>>5942332“Sure, I'll ask him for you.” you tell her, knowing she's probably skiddish of rejection from what happened before. So, you telepathically reach out to your firstborn son, reaching across the void between worlds. “Chilli, you have a minute?”
“Of course, what's going on?” he replies almost instantly. “Something wrong?”
“You could say that.” you reply, quickly explaining what Milha'd told you about her friend Arti a few days ago, and what she's asking now. “Mind taking her in for a bit? A change of scenery might help her out.”
“That won't be a problem, you with her now?” he replies, a moment later you sensing his ki beside you. Then, before you can even end the mental link he's right there, lowering his right hand from his forehead. “Hey sis, what's going on?”
“Y-You actually came?” she asks, sounding and looking quite surprised. Which causes his brows to furrow.
“Of course. Why wouldn't I?” he asks her, seeming genuinely confused. “Dad told me everything, you want to come visit my world for a bit, right?”
“I-I mean, if it isn't too much trouble...” Milha says, touching the tips of her index fingers together and not meeting his gaze. Your son glances to you, seemingly wanting to say something but instead turning his focus back to her.
“It's no trouble at all. Do you want to grab anything before we go?” he asks, Milha looking up to him. Then, she turns, running a few steps over to you, throwing herself at you. She wraps her arms around your neck, hugging you close.
“Thank you.” she whispers in your ear, you hugging her back. After a few seconds she lets you go, you releasing her as well as Milha turns back to Chilli. “I'm ready.”
“Alright, let's go.” he says, but instead of raising his right hand to his forehead, draws a crystal out of his robes, throwing it down to the ground. Where it suddenly begins expanding, rapidly growing into a crystal archway. One that you can sense leads directly to his world, you seeing the Crimson Demon Village through it. “After you.”
“Wow!” Milha exclaims, walking up to the gate and looking it over. As she does, Chilli turns back to you, looking a bit worried.
“Everything okay?” you ask him telepathically, your son not replying immediately. You both watch as she passes back and forth through the gate, marveling at it.
“She's going to be okay, Dad. I'll make sure of it.” your son tells you. You turn to him, nodding in acknowledgment. He returns the gesture, ending the mental link as he walks over, telling her about the gate. Then, once both of them are through, you watch for a moment as the gate begins collapsing. Disappearing from New Salda without a trace, not even leaving a sliver of crystal behind.
cont
