home 1

The journey home was unexpectedly smooth—so smooth, in fact, that it felt almost suspicious. For two hours, we didn't encounter any significant threats. The few small monsters we did see scattered the moment they caught sight of us. It would have been a perfect return if not for the lively banter that filled the air.

"Come on, your turn is over, now it's mine!" Fill hollered, his voice rising above the others.

"No way, it's my turn!" John retorted, equally adamant.

"Are you two serious right now?" Dean interjected, disbelief evident in his tone. "I'm next after Elly, fair and square."

Elly, cradling the baby with a tender expression, chuckled softly. "I barely had a chance to hold him. Look at him, so well-behaved. My daughters were little monsters at his age."

Fill couldn't resist a jab. "Well, you can't expect less from John's descendants," he quipped, before bursting into laughter.

John shot back, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "At least I'm married. You, on the other hand, can't even muster the courage to confess to Sally."

"I'm just waiting for the right moment," Fill defended himself, a touch of defensiveness creeping into his voice.

Dean dismissed him with a wave of his hand. "You've been saying that for five years now."

"I'll definitely confess this time," Fill insisted, though the chorus of "Yeah, right" from the others clearly showed their skepticism.

"Give him to me for a bit," I finally said, attempting to join in on the fun.

"Absolutely not!" they all chimed in unison. "Don't be selfish. You'll have him all to yourself once we get home. Let us bask in his cuteness a little longer."

"Give it up, stop being stubborn," Mac advised me, as he gently took the baby from Elly. The rest of the group watched helplessly, accepting their defeat with sighs and smiles.

I couldn't help but notice the fox, sharing the same look of resigned defeat. It was as if he, too, wondered about his master's sudden popularity. I chuckled to myself—well, the baby was undeniably adorable.

After a few more minutes, the village's outer wall came into view. We could also make out the soldiers guarding it, who quickly noticed our approach. Within minutes, the gates swung open, and we were surrounded by soldiers welcoming us back. Their warmth was palpable—no doubt fueled by the tension that comes with living so close to the forbidden forest. This place was home, and the thought of leaving it was more daunting than any of us would admit.

As we were bombarded with questions, barely given time to answer, a strong voice cut through the noise. "Make way, let me through!" The crowd parted instantly, revealing a formidable figure, nearly two meters tall.

"Leader," I greeted with a smile, saluting him.

"You worked hard," he said, his smile a stark contrast to the fearsome scar that ran from one eye to the other. But before he could continue, his gaze landed on the baby in my arms. "I think you have a long report to give," he remarked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

We headed to the soldiers' headquarters, where only Mac, Jack (the leader), the fox, and I were present. The others had gone home, exhausted from the journey. After I finished recounting everything that had happened, Jack asked, "So you think they're not dangerous?"

"They're dangerous, but I don't believe they harbor any malicious intent toward us—as long as we don't provoke them," I replied.

"And what about him?" he asked, nodding toward the baby, who was still peacefully asleep.

"I've decided to take him in. He's not a threat," I said, my voice firm.

"And his original family?" Jack pressed.

"I don't think they want him."

Jack studied me for a moment before nodding. "So you've made up your mind?"

"Yes."

"Then we'll omit this part from the report to the tower," he said, walking over to where Mac was writing the official report. After skimming it, he remarked, "You're a real weasel, Mac. Not a single mention of the child."

"Well, I am your student," Mac replied with a sly grin.

It was a decision we'd come to on the way back. While the child seemed harmless, we knew that once word got out about him being found in the forbidden forest—or the possibility of him being a hybrid—the investigation would never end. So, we decided not to mention him at all. If questioned, we'd say we found him on the way back, or simply ignore the inquiry altogether.

"And the fox?" Jack asked, turning his attention to the creature lounging beside the baby.

"He was protecting the child. We couldn't just leave him behind," I explained.

"Northern fox," Jack muttered, studying the animal closely.

"Probably not," Mac chimed in. "They share some similarities, but I'm certain this is a different species. From the fur to the abilities, and even the size—northern foxes are already half a meter long in their infant stage. This one's much smaller."

After a few moments of silent contemplation, Jack finally turned to me with a warm smile. "Congratulations on finally deciding to have a baby," he said, knowing just how much this subject weighed on me. He glanced at the clock—11:58 PM—before adding, "It's late. You should go home and rest. But make sure to come back tomorrow to register the child and visit the taming guild to register the fox as a tamed creature."

I must have given him a look because he quickly relented, "Fine, just get it done by the end of the week. No need to rush."

I looked over at Mac, who nodded. "I'll have the papers ready tomorrow or the day after," he assured me.

"Thanks," I said gratefully.

Leaving the headquarters, I stepped into the empty streets. Midnight had already come and gone, and the night was cold. I cuddled the child closer, worried he might catch a chill. As I walked home, my steps felt heavy. I hadn't consulted Sarah about this decision, and now I had to face her with it. Our house stood at the edge of the village, a two-story home surrounded by long walls, with a big front and backyard. A beautiful swing, adored with flowers, hung from the branches of a large wisteria tree. Thanks to Sarah's ability to make anything bloom, our house was not only the largest but also the most beautiful.

As I approached, I felt a wave of nerves wash over me. The front door was open, and there she stood, my adorable wife, waiting for me with her usual warm smile. When we finally faced each other, just a meter apart, her expression didn't waver. She looked from me to the baby, who had woken up without me noticing. Without saying a word, she held out her arms, gesturing for me to hand him over.

The moment she cradled him, the baby gave her the most heartwarming smile I'd ever seen. She kissed his forehead and softly whispered, "Welcome home, my child."

In that moment, without a word of explanation, I knew she had accepted him. I hugged her tightly, making sure not to hurt the baby, and whispered, "We are home."

And just like that, our small family of two became three...

As if sensing my thoughts, the fox let out a small protest, reminding me of his presence. I corrected myself with a smile, "Sorry, four. That's how we became a family."

Hello, sunshines! 🌞

Here's a new chapter for you! I'll be doing my best to update as quickly as I can. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you for your support!