SWNOVELXO Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Homecoming
---
Saturday arrived under a silver-washed sky. The clouds had cleared, and a still calm hovered over Raven Estate. The newly completed defensive grid pulsed softly beneath the ground, every micro-sensor whispering invisible signals across the estate. Asher laid in the garden, eyes closed, fingertips brushing the damp grass as the system's interface flared before him.
> [Daily Sign-In Complete
> Reward: **Stone Body Technique (Passive Ability)**
> System Points: +5
> Lucky Draw Ticket: 0]
His eyes snapped open.
"Stone Body," he whispered.
> [Stone Body Technique]
> [Grants enhanced durability by reinforcing cellular structure with semi-organic mineral binding. Passive use increases baseline toughness. Advanced control enables temporary full-body hardening.]
He flexed his fingers. The skin along his arms tingled, then darkened subtly, as if a sheen of stone rippled under the surface. His knuckles tapped together with a soft *clink.*
He stood slowly, trying a few measured steps. His legs felt heavier, more grounded. A short jog through the garden revealed no clumsy weight or stiffness—instead, a subtle sense of momentum. Each footfall seemed more connected to the earth.
He struck a tree trunk with the side of his arm.
It thudded, bark cracking. He didn't even feel it.
"This," he muttered, "is going to take training."
---
By afternoon, he had returned to his lab to run body scans. The Stone Body trait was woven into his physical structure, not just a coating or energy field. It was part of him now. Activating it consciously drained little stamina, but full-body hardening seemed to require heightened concentration.
He logged the results.
**Training Goals**:
* Practice full-body reinforcement under sudden stress.
* Develop reflexive activation in response to physical shock.
* Test heat resistance (pending).
The lab's ambient sensors flickered green. All clear.
Still, his thoughts were elsewhere. Today wasn't just about system updates.
His parents were finally coming home.
---
The main hall felt strange when filled with voices.
Asher stood at the top of the stairs, watching the car pull in. The familiar black luxury sedan came to a gentle stop. Two figures stepped out—a man in a grey suit and a woman with flowing dark hair, both exuding power and polish.
Kieran Raven. Seraphina Raven.
They were his parents. But they felt like legends.
Asher walked down the steps, composed.
His mother reached him first and pulled him into a hug. It was brief, but warm.
"You've grown again," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her tired eyes.
His father ruffled his hair gently. "Security says you've been... busy."
Asher gave a small shrug. "I just felt that I should move around a bit more around the mansion. "
They blinked, exchanged glances and then chuckled.
Dinner was arranged in the high-ceilinged dining room, the long table set with crystal glasses and a quiet orchestra playing in the background. Asher sat between them, unusually silent.
Halfway through the meal, he put down his fork.
"Why don't we spend more time together?"The question hung in the air.
His mother looked down at her plate. His father exhaled slowly.
"Business has been demanding," Kieran said. "We're trying to secure a merger that could take years off your future burdens."
"You haven't seen me in a week," Asher said plainly. "You miss most of my life and I just feel a little lonely with no one to talk to my age."
Seraphina looked up. "We didn't know."Kieran then said: "I'll do something about it."
"Tomorrow," his father said "we'll go out together. Just us. Anywhere you want."
Asher nodded slowly. "I want to go to the mall. Its been a long time since I went."
His mother smiled faintly. "That sounds perfect."
Before dessert, Asher cleared his throat again.
"Do I have any grandparents still alive?"
Seraphina and Kieran both paused.
"No," his mother said carefully. "At least... not any we trust right now."
His father added, "We can tell you more when you're older."
It wasn't the answer he wanted, but it would do. For now.
That night, as they left the table and Asher retreated to his room, he opened his system once more. No new notifications. Just the soft blue glow of the interface, hovering like a guardian above his bed.
And for the first time in days, Asher Raven allowed himself to rest.
He didn't dream.
But when morning came, he would be ready ffor the day's challenges for him.
And he would be ready.
---