A trio walked through the mall. One of them was a man who had his arms embraced by two ladies—on his right arm was someone who looked like an exact copy of the man, but feminine, and on his left side was a woman slightly taller than them.
And of course, the trio was Dex, Erica, and Echidna.
Erica currently wore casual clothes she had bought. A simple top that was open at the back and revealed a large part of her back, red like her eyes. And women's denim shorts that she had punctured to allow her tail to pass through, which currently swayed from side to side in happiness. In one of her hands, she carried a bag with other clothes and even shoes to use after the evolution.
But the one who stood out most was Echidna. Like Erica, she also wore new clothes—a short, tight black shirt with the sleeves torn at the shoulders, and dark leather pants that accentuated her curves and allowed freedom of movement. On top, she wore a short red jacket. On her feet, she wore mid-calf boots with metal buckles.
But what was most surprising was what she wore around her throat. A choker made of enchanted black gold, its surface smooth as a mirror and reflecting light with a discreet and sophisticated shine, without exaggeration. The structure was thin and elegant, molding perfectly to Echidna's neck, as if it had been cast around her neck itself, yet still moldable when she wished.
At the center of the choker rested a small teardrop-shaped crystal, suspended by a thin ring of celestial platinum, a rare material used only in high-level protection artifacts. The crystal was not static—inside it, microscopic filaments of mana danced like flames of pure darkness, coming from the powerful aura that only a true Demon Queen like Echidna could possess.
On the sides, discreet protection runes had been implanted and hidden beneath the metal's surface, allowing the jewel to react to attacks that could seriously injure her and reduce them by using the user's aura to cushion the attacks. And if necessary, to release an attack that consumes all the aura to save its wearer, it would automatically launch the attack called Fever Storm, which would burn the user's own aura in an attack that could transcend up to one level. But with the consequence that this attack could not be launched more than once a month.
But the main enchantment was much more powerful yet at the same time simple: Fly, a rare magic that consumed a significantly large amount of aura and transmuted it into wind-type mana. And this mana was used to allow the user to fly with extreme precision as only a wind mage could. Beyond what Erica herself would achieve with her wings. And that's exactly why it's considered one of the most extraordinary items in this world.
However, its price surpassed the extraordinary and reached the price of a large mansion. But for Dex, it didn't matter as long as she was happy.
Beside him, Echidna was extremely smiling and every few seconds touched the choker to confirm it was still there. 'It really was worth spending more than half the money Dad left for me and Marcus. I'm curious to see how he'll react when he sees my gift,' he thought while smiling beside his two wives. The three walked toward the parking lot, where Erica's large tigress awaited them and who, curiously, seemed even more obedient and affectionate with her mistress after the Evolution, as if recognizing the new draconic and demonic majesty.
'These smiles are worth more than all the money in the world.'
Already during the night, everyone was seated at a table accompanied by Filip.
The restaurant floor was polished wood, the tables were made of solid oak, currently unoccupied, with simple tablecloths painted in red and black checkered pattern, which had small vases with fresh flowers on top, in the center of the table. The lighting came from suspended amber-lit lamps that created a soft and relaxing atmosphere.
The walls were decorated with hand-painted pictures—landscapes of fields, forests, and lakes. All made by local artists, family friends, and even some regular customers. On one of the walls, a large stone fireplace, which currently remained without any flame. In its structure, several photos could be seen, and among them one drew attention: Filip beside an Erica who wore short hair and had a much less developed figure, and in her hands a small white tiger receiving milk from a bottle.
Filip looked at Erica, who slept deeply with her head resting on the table, long golden hair spread over the wooden surface. He let out a low, melancholic laugh, raising his still half-full glass of wine.
"That girl..." he murmured, his voice slightly slurred by alcohol. "Never knew how to control her drinking. I still remember the barrel she drank when the vote came out and she won. But even so, it doesn't compare to when she was sixteen. She brought that little tiger here, all proud, saying she finally had someone who would accompany her in her battles. I still wonder how I prevented her from getting the poor tigress drunk."
Dex observed Filip attentively, noticing the poorly disguised emotion in the older man's eyes. Echidna remained silent beside him, their fingers intertwined under the table.
Filip took another sip and pointed to the photograph on the fireplace. "See that photo there? It's from that day, she looked euphoric, almost like a mother who had just had her first child."
"May I ask you something about her?" asked Dex softly while drinking moderately a small sip of wine.
"Of course, boy, after all, I must be the closest thing to a father-in-law you should have from her," he said while laughing a bit at seeing Dex's hesitation.
"What happened to her family? She never mentioned anything about family or anything like that," Dex asked gently.
Filip sighed heavily. "I don't know for sure. She never talked much about it, but I realized that... there was no one. No letters, no visits, nothing. Just her and the beasts she came to collect over the years." He looked at the sleeping Erica with tenderness. "That's why I started calling her here. Free dinners, conversations, stories... I tried to give her a bit of what she didn't have. But still, I couldn't change anything about her broken heart."
"But when you entered here tonight," Filip said, his voice choked, "and I saw the sparkle in her eyes, the way she looked at you, how she touched you... I realized the cracks had disappeared." He discreetly wiped a small tear forming in the corner of his eye. "So thank you very much, I thank you for being her family."
"Mister Filip..." Dex began, but the older man raised his hand for him to stop.
"Boy, I only ask one thing of you, even though she's proud and difficult to deal with." Filip leaned forward, his gaze serious despite the drunkenness. "Take care of her. Protect her. Because if that girl suffered what I imagine, her heart has already suffered too much for her age."
"I promise," said Dex firmly. "With my life."
Filip nodded, satisfied, and looked at Echidna. "And you too, girl. I see in your eyes that you love Erica as much as he does."
Echidna smiled softly. "How could I not love someone as cute as Erica?" She then gently ran her hand through her blonde hair affectionately. "And of course I'll protect this cutie."
Seeing this, he smiled and slowly stood up. "It's late and now that you're part of the family, I think there's no problem with me driving you home." He, though half-drunk, walked calmly to the counter and grabbed a car key.
Hearing this, Dex tried to stop him. "Mister Filip, you've already drunk a lot and driving in that state could be—"
But then with a laugh, he interrupted him. "It's all right, young man, I may not look it, but I'm a mage specialized in healing magic." He then placed a hand over his head and his hand glowed in floral green.
And as if all the alcohol had disappeared from his system, he spoke without any hoarseness from the rum. "For a third-circle mage, eliminating a non-lethal poison is like child's play. And it's a good business for the one who sells the alcohol and also sells its cure."
He then approached Erica and did the same, and soon after looked at Dex. "Unlike the young lady there, you also had a bit of wine. Do you want me to also destroy the alcohol inside you?"
"It's not necessary, but thank you," he said gratefully.
"Then pick up Erica and come," he said while approaching the restaurant exit.
They then quickly arrived at the academy dormitory. And during the entire journey, Erica spoke softly while sleeping in Dex's lap. "I love this warmth so much."
"Enjoy your last night before classes start," said Filip as they exited.
"Goodnight, sir," both said as they said goodbye to the gentleman.
And so he departed and they also departed to their apartment for their last night.