Harrietta sat at her kitchen table, fingers tapping impatiently. Hansen stood behind her, arms crossed, watching silently.

  Across from her sat Kran, Eira, and Umbra. Nerva occupied the head of the table to the left, with Lisa curled up on his lap. Behind him, Lucius stood awkwardly, clearly out of place in such a cozy cottage.

  Scry and Sparky floated nearby, conversing in the spirit tongue, soft, melodic sounds only Lisa could truly understand.

  Harrietta’s eyes narrowed. “So… I’m waiting.”

  Kran cleared his throat, nerves tightening his voice. He began explaining how he’d feared for Eira’s safety and decided to follow their trail. Though the barrier had kept him out at first, he eventually found a way in, just in time to see Eira in danger, and rushed to help her.

  “I’d like to think stabbing that huge snake helped her turn the tide,” he said, trying to sound confident.

  Eira sighed. “As reckless as it was… it did help. I won’t lie.”

  She then took over, describing how Kran had nearly died, and how she’d done what she had to save him. That act had triggered his evolution into the form he now wore.

  Harrietta’s expression shifted. Her tough exterior cracked as tears welled in her eyes.

  “You bastard,” she whispered, voice trembling. “So, you did almost die. Did you even think about how I’d feel? How we’d feel? Do you think raising you alone was easy? Do you think I did it just because?”

  Tears streamed down her face.

  Kran’s own eyes filled. “I’m sorry, Mother. I didn’t think. I just wanted to help… but in the end, I was a burden to Eira. Like I’ve always been to you.”

  “You take that back!” Harrietta snapped, standing up. “You were never a burden. I chose to raise you. I left that damn school that hated beastmen. I made every choice, and I regret none of them.”

  She rushed forward and wrapped her arms around her furry son. Kran hugged her back tightly, both of them crying.

  “I’m sorry, Mother. I really am.”

  Hansen watched silently, his own eyes misty. He’d trained Kran, taught him how to survive, how to hunt. He cared deeply for the boy.

  Lisa began crying too, moved by the reunion. She missed her own mother.

  Nerva’s heart clenched as he hugged Lisa closer.

  Umbra stood and walked over, gently stroking Lisa’s hair. “Hey, human child, I mean, Lisa. Don’t cry. You’ve got us, right?”

  Lisa sniffled. “Who is this lady?”

  Nerva smiled. “It’s your big sister, Umbra. She’s stronger now, and she can transform into this form.”

  Lisa’s eyes widened. “Wow! You’re so pretty now! And you can still turn into a big kitty, too?”

  “Of course,” Umbra grinned. “I’ll show you later. I even have huge new wings now.”

  Lisa’s tear-streaked face lit up with wonder. She understood what Umbra was doing, and she appreciated it. She was still a child, but her experiences had made her grow up faster than she would have in the castle.

  Harrietta turned and hugged Lisa, too. “Aunt loves you; you hear me. You’ll always have a home here.”

  Once the floodgates opened, they were hard to close.

  Eira tapped Kran’s shoulder as he sat back down. “You’re such a mama’s boy, aren’t you?” she teased.

  “I’m rarely like this… okay?” he muttered, blushing.

  Hansen laughed heartily. “I don’t mind seeing you both like this. Haha!”

  “Don’t get used to it!” Kran and Harrietta shouted in unison.

  The whole house erupted in laughter.

  ***

  After everyone had calmed down and settled around the table again, Harrietta turned her gaze toward Umbra.

  “So… you did it, huh?” she said, staring at her thoughtfully. “I must admit, you look strange, a bit too perfect. Mind explaining how you broke through?”

  Umbra nodded, speaking honestly. “While my body was being recreated, a black gem appeared in my barely formed inner world. It released a strange energy. My soul spirit absorbed it… and then ate the gem.”

  She paused.

  “After that, a clear idea came into my mind. I could choose my new form. I wanted to look similar to Kai; he’s my brother, after all.”

  The room fell quiet as she continued.

  “It also helped me merge my different elements into something unique. Something made for me.”

  Harrietta blinked, clearly intrigued. “That’s the first time I’ve heard anything like that, and I’ve met a few Divine Beasts in my time.”

  “From Viper’s memories,” Eira added, “she didn’t go through anything like that either. Her transformation was instinctive; she just became a scaly humanoid.”

  “I’ve never heard of Divine Beasts choosing their form during a breakthrough either,” Nerva chimed in, frowning.

  “You bird brain,” Scry chuckled, floating lazily. “Don’t you remember? Arthraxius gave you that gem and said it would help you during the breakthrough. Who knows what kind of rare treasure it was?”

  “Oh, right!” Umbra blinked. “That did happen. I’ll have to thank him when I see him again.”

  “Well, that makes sense,” Harrietta nodded. “Could be something from the Dragon Realm… or even the Godly Realms.”

  Then she squinted at Umbra’s outfit. “Why are you using your armor skill as clothing, though?”

  Umbra shrugged. “I don’t have anything that can transform with me. I don’t want to walk around naked.”

  Harrietta turned her glare toward Scry. “Damn tiger. Why didn’t you help her? Didn’t you give Mana clothes to Eira, too?”

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  “Fine, fine! Shut up already!” Scry grumbled, tossing a folded set of black leather mana clothing and matching shoes toward Umbra. “Same style as Eira’s. Happy now?”

  Umbra caught them and smiled. “Aren’t you nice. Thanks.”

  She stood and walked toward Harrietta’s room to change.

  After a bit, she returned from Harrietta’s room dressed in sleek black leather mana clothing, her tail swaying freely through a small hole she’d made in the back.

  She looked like a seasoned adventurer now, confident, composed, and striking.

  “You look great,” Nerva said, the words slipping out before he could stop himself.

  Umbra smiled brightly. “Thank you. It’s much easier to walk around in this than in armor. I’ll save that for battles.”

  “Damn girl,” Harrietta laughed. “You’re gonna steal all the men.”

  “I don’t plan to have offspring yet, so there’s no need for that,” Umbra replied bluntly.

  Nerva and Hansen sighed in unison. She was always so straightforward.

  “Anyway, Lisa,” Umbra said, turning to the girl, “how was your time with Harrietta?”

  “Great! I made a friend. Sparky, come meet everyone!” Lisa cheered.

  The fire spirit leaped into her lap, purring instantly.

  Scry floated closer, eyes wide. “Wow… she can command a spirit she’s not even contracted to. That’s rare.”

  “She can do more,” Hansen added proudly. “She understands him. She can speak with him.”

  “Let me test that,” Scry smirked and spoke in the spirit tongue.

  Lisa replied effortlessly, then giggled.

  “I’ll be damned,” Scry said, genuinely impressed. “I’ve heard of rare, blessed spirit mages, but I didn’t think I’d meet one. Lisa, my dear, you’re gifted. You’ll be a powerful Spirit Summoner when you grow up.”

  His words were warm, sincere. She had lost everything, but now she would never be alone again.

  Nerva watched, stunned. How is this possible? The Sorgaz family had never shown signs of spirit affinity. Could it be from Cecily’s side? They’d never met her family. This whole journey had started with the plan to visit them.

  He took a deep breath. “We’ll get her the best teachers. Don’t worry.”

  “No need,” Scry said, waving a hand. “She’ll learn from the spirits, and they’ll learn from her. Later, I’ll help her summon her first spirit. She’s already fluent in our tongue.”

  “Hey, Uncle Nerva,” Lisa asked, tilting her head, “where’s Brother Kai? Why hasn’t he come yet?”

  Nerva hesitated. “Kai is sleeping. We fought a lot, and he’s tired. It might take him a while to wake up… he’s also training in his sleep.”

  Lisa narrowed her eyes. “Hmm. You’re hiding something, but I’ll trust you.”

  “Haha, good girl,” Scry said, sitting beside her. “Always be suspicious, just like I taught you. Brother Kai really is sleeping. You’ll visit him later. He has a magical ability. I’ll explain everything.”

  Harrietta pointed at Scry. “So, this is where she got all those weird terms and behaviors!”

  “You really are a bad influence,” Umbra sighed.

  “Let’s hope Theodor won’t mind this,” Nerva chuckled.

  Hansen gulped at the mention of the King of the South. Hopefully, the Fiend wouldn't mind anything.

  ***

  As the group settled again around Harrietta’s table, she leaned forward, eyes sharp. “So… how did the mission go? You’re back relatively quickly.”

  “We won,” Nerva said with a sigh. “The South should be safe now, at least for the time being. But there are things hidden in these lands we didn’t know about, and it’s… unsettling.”

  “Like what?” Hansen asked, concern creeping into his voice.

  “Let me explain,” Scry cut in, floating forward. Nerva sighed but nodded; he didn’t want to tell Lisa about James just yet.

  Scry began recounting the events: the battles against Florina and his monstrous creations, the strange terrain, and the twisted magic. Umbra chimed in occasionally, adding her own experiences.

  Eventually, Scry reached the part about Florian surviving, remaking his body, and their encounter with the fallen goddess, the true source of all this.

  At the mention of the goddess, Harrietta jumped to her feet, visibly shaken. “All my life, I was so close to a goddess… and nobody knew? I can’t believe this!”

  It took a while to calm her down. Scry continued, carefully omitting the more serious details and Kai’s secrets.

  “I’ll be damned,” Hansen muttered, dazed. “These lands really are ancient.”

  “I regret it now,” Harrietta groaned. “Why didn’t I go?”

  “So… what now?” Hansen asked, turning to Eira. “What’s your plan?”

  “I hope to stay here for a while, if that’s okay. Some normalcy would do me good,” Eira said, shrugging. “After that… I don’t know. I never really thought about my future before. It’s odd.”

  “Stay as long as you need,” Hansen said warmly. “I’ll assign you a home later.”

  “There’s one empty house close to mine,” Kran offered with a smile.

  “Calm down, you dog,” Harrietta teased, and Kran blushed.

  “It’s not like that! I just want to train with Eira. This new body… it’ll take time to get used to,” he said quickly.

  “Oh sure, sure. ‘Train.’ That’s what you want,” Harrietta laughed.

  Eira sighed, a bit of frost escaping her breath. “You two really are mother and son. He’s right, though; he needs to learn how to control this body before he hurts someone. Later, we can talk about baby monster children.”

  Kran twitched, slowly turning toward her. “I’m not ready for children.”

  “They will either be the cutest babies or the most hideous things ever,” Scry chuckled, until Umbra swatted him off the table.

  “Don’t be rude, bastard,” she muttered. Even she had some common sense.

  “He’s not wrong, though,” Eira said with a smirk.

  “Why is everyone making plans without me?” Kran cried out, and the whole room burst into laughter.

  Once the laughter faded, Nerva leaned forward, eyes burning with purpose. “Once Kai recovers, if he approves and is willing, I’d like to take you all with me. At least those who are willing. I’ll train you personally. I could use strong, honest, down-to-earth warriors.”

  Lucius gulped. “May the gods help them,” he muttered, his first words since they’d gathered.

  “Well, well,” Nerva said, raising an eyebrow. “I thought you had nothing to say. But you can joke, huh? You owe me ten laps around the village.”

  Lucius sighed. “Yes, sir.”

  “I don’t think I’m up for that,” Kran chuckled.

  “We’ll talk, young wolf,” Nerva said with a grin, not letting it go.

  “Leave that for later,” Harrietta interrupted. “Eat something first. Then we’ll go visit Kai, okay?”

  “Fine, fine. I’ll drop it for now,” Nerva agreed, and the group continued talking.

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