Chapter 27: Liora’s Little Joys

The scent of herbs still clung to Liora's clothes. The path ahead had a destination, but the world around us moved in quiet—only the soft rustle of leaves and the steady thrum of distant insects.

'I wanted to keep them with us. Liora would have fun to play with them, they could be helpful in many ways. But… Then again, they won't get much experience in a quite life. I want them to be able to take care of Liora after I'm gone. They need to be lot stronger than that for this.' I thought, validating my choice.

I turned my head slightly. Liora sat in my arms, happily eating another cup of parfait.

'That reminds me how did you get plastic cups Sebas? Are they available in shop?' I asked with curiosity.

[ I created them from discarded plastic bottles in inventory, Master. ]

'Oh, great way to use waste and they looked great.' I appreciated Sebas's thinking.

[ It is my honour to serve you, Master. ]

We walked beneath trees whose branches woven like cathedral ribs made a dappled shade.

'I wonder how long will it take us to reach our destination.' I thought, anticipation warming my chest.

After some time the path opened into a shallow river. The sun was high now, bright and white as an unblinking eye. The water ran clear, freckled by the sunlight, and a cool breeze came off it, carrying the crisp scent of river stones and wet algae.

'The water looks fresh. Good thing I followed the sound and cold air.' I thought as I watched the current.

Liora leaned forward, eyes wide. "Do you want to play in the water, Liora?" I asked, inviting.

'Sebas, Buy shampoo, conditioner and soap.' I ordered.

[ Request acknowledged. Items have been placed into inventory, Master. ]

'Let's take a good bath before we continue the journey.' I thought, smiling at the idea of splashing around with my daughter.

Liora cocked her head in confusion. "Papa, where is the swoo?" she asked in an adorable, puzzled tone.

'Huh?' I couldn't understand what she meant.

"What do you mean, Liora?" I asked, perplexed.

"Swoo. Where Liora go swoo to water." She made little hand gestures, trying her best to explain to her dumb father.

'Eh? Ummm... Think…. Think.. think…. Swooo… swoo…. Swoo to.. water' I was trying my best to figure it out when a sudden idea lit up.

'Oh! Maybe she's talking about the slide!' I thought.

I raised a hand, and the earth responded: a square section of ground rose smoothly, forming a two-metre block. From its top a gentle slide unfurled, arcing down toward the river like a polished tongue of rock.

"SWOOO!" Liora squealed, throwing her arm in the air.

"It's called a slide, Liora." I taught her gently.

She tried the word.

"Swide?" she said uncertainly.

"Yes—slide. Now let's go and have fun." I could not hide my own grin.

We had fun on the slide, water spraying in bright diamonds where our bodies hit the river. The cold stung pleasantly at our ankles and the splash smelled of fresh moss and stone. Near the shallow, I lifted Liora and set her on a small stool that had appeared from the earth—a simple thing, but steady.

"Let's wash your hair." I said quietly, and a bottle appeared in my right hand.

Liora blinked, the usual puzzled expression settling over her features. "I'll put this on your hair and clean it. Keep your eyes closed, okay?" I asked in a soft voice.

"Okawy," she replied.

I cupped a handful of river water and let it fall in a slow, shimmering sheet over her head. I squeezed a small amount of shampoo onto her hair and massaged gently—foam bloomed and rose in pearly clouds, bubbles drifting away and popping with soft kisses on the air.

'Wait! I think it's it was when you rinse the shampoo you close your eyes. I'm stopping the shampoo to go near her eyes by massaging.' I thought, about to tell Liora to open her eyes when a tiny finger reached for a drifting bubble.

"Lioraaa…" I murmured as the hand returned to her lap. "You can open your eyes," I finished slowly.

Liora peered up at me with those huge, trusting eyes. "Can Liora play with them?" she asked, pointing at the bubbles.

"Yes, you can, but don't move too much." I replied. She turned away, popping the foam with bright little fingers, laughing at the tiny explosions of air and light.

"Close your eyes now, Liora." I said when it was time to rinse.

"Okawy," she answered, and I poured the river over her head, watching the suds slide away like spilled moonlight. "Now you can open your eyes." I told her when the water stilled.

"One more time, okay? Then we're done." I summoned the conditioner and repeated the slow, careful motions.

Afterward we washed ourselves with simple soap—its scent a clean blend of lemon peel and pine. The river scrubbed the day's dust from our skin; it slid away, left only the faint, pleasant tang of herbs. I breathed it in and thought, 'This is some nice smell. I like this soap.' Approving Sebas's choice felt trivial and good.

By afternoon the sun had burned much of its height away, and the water activity had worn Liora out. She grew drowsy, little yawns slipping out as she curled against my lap and fell asleep.

'I guess we can take a break here.' I thought as I looked around, letting the quiet settle. The water sang on the stones, the trees kept their slow watch, and for a few soft hours we were simply alive—no grief pressing in, no plans demanding answers.

Time bled on until the sky shifted from bright to a gentle, reddening gold.

'I dosed out too it seems. Already almost noon.' I realized sheepishly.

"Wake up, Liora, or you won't sleep at night." I said, poking her cheek gently. She blinked, stirred, and gave a sleepy smile—jam and river and soap leaving a peaceful sheen on our little world.

"mhmmm" Liora hummed as she woke, rubbing her eyes.

As I turned, a blue screen bloomed into view before me.
[ Happy Birthday, Master ]

'Huh? What do you mean Sebas?' I asked, confused.

[ Master, if you add the days elapsed here to the date you left Earth, the corresponding Earth date is August 14. I prepared a small feast for you and Little Miss in your absence.]

'Hmmm….. Is that what you were preparing when I was asleep?' I murmured to myself, half-laughing.

I glanced down—Liora was fully awake now, blinking and looking around.

A simple table took form in the clearing ahead.

[ Master, please take a seat. I will set the table. ]

I lifted Liora and we sat. This table was rectangular and a little larger than the last. One by one, items manifested: two wooden plates and matching utensils, then a few dishes of meat—leftovers from the Shadewolves' hunt, carefully prepared and still steaming—placed to the right.

On the left, a bright fruit salad, baked fruit glazed with honey, and the parfait gleamed in its bowl. The center remained empty for a heartbeat until a cake appeared, its surface plain and no candles but crowned with tiny, floating flames that bobbed like curious fireflies.

'Cake huh….. Mom and dad used to celebrate my birthday at home. Small one. We didn't did a party I used to go with my friends and eat in evening and at home mom used to cook lot of stuff I love, though we didn't have any cake. I … didn't care much after I grew old, especially when I had no friends nearby too. But… I guess getting a surprise party is nice.' The thought surfaced and I tried to feel what I ought to—something warm—but nothing came at first.

I watched Liora stare at the tiny flames, mesmerized by their dance. She turned to me and asked, "Papa, what is thwat?"

"That is a cake." I answered.

"Cwake?" she echoed, puzzled.

'Is that how parents feel. When they teach children everything. Is might be repetitive but there's a small joy trying to explain it in a way a child can understand.' I thought, feeling a small, unexpected warmth.

"It's sweet and tasty." I said.

"Like jam?" Liora asked.

I couldn't help smiling. 'Of course it's jam'

"Yes." I replied. "People eat it when it's their birthday."

"Bir….dway?" she tried.

"Yes. It is when the child meet their parents for first time." I kept the explanation simple—truthful enough for a child.

'If I said when they are born and she asked how kids are born it would be more difficult to answer.' I thought, grateful for the detour.

"When is Liora's birway?" she asked.

"There's still some time until your birthday," I answered, then remembered: 'Maybe I should celebrate her birthday on the day we met.' The idea made Liora's small face cloud over for a moment, but I quickly offered consolation.

"You can still eat this cake." I told her, nodding toward the center.

"See those fires on cake, Liora?" I said to shift her attention.

Liora nodded. "You blow those away and ask for something and it'll be come true." I told her, borrowing a tale from my old world.

"Do you want to do it?" I asked.

"But… it's Papa's cawke…" she said, voice small and earnest.

Her reluctance to take what belonged to another struck me. 'She wants the cake but she don't want to take what's others. I'm so proud.' I thought, and a genuine smile spread across my face.

"How about we both blow the flames together?" I proposed.

"….Okway." she agreed.

I guided her little hands to the cake. Together we blew; the tiny flames scattered like startled moths and winked out. We laughed softly and then dug in.

The cake burst with flavor—rich cream, a hint of citrus, moist crumb that melted against the tongue. Liora's verdict was immediate and enthusiastic: "Cwake ish TWASTY!" she declared, bouncing in her seat.

[ It pleases me that it aligns with Little Miss's palate, Master. ]

The bird meat was savory—smoke and iron tempered by herbs—exactly the kind of honest flavor a hunter would appreciate. Liora, predictably, favored the sweet offerings, shoveling parfait and cake with delighted concentration.

"You shouldn't just eat sweets. Say 'aah'." I teased, offering her a bite of the meat.

She tried it, cheeks bulging for a moment. "It's twast.," she pronounced, then returned to the parfait.

When the meal ended, we stored the remaining cake in inventory. The last of the dishes were being packed away when the grass near the path shifted with a soft hiss—barely audible among the river's murmur.

'I thought he'll just pass through so I didn't do anything.' My posture tightened as I watched.

A young man, roughly my age, stepped forward from the tree line. He stood about six feet tall, hoodie pulled up but not enough to fully shadow his face. Leather trousers clung to him like armor; a metal wand—cold and shining—was tucked in his hand. His presence smelled faintly of sweat and smoke, the aromas of travel and hunger.

"Excuse me—can I get some food? I'll pay for it." he said politely, voice edged with fatigue but not rudeness.

I studied him: wary, open, possibly dangerous. The air felt taut, like a string pulled tight, ready to sing.

to be continued…

[news]

Thank you for the honest review — I hear you and I accept the story’s shortcomings.

A few clear points so there’s no confusion:

Zero uses the system a lot at the start because of who he is. He was an introvert on Earth; he won’t suddenly become a fully independent, hyper-active hero the moment he arrives. Over time he will become less dependent and take more direct action.

Sebas is a butler and system assistant. He handles inventory, cooking, and many logistics by design. Zero often initiates things and then lets Sebas manage the details — that’s part of their dynamic, not a sign Zero can’t act. Relying on the Sebas is like driving a car for a 1 km trip instead of walking — it’s a practical choice, not cowardice ( [spoiler]Might show laziness of Zero[/spoiler] ).

About the wolves and Liora: it wasn’t meant to be pure coincidence. If you imagine points A (Wolf picked Liora) and B (The church Liora was left at) with a forest between, and a child ends up at point C inside that forest, it’s natural for nearby hunters (wolves) and passing travelers (Zero) to cross paths. Still — I agree I could’ve shown the geography and timing more clearly, and I’ll tighten that scene.

I love writing Liora. The childcare and quiet moments are intentional to build emotional weight for later events (also why I tag childcare). I know some readers prefer darker or faster plots; I’m working to balance both.

Thanks again for the feedback. I’m listening and I’ll show more of Zero’s direct agency and clearer setups as the story continues.

— Author

[/news]

Author's Note:

I wanted to do this on August 14th, but it didn’t line up with where the story was. I know things have been pretty quiet lately — it’s mostly Zero and Liora right now — but I can’t bring myself to skip Liora’s small moments. The arc is moving toward its end, and there will be more interaction and a bit more happening soon.