"Haa...I can't believe I fell asleep like that…" Damien felt a bit light-headed as he opened his eyes only to feel a soft cushion under his head.
He twisted his head around to see Valentina's illusory smile and said as he caressed her cheeks, "How long have I been asleep?"
"Few hours maybe…" Valentina said in a low voice.
Damien's eyes widened, "What!" He quickly got up and looked out to see that it became dark. He then remembered that Triton and the others must have been waiting.
"Ahh, how can I forget…" His face became red when he remembered bits and pieces of him having sex with Valentina instead of getting back.
This was what he was worried about after cutting off his soul essence. Loss of short-term memory and other factors were just a few of the symptoms he would face after trying to raise an undead slave.
"You seemed too tired, so I didn't wake you up...sorry," She said meekly.
He saw Valentina was all dressed up and said with a smile, "That's fine. I would have done the same thing. Anyways, time to go. Who knows if they even left out of frustration."
Valentina entered his soul space, and Damien quickly left the cave. When he looked towards the hilltop, he saw a camp being set up atop it.
He felt bad that they still waited for him all this time and quickly dashed towards the hilltop.
However, thinking about the new Heaven Ethereal Realm beast he had gained as an undead slave made his heart fill with satisfaction and security.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})Now, he felt as if he wouldn't need to be on his toes whenever he was before Heaven Ethereal Realm practitioners unless they are too powerful.
With such benefits, he felt that cutting 20% of his soul essence wasn't unfair.
As he reached atop the hill, Triton came out and said, "Must have been some enlightenment for you to take this much time. I take it, you succeeded?"
Damien gave a dry chuckle and said, "Yeah, things went well. Sorry for taking this much time."
Triton slightly shook his head, "It's fine. We also took a rest by deciding to camp here instead of staying in some hotel. Sometimes, sleeping in the presence of nature brings us unexpected benefits, just like how it might have helped you."
When Damien thought about how he had an intense battle with Valentina a few hours ago, he couldn't help but wince inwardly.
He was sure if Triton knew the truth, the words that might come out from Triton's mouth would be totally different.
He then saw Ana looking at the moon, standing in a daze. She was holding her baby in her arms and seemed as if she was rocking it to sleep. There was a melancholic air around her as if she was reminiscing about many things.
Damien asked Triton, "What do you plan to do with her?"
Triton's eyes shone with a contemplative light and said, "About that...let me talk to her."
Damien and Triton walked towards Ana. Damien just came along since he was curious what Triton was going to do.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"Ana," Triton called out in a low voice.
"Ah, Brother Tonton," Ana came out of her daze as she looked at Triton with a pure smile.
She then asked, "Does Brother Tonton need me for anything?"
Even though the name 'Tonton' seemed cute coming from her, Triton couldn't help but grimace inwardly and gave a quick side-glare at Damien.
Damien simply shrugged his shoulders with a smile.
Triton's attention abruptly switched towards the cute and innocent baby in Ana's arms and asked, "What is her name?"
Ana shook her head with a rueful smile, "I never really gave her a name. I simply called her after myself. It's because I never got the time to think about a good name for her, and I…" Ana's eyes flashed with complicated emotions, and then she finally looked at Triton and asked, "Can you give her a name?"
"I…" Triton felt at a loss for words, not expecting her to ask him that. After all, usually in his perspective, the parents were the ones who gave names to their children and would only ask for other's opinion if they were close relatives or with a very close relationship.
Damien felt amused seeing Triton's calm expression turning into an awkward one.
Ana saw the confusion in Triton's eyes and said with a weightless gaze, "Brother Tonton is my benefactor, so forgive me if I was asking for too much."
"No, it's not that. I don't know if I am good at these things," Triton always had a calm mentality when facing anything. But when suddenly asked to name a baby, he couldn't help but feel flustered.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Damien gripped Triton's shoulder and said, "Trust me, you wouldn't know if you didn't give it a try."
Triton's shoulder slightly jerked, making Damien take off his hand with a confused look. Damien then looked at his palm and then shook his head.
Triton nodded at Damien's words and said after a few moments of contemplation, "How about the name Elora?"
Ana's eyes sparkled, "That's a really beautiful name. I like it. Thank you, Brother Tonton."
"It's nothing," Triton said with a smile.
She then looked at her baby with a loving gaze and said, "I think she will love that name as well. From now on, you are Elora, my child."
"She looks beautiful," Triton said as he looked at the baby's large innocent black eyes. Elora had slowly opened her eyes and looked at Triton with an unmoving gaze.
She then giggled as she sucked her thumb. Her actions made Triton involuntarily smile, whereas Damien's eyes shone with a woeful glint as he thought about how he was about to be a father to Sofie's child but didn't because of his fate's cruelty.
He sometimes wondered how his child would be and how his life would have changed if it had been born.
He remembered how he and Sofie spent all their time discussing and dreaming about their future with their child to the point that he even let go of his vengeance for their sake.
But it all turned out for nothing since his family, and his bright future was taken away from him and destroyed.
Thinking about the ones who killed his child and wife, his blood began to boil, but he quickly controlled his turbulent emotions, thinking that there was no use in getting himself worked up.
However, his lips curved into a soft smile, thinking about the happy memories he had with Sofie.
Ana's lips arched into a beautiful smile, hearing Triton's compliment, and said as she caressed Elora's cheeks, "I know, right. I want her to lead a good life and become as strong as you, instead of being weak as me and have her life destroyed by the dregs of society."
She then looked at Triton with an awkward smile and said, "I know I am talking too much. Forgive me."
Triton shook his head and said, "Not at all. In fact, I admire that you were able to still stay strong for your baby's sake. It's not something everyone can do. So don't think of yourself as weak. You are stronger than you think, and I am sure your child would grow up to be a beautiful and strong girl like her mother."
"Thank you, Brother Tonton," Ana blushed hearing his sincere compliments, especially when he complimented her as beautiful. Although she had heard the same word from many people, when coming from Triton, it contained a magnetic charm.
But then her eyes dulled, thinking that today was the last day she could see Triton since they had already discussed that Triton would be leaving her with his contacts in the Gale Empire for a while till things calm down.
For some reason, she didn't want to leave him. But for having such thoughts, she chided herself inwardly for having thoughts of taking advantage of his kindness.
Triton noticed the sadness in her eyes and thought that she was worried about Elora and said after a moment of contemplation, "Do you want to come with us?"
Ana's eyes lit up like the stars, and she asked with suppressed excitement, "R-Really? I can?" Her eyes abruptly became apologetic," But I don't want to be a burden to you."
Triton gave a soft smile, "Not at all. In fact, we have a good place where you can take care of your baby without worrying about anything. The question I would like to ask you is whether you would be okay with leaving this empire?"
Ana felt relieved to hear that Triton wouldn't mind bringing her along, but she was surprised to hear that Triton was coming from another empire.
"Is it the Xeton Empire?" Ana asked with a guess since Triton was too strong for his age, and she knew that the Xeton Empire had the highest number of geniuses and best ones at that.
Triton nodded and asked, "Yes, so think you will be okay with leaving your homeland?"
Ana took a good look at her surroundings and said in a rueful tone, "I have already lost everything here, and nothing in this place is holding me back. As for Uncle Xurez, he had always been trying to look for a job for me in a different empire. So, I would be only happy to come with you," She said straightforwardly.
"I will also do any work that you want and won't waste the favor you have given me. No matter what you want me to do, I will do it," Ana continued with a determined gaze since she really did not want Triton to think she was taking advantage of his kindness.
Triton shook his head, "You don't have to think too much. Compared to the punishing work you had been doing every day, the people in our place do everything with a relaxed state of mind. So, you can rest assured."
Tears began to stream down her cheeks as she couldn't believe the recent turn of events. Only this morning, she was living her usual unfortunate way of life, but now her life seemed to be heading in a totally different direction, all because of one person.
She stammered as her voice became emotional, "I-I don't know to repay you...for the favor, you have shown me...but thank you… my child and I would forever be indebted to you."
Triton hesitated for a moment before patting her shoulders softly, "I told you it's nothing really. Come, let's get inside before it gets too cold for the baby," Triton said as he tried to calm her down.
Damien was only a tad surprised since he low-key expected Triton to bring her along after seeing how he suddenly defended her this morning.
He continued to stand outside as he closed his eyes and let his mind wander through memories of the past.
