouded with the fragility of her restored life, saw the blood and grime streaking Brandon’s face and the deep gashes marring his arms.

Her heart clenched in pain "Dear..." she whispered, her voice trembling with concern as her hand reached out to brush against his bloodied knuckles.

Brandon shook his head and his bloodshot eyes softened as he met her gaze. "No, it’s alright, Florence..."

His voice was hoarse, carrying the weight of his grief and relief, but he forced a faint smile to reassure her.

He tightened his grip around her, supporting her frail body as she leaned against him.

Florence’s gaze shifted to Kiera, who knelt beside her and her expression softened "Kiera..."

Kiera grasped Florence’s arm tightly with trembling fingers as she nodded. "Mother..."

Charlotte approached them and Florence looked up at her with a faint smile tugging at her lips "Thank you for saving me..."

Charlotte’s eyes flickered to Brandon with a complex mix of emotions... pride, protectiveness, and that faint, suppressed envy. "Anything Kael desires..."

Brandon’s eyes softened at her words and he gently helped Florence to her feet, supporting her weight as her legs trembled.

Kiera stood as well and steadied herself against a broken pillar.

Brandon stepped toward Charlotte and she raised her hand, brushing her fingers on his bloodied cheek "I want to reverse the time on your body and undo the wounds, but..."

He smiled wryly, scratching his cheek "Yeah, my ether core might also reverse and go back to A rank..."

The battle with Henriette and Kiera has pushed him beyond his limits and his ether core ascended to S rank in the crucible of his rage and grief.

Charlotte’s lips curved into a soft, proud smile, her eyes shimmering with affection.

She reached into her storage ring and took a crystalline vial filled with a luminescent blue liquid that pulsed with healing energy.

"Congratulations on reaching S rank, Little Brother," she said as she held the vial out to him.

Brandon accepted the vial and leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek, before whispering "Thank you very much, my dear sister..."

Charlotte’s gaze trembled and a faint flicker of blue energy rippled through her green eyes but she quickly suppressed it.

Her heart raced, but she kept her composure with a smile as she watched him.

Brandon uncorked the vial and gulped its contents in one swift motion.

The blue liquid glowed briefly as it coursed through him, and the wounds on his body began to mend with astonishing speed.

Gashes sealed, bruises faded, and the blood caking his skin dissolved as the healing ether worked its magic.

He exhaled, rolling his shoulders, "I feel a lot better now..."

Charlotte’s gaze flickered to Kiera, who was still struggling to stand, her body trembling from the strain of her wounds and the battle’s toll.

Without a word, Charlotte reached into her storage ring again and took another healing vial.

She tossed it toward Kiera, the vial glinting in the dawn light as it arced through the air.

Kiera caught it clumsily and lowered her head, "Thank you..."

She hesitated for a moment, then uncorked the vial and drank, the blue liquid glowing as it flowed down her throat.

Glancing at Charlotte, Brandon asked "By the way, how come you are here, Big Sister?"

With a soft sigh, she replied "I was just on a stroll to all Five Great families to give them a warning about harming you..."

She raised her hand to gently pat his head "Since you told me some people are trying to kill you. So in that regard, I came here too..."

Leaning forward, he hugged her into his arms "Ha... Good thing you came at the right time, Charlotte."

Hugging him back, Charlotte muttered in a scolding tone "Also, Kael... Sister and I already told you to contact us if you are in a life-threatening situation."

"Sister gave you the watch and the mobile, which has her ’sigil’ "

He sighed into her shoulder "Well.. I am not exactly in any life-threatening situation. Also, at the start of the fight... my arm was cut off and I lost my storage ring and watch."

"My mobile was also inside the storage ring too."

Charlotte’s gaze condensed, her expression darkening with a mix of worry and anger. "I see..." she said softly, her hand continuing to pat his head.

She still has some questions she wanted to ask him but she kept them for later.

She turned her gaze to Florence and Kiera, who stood nearby "What are you guys going to do now? I can reverse time to build the house and this place back if you want."

Upon hearing this, Florence hesitated, as she didn’t really want to trouble an Empyrean like Charlotte to deal with these little things.

"Uhm no, it’s okay... we have other mansions; we can use that."

Brandon however looked up at Charlotte and muttered "Restore it."

Upon hearing this, she nodded her head with a smile "As you wish."

A green glint passed through her eyes and the massive transparent clock reappeared behind her, its green needles glowing brighter than before.

Time itself seemed to bend and the fabric of reality shimmered as the clock’s needles ticked backward.

The courtyard began to shift and the shattered pillars rose from the ground, their broken edges knitting together as stone reformed with a soft glow.

Scorched walls rebuilt themselves, sealing the cracks and blackened marks faded as if the flames had never touched them.

The air grew lighter as the acrid scent of blood and ash was replaced by the faint fragrance of blooming roses from the estate’s gardens, which bloomed anew as time reversed their destruction.

Florence’s eyes widened in amazement "It’s amazing..."

She turned to Charlotte and bowed her head "Thank you, Miss Charlotte."

Turning around, Florence searched for the corpse of her Mother and saw the mangled corpse lying in the courtyard.

She closed her eyes for a moment and let out a deep sigh.

Kiera also walked toward the corpse and her gaze quivered before she slowly settled herself beside the corpse.

Memories of her grandmother’s cold ambition, her relentless expectations, and the rare moments of warmth that had once defined their bond flashed through her mind.

But she steeled herself, tightening her jaw as she forced down the grief threatening to overwhelm her. "You brought this on yourself..."

Meanwhile, Brandon turned to Charlotte and whispered "Big Sister, thank you for the hel-"

She pinched his lips and stopped him from talking "No need to thank me, anything for my Little Brother."

He chuckled and hugged her in his arms "Love you, Big Sister."

A relief washed over Charlotte’s heart, as she has always dreamed of being a Big Sister like this to him, but because of her personality, she always distanced herself from him.

Now that the problem is solved, she can be more open with him.

For the first time in years, she could be the sister she’d always wanted to be.

Pulling back from the hug, she looked into his eyes "Now come back with me, let’s go and see Big Sister and tell her what happened here."

Brandon turned his head to Florence and sighed "Big Sister, you leave now and inform Elize. I will stay here for a bit."

Charlotte’s eyes narrowed slightly and before she could think any further, Brandon leaned forward, placing a firm kiss on her cheek as his voice dropped to a warm murmur.

"Also, you remember the plans for tomorrow, right? We’re going out..."

A faint blush crept across Charlotte’s cheeks, her green eyes widening briefly before she composed herself with a nod. "How could I forget..."

Brandon grinned and replied "Mhm, you leave Sister, we can meet tomorrow."

She nodded reluctantly. "Alright."

With that, she stepped back and glanced at Florence "Take care of him."

Florence looked up and nodded her head "I will."