Affinity: Chaos Chapter 548 - Still Having A Rough Time

Three months later.
Southern Continent, Mostar City.
At the city gates, a young man could be seen walking out of the city, some black patches were on his face, and he looked like he hadn't rested for weeks now.
"Damn it! Those stupid elders, I can't even rest properly before they send me out again. *Sigh* If only father wasn't ill," The young man complained under his breath continuously as he walked outside the city.
The crowd stared at him, with some speaking about him while the others minding their businesses.
"Isn't that the son of the O'Brien family? Why's he looking so haggard?" A young lady asked.
"I heard his father, the current head of the family, is very ill. The elders didn't want to make it obvious that they wanted him out of the family, so this happened, mission after mission. And from what I heard, the mission increases in difficulty whenever he successfully completes one," A young man explained.
"That's sad, he used to be very vibrant," The young lady shook her head in pity while staring at the sad and lonely back view of the sorry figure who was walking out of the city.
This person was none other than Ellis, after coming back from the Azure Continent, he found out things weren't as they were when he left. His father was ill, and the elders had taken control of the family. They initially thought he was dead, but when they saw him returning out of nowhere, they were left with no choice but to think of something else.
The reason for this was simple, amongst all the children of his generation in the family, he was the most talented. His growth speed was on another level when compared to others, so he had been the one tipped to get the position as next in line to be the family head. His disappearance was like a blessing to the others, and some had even started planning with their fathers who were part of the elders.
….
While walking with his head down, Ellis soon disappeared into the crowd that was headed towards the forest.
Unknown to him, a pair of eyes were looking at him with interest.
After three months of constant traveling, and literally exhausting his savings, he finally got to the city where the O'Brien family stayed. He had been here for about a week now, and his cautious personality didn't allow him to head straight to the O'Brien mansion, and he was grateful he didn't.
When he got here, he started asking about the O'Brien family, and the news he got left him worried for his once jovial friend.
Grey soon blended into the crowd and disappeared.
….
In the forest.
Ellis brought out a map, looking at the spot that was marked, there were three spots, and each represented a location he would have to head to. These were places that had notorious criminals around Mostar City, and some of them were even more powerful than he was.
"I should get to work. I'll take as much time as I can before returning," He kept the map before adding with a depreciating smile, "If I don't die,"
Just as he was about to continue walking forward, he paused before looking around.
Swoosh! Boom!
Ice spikes sprang out of the ground in Ellis' north, as a figure jumped out of the woods.
"We haven't seen each other for over half a year and this is how you welcome me?" Grey's voice traveled into the ears of Ellis who was about to attack again.
"Huh? Who?" Ellis paused, before looking at the figure in front of him properly.
"Grey?" He asked curiously.
Grey still had his mask on, and he's been so tired lately that he forgot a few things about the friend he made in the Azure Continent. Actually, because of his father's condition, he hadn't been social lately.
"Who else? I can see you're having a rough time once again," Grey said before taking off his mask.
"It's really you! I never thought you'd be able to come this quickly," Ellis exclaimed before hugging Grey.
When Grey heard his feminine voice once again, he couldn't help but smile unconsciously. He had always found it funny.
"Why's your communication device not with you?" Grey asked while taking out the orb Ellis gave to him back at the Magical Beasts' forest.
"Oh that, I've been too busy to care about it. It's buried somewhere under a pile of other things in my ring," Ellis replied while letting go of Grey and giving out a genuine smile.
"Huh? Why are you still at the Peak of the Origin Plane?" He asked when he sensed Grey's cultivation stage.
He thought Grey would've at least broken through to the Overlord Plane by now, never in a million years did he think he would still be in the same stage.
"Long story, had some difficulties, but I've sorted it out," Grey replied.
"Oh, okay. But it's weird seeing someone as old as you are still in the Origin Plane. Well, in lower regions, it's not that rare though," Ellis said while rubbing his chin.
"Have you been able to find that thing you were searching for?" He suddenly recalled the reason Grey sent him to journey across the Magical Beasts' forest tirelessly.
"I didn't need it anymore," Grey replied.
He didn't think Ellis would still recall the soothing liquid he was searching for to help heal Void.
"This is Void, he was the reason I was looking for that liquid," He pointed at Void who was lying on his head.
"Oh, a cat. Wow! It's already a Late stage Rank Five magical beast, amazing! He must have a high bloodline given how small he is," Ellis exclaimed when he saw Void's cultivation stage.
"Of course, did you take me for those petty house and street cats?" Void asked with disdain when he spoke of other cats.
"He can talk?" Ellis was once again surprised by the cat that accompanied Grey.
"Yes, he's different," Grey nodded.
"I can tell," Ellis replied while studying Void.
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