I wake up in the morning and prepare breakfast.
It's a bit lonely without Donny around. The cabin feels quieter than usual, emptier. I hope he and the kids are alright in the dungeon. They should be returning today.
After breakfast, I head to the fields and start the day's work alongside the high elves. We tend to the crops, pull weeds, check soil moisture. The work is familiar and steady, the kind that lets your mind wander.
We break for lunch. Simple fare, nothing elaborate. The afternoon continues much the same as the morning.
As night falls and the sun dips below the horizon, Seraphina approaches me near the edge of the field.
[Seraphina] "Wright, would you care to join me for dinner this evening? I've invited Liora and Sylphaeris as well. I'd like to express my gratitude for yesterday's meal."
[Wright] "That sounds great."
[Seraphina] "Wonderful. I've prepared wine from the Golden Grapples and would very much like your thoughts on it."
I'm about to respond when I hear a commotion nearby.
Voices. Multiple people talking at once. The sound of footsteps and familiar churring.
They're back.
I turn to see the group emerging from the forest. Takeshi, Aiko, Yuki with her familiars perched on her shoulders and floating around her, Donny churring happily, Rhevan, Nym, and Lucien.
I wave them over.
[Wright] "Welcome back! How was it?"
[Takeshi] "Sorry for coming in so late."
[Aiko] "We originally planned to only go to the second floor since it's meant for training, but with Yuki's new familiar..."
[Yuki] "We decided it was safe enough to venture to the third floor too!"
Ignatia sits proudly on Yuki's head.
[Wright] "No worries. I'm just glad you're all safe."
Donny churrs and waddles over to me, bumping against my leg. I reach down to pat his shell.
[Seraphina] "Let's talk inside, shall we? Everyone is invited to dinner."
She gestures toward the winery with a graceful sweep of her hand.
[Seraphina] "I insist."
We all make our way to the winery together.
Seraphina leads us through the main entrance and down a hallway to the testing and sampling area. She opens the door with a flourish.
The room has been completely transformed.
It's fancy. Extremely fancy.
The wooden table has been draped with an elegant cream-colored cloth embroidered with silver thread. Crystal glasses catch the light from enchanted lamps that float overhead, casting a warm glow. Fresh flowers in delicate vases are arranged at intervals along the table.
The vampires are all dressed in immaculate maid and butler outfits. Black and white uniforms perfectly pressed, white gloves, formal posture. They stand positioned around the room holding silver trays.
Everyone stops in the doorway, taking it all in.
[Yuki] "Wow..."
[Aiko] "This is incredible."
The trays hold small plates of the most elaborate food I've seen in quite some time. Roasted fowl with skin so golden and crisp it looks like it might shatter, stuffed with aromatic herbs and what appears to be candied citrus. Delicate cuts of smoked meat arranged in perfect spirals, each piece glazed with a reduction that gleams like polished mahogany. Grilled river fish so expertly prepared the flesh is still moist, garnished with microgreens and edible flower petals. Steamed parcels wrapped in translucent leaves, revealing jewel-toned fillings of seasoned grains and vegetables.
Small bowls of bisque shimmer with an iridescent sheen, topped with a single perfect herb leaf. Skewers of glazed meat and roasted vegetables, each ingredient charred to precision. Tiny pastries shaped like roses, filled with sweet cream and dusted with powdered sugar. Fresh bread rolls arranged in a basket, still warm, their surfaces brushed with herb-infused butter.
And wine. So much wine. Different varieties in different colored bottles, each one being presented on separate trays.
Seraphina walks over to an older gentleman vampire in an immaculate butler's uniform and speaks quietly to him. He nods and walks away.
[Seraphina] "Please, everyone, enjoy yourselves. Sample the food and wine and let me know your thoughts."
She pauses, glancing at Takeshi, Aiko, and Yuki.
[Seraphina] "Juice will be provided for the younger guests, of course."
[Yuki] "Thank you!"
The small party begins.
Everyone spreads out around the room, sampling food from the trays. The vampires move smoothly between guests, offering different dishes and wines with practiced elegance.
Conversations start up. Discussions about flavors, comparisons between different wine varieties, exclamations over particularly delicious bites.
Yuki's familiars roam around the room. Snow buzzes near a vampire maid, antennae twitching with interest. The maid sets down a small plate of honeyed bread for the Frost Bee Queen. Umbra pads over to a butler and nudges his leg. He receives a plate of finely shredded meat.
Even Ignatia seems to be enjoying herself. The small dragon has flown over to Seraphina and is discussing the food in her usual regal tone.
[Ignatia] "The preparation is exquisite. The balance of flavors demonstrates considerable culinary expertise."
[Seraphina] "I'm so pleased you approve. We take great pride in our presentation."
Donny churrs at a vampire butler, who smiles and sets down an entire tray of food for him. Donny begins eating with obvious contentment.
I make my way over to where the kids are standing, trying different samples.
[Wright] "So, how did the dungeon go?"
[Takeshi] "It was amazing! We leveled up so much."
[Aiko] "The experience gain on the second and third floors was incredible."
[Wright] "Any good drops?"
[Takeshi] "Nothing new for us on the second floor, but Yuki got something from the third floor boss."
Yuki perks up immediately, reaching into her storage.
[Yuki] "Look at this!"
She pulls out a ring. Delicate silver with a small blue gem that seems to swirl with internal light.
[Yuki] "It's called the Arcane Amplifier Ring. It enhances magical output by channeling mana more efficiently!"
She slips it onto her finger, and the gem glows softly.
[Yuki] "My spells are noticeably stronger now. And it stacks with my other equipment!"
[Wright] "That's excellent. Congratulations."
[Yuki] "Thank you!"
She practically glows with pride.
Rhevan makes his way over to us, a glass of wine in his hand.
[Rhevan] "The second floor boss went well. The kids handled it with solid teamwork."
He takes a sip before continuing.
[Rhevan] "The third floor, however... that was different. Even with all of us fighting together, it was extremely dangerous."
[Nym] "We were struggling. Normally we'd have more veterans with us for that creature."
[Lucien] "The situation was dire."
Rhevan nods seriously.
[Rhevan] "Fortunately, Ignatia transformed into her true form and obliterated the boss in seconds."
There's a moment of silence as that sinks in.
[Yuki] "It was incredible! She went from this..."
Yuki gestures to the small dragon on her shoulder.
[Yuki] "...to this massive dragon that filled the entire arena! Two hundred feet of crimson scales and fire!"
[Aiko] "The heat alone was overwhelming. I could feel it from across the room."
[Takeshi] "When she breathed fire, the entire boss just... disintegrated. I've never seen anything like it."
[Yuki] "She's so cool!"
Ignatia preens slightly at the praise, though she maintains her dignified composure.
[Ignatia] "It was a necessity. I could not allow my charge to come to harm."
[Rhevan] "The kids are strong and getting stronger, but they're not quite at the level of my hunters yet. Still, there wouldn't be anyone in their age bracket who could take them on. With time and continued training, they'll grow into formidable fighters."
[Nym] "Yuki in particular fights very well with her familiars. She combines her magic with theirs to amplify effects. The coordination is sophisticated for someone so new to combat."
[Lucien] "They handled themselves admirably. Solid teamwork, good tactical decisions."
Is this how parents feel?
I feel more at ease about sending them off into the world to attend academy. They've proven they can handle themselves.
[Wright] "Eldrin came back with news. All three academies would welcome you, so you can choose which ones you'd like to attend."
[Yuki] "The Magic Academy in Selenith!"
She doesn't even hesitate. Nym nods approvingly.
[Takeshi] "Aiko and I want to go to the Royal Academy in Rathen."
[Aiko] "We want to learn a variety of skills, not just focus on one area."
[Wright] "Perfect. With that decided, we have our travel plans."
I pause.
[Wright] "I'll be going with you to visit both academies so I can use Gate magic to open portals there. Just in case you need to come back quickly or we need to reach you."
[Yuki] "That would be really helpful!"
[Wright] "We'll be heading to the demon kingdom first, though."
I pause again.
[Wright] "There's a hot spring there."
All three kids' eyes light up simultaneously.
[Takeshi] "Hot springs?!"
[Aiko] "Really?!"
[Yuki] "That sounds amazing!"
Then their expressions shift slightly, becoming more uncertain.
[Takeshi] "Wait, the demon kingdom? With the Demon Lord?"
[Aiko] "Aren't demons... you know... evil?"
Sylphaeris floats over from where she's been sampling wine, joining the conversation.
[Sylphaeris] "Demons are just another race, like vampires, angels, and high elves. They're not inherently evil or good, just people."
[Lucien] "I've met Demon Lord Kaelith before. He's a good man. Very honorable."
[Seraphina] "Good, perhaps. But so terribly stiff and rigid. The man has no sense of enjoyment."
[Lucien] "He's disciplined and takes his responsibilities seriously. That's admirable."
[Seraphina] "That's boring."
[Lucien] "Not everything needs to be dramatic entertainment."
[Seraphina] "Life should be savored, not endured through rigid adherence to protocol."
[Lucien] "Structure and order create stability."
[Seraphina] "And suffocate spontaneity."
Liora's voice cuts through their bickering.
[Liora] "The Goddess will be traveling with us."
The room goes completely silent.
Every conversation stops. Every person turns to look at Liora.
[Takeshi] "The Goddess? Jyne?"
[Aiko] "We get to see her again?!"
[Yuki] "That's wonderful!"
But everyone else freezes.
Lucien's glass stops halfway to his mouth.
[Lucien] "I'm going to meet the Goddess again? So soon after the last time?"
Rhevan and Nym exchange glances. Rhevan's hand tightens around his wine glass. Nym goes pale.
[Rhevan] "I... don't think we can join."
[Nym] "It's too much. Traveling with the Goddess to a hot spring... we couldn't possibly..."
Ignatia makes a sound like a strangled chirp.
[Ignatia] "THE Goddess? The Creator herself?"
She stares at me with those huge golden eyes, her small form trembling slightly.
[Ignatia] "I've been here for a few days and I'm already going to meet the Goddess?!"
[Wright] "Jyne loves hot springs, so she'll be coming along."
Sylphaeris laughs, the sound like wind chimes.
[Sylphaeris] "This is going to be such a fun journey!"
The room slowly returns to normal, though I notice several people still look dazed.
Conversations resume, though now there's an undercurrent of excited nervousness. The Goddess traveling with them has clearly become the topic of discussion.
I sample some of the wine. It's excellent, with a sweet but balanced flavor that showcases the Golden Grapples perfectly.