After the Guild's final announcement echoed over the crimson-stained walls, silence fell. A silence that felt heavier than the aftermath of beasts Tide war itself.
Jack and his parents didn't speak. Words were pointless now. With weary eyes and bloodstained armor, they quietly stepped away from Jakartha City's towering protection barrier, their boots crunching softly over debris and dried blood.
CRUNCH…
CRACK…
The battle was over. The Beast Tide was no more.
They had survived.
And now… they walked not as warriors, but as family.
Each step toward home felt like lifting mountains, their bodies aching, their hearts burdened by the memories of the fallen. The scent of ash still clung to the wind. The echo of roars and explosions.
BOOM!
ROAAAR!
THUD!
Still rang in their minds.
They wanted only one thing now.
Peace.
By the time they reached their modest home at the edge of the residential sector, it was already 6:00 PM.
The sun had disappeared behind the horizon, swallowed by the night.
WHOOSH…
Darkness stretched over the sky like a mourning veil. The stars had yet to emerge. The moon was nowhere to be seen.
The city was quiet. Too quiet.
Even the wind that usually whispered through the streets seemed to hold its breath.
----
Meanwhile… inside Jack's house.
The living room was dim, lit only by a single crystal lamp flickering faintly.
FZZT…
Casting long shadows that danced across the walls.
Sofia sat restlessly on the sofa, her small frame wrapped in a thick blanket, yet still trembling. Her tiny hands clutched a pillow tightly against her chest, squeezing it like it might ward off the growing fear inside her.
"Big sister…" she whispered, her voice cracking, "…when will big brother and Mom and Dad come back?'
Her eyes glistened. The corners were already damp with tears she tried to hold back.
"I'm scared," she continued, voice barely a breath. "What if something happened to them…?"
Ava, seated beside her with an arm draped around her shoulders, gently stroked Sofia's hair. Her expression was calm, but her fingers trembled slightly only noticeable if one looked closely. She also worried about Jack and James and Emma.
It's almost ten months Ava staying with Jack's family. For her Jack's family like her own family. She becomes that close to them.
She possesses blessings of foresight, enabling her to glimpse the destinies of those bound to her by fate. When Jack and his parents, James and Emma, prepare for the Beast Tide Examination, she envisions a grave danger awaiting them. Yet, within that peril lies a turning point rewards so great they could change everything. Understanding that fortune often rises from misfortune, she chooses not to interfere, allowing their fate to unfold as destined.
"Nothing will happen to them," Ava said softly, yet firmly. "You know they're the strongest. Stronger than anyone."
Sofia sniffled and nodded rapidly. "Y-Yeah… My big brother is super strong! And Mom… she's amazing. And Dad… he's like a mountain! But…"
She looked down, hugging the pillow tighter. "…I'm still worried."
Ava let out a quiet sigh, brushing a strand of hair from Sofia's forehead. "You've asked me that so many times already… I know it's hard, but try not to be scared, okay?"
"We'll celebrate their return when they come back," she added with a gentle smile. "Chocolate cake, your favorite stew, maybe even sparklers."
Sofia smiled faintly through her tears. "Pinky promise?"
Ava held out her hand, extending her smallest finger. "Pinky promise."
Sofia hooked her little finger around Ava's, their grip sealing the unspoken hope between them.
Then
Knock!
A soft, clear knock echoed from the front door.
THUD.
Sofia's eyes went wide.
"D-Did you hear that?!" she gasped.
Ava blinked in surprise, Sofia already rising to her Seeing this Ava said "Wait, Sofia !"
Too late.
THUMP!
THUMP!
THUMP!
Went Sofia's little feet against the wooden floor as she dashed across the room, the blanket trailing behind her like a cape.
She reached the door.
Her tiny hand trembled as she reached for the handle.
Another knock..
KNOCK…
KNOCK!
Heavier this time.
Ava moved quickly, her instincts flaring.
Please… let it be them… she thought, heart pounding in her chest like a war drum.
BA-DUM… BA-DUM…
Sofia's fingers wrapped around the handle.
She pulled the door open with a creak..
CREEEAK…
Light spilled in from the street.
And standing there
----
Meanwhile… outside.
WHOOSH…
The wind stirred gently through the quiet street. Night cloaked everything in a soft, dark veil, broken only by the faint hum of mana-lanterns flickering along the roadside.
BZZT… FZZT…
Jack stood in front of the door, his breathing calm yet heavy with exhaustion. His battle-worn armor still bore faint scorch marks and bloodstains both his and the beasts.
Beside him stood his mother, Emma, and his father, James each silent, each carrying invisible scars from the chaos of the Beast Tide.
Jack raised his hand, ready to knock again.
THUD!
But before his knuckles could meet the wood.
CREEEAK…!
The door flung open from the inside.
And there, standing in the doorway like a ray of warmth in the night.
Was little Sofia.
For a split second, her eyes widened, stunned.
Then
THUMP!
She threw herself forward, her tiny feet pattering against the floor as she crashed into Jack's waist with all the strength her little body could muster.
THUD!
"Big brother… you're back… you're really back!" she cried, voice cracking as hot tears spilled down her cheeks.
Jack froze, a jolt of emotion hitting him harder than any beast had.
Then he dropped to his knees.
THUMP!
And wrapped his arms around her.
Tight.
His body trembled. He didn't speak. Couldn't. His throat tightened, heart heavy with unspoken relief.
Emma stepped forward quickly, her eyes glistening. She scooped Sofia into her arms
SWISH!
"My baby girl…" she whispered, hugging her close, burying her face in her daughter's hair.
Tears silently slipped from her eyes, soaking into Sofia's curls.
James stood behind them, his tall frame casting a protective shadow.
He said nothing only placed a strong, steady hand on Jack's shoulder.
Thud.
It was a small gesture.
But Jack felt it all the same.
The weight of it.
The pride.
The love.
The unspoken 'Welcome home.'
For a long moment, no one moved.
No one needed to.
A family scattered by war and fear had returned to the only thing that truly mattered.
Each other.
After one long day and night of blood, fire, and roaring death…
They were finally home.
And for the first time in what felt like forever.
They smiled.
----
To Be Continued…!!!