Chapter 32: Finally Home (Sorry it’s late)

Exhausted from the events, we decided sleep was more important than a shower. I climbed into bed first followed by my partners. That night, they all snuggled me a little bit closer as we drifted to sleep.

After a brief moment to say good-bye, the guards escorted us to our carriage. The anticipation of being home made my stomach fill with flutters. Back on earth, I had always associated safety with being home.

The trip home felt like a roller coaster as we passed back into our realm, causing me to feel queasy. Damara and Katrina rubbed my back until the feeling passed.

"Thanks," I said, leaning my head up. "I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to that..." I managed, fighting off another wave of nausea.

"What’s wrong Sam?" Micro-Sarah asked, buzzing next to my face. "You look awful," she floated over to Damara, her face concerned. "Damara, something is wrong with Sam!"

"Sarah it’s nothing. Really," I said, trying, and failing, to sound tough. "Back home this is called car sickness,"

Sarah began to emit a wave of green aura as she chanted in a foreign language. She flew over, stopping next to my cheek and with a wave of the green aura, she kissed me.

I was flooded with a warm sensation as my vision stopped spinning.

"Thanks Sarah. That worked fantastically," I said as the flood of warmth dissipated. "We should be home soon? Damara."

Without any further interruptions, the rest of the journey flashed by in a blur. Before I knew it, we were standing inside the manor.

With a deep breath, I dropped my bags and called for Ignis. After a short wait, he turned up, grabbing the bags without instruction.

Micro-Sarah disappeared up the stairs, the sound of her room door closing echoed out shortly after.

"I don’t know about you two, but I’m looking forward to a long dip in the springs," I said, rubbing my back. "I think all the stress has my muscles cramping."

"You had nothing to worry about in the first place Sam," Damara said, Katrina behind her shaking her head up and down. "You really doubt yourself too much still. How did your talk with my father go? We haven’t had much time to talk."

I rubbed the back of my neck. "They went surprisingly well. But I’ll give you all the details once we’re lounging," I teased, turning to Katrina. "You look happy to be back.

Ever since we stepped through the front door, Katrina’s tail had been swaying nonstop. Her ears had perked back up and she grinned widely. Truly, she was radiating joy.

"Glad to be back," she replied, starting toward the stairs. "Come on! Sarah is waiting!"

Sarah(the real one), greeted us at the door with a gleaming smile. Her arms held open gesturing to come in. Something in her attitude was different, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

"How are you Sarah?"

"Excited," she blurted. "We can talk about it later," she said, turning to everyone after. "Hop in. Let’s get to relaxing!"

The transition from the tense, formal halls of the Demon Realm palace back to this secluded pocket dimension felt like exhaling a breath I’d been holding for a full twenty-four hours. The familiar scent of mineral salts and blooming cherry blossoms hit my senses instantly. Glowing motes drifted lazily through the warm air, casting a soft, ethereal light over the water’s surface.

Katrina didn’t waste a single second. With an eager chirp, she shed her travelling clothes and dove straight into the crystal-clear water, her orange tail creating a playful splash before she settled onto a submerged stone bench with a blissful sigh.

Damara followed at a much more leisurely pace, unbuttoning her travel attire and folding it neatly on the deck before sliding into the water beside Katrina. Her crimson eyes locked onto mine across the steam.

"Well?" Damara prompted, crossing her arms over the stone edge, the water coming up just past her collarbone. "You still owe me the details of your secret chat with my father. I know Zeref doesn’t pull people into private rooms just to talk about the weather."

I chuckled, stepping out of my remaining clothes and easing myself into the warm, soothing embrace of the pool. The moment the water hit my shoulders, I felt the last lingering knots of tension melt away from my muscles.

"Alright, alright," I relented, leaning back against the smooth rock edge. "Turns out the terrifying King of the Demons isn’t quite as bloodthirsty as his reputation implies. We had a surprisingly civilized chat about interdimensional travel, and... believe it or not, he gave me a parting gift."

I reached into my discarded jacket pocket hanging on a nearby hook, pulled out the small obsidian whistle, and tossed it onto the wooden deck.

Damara’s eyebrows shot straight up toward her horns, her jaw dropping slightly. "Is that... my father’s royal summons whistle? He only hands those out to high-ranking generals or trusted advisors. How on earth did you talk him into giving you that?"

"Let’s just say we bonded over a shared confusion regarding Earth pyrotechnics," I grinned, resting my arms along the edge of the pool. "He told me if things ever get too overwhelming, I can blow it and his royal guards will show up."

Damara let out a disbelieving laugh, shaking her head. "You never cease to amaze me, Sam. You walk into the lion’s den with no plan and somehow walk out with my father’s personal backing."

From across the pool, Sarah the water goddess floated gracefully over, her teal hair fanned out around her shoulders. "It just proves what we already knew," she chimed in with a sweet smile. "Sam has a way of turning everyone he meets into an absolute softie."

The relaxed banter drifted away into a comfortable, quiet rhythm. The warm water worked its magic, washing away the remnants of travel exhaustion, carriage sickness, and royal anxiety. But as the minutes ticked by, the mood in the spring subtly shifted. The playful splashing quieted down, replaced by lingering glances and heavy, warm air.

Damara quietly waded through the water, closing the distance between us until she was directly in front of me. The crystal-clear liquid rippled, and she braced her hands against the stone shelf on either side of my head, trapping me gently against the edge.

"You know," Damara murmured, her voice dropping to a low, sultry purr that sent a shiver straight down my spine. "We survived a royal wedding, escaped an awkward family interrogation, and officially made it back home in one piece."

Katrina drifted closer from the side, her golden-orange eyes gleaming in the dim lantern light, while Sarah hovered just above the surface, watching with an eager, knowing smile.

"I think," Damara continued, leaning in until her lips brushed against my ear, "it’s about time we properly celebrated our return, don’t you think?"