Talia and Hyperion's Confession

In the seaside eastern district of the South Vantina frontier territory. On the third floor of a large chamber of commerce building situated by the shore, a bedroom window stood half-open, welcoming the fresh summer breeze from the coast. Inside the room, the thin white window drapes swayed rhythmically with the wind. Outside, waves lapped ceaselessly against the shore, their soft, steady reverberations blending into nature's lullaby. Talia slowly opened her eyes, taking in the unfamiliar yet strangely reassuring surroundings. Turning her head, she found two pairs of eyes watching her. It was Lanqi and Hyperion. They had placed two chairs beside her bed and were keeping watch over her, seemingly having waited for her to wake for a long time. "Tata, how are you feeling?" Noticing that she was awake, Lanqi asked in a voice full of concern. Talia nodded slightly and pushed herself up with effort. Her waist-length hair was somewhat disheveled, and bandages were wrapped around her right cheek. Yet a mere glimpse of her exposed lips and left eye was enough to convince anyone that she possessed a peerless beauty rarely seen in human realms. "We're at the Wilfort Chamber of Commerce right now. For the next few days, we'll have to stay here," Lanqi explained to Talia. After the attack, his family had temporarily relocated to the third floor of the Wilfort Chamber of Commerce in the eastern district. It could also serve as a residential home. "Tata, my Tata." Hyperion gazed at the recovered Tata before wrapping her arms around her, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes as if terrified she might never wake up. Talia was momentarily stunned. After a brief hesitation, she slowly rested her left hand against Hyperion's back. "It's all right, Hyperion," Talia said softly. She didn't know whether she had fulfilled her duty to protect Hyperion, but she knew that right now, what mattered most was comforting her. "How many days was I asleep?" Allowing Hyperion to hold her, Talia turned to Lanqi and asked. Just now, she had felt a persistent weakness in her right hand; glancing down, she noticed it was wrapped tightly in bandages. She seemed to have had a very long dream. She had dreamed of Antanas, seeing her in a half-awake haze frantically treating her wounds. Yet it was only a dream, after all. In this world, there was no longer any physician in the Demon Realm as skilled as Antanas. "Just one night," Lanqi answered, glancing at Hyperion. Hyperion hadn't slept a wink all night, worried sick and staying by Talia's side the entire time. Lanqi, however, had figured Tata would wake up sometime during the day—having gone without food for over a dozen hours, hunger alone would rouse her. "......" Talia stared at Lanqi. For some reason, she felt an ever-growing urge to grab this human and rough him up. He hadn't done anything or said a word, yet his mind always became absurdly active precisely when it shouldn't. Even as she thought this, Hyperion had already brought over breakfast wrapped in foil for Tata. Not knowing when Tata would wake, she had kept food ready and warm using a daily-use magic apparatus. Unwrapped, it was a golden-baked flaky pastry bun. Cupping a hand underneath, Hyperion held it to Talia's lips. Talia took a bite from the end, her expression gradually settling into tranquility. The crust was crisp, the filling soft and steaming hot, with chewy dough steeped in the sweet aroma of toasted cheese and the savory springiness of tender beef. In that instant, Talia truly felt brought back to life. "It's a pity, but I'm afraid we won't be able to go to the Blue Wave Coast today." Lanqi walked over to the side of the bedroom, poured three cups of honey lemon tea, set them on Talia's nightstand, and sat back down next to Hyperion. From the corner of his eye, he noticed that in just a brief moment, nothing remained of the beef-and-cheese pastry but the foil. "Here, Tata." Hyperion handed Tata the lemon tea, and Tata promptly took a sip from the rim. It began with the warm, mellow sweetness of sugar, followed by the crisp, refreshing tang of lemon. Just as the bread had absorbed all the moisture from her mouth, this drink Lanqi served was impeccably timed. Though Talia had never entrusted herself to anyone else's care before, she realized that from having lived together for so long, the two of them looked after her with exceptional ease, knowing precisely what she liked and what she needed. The feeling was surprisingly not bad. "Didn't you say we'd go even if faced with force majeure?" Talia leaned against the headboard, looking at Lanqi as she asked. She had assumed Lanqi was already prepared to take her and Hyperion to the Blue Wave Coast. After all, he was someone who took promises with utmost seriousness. And just as he had said, even with the Resurrection Church attacking, he had still managed to usher the Resurrection Church away. Only one step remained to fulfill the promise. Although she wasn't in peak condition, she wasn't as frail as an ordinary human; she could easily manage an outing if she wished. "Just rest well." Lanqi merely smiled casually, entirely unconcerned about the schedule. "Dragging you out to play by force would be putting the cart before the horse, wouldn't it?" With a wave of his hand, Lanqi took his leave of Talia for the moment and stepped out of the room. As if giving Talia and Hyperion space to be alone. Lanqi had sensed Hyperion hesitating to speak; there were things between the two of them that were long overdue for an honest confession. "......" Her hands resting on the pure white bedding, Talia fell silent for a moment as she gazed in the direction Lanqi had left. Until the window curtains fluttered for a while longer. She let out a breath and finally looked at Hyperion. "Hyperion, that magic you used—did Almis give it to you?" The freezing magic Hyperion had used earlier to protect her was obviously not something Hyperion possessed naturally. Talia knew well that Hyperion lacked affinity for ice and healing attributes; learning a divine-tier spell would have been virtually impossible for her no matter how much time she spent. To have obtained such a spell, Hyperion must have met the Ice Snow Witch, Almis, in the Northern Continent. "Yes. During my first two months in the Northern Continent, Teacher Almis took care of me the entire time. She taught me so much, and in the end, she gave me a divine spell card that was uniquely hers," Hyperion answered. Talia studied Hyperion's gaze. "So... do you know who I am now?" Talia appeared calm on the surface, but her underlying unease was hard to conceal. Or rather, by the time she asked the question, she likely already had her answer. Hyperion took Talia's hand and nodded. "You are my most precious family." Hyperion's voice carried a hint of aggrieved emotion, yet it was filled with deep gratitude and conviction—as though telling Talia that she had finally found her. "......" Talia gave no verbal answer, slowly lowering her head. In turn, her hand tightened around Hyperion's, as if every thought she couldn't express was being conveyed through the warmth of her palm.