CHAPTER 415: THE MEETING OF THE TWO II

In the dead of night, when it was dark outside, father and daughter were sitting opposite each other. They had just finished a small dinner that Lina’s father had thrown in honor of their first meeting in many years.

"I didn’t know you could cook so well," Lina said to her father in surprise.

"I’ve learned a lot over the years from traveling the world, and cooking is just one of those skills," Lina’s father replied. He tried not to show his joy, but inside he was bubbling with happiness that his only daughter liked his cooking.

"It is not always possible to travel in a group where there is a good cook, and there are not always enough ready-made food supplies. Therefore, you have to learn to cook on your own," he added.

Lina nodded, agreeing with her father’s words. After looking at him for a while, she realized that it was time to discuss more serious things.

"So, Father, what did she tell you?" asked Lina cautiously.

Lina’s father leaned back in his chair, then looked at Lina and answered.

"Your mother told me that you rebelled, killed several sisters, severed all ties with the Valkyrie Bloodline Domain, and even clipped your wings."

"She’s not my mother; my mother has been dead for a long time!" Lina retorted, and then snorted.

Lina’s father didn’t correct anything, just sighed heavily.

"Did she tell you why I did it?"

"Yeah. She said that you created your avatar despite the ban, and that the ones you killed were the Valkyries who discovered and destroyed your avatar," Lina’s father replied, looking at his daughter with a worried look.

"Is what she said true?" he asked.

"Yes," Lina nodded. "I really created my avatar."

"Oh, Lina... Do you realize that by creating an avatar, you violated more than just a ban? You should understand this better than anyone," Lina’s father said.

Lina didn’t answer, she just looked at her father, trying to understand him. But there was nothing right inside her. This topic was too slippery for her.

"Did I really make such a big mistake by creating my avatar? Father?" — Lina asked uncertainly.

Lina’s father did not immediately respond. Looking at his daughter and the way she looked at him, he realized that he shouldn’t have brought up this topic.

"Then am I a mistake in your eyes too?" asked Lina.

"No, Lina, that’s not what I meant. I didn’t say you were a mistake," Lina’s father corrected her.

"You are my daughter," he added with confidence.

"Heh, — Lina smiled ironically. "Daughter of the Sword Hero and the rebellious avatar of Valkyrie. That’s who I am. That’s how everyone sees me. A mistake that shouldn’t have been born. After all, it was because of me that the ban on the use of avatars was introduced."

"No, Lina, you’re wrong," Lina’s father shook his head. "The ban on these avatars has been asking for a long time. Your birth was just the last straw."

"Even if that’s the case, you can’t imagine how difficult it was for me to be among them. Among these proud and arrogant beings, who are so proud of their bloodline, considering it the highest good and gift. The bloodline that caused all my troubles and sufferings, which I hate with all my soul!" — Lina, who was always alone, could no longer contain her feelings in front of her father and began to say everything that had accumulated in her soul.

"Father, do you know what it’s like to live among those who look at you with contempt from morning to night? When it’s said behind your back that you’re a disgrace to the Valkyrie race?" Lina asked her father.

"Do you know how it feels to look into the eyes of the one who killed my mother every time? The one who didn’t even bother to look into her memories, erasing them and leaving nothing of her, of my mother?"

"I... I hate her!" screamed Lina, then, covering her face with her hands, she began to cry.

Lina’s father let her cry. She shed tears, releasing all those feelings that she had been holding in herself for a long time. Now that she shared her feelings with her father, she felt relieved.

"I didn’t create an avatar of a Valkyrie, but an ordinary person like you, Father," Lina said, lowering her gaze. "Since childhood, I have admired your exploits and dreamed of experiencing it myself. That’s why I decided to create a human avatar."

Lina’s father was greatly surprised by her daughter’s confession.

"Did you really admire me?" he asked with genuine surprise.

Lina nodded in response.

"Ahahaha!" Lina’s father laughed with joy, and with him, all the swords inside the building buzzed.

"I’ve been practicing all the sword techniques you sent me, Father, — Lina confessed. "But among these proud and arrogant creatures, it was difficult for me to follow your instructions. So I decided that my avatar would take over the main task, and I would focus on mastering the lightning element."

"And what happened next?" asked Lina’s father, intrigued by her story.

"You know, my avatar traveled around Ludelia, practicing sword techniques, met many new acquaintances, and eventually decided to go to Labirelia in the hope of conquering the still unconquered dungeons," Lina continued her story.

"Every evening, when I looked at my avatar’s memories and relived everything she had gone through, it was the only ray of light in that dark place," she concluded.

"But everything changed when my avatar met him," Lina said, lowering her gaze, as if hiding her feelings from her father.

"Who did you meet?" Lina’s father asked, not understanding why his daughter was behaving so strangely.

"Luka, — Lina replied. "A young guy from Ludelia who ran away from home to become an adventurer."

"Eh? Young guy?" Lina’s father was surprised, but then his face immediately changed and he stared intently at his daughter. "Don’t tell me that..."

Lina lowered her gaze even lower, but still nodded.

"At first, there was no mutual understanding between Luka and my avatar, and we were constantly in conflict. But over time, we started seeing each other more often, and then we started our own band," Lina admitted.

"Then, fearing that I might summon her or, worse, betray her, my avatar rebelled and severed all ties with me," she added.

Lina’s father was in complete disarray. Listening to her story, he involuntarily immersed himself in memories of his past, when he met a young Valkyrie who was hiding among ordinary people in search of adventures. He remembered how they traveled the world together, and he was overcome with awe.

"No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t reconnect with the avatar. I also hid information about her existence from everyone," Lina continued, not noticing how her father was lost in his memories. But as soon as she spoke again, he immediately came to his senses.

"Everything was quiet for about six months," Lina said, then raised her head and, looking into her father’s eyes, continued: "But after six months, my avatar reconnected on her own."

After a short pause, she added, "She didn’t ask for forgiveness or apologies. She needed help." Lina’s voice trembled as she said those words. "It happened when the Valkyries found her, and she cried out for rescue."

Lina’s father noticed that it was getting harder for her to continue, but he didn’t rush her.

"My avatar didn’t ask me to save her, she asked me to help save her child," Lina finally confessed.

"Huh?" Lina’s father was stunned. "What did you just say? A child?"

"Yes, Father," Lina said with difficulty. "When the Valkyries attacked her and that young man, she was pregnant."