>>6140099“YES! I'll be right back!” she takes off with a shout rushing up to the next floor in a blink. Leaving you a few moments to force yourself up. But you just can't not without more power. And, almost as if on cue, your wife once more draws upon the tower, using it to channel those leylines' might into her for use in her Explosion spell. The power surges up into you as well, giving you the might you need to push yourself back to your feet. Just as soon as you're up, sighing out in exhaustion your daughter comes flying back to you, freezing in place as she looks awestruck up at you. And, for just a moment, feel a small smile start. Wondering how many times your own father felt the same way, overcoming what you all thought was impossible.
“Here!” she says, holding both sword and staff. With a silent nod take the sword in your right and staff in the left, giving her a small smile before taking a deep breath. No more time to recover, it's do or die. And you're not going anywhere.
“That's better. Now, let's go see what your mother's blowing up.” you say, trying to lighten your daughter's mood a bit.
“Come on, Modoriiromoukin!” she calls, a large crystal bird landing on her shoulders. Huh, guess the Raptite finally hatched. Slowly, your body still not fully recovered enough for strenuous effort like running yet you start walking to the stairs, feeling your wife gathering her power once more. Again the might of the convergent leylines is channeled within you, and each time you feel stronger. Less like a single breath away from dying, and more like you can really do this. But it's still slow going, by the time you get to the roof of your home up two floors your wife has fired a total of eight Explosions.
Emerging onto the roof you see she's exhausted as well; panting heavy and using her staff to keep her from falling over and collapsing in exhaustion. But, before you can say anything-
“MOM! MOM! LOOK!” your daughter shouts, Megumin turning worriedly towards your daughter. And when she sees you up and moving tears form in her eyes, trembling in exhaustion and relief.
Worriedly, your mother turns, but you see her eyes widen in shock as she sees your father there with you. Tears start forming in her eyes, your mother looking like she's about to cry.
“Hey hun. Sorry I'm late.” you apologize, Megumin's tough facade shattering as she breaks down. Dropping her staff she rushes over, hugging you to her as if she's afraid you'll disappear into the void if she releases her grip even a little. She sobs, an ugly sound as she lets out all the frustration and worry, the fear you would die and leave her and the kids. But you just hold her, not speaking a word. Saving your strength, until you feel it. That same aura you'd felt before: Velsharoon has come.
