Chapter 10: The Explanation

Arriving home and finding their father, Randolph and Elara felt relieved. They gathered around the wooden dining table where they had eaten since childhood. At that moment, Elara felt the warmth of the house enveloping her like a loving embrace. The smell of firewood from the cooking stove and spices from lunch still lingered in the air, reminding Elara of happy and sad moments in the past.

At that moment, she was able to forget the hardships and obstacles they had faced during their journey, letting the pleasant memories and warmth envelop her. However, when she looked at her father's face, Elara saw the traces of his struggle against his illness. He had suffered enough from his illness, and his worry for the children who had not returned must have made his condition worse. Realizing this, Elara's heart ached, but she knew that what had happened could not be changed. Unwittingly, they had added to the burden of her family.

Elara, heartbroken seeing all that then determined to heal her father. Elara closed her eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on awakening the magic within her, and flowing it into her hands. Soon after, the flow of magic manifested in the form of a glowing light that glowed softly at the tip of her index finger, a pattern appeared floating above her palm. The glow of light danced happily on her palm, as if eager to help her.

Elara's heart was pounding, her heart was restless, unsure if she would succeed. She wanted the perfect spell to get rid of the chronic bastard that was eating away at her father's health, she had to create the perfect magic image to achieve it. The pattern then spun rapidly, filled with magic spell verses, and changed shape according to her will. Once it was perfect, she then whispered her spell. Each word flowed melodiously from her lips like a soothing lullaby, filled with hope and the desire to heal and mend. She directed the perfected healing magic at her father, her fingers trembling with nervousness.

With that, the spell was activated. A gentle light enveloped the confused John with warmth. He felt an inexplicable warm energy seep into his body and calm his troubled mind and soul. The room lit up with a warm, bluish-gold light, as if the morning sun had poured through the window, filling every corner of the room with a gentle glow. The warm energy seeped deep into John’s body, penetrating down to the cellular level, killing the disease and repairing his body from within. Not only that, the spell then revived the damaged organs, breathing life into his exhausted body. Elara watched, mesmerized, as the pale hue began to fill with radiant color adorning her father’s face, like the morning mist being dispelled by the rays of the sun.

As the spell finished its magic, John blinked in surprise. The look of shock on his face was almost comical, as if he couldn’t believe what had just happened. A mixture of disbelief, pride, and joy spread across his face, transforming it into a paradoxical expression, making Elara giggle. The tired look that had once haunted his face was now gone, replaced by a bright, happy glow.

“By the stars above…” he whispered, barely able to find his voice. His eyes widened in surprise. “Elara, how do you… can you use magic? Real magic?”

The amazement in his voice was mixed with deep pride, his eyes staring intently at Elara, trying to comprehend how his cute little daughter had become someone capable of doing something as incredible as this. A whirlwind of chaotic thoughts danced inside John's head at the moment.

Elara felt a wave of warmth spread through her as she met her father’s gaze. She knew that their journey was far from over, but this moment, they had each other. Which made Elara feel her heart filled with a comfort that was difficult to describe.

As he spoke, Elara felt her heart swell with a mix of happiness and anxiety. Seeing her father, once frail and burdened by illness, now vibrant and healthy, was nothing short of a miracle. Yet, the future remained uncertain, casting a shadow over her feeling.

Just as she was about to speak, the door burst open with a force, making everyone jump in surprise. The wooden frame shuddered when it confronting the wall, almost breaking. Vivian Smith stormed in, her eyes blazing impatiently.

“I heard Randolph and Elara has come back!” she cried, her gaze sweeping the room until it landed on her children. The panic in her eyes melted into relief as she rushed forward, enveloping them in a fierce embrace.

“Oh, my sweethearts! You’re back! I was so desperate!” Vivian's voice trembled, a mix of sorrow and joy, as she pressed their faces into her shoulder, her heart swelling with emotion.

Once the embrace loosened, the room settled into a comfortable chaos of relieved laughter and soft whispers. But beneath the joy, John’s tension arise. He stood apart, a deep furrow on his brow, looking into the deep of what has transpired on his children's little adventure.

The family gathered around the small square wooden dining table. Elara and Randolph exchanged glances, silently negotiating about who would begin the talking. After a fierce tug of war trough their eyes, Elara finally took a deep breath, admitting defeat. Her heart racing as she faced the inquisitive gaze of their parent.

“Well,” she began, her voice unsteady, her eyes darting, “Where should I begin?”

“Let’s start from the morning you both left home, little miss.” John instructed, his lips smiling but his eyes aren’t, eager to hear what will come of her explanation.

“Yes, Dad,” Elara replied meekly. “That morning, my brother and I ventured deep into the forest, searching for the Moon Willow.”Elara started.

“And why were you looking for it?” John pressed, his curiosity piqued. Elara hesitated, her lips unmoving.

“Because we overheard Mom talking about needing it to make a cure for you, Dad,” Randolph interjected, stepping in as Elara faltered. “We decided to search for it together, planning to return before dark.”Randolph argue.

“What… how? When did you…?” Vivian stammered. Curious about how did they hear the mumbling she did while arranging the ingredients.

“It was the day before we left, Mom. I'm sorry I didn't consult with you first and now I've made you worry. I know what we did was reckless.” Randolph said, his voice tinged with regret.

“Now it's all in the past. What matters to me is that you both come back safe and sound. But promise me not to do it again.” Vivian replied, forcing her tone while smiling.

“Um… about that, Mom, Dad, we may not be able to stay for long.” Randolph said, his words hanging in the air.

“What do you mean, Randolph?” John asked, surprised by his son's words.

“We need to explore dungeons,” Randolph replied, leaving John with more questions than answers.

Elara, hearing her brother's overly blunt explanation, sighing in annoyance. Then she started to speak to clarify it. “Let us backtrack a bit…”

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Then, Elara told the story of her and her brother’s adventures. Their adventures were a series of stories that left John and Vivian in awe. They met the forest warden, the Overseer, and managed to come back alive to tell the tale, a feat not even a king could do. However, the story did not end there. They faced dark creatures, received special weapons from a mystical wolf, and even conquered a dungeon, restoring the magical balance in the forest. The reason they did all of this was because there was no other choice. The dark energy that was destroying the forest would one day reach the village and destroy it slowly and imperceptibly, like termites eating wood from the inside without anyone noticing. Every word that came out of his daughter’s lips made John’s head spin and his stomach churn.

Exhausted from being shocked too much, John changed the subject to take a break. "So, those white things that look like shields are actually dragon scales?" John asked his sons. "So, what do you want to make out of them?"

"I don't know yet, Dad. I was thinking of making them into armor or shields, but that could be a disadvantage depending on the situation." Randolph explained to his father.

“Then, the sword and the staff, were given by the wolf eating over there?" John said while pointing at Reiki who was enjoying his dinner. "Can he really talk?"

“Just try talking to him, Dad! You’ll be surprised!” said Randolph with a grin.

"Stop that silly grin, son! It's a bad habit. I've told you many times!" John scolded Randolph, "Why can't you be more graceful like your sister?", pointing at Elara and Vivian who were chatting quietly.

"Uh... yeah sorry Dad." He said, but still grinning.

“So, Reiki huh?” John asked nervously. “Are you really the mystical wolf that guards the forest? We really didn’t know you existed. We thought you were just a fairy tale to scare the children.”

“Nice to meet you, Dad! I’m Reiki and I really am what you call the mystical wolf that guards the forest, and your children are…” Reiki politely greeted John, but before he could finish his sentence, Randolph suddenly burst out laughing.

“Pffft… ahahahaha! Who are you calling father?” Randolph burst out laughing.

“Randolph! Shut up!, and Reiki, you can call me whatever you want.” John said, irritated. “Please forgive my son’s stupidity.”, and apologized to Reiki.

“It’s okay, Dad. I’m used to it. Once again, I’m Reiki the guardian, and now your children’s traveling companion… ahem… Elara’s traveling companion. Nice to meet you, Dad and Mom.” Reiki, who was finally able to finish her introduction, looked at Randolph and grinned.

“Hey, why did I get kicked out?” Randolph protested, "Besides, you're hundreds of years older than Dad, Reiki!"

“You’re annoying! Elara treats me a thousand times better than you!” Reiki growled.

“But I’m the one who feeds you!” Randolph said with a chuckle.

“Hmph… I can hunt for myself!” Reiki replied proudly.

“But I’m the one who cooks…” Randolph said, teasing Reiki.

“I can eat it raw!” Reiki replied. “Besides, you can only grill and that’s not cooking!”

“Oh really? But you said grilled meat tastes better?” Randolph said with a smirk.

“Gunununu… Reiki gritted his teeth, but Elara is still better than you…” Reiki said. Etc, etc…

“You guys are that close huh” John muttered to himself. Hearing them banter, John took a deep breath, grateful to be able to see his children again. Now they even had a new family member, a guardian wolf. He didn’t know what to say about all this, but for now, he would just be grateful. His family was back together, his daughter managed to cure him, and the good fortune his children brought back from their little adventure. He had no words to describe how grateful he was.

A few moments later, after the banter had died down. John looked straight at Randolph with a serious expression and asked something that had been on his mind for some time.

“Randolph, you realize what you’re getting yourself into by going on this quest, right?” John asked. “Are you going to do it?”

“Yes, Dad. Elara and I are going to go ahead.” Randolph said, matter-of-factly.

“Why?” John asked.

“I think it’s the right thing to do, Dad,” Randolph replied. “We can’t just sit around and do nothing. This is going to get worse and bigger if we don’t do something, and by then it’s going to be too late.

I don’t want that to happen, because I love my family and the life we have now, and I’m going to fight to keep it that way. I may be naive, but I believe it’s better to take action than to sit around and do nothing when our lives are at stake.”

John took a deep breath, trying to find a balance between his fatherly instinct to protect his family and his undeniable logic. He was certainly proud of their courage in facing the challenges ahead without flinching from the obstacles they had overcome, but he was also worried that this might lead his children to their deaths. “Do you really understand the risks that come with it? I just don’t want my children playing with dangers that you don’t understand. Because there’s no going back from this.”

Vivian, who had been listening silently because of her deep emotion, finally dared to speak. "It's not just the journey that worries me, my dear," she said, her voice trembling with fear and restlessness. "You told me about powerful ancient magic, dark powers, and that you were going to find an ancient kingdom that held a great secret, all of that gave me goosebumps," she admitted, her eyes reflecting a mixture of deep worry and anxiety.

As she tried to continue, helplessness gripped her heart, making her words tremble even more. "I don't know how to respond to this terrible reality," Vivian said, shaking. "The thought of my children entering a place where magic is so strong and dark forces are everywhere makes me so scared, I can't..." she added, her words breaking as she tried to hold back tears.

At that moment, Vivian’s feelings became clear, the fear she felt etched into her very being. The situation she faced weighed on her like a mountain on her shoulders, leaving her lost in a thick fog of doubt. The journey Randolph and Elara were about to embark on was not only risky, it would also affect their hearts and souls. She worried that her son and daughter would change and lose themselves. It all felt so real to her, her powerful maternal instincts could see into her son and daughter’s hearts, warning her of the dangers that lay ahead.

They were about to embark on a deep dive into a world filled with mythical and legendary creatures that were incredibly dangerous. She could not imagine what lay ahead, and whether they would be able to overcome the perilous obstacles they encountered, all of which would test their courage and strength in ways she had never even dared to think about.

The small dining room of their home felt increasingly cramped in the quiet tension. Elara could feel her mother’s unease, knowing that losing a family member was too high a price to pay. She knew that as they plunged into the darkness, the light within would be a shield that protected them, though still dim, and they would be able to return. But their mother did not know this.

“We understand your plight, Mom,” Elara assured, her heart aching at her mother’s struggle. “We do not wish to worry you or Dad, but we feel it is our duty to act in times of need, as the bearers of this power.”

“I know full well that this is all our own doing, and we will not shrink from it. But even if we do nothing, this trouble will come knocking on our door eventually,” Randolph added, his gaze unwavering.

“I would prefer to face it head-on while we have the chance. We promise to be careful and not act rashly. I know this is not the ideal conclusion, but what else can we do? We can’t just sit around and wait, can we?”Randolph said, finishing his argument.

As the atmosphere became more tense, filled with unspoken worry and uncertainty, John broke the silence and said, "I will discuss this with the village elder tomorrow morning," his determination clear on his face. "We need to make a solid plan. This is not just about the two of you, but also affects the welfare of the entire village. I will find a way to deal with this problem in the best way possible together with the village elders."

Elara sighed, feeling grateful. "Thank you, Dad. Brother and I will help with whatever is needed."

"Yes, of course!" Randolph confirmed.

"It's late now, let's get some rest," John said with a tired smile. "You've had a long day. Get some rest. You'll need your strength to face what's to come."

They then got ready for bed, a warm feeling of family enveloping them, although worry still lingered in the air. Vivian paused at the door, turning back to look at her children. With a soft smile on her lips and a hint of sadness in her eyes, "I just want you two to be safe," she whispered before heading to her own resting place. In the corner, Reiki curled up and yawned, her silver coat glowing softly in the dim light.

The warmth of their family gave them the peace they longed for, giving them a sense of security and strength to face whatever came next. However, the thoughts that were racing through their minds would not go away, preventing them from sleeping soundly, waiting for what the dawn would bring.