Chapter 26: Sweet Jam, Sweeter Smile

The birds chirped in low, sweet voices. The smell of crushed herbs and damp earth filled the air. As I opened my eyes, sunlight fell through the broken roof and struck the statue of the Goddess, setting dust motes ablaze like tiny drifting stars.

I looked to my side and saw Liora clinging to my clothes, using my chest for support as we woke. I glanced around—Nux was nowhere to be seen.

'Did he leave already?' I thought, unable to sense him nearby.

[ Mister Nux departed before sunrise, Master. He left a letter addressed to you. ]

"Wake up, Liora. It's morning." I spoke softly as I lifted her into my arms.

'What does the letter say Sebas ? Summarize it' I ordered

[ Master, Mister Nux reports he has found information regarding the reasons behind the massacre here and was obliged to depart in haste. He has left a messenger bird to maintain communication between you. The avian is of a rare species—innately stealthy and difficult to detect. Their presence does not register on any magic sensors; they reveal themselves only to those whose magical trace they recognize. ]

A small, feathered shape landed on my shoulder, surprisingly warm and impossibly light. It cocked its head, black bead eyes bright and watchful.

I set Liora down beside me, still half asleep, and stared. The bird's plumage was a soft pewter with a faint iridescence; each feather looked hand-polished, and its beak was hooked like a tiny artisan's tool.

'How did it came here undetected. Forget magic, I can detect the disturbance in wind itself, I would have known if something was approaching.' I worried, the thought skittering through my mind.

Liora peered at the bird with wide curiosity. Her small fingers twitched as if she wanted to touch it.

'Status' I murmured, on guard.

The bird shifted as if responding. Sebas's next report came with the same formal cadence.

'Sebas can I buy a divine gifted level skill from shop?' I asked, still shocked by the bird's undetectable presence.

[ Negative, Master. I have no record of a "divine gifted" skill too. ]

'If you don't know then only one who can would be Kai. I wonder how long it'll take me to connect again.' I thought, vexed but pragmatic.

'He said divine power depends on something like how much our things doing affect the world. I can always rain barrage of attacks on a city and I think that will be enough. But don't see any point of doing it. Especially since I won't be able to protect Liora from everything right now.'

'Forget about that, how do I connect with the bird Sebas?' I forced myself to focus.

[ Release a modest amount of mana toward the bird. It will recognize and remember your trace. Do not flood your aura; a subtle imprint suffices. ]

I drew a thin thread of mana to my shoulder and let it drift out, nothing dramatic—like exhaling a single breath of warmth. The bird dipped its head, then nodded, as if in agreement, and lifted off. It rose a few heartbeats, blurred, and vanished into the morning sky as if swallowed by the sunlight.

"Papa, where did it gwo?" Liora asked, eyes still heavy with sleep.

"It flew to the Mister we met yesterday." I replied, keeping my voice steady.

Liora stuck a tiny finger near her mouth and looked around. "Where did thwat Mister gwo?" she asked.

'I forgot she didn't know.' I remembered with a small flinch.

"He went back to work." I answered, brushing my hand down her hair.

Liora frowned in that adorably blank way she had when she didn't fully understand explanations. I changed the subject.

'Sebas do we any points from the wolves hunting yesterday?' I asked.

[ You have 500 points, Master. ]

'Buy me brush and toothpaste…wait. I remember some toothpaste being bad for children if they swallow.' I admitted, half to myself.

[ All items available in the shop are crafted from natural components and contain no harmful side effects when used as instructed. They are suitable for children. ]

'That's great Sebas. Buy me two brush and a toothpaste.' I decided, relief easing the knotted worry in my chest.

[ The items have been placed into your inventory, Master. ]

I reclined, pressing my hands behind my head as I produced the little bundle. "Here, Liora." I offered a tiny brush

Liora blinked. "What is thwat papa?" she asked.

"This will make your teeth strong and clean." I told her, smiling and showing my teeth in a silly grin.

Her eyes glittered like stars.

We moved outside to a sunny corner and I cradled her in my left arm so our faces were level. I squeezed a small dab of paste onto her brush and demonstrated.

"Don't eat it, Liora. Brush like this." I said, slowly moving my own brush over my teeth in exaggerated strokes.

Liora mimed the motion in the air first, copying the rhythm with exaggerated concentration. My chest warmed—her attempts were clumsy and precious.

I smiled, handed my brush to the breeze, and took Liora's small brush. I spat to the side, but the droplet beaded and evaporated before it hit the ground.

"Say 'aah,' but don't swallow," I told her.

"aaaah," Liora slowly opened her small mouth and closed her eyes.

I giggled at how ridiculously cute she looked. 'Why did she close her eyes? This is sooo adorable.' I thought, nearly losing my composure.

Gently, I guided the brush along her lower teeth and then her upper, slow and deliberate. I remembered how children often can't spit properly at that age—my little cousins had been the same.

"Liora, open your eyes," I said. She closed her mouth, blinked, then opened her eyes and looked at me.

'This is soooooooo cute' swelled in my chest.

Then, in a panicked thinness of voice, I remembered a danger. "Wait—don't drink tha—"

Before I could finish, Liora had gulped the paste down.

Sigh. 'I was too lost in her cuteness. This was my fault.' I admitted silently, chastened and amused in the same breath.

"Let's do this again—this time don't gulp it down, okay?" I told Liora, smiling.

"Do this now, Liora. EEEEEEE!" I coaxed, asking her to show her teeth without opening her mouth.

Liora bared her little teeth and squeezed her eyes shut. I giggled and began to brush gently. "Now open your eyes, have this water and gargle." She followed the instruction, and rather than spitting, I guided her to tilt her chin down and let the water spill forward from her mouth.

'I guess we will go with this for now' I thought as I wiped Liora's face and mouth with my hand covered with a golve made of clean water.

[ Master, I have a request. ]

'What is it Sebas?' I asked, surprised—this was the first time Sebas had made a request.

[ Master, I would like to assume cooking duties. I request authorization to allocate shop points for ingredients. ]

'Hmm…. I mean… I don't want to cook all the time too. I also just want to cook when it's fun or I want to cook something special of Liora..... Sure Sebas, I'll allow you to use upto 1000 points fo ingredients in a week for now. A random number but seeing how much they have earned me in a day it would be fine for now.' I replied.

[ Thank you, Master. ]

'I was gonna think about what to do for breakfast. I guess this clears it.' I thought, pleased.

'Let's go back and eat with Rex and others.' I thought next.

[ Master, the current shop balance is 650 points. ]

[ It appears the Shadewolves have already commenced breakfast while you were instructing Little Miss in dental hygiene. ]

'Alright'

"Let's eat breakfast, Liora." I said.

"JAM!" Liora shouted in her cute voice.

"Yes, yes—we'll have jam." A smile spread over my face.

'Sebas?' I called.

[ I will prepare the plates, Master. Please take a seat. ]

A round table and two low chairs formed beneath the tree's shade. Two wooden spoons and forks, wood-carved appeared before us. Then two plastic bowls materialized. Inside, the breakfast glimmered in tidy layers—the bottom of each bowl held thick, creamy yogurt; a middle ribbon of glossy jam sat above it; the top was crowned with a scatter of bright, fresh fruit.

[ Presenting: Jam Yogurt Parfait. I trust this meets Little Miss's approval, Master. ]

'Oh it looks delicious' I thought, glancing at Liora, who suddenly looked a little wistful.

"Papa… jam?" she asked, making the adorable, pleading face she used like a small charm.

"Look—there, that is jam." I said, pointing to the sweet layer.

I scooped a small piece of fruit and fed it to her. Then I took a careful spoonful of jam and fed it to Liora. She pressed her tiny palms to her cheeks and announced, "Jam is twasty!" in a voice that made my chest ache with fondness.

For the next bite I mixed yogurt and jam on the spoon and fed it to her. "Is it good?" I asked.

She nodded, eyes bright with delight.

'Great work Sebas. You're on cooking duty from now on.' I felt a warm dependability settle over me.

[ It is my pleasure to be of service, Master. ]

We took our time, savoring the quiet breakfast.

Outside the village, the air was cool; birds marked the morning with thin songs. After we finished, we left the village and met Rex and his pack.

"Did anything happen while I was gone?" I asked Rex.

"A group of humans passed nearby while we hunted, but I concealed the pack within my shadow and avoided detection. That is all, Master." Rex reported.

'Hiding allies in his shadow dimension… huh. That's an efficient use of it.' I thought.

"Good work. Avoid unnecessary conflict with humans until you control this forest." I instructed.

"The forest?" Rex sounded uncertain. "We wish to follow you, Master."

"No." I said calmly. "I offered before because you helped my daughter, and you rejected my offer. If you truly wish to follow me, prove it.... Take control of this forest. Then I will allow you to follow."

'If I bring them along now, they won't gain the experience they need. Only by surviving harsh conditions and facing strong foes will they will understand their evolved bodies and be useful. If I must protect them constantly, it puts Liora at risk—especially given the broken abilities natives of this world possess. I can't protect everyone.' The possibilities crowded my thoughts.

"….Understood." Rex replied, voice threaded with regret.

"This is where we part ways." I told him.

And with those parting words, we went our separate ways.

to be continued…

Author's Note:

Did you guys miss Sebas? He’s finally getting more work to do—don’t worry, he’s not overworked. I’ve been looking forward to giving him more screen time, and this is just the start. Thank you for reading and for all the comments; they really keep me motivated! Every little bit of support means more than you know.