"You know the location of the Ley Line?" James, Emma, and Jack said in perfect unison, eyes wide and voices echoing like a synchronized thunderclap.
Tension crackled in the air like a drawn bowstring.
Ava stood calmly, arms folded across her chest like an unshaken queen before a court. Her silver eyes gleamed under the morning sun.
"Yes," she said coolly, as if stating the time.
THUD!
Their jaws practically hit the floor.
"Didn't I already tell you?" Ava continued, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Ley Lines don't just randomly exist. They form around Dungeons, Secret Space Dimensions, Trial Grounds... anywhere with intense elemental mana concentration."
"You mean..." Again, all three echoed the words together, but this time their voices trembled, caught between disbelief and dread.
BOOM!
A mental explosion went off in their heads.
Ava's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Exactly what you're thinking of the Trial Grounds. The very same place where the Beast Tide recently hit… and all thanks to Jack."
"WHAATTT!?" Their chorus exploded like a cannon blast.
BANG!
CRASH!
Jack nearly tripped over his own feet in shock. Emma covered her mouth. James looked like he'd seen a ghost.
"Yup." Ava's grin widened, mischievous and teasing. "Shocked, aren't you?"
"Yes..." they muttered in unison, dazed like they'd been clubbed over the head. Their heads bobbed like dolls, expressions frozen in awe and horror.
Ava couldn't help but chuckle. "Relax. It's not the end of the world."
Suddenly
"Okay, when are we going?!" Emma burst out, her deep red eyes blazing with excitement. Her hands balled into fists, practically vibrating with energy.
"I'm in!" James shouted, already throwing a punch into the air.
"Count me in too!" Jack roared, his adrenaline pumping just from the idea of action.
"I'm also coming!" said a soft, high-pitched voice from the backyard entrance.
WHOOSH!
All four heads snapped toward the voice in perfect sync.
Standing at the doorway was a tiny girl barely three feet tall. Her cartoonish nightdress hung loose on her frame, and her jester-like hat sagged over one side. She was rubbing her sleepy eyes with small fists, cheeks puffy with leftover dreams.
It was Little Sofia.
A wave of warmth washed over the group. Their hardened expressions melted into smiles.
"Awww! My sweetheart weak up from her sweet sleep and wants to come too!" Emma squealed, rushing over and scooping the girl into her arms.
POMF!
Sofia disappeared into her mother's chest like a marshmallow.
"Mommy... I'm not a baby anymore..." Sofia whined, her voice muffled in Emma's embrace. But her hands clung to her mother's robe tightly, her tiny body snuggling deeper with a blush.
"Oh! My Little Princess is Big Girl Now"Emma said with teasing tone.
"Yes! I am a Big Girl."Sofia said with cheerful tone.
Ava laughed softly, her expression gentle. "You can come, Sofia. But you're not allowed to do anything naughty, okay?"
"Ai Ai, Madam!" Sofia saluted with a beaming grin, now wide awake and bouncing in Emma's arms.
CLAP!
Ava clapped her hands, snapping everyone back to the moment. "Alright! After breakfast, we'll head out to locate the exact Ley Line point."
"Wait, what?" Jack blinked, confused. "You said you knew where it was… and now we have to find it?"
Emma and James both frowned, sharing the same puzzled look.
Ava smirked. "I said I know where it's going to appear. Around the Trial Grounds, yes. But the exact coordinates? Not quite. So yeah, we'll need to do a bit of searching."
Before they could start complaining, she raised a finger. "But don't worry," she said confidently. "I have a special technique that can help us pinpoint it faster."
Her voice was calm, but something sparked behind her eyes a quiet fire of determination.
"With it..." Ava whispered, her tone sharp like a blade drawn in moonlight, "...we'll find the Ley Line in no time."
CRACKLE…
A strange tension surged through the group, a premonition of the unknown path ahead.
They didn't know what awaited them near that Ley Line.
----
Emma blinked once... then smiled brightly.
"Alright then. After breakfast, let's go!" she chirped, fists clenched with excitement.
"Yeah, we'll follow your lead," James added, nodding with quiet resolve.
"You're awesome, Ava!" Jack grinned, giving her a firm thumbs-up.
Then, from the comfort of Emma's arms, came a proud little voice.
"Big Sister Ava is super awesome!" Sofia beamed with sparkling eyes. "She's so cool! In front of her, the actresses from our old world look like dust!"
PFFFT!
Everyone burst into laughter loud, uncontrollable, and full of heart.
Even Ava, normally calm and composed, couldn't stop the proud, smug look that crept across her face.
Her chest puffed slightly, and she looked away, pretending not to care… but her twitching lips betrayed her delight. Compliments like that were rare. But when they came from Little Sofia?
They were treasures.
----
Soon after, everyone went to freshen up.
Emma helped Sofia brush her teeth and change into outdoor clothes fixing her little twin tails with perfect care. Meanwhile, Jack and James completed their own morning routines with practiced ease.
Time slipped by.
One hour later...
The family gathered around the dining table. The air was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of a freshly cooked meal.
CRACKLE~ SIZZLE~
Emma had outdone herself again.
Thick slabs of beast meat roasted to perfection, fluffy golden bread still steaming, sun-bright eggs with runny yolks, and a pot of sweet-spicy soup bubbling warmly. Colorful fruit slices lined a silver platter beside tall glasses of fresh juice for Sofia and Jack. Ava and James, as usual, sat sipping calming herbal tea, their expressions relaxed.
But this time... even Ava who used to barely eat in the Heavenly Realm devoured her plate with visible enjoyment.
She glanced at Emma and murmured under her breath, "Mmm… delicious."
Because in Samsara World, Earth-style dishes were near impossible to find. Spices? Rare. Curry leaves? Almost mythical. Fermented sauces? Nonexistent. Yet here, Emma recreated Earth's flavors with stunning accuracy. Her cooking was like a miracle.
Especially that curry... Ava was addicted. Not that she'd ever admit it.
----
Once breakfast was done, Ava wiped her lips with a cloth napkin and stood up gracefully.
CLAP!
"Alright! Everyone ready?" she asked, her voice full of energy.
"Yes!" they all shouted in sync.
"Then..." Ava pointed forward like a captain rallying her crew, "Let's begin our journey to find the Ley Line!"
----
It was 10:00 AM when they finally stepped out of their home.
With a low hum of power, WHOOSH!, a massive, sleek vessel rose from their backyard Ava's magic flying ship. Infused with celestial energy, its surface shimmered with soft light as it levitated gently, then began to ascend.
WHOOMMMMM...
The moment the ship lifted into the skies, the scenery below transformed.
From high above, the capital city of Jakartha stretched out like a peaceful painting, rooftops glinting under golden sunlight, streets bustling in calm order. The scars of the Beast Tide were nowhere in sight. Life had returned to normal.
------
To Be Continued…!!