"Terrence..we thought we lost you." Kasper whispered, burying her face into his chest as if confirming he was warm, real, alive.
"Yeah!" Kya added, lightly punching him in the gut with a trembling fist. "Don't leave like that again without giving us a forewarning, please.."
Terrence chuckled softly. "Will do."
He shifted his gaze toward everyone else, ready to introduce them.
"Everyone, this is-"
"Kasper…?"
"Kya…?"
The voices came from two of the former prisoners, they stepped forward. Their expressions were like they were seeing two ghosts.
The first was a man. He stood at 6'1'', had crimson short hair, and onyx eyes. He was pale but hardened, and wore an Epic-Grade black armored outfit that clung to his frame like a second skin.
The other was a woman. She was 5'6'', had long dark brown hair, and orange eyes flickering with desperate hope. She walked beside him in a sleek, feminine red armored set.
Both of them looked stunned. Shocked. Disbelieving.
"Is it really you?" the woman whispered, her voice cracking under the weight of hope she'd crushed for a long time.
Terrence, Eiselle, Treasure, and the others exchanged confused glances.
But Kasper and Kya froze. Their eyes widened, trembled, and glossed over with tears they didn't blink away.
Because they knew.
They knew instantly.
"MOM!! DAD!!"
They screamed at the same time, sprinting forward before collapsing into their parents' arms. Each of their four bodies merged into one tear-soaked embrace as years of agony shattered all at once.
Treasure wiped her eyes. Even Eiselle exhaled softly, hand over her heart.
"You never fail to surprise me, T," Eiselle whispered, shaking her head with a small, impressed smile. "I couldn't have been sleeping that long.." She wondered how he did so much and met so many people in a small span of time.
"Comes with the package." Terrence slid an arm around her waist, smirk tugging up. "You'll get used to it eventually, baby."
He rubbed his hand down her back..then boldly but subtly squeezed her ass.
Eiselle giggled and melted against him.
Treasure peeked over, visibly flustered—so Terrence reached and gave her the same gentle squeeze.
She reddened instantly, biting her lip as her long silver hair flicked behind her like an embarrassed cat.
After a long moment, the reunited family finally separated, sniffling, wiping their faces.
"We thought you both were dead..you were alive this whole time?" Kasper asked through shaky breaths.
Her mother looked at her father.
"We were," she said softly. "After defending the village from the Goblins one day..more came. Many more. They overwhelmed us and captured me and your father."
"We've been imprisoned ever since," the father added, voice flat, broken, hollow. "Subjected to..unspeakable things."
Kya's voice cracked. "I'm sorry we didn't find you, Mom and Dad. We should've tried har-"
Her father rested a gentle but firm palm on her shoulder.
"What's done is done. We're free now. And it's time to make up the time we've lost."
He turned to Terrence and bowed his head.
"Thank you. For reuniting us."
Terrence placed a fist over his chest and nodded with a warm smile.
He glanced at the sky and noticed that it was starting to darken fast, twilight blooming.
Yeah.
It was about that time.
'System-'
[Already on it, Terrence.]
[x5,000 Tacos Unequipped!]
[x200 Epic-Grade Weapons Unequipped!]
[x200 Epic-Grade Clothing Sets Unequipped!]
[x10,000,000 Gold Unequipped!]
[I placed everything in a special sealing bag that will let them carry it easily and open it anytime. It cost 30 Infinite Reward Points.]
A white flash appeared in his palm. It was a simple-looking bag, ordinary except for the shimmering rainbow glow sliding across its surface.
Treasure leaned in, poking it with a curious smile. "Ooooh, what's that? It looks magical."
Eiselle stared, confused at how it materialized out of thin air.
"Something that will help them get on their feet. Kasper. Kya." Terrence called.
Both rushed toward him.
He placed the bag into Kasper's hands.
"What's…this?" she murmured.
"Food. Weapons. Clothes. Money. Enough to support your entire village. Consider it a parting gift from yours truly."
[+50 Harem Reward Points]
"W-wait..you're about to leave?" Kya asked, voice cracking again.
Terrence looked around.
Kasper. Kya. Their parents. The former prisoners.
Hope in their eyes. Fear of losing him. Gratitude. Attachment.
He felt it.
But he had a journey to continue.
"I'll make sure to visit," he promised, voice steady. "Take everyone back to your village. Take care of them for me. Trust me,I'll be back. So-"
Before he finished, Kasper tip-toed up and pressed a sweet, lingering kiss on his cheek.
"You better.." she whispered, face burning as she stepped back down.
Kya stared at the ground, fingers tightening nervously..too shy to do the same.
Terrence chuckled softly.
He leaned down, gently lifted her chin…
And kissed her cheek himself.
Kya turned red instantly and wobbled like she was about to faint like childhood Hinata from Naruto.
Everyone burst into laughter and giggles.
Terrence straightened, wrapping his arms around the still-giggling Eiselle and Treasure.
He gave the whole group one final smirk.
"Until then."
WHIFF.
The three vanished in blinding, sonic-boom-speed, leaving petals, dust, and stunned faces behind.