He didn't find anyone around him and astonishment engulfed him as he realized the voice sounded in his mind.
"This telepathy even works here?" He asked back.
"What do you take heaven's blessing for? Of course, it would work." She responded back.
He was dazed and asked with a grin "Are you already missing your sexy husband?"
"Are you missing bonking your head by your loving wifey?" She teased him.
"Don't remind me of that. My shoulders are still aching." He complained.
"Did anyone doubt your story about not being able to come back for almost a month?" Lia asked in a worried voice and change the topic. She was thinking about it since he left via the portal.
"I don't think they doubt it. My story doesn't have a loophole but my second mother wouldn't allow me to return any time soon since that beast might come back to trap me or harm me.
I'll have to find another portal capsule that doesn't inform others that I went to the land of asura. There is one in my room right now but it would be a problem if my adopted family find out that I disappeared from my room." Rio explained.
"How will you return then?" She asked with a saddened voice.
"My classes are starting in two days then I'll try to look for a way to find a portal capsule. Buying a new private capsule portal and setting up in a rented room is better but I don't have that much money." Rio said with a bittersweet smile via telepathy.
He didn't hear her response after he said that it wasn't possible to come back.
"Don't worry. Worst case scenario I'll just come via the school's portal capsule and return in a few days to tell them I found a new shelter or maybe the beast died." He spoke with a determined voice hoping Lia would speak again.
"Who is this second mother?" Her questioning voice asked him what he wanted to hear.
"Oh… She is someone related to my real parents." Rio started telling her all the incidents from start to finish including the matter of the Mailon family and his engagement with Nyla that were broken because of her mother.
They talked for hours until Lia sent him to sleep so he wouldn't feel tired for the next day.
***
Morning arrived with a nostalgic event as a glass of water was poured on his face and he hurriedly opened his eyes to complain to Lia.
But realization drowned him as he remembered he was no longer in the land of asura.
A girl who looked to be 14-15 was standing near his bed with an empty glass.
Her shoulder-length blue hair was tied behind with a pink ribbon. She looked a lot like his second mother. Her face was like a doll and her eyes looked mischievous as if she would cause trouble.
She was 165 cm tall, which made her shorter than both her mother and her adopted brother.
"Wake up. Mom wants you to go down for breakfast." She said with an annoyed voice.
"Can't you wake me up like a good little sister?" He complained.
"I would but you're not my brother. And I don't like you even a little bit. My hatred for you soared because Mom didn't eat because of you. I wish you were captured by the asuras or killed by that beast." She said with bitterness in her voice and eyes full of hatred.
Rio clenched his fist hearing her words but he didn't say anything. He would've talked back and berated her if his second mother didn't show him motherly affection last night.
'She is just a child.'
He was now burdened by her love and forgave this little girl.
She walked out of the room and Rio went to the bathroom to wash up.
After five minutes, he went downstairs and found his second mother and her daughter waiting for him.
"Rio, come sit here." She beckoned him and patted the chair beside her.
The girl beside her gave him a hateful glare as he walked to them and sat on the left side of the blue-haired lady. The second mother was sitting in the middle of both children.
Nancy proceeded to serve them food and they started eating.
"When will Big sister come back?" His sister asked.
Rio knew it wasn't a question directed to him so he kept eating his food.
"Lily is busy with your grandfather at the shelter. They might not return anytime soon. Don't worry, Rose. Next year, you will turn sixteen and you can go to the land of asura." She said to her daughter.
They were done eating as Nancy cleaned the table. Rose also left the house as she finished her meal.
The second mother's green handbag was on her lap. She brought out two things from the little bag and put them on the table.
One was a rectangular golden card with a tag "Grand Dew Garden" of his school ID's size. Another was a cell phone the size of his palm.
"This is the access card to your apartment at the Grand Dew Garden on the school campus. It will be tiresome for you to come back home every day. It will save you time and energy." She moved the VIP card towards him after saying these words.
Rio hesitated but then took it and inspected the card. It was covered with a gold-plated cover.
"Keep this phone as you don't have one. I have saved my number, Rose's number, and Nancy's number. If you need anything or face any problem just inform any one of us." She took the phone and handed it to him.
"Thank you." He said with a gratitude-filled smile.
"Don't show formalities between us. You're not a stranger." She said and caressed his hair.
"My classes will be starting soon. Can I return today?" He asked her as he thought it would be better to go back and find another portal capsule.
"You can return today if you want but I would be happy if you stayed with us until school starts" She showed her reluctance and said with a hint of sadness in her voice.
