The midday sun bathed the Terrace Estate in a warm glow as the sound of hurried footsteps echoed across the stone courtyard. Seth, now the second son of Lord Terrace, was sprinting from the main building, his silver hair gleaming in the light. Behind him, Laurel, the youngest and only daughter of Lord Terrace, chased after him with an equally excited expression.
“They’re here! They’re back!” Seth exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement as he ran toward the approaching carriage.
“Wait for me, Seth!” Laurel called, her smaller legs struggling to keep up.
Trailing behind the two children was Lady Raela, the youngest sibling of Lord Terrace. She watched them with an affectionate smile, her sharp senses having been the first to detect the arrival of the carriage.
Just moments ago, all three had been seated near the entrance of the main building, enjoying a peaceful game in the open courtyard. The space served many purposes for the family, often bustling with activity. Today, it had been their board game arena, and Lady Raela had been enjoying the playful banter of her niece and nephew.
Then she froze, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly as she focused on something in the distance. Seth noticed the shift immediately.
“Aunt Raela?” he asked, tilting his head. “What’s wrong?”
Lady Raela’s lips curved into a smile. “Your uncles are back,” she said simply.
Seth and Laurel’s faces lit up with excitement at the news. Lady Raela’s heightened senses were unparalleled, thanks to her Peak A-Rank Talent:
Primal Sentinel.
Her superhuman hearing allowed her to detect sounds from hundreds of meters away, a gift that had been both a blessing and a challenge in her younger years. Now, with years of experience, she could filter out unwanted noise, focusing only on what mattered.
“Their carriage just crossed the outer gate,” she added, her tone warm.
Without waiting for more details, Seth and Laurel abandoned their game and bolted toward the entrance. Lady Raela chuckled as she followed at a more measured pace, her presence a calming counterpoint to the children’s unrestrained enthusiasm.
As the carriage came into view, its familiar design sparked a surge of joy in the children. By the time Seth reached it, the door was already opening, and their uncle Osbourne stepped out, his expression softening at the sight of his niece and nephew rushing toward him.
“Uncle Osbourne!” Seth cried, launching himself into his uncle’s arms.
Laurel followed suit, hugging him tightly as Osbourne laughed, lifting her off the ground.
“Easy there, you two,” he said, his voice filled with affection. “You’ll knock me over at this rate.”
Behind him, two more figures stepped out of the carriage: their uncles Duke and Nesmond. Both were greeted with equal enthusiasm, the children’s joy spilling over as they hugged all three men in turn.
Lady Danyel, the wife of Lord Terrace, emerged from the main building, her smile radiant as she watched the reunion unfold. Though relieved to see her husband’s brothers return, her gaze briefly scanned the horizon, searching for her husband.
Lady Raela noticed and approached her sister-in-law, speaking in a reassuring tone. “He’ll be back soon,” she said confidently. “A day at most.”
Lady Danyel nodded, her smile softening. “Thank you, Raela. It’s good to know.”
As they turned back toward the courtyard, Seth and Laurel were already leading their uncles back to the main building, chattering excitedly about the games they’d been playing and the stories they wanted to hear.
Lady Danyel chuckled, shaking her head. “Those two never run out of energy,” she said, her voice filled with fondness.
“Terrace blood,” Lady Raela replied with a smirk.
~~~~~
Far from the Terrace Estate, Lord Terrace and his companions—Lord Acheon, Lord Leah, and Elder White Fang—stood at the teleportation port they had first used to arrive at the Southern Atholor Continent. Their carriage, flanked by General Saph and his escort, had come to a halt near the entrance of the teleportation facility.
The building loomed ahead, its wooden exterior unassuming compared to the powerful magic it housed. Inside, the air hummed faintly with residual energy, a testament to the countless teleportations that had taken place there.
As the group disembarked, General Saph stepped forward, his demeanor as professional as ever. “It’s been an honor escorting you,” he said, bowing slightly.
“The honor is ours, General,” Elder White Fang replied, his tone respectful but firm. “Your assistance has been invaluable.”
Lord Terrace stepped forward, clasping the general’s arm in a firm handshake. “Thank you for everything,” he said. “Your diligence will not go unremembered.”
General Saph nodded, his expression unreadable but appreciative. He glanced at Elder White Fang, who was retrieving a sealed envelope from within his robes.
“Do not forget the letter I requested to be sent to the Emperor,” Elder White Fang said, passing this new envelope to General Saph. “This one’s yours.”
The general accepted it with both hands, bowing slightly. “I’ll see to it personally,” he promised.
With their farewells exchanged, the representatives entered the teleportation facility. The interior was as sparse as before, with only the two arrays—the one on the floor and the one on the ceiling—drawing the eye.
Elder White Fang stepped forward, registering their destination into the array. Moments later, the ceiling array began to glow, its intricate patterns lighting up with a soft, pulsing energy.
“Time to go home,” Lord Leah murmured, glancing at the others.
The group gathered beneath the array, their figures bathed in its golden light. With a faint hum, the teleportation activated, and they vanished from the room, leaving only the faintest trace of magic behind.
General Saph stood alone, watching the array’s glow fade before turning on his heel. As he exited the building, a small smile crept onto his face. “Time to deliver the Emperor’s letter,” he muttered to himself, his thoughts already focused on the Emperor’s reaction.
The building fell silent once more, the energy within it settling into a quiet stillness.
~~~~~
Back at the Terrace Estate, Seth and Laurel’s laughter filled the air as they continued to pepper their uncles with questions.
“How was it?”
“Did they listen?”
“We won the lands, right?”
Though the family was not yet whole, the atmosphere was one of warmth and anticipation.
And miles away, in the teleportation currents, Lord Terrace and his companions were on their way back to their homeland, their mission in the Southern Atholor Continent complete.