Five months had passed since the group settled on Sanctuary Orion. Aurora was now almost two years old, and her astonishing abilities were continuing to develop each day. Recently, the toddler had taken to wandering off on her own for hours at a time, returning with various odd artifacts she refused to explain the origins of.
One afternoon, Aurora came home beaming with excitement, clutching a glittering red crystal the size of a hen's egg. Before anyone could ask, she scampered out to the glass enclosure she had conjured in the backyard and placed it carefully atop a pile of strange objects - gears, vials of luminescent liquid, an engraved sword, and more.
Jen crossed his arms with amusement as he watched his daughter arrange her latest treasure. "Quite a collection you've got there, munchkin. planning to open your own museum?"
Aurora just giggled mysteriously and skipped back over to hug his leg. Jen sighed and ruffled her curly hair. Her evasive nature was not malicious, but it concerned him not knowing where she was venturing alone. Still, little Aurora had proven quite capable of handling herself.
Kaganji came over to peer curiously at the new crystal. "Fascinating shape and refractive quality. I should very much like to study its molecular composition." His scholarly instincts were clearly intrigued.
But Aurora shook her head stubbornly, small face scrunching in determination. "Just look, no touch!" she said, pointing at Kaganji warningly. Then with a laugh, she darted off to play elsewhere, satisfied her prize was safely on display.
Jen gave Kaganji an apologetic shrug. "Sorry my friend, no testing allowed. We just have to trust she's staying safe, wherever her adventures take her."
Over the next weeks, Aurora continued disappearing for hours at a time each day, returning with anything from exotic fruits to ancient artifacts. She would not reveal where she obtained the objects, nor let anyone handle them. They could only watch in bemusement as her collection grew.
One morning when Aurora zipped out after breakfast, Liya followed stealthily, determined to solve the mystery. But the child seemed to vanish into thin air once beyond the meadow.
"It's like she's teleporting somewhere in the blink of an eye," Liya reported when she returned. "I can't track her no matter what I try." She bit her lip anxiously. The situation was clearly more complicated than a normal child's secret hideaway.
Jen hugged his partner reassuringly. "She hasn't come to any harm so far. As long as we give her space, I'm sure she'll open up eventually." Still, even he had to admit their daughter's behavior was odd and concerning. There was more going on than met the eye.
Late that night, Jen awoke to find Aurora's bed empty. Gently shaking Liya awake, the two crept out to the glass room and saw a bright glow emanating from within. Peering through the warped glass, they could just make out Aurora placing some sort of blazing sword into her collection. She was humming happily, utterly unscathed.
Jen slumped in confused relief. "At least she's safe, though Nor only knows what time she gets up to these solo quests." Liya nodded uneasily. There seemed no way to stop Aurora or learn the truth. All they could do was trust she would not come to harm.
The next day Aurora was gone for over 10 hours, missing both breakfast and lunch. When she finally returned, the child clutched an ornate mirror etched with strange runes. She scurried to add it to her hoard, then flopped onto the couch for a nap, clearly exhausted from some epic adventure.
"Right, this has gone on long enough," Jen said, jaw set with determination. "As soon as she's awake, we get to the bottom of where she's been going." Liya and the others agreed - they had given her space, now it was time for explanations.
But when Jen attempted to gently question his daughter after her nap, she blinked innocently up at him. "Nowhere special! Don't worry daddy, I'm okay." Despite encouragement and pleading, she remained tight-lipped.
Kaganji's patience had also worn thin after weeks of scholarly curiosity. "Young lady, I must insist we know what is transpiring during these unauthorized excursions. As your guardians it is our responsibility."
Aurora huffed in frustration, face screwing up adorably. Then with a flash of light she vanished once more.
Jen sighed heavily. "Well, hopefully she just needs to blow off some steam and will be back for dinner." But inwardly, he worried what they would do if Aurora kept defying them. Her powers were beyond any parental control methods.
But Aurora did not return for dinner, or even the next day. At breakfast, Jen did his best to reassure the others she was simply being stubborn and would be back once hungry. But as hours stretched into days with no sight of their girl, real anxiety took hold.
"We have to find her!" Liya said, frantic with worry. "She's never been gone this long before."
They searched everywhere, questioning the colonists and scouring the countryside for miles. But there was no trace of Aurora. She had vanished as completely as if stepping off their world.
On the third day, Jax finally convinced the group to settle in at the house and wait. "You've turned this planet upside down looking already," he reasoned. "Maybe she just needs some alone time to sort herself out."
Much as they hated to admit it, there seemed nothing to do but trust Aurora was alright and would return on her own terms. Helpless waiting was torture, but barging into her private journeys could damage the trust between them, Jax cautioned.
To distract themselves, Vinü and Cüla departed for a weekend getaway at a lively beach resort. It was painful to indulge in leisure while Aurora was missing, but the twins needed the respite after so much worry.
As the sisters indulged in therapeutic massages, Cüla's thoughts kept straying anxiously to their missing niece. Catching her mood, Vinü took her sister's hands gently. "I'm scared for Aurora too. But we have to believe she'll come back to us when she's ready."
Cüla nodded, composing herself. "You're right. Sorry, just feeling powerless with no way to search for her." She managed a smile. "Being here does help take my mind off it at least. Thank you."
Vinü pulled her into a hug. "We'll get through this together," she murmured. With Taalia looking out for them, they had to stay strong.
That night back at the beach cottage, Vinü stepped onto the patio for some air after Cüla had gone to bed. The stars were breathtakingly beautiful, stretching endlessly above the whispering surf.
Gazing up, Vinü began a lonely prayer vigil for Aurora's safety, as was traditional on her world for those lost. But she had barely begun her chant when Cüla slipped up and hugged her from behind.
"You're not in this alone, sister," Cüla said tenderly. "I might not share your beliefs, but I'm here."
Blinking back tears, Vinü turned and pulled Cüla into a tight embrace under the starry sky. Just having her twin here to lean on meant everything right now.
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Meanwhile back home, Jen sat on Aurora's empty bed turning a favorite toy over idly in his hands. Liya entered quietly and came to sit beside him, leaning her head on his shoulder. No words needed to be said.
Jen kissed Liya's hair and hugged her close, drawing what strength he could from her presence. Each night was torture not knowing where their baby girl was. But they could only endure and trust Aurora knew her own path, wherever it led.
Two weeks after vanishing, Aurora finally returned one sunny morning, skipping happily up to Jen like nothing was amiss. The stunned parents swept their daughter into a crushing hug before finally letting her go.
"Sweetie, do you have any idea how worried we were?" Liya admonished, wiping her eyes. "Where have you been all this time?"
Aurora scuffed a foot coyly. "Oh, place I like found..." She clearly had no intention of elaborating.
Sensing they would get nowhere with questions, Jen just sighed and nodded. "We're so grateful you're safe. Please promise you won't disappear that long again without telling us? We were scared for you."
Aurora blinked wide innocent eyes. "I'm sorry, daddy. I won't, promise!" Whether she could actually keep such a vow remained uncertain, given her abilities. But they chose to accept it for now.
The others were equally emotional upon Aurora's return. Even the normally reserved Raven swept her up in a fierce hug when she came bounding in. "You are never leaving my sight again, little one!" he declared gruffly. Jax and Kaganji just shook their heads in amazed relief, their desperate search plans all for naught.
In the following days, they gave Aurora space without delving into where she had gone. The child seemed happy playing in the meadows again and helping Kaganji in his lab. Whatever journey she had embarked on was apparently concluded, to everyone's cautious relief.
But a month later, Aurora disappeared again without warning. There was no use searching this time - if she did not wish to be found, there would be no tracing her. They could only wait and hope.
Jen felt helpless fury at whatever was drawing his daughter away to unknown perils without regard for those who loved her. He wished he could lock her cosmic talents away until she was old enough to understand responsibility. But the mysteries of Aurora's abilities were beyond them.
Two tense weeks crawled by without word from Aurora. The group tried distracting themselves with dinners in town and entertainment, but her absence hung over every activity. Not knowing if she was even alive weighed on their hearts like lead.
Vinü prayed and meditated constantly to ease her sister's worried mind, but even she felt powerless in the face of this silent void. All they could do was support each other and endure somehow.
Late one night, Vinü joined Liya on the patio where she sat staring up at the stars forlornly. "Do you think she knows we're waiting?" Liya whispered. "Or is this all just a game to her?"
Vinü gripped her shoulder comfortingly. "Deep down, she knows how much we care," Vinü assured her. "Have faith in that love, as I must daily."
They held each other under the infinite sky, drawing what strength they could. Against the uncaring cosmos, mortal fears seemed so small. And yet each life was all they had to cling to and cherish.
Another week passed with no word. Then one morning as the group sat listlessly pushing food around their plates, a blinding flash filled the kitchen. When the dazzle cleared, there stood Aurora grinning happily as if just returning from an errand.
For the first several minutes, all they could do was hold her wordlessly, unable to process this abrupt reappearance after weeks fearing the worst. Aurora seemed oblivious to the emotional turmoil her absence had caused.
When he finally found his voice again, Jen knelt and looked his daughter in the eyes. "Aurora, what you're doing has to stop," he admonished gently. "We know you're special, but you can't keep vanishing like this with no explanation. It frightens us deeply not knowing where you are."
Aurora scuffed her foot guiltily. "I'm really sowwy daddy. but I want to explore!"
She clearly had no comprehension of the anxiety she had caused exploring the dungeon. They were trying to reason with a being whose powers dwarfed their understanding.
Liya stroked Aurora's hair tenderly. "We know you want freedom, sweetie. But we need you to at least tell us when you'll be gone. Can you do that for us?"
Aurora nodded thoughtfully. "Ok mommy, I'll try." Whether she could actually rein in her impulses remained to be seen, but it was a start. For today, they were simply grateful beyond words to have their Aurora back, while dreading the next disappearance. Their brilliant star continued to elude any orbits.
In the months that followed, Aurora settled into a routine of alerting them when she would be venturing off alone, though never revealing where or for how long. They had to trust she was being honest. Days or even weeks would pass without their girl, leaving them endlessly fretting. But so far she continued returning healthy, if not always forthcoming about her journeys.
Jen, Liya and the others tried focusing on the time they did have rather than the gaps during Aurora's absences. Simple moments like playing in the meadows or quiet dinners took on new significance, to be treasured against the uncertainty. As much as they yearned to anchor their special child closer, they knew Aurora marched only to the beat of her own cosmic drum. Whatever the risks, her path unfolded beyond their reach.
So the cycles turned as Aurora split her days between dazzling her family with innocent smiles, and disappearing to plumb mysteries far eclipsing their understanding. They could only keep loving her through it all, and pray each time would not be the last they gazed upon those sweet eyes full of ancient wisdom and merry mischief. She was the sun their worlds orbited, whether shining bright before them, or hidden by its own inscruta Liya sighed as she watched the sun dip below the horizon, marking yet another day without Aurora. Two weeks had passed since their daughter's latest unexplained disappearance. Though Aurora always returned eventually, each absence gnawed at Liya's heart.
She knew Jen was also struggling deeply with their helplessness. Aurora was the light that gave their lives meaning, but she drifted beyond their reach, drawn by profound mysteries only she could sense.
Lost in melancholy thoughts, Liya barely reacted when Cüla sat down on the patio steps beside her. The exotic warrior's nearness made Liya suddenly hyper-aware of her body's contours beneath the thin silken dress. She blushed, confused by the direction of her thoughts.
Cüla glanced over, her emerald eyes gleaming knowingly in the twilight. "You seem tense, Liya. Perhaps I could provide some...distraction?"
Before Liya could respond, Cüla began kneading her shoulders with strong, graceful fingers. All objections died on Liya's lips, replaced by soft moans at the release of tight muscles.
Cüla's touch was soon tracing delicate patterns down Liya's back and arms, raising gooseflesh in their wake. Liya knew she should pull away, but an unfamiliar ache had awoken deep within.
In a daze, she turned and met Cüla's smoldering gaze. Then they were kissing under the fading stars, bodies pressed close. Cüla's fingers tangled in Liya's hair, holding her captive as their tongues dueled.
When they finally broke apart gasping, Liya's mind reeled. She had never desired a woman before, much less one she considered family. But Cüla clearly relished her new lover's expressions of shock morphing into guilty pleasure.
"Don't worry, we're just having fun," Cüla purred, nipping Liya's ear lobe playfully.
That night Liya snuck into Cüla's chambers, heart hammering as emotions warred within her - lust, love, loyalty, and guilt twisting together. But Cüla greeted her new paramour with hungry kisses that soon dissolved all reservations.
In the ensuing weeks Liya wrestled constantly with her secret blossoming romance. Jen clearly sensed her distance, watching with worried eyes each night as she pled exhaustion and slipped away to Cüla's passionate embrace.
When Aurora finally returned after three long weeks, Liya could barely stammer relieved greetings, so heavy weighed her conscience. As if sensing the turbulence within, Aurora took Liya's hand gently.
"Lem ne show you my collection."
In her glass room, Aurora presented each artifact in turn, conjuring illusions to demonstrate their purpose and origin.
The engraved sword had the power to pierce any armor when United with its twin blade. Aurora had recovered it from a demon king's tower on a fiery world in Underworld Level 8.
The glittering red crystal was a Star Shard fused from the essence of ancient suns. It had called to Aurora across countless dimensions from Celestial Level 2, where new cosmos were kindled.
The etched mirror provided glimpses into alternate timelines and destinies. Aurora had found it in the lair of a crystalline dragon on Temporal Level 5, almost losing herself in its hypnotic visions.
Each relic had its own legend and wonders uncovered during Aurora's epic solo quests. As the tales washed over her, Liya felt Aurora's pure spirit shining through. Whatever drew her daughter away, she pursued it with courage and curiosity, not recklessness.
When Aurora finished her tour, she fixed Liya with her whirling cosmic gaze. "I know it's hard for you all worrying when I disappear. But I promise there are amazing things I'm learning to share when ready."
Liya hugged her daughter tight, feeling wept away. "I understand, sweetie. We just miss you so much when you're gone. But you have a special destiny to follow."
Aurora beamed, relieved her mother wasn't angry. She picked a beautiful alien flower from her collection and tucked it into Liya's hair. "I’ll stop now now okay, level 30 too hard anyway"
With that, Aurora skipped happily out of the room, leaving Liya overcome with emotion. However incomprehensible her daughter's quests seemed, Liya felt comforted knowing there was meaning behind them they would understand in time. Aurora was wise beyond her years in a sense.