Return to Jorgaldur Volume IV: Reunion

Gathering ingredients

While the elf was healing worried her winged sister, the bird demanded a dessert filled with hot chocolate to recover.

"Blood of the Son of the Wind... Your sister isn't only beautiful, she's truly exceptional," Eldi praised.

"He's good. Why has he taken so many years to come? I mean... Oh, I'm dying, I need some brownies," Goldmi heard her sister through her link.

The elf couldn't help but laugh. She felt overwhelmed by the accumulation of feelings that had filled her one after another, and was also quite touched. At the same time, a feline grumbled.

"The whiner with wings is here... She can't stand anything..."

The lynx also entered through the door, bit its paw, and pulled a couple of her claws out with her teeth. She started to bleed profusely, but ignored the pain. The elf rushed over to her and tended her wounds.

Although Basic Healing wasn't enough to regrow severed limbs, it was able to help a claw grow back. Despite this, it would still take it a few days to get back to the size it should be. She would need to apply the spell every few hours.

The lynx knew it, as well as the pain it was going to cause her, but she hadn't hesitated for a moment to rip them off. For her sister, she was willing to do much more.

"Flame Lineage fingernail. Your sisters are really amazing and loyal," the high human praised again.

The elf nodded while feeling touched, and tears rolled down her checks again.

"Eldi, give me a pair of those vicowhatever. Tomorrow I'm going see Espid," Gjaki asked.

"Vials? Who's that Espid?" Eldi asked, as he took out two more of the small transparent containers. He had hundreds.

"An old friend, an arachne," the vampiress replied.

"Oh. With that, I could make the Renewal potion. I would only need an alchemy platform. Do you know of any nearby?" Eldi offered.

"Why don't you all come home tomorrow? I have platforms in the mansion. That way, I can introduce them to Eldi. I told them I'd be late because I was having dinner with you, and they all want to meet you. Or see you again. You already knew many of them from the game," the vampiress proposed.

They all agreed without hesitation. In fact, even the twins would be delighted if they hadn't fallen asleep. Elendnas had taken them to their room, and stayed with them for a while. That was the reason he hadn't witnessed the latest events.

The elf couldn't help but feel astonished when his wife told him about it a while later. Gjaki had taken Eldi to the mansion, where there were many free rooms, so they were alone. For long minutes, they held each other, crying, and occasionally kissing.

They hadn't said it out loud, but after so long, they had all but given up hope. Getting it back suddenly was definitely overwhelming.

When Gjaki arrived, she found Diknsa and Chornakish waiting for her. They had woken up when the spell had activated. In fact, Coinin was there too, but her sleep was much deeper.

The man-panther looked at her without knowing quite what to say, while the vampiress had already forgotten about the morning's quarrel. Only when she wondered what was wrong with him, did she remember it.

"We'll talk later," she told him with a sweet voice that made him feel relieved. "Mom, what guest room do we have for him? He's Eldi, but we'll talk tomorrow. We're all tired."

"Nice to see you again. Come, follow me," the devil vampiress greeted him, while looking at him curiously and gratefully.

He wasn't only a companion and friend of her adoptive daughter, and of Goldmi, but he had helped them in the past, in what for him was the game. She didn't know if the visitor remembered her, but she hadn't forgotten.

"Diknsa, right? A lot of time has passed. You look exactly the same as I remembered you," he greeted her.

"Ha, ha. You know how to flatter an old housewife," she laughed.

Though he wasn't really flattering. Rather, he was surprised that she resembled his memories of her, which weren't exactly the ones on the game screen. Of course, it wasn't the first time that he found himself in a similar situation.

She ushered him into a large guest room, which the high human stood admiring for a while. Without a doubt, it had been decorated by someone from his original world, by Gjaki. He knew that her friend had spent hours creating and decorating the mansion. According to her own words, she had decorated each one of the rooms, with different motifs. This one in particular had pastel tones and a round bed, as well as paintings with bosses from various dungeons.

"It's quite comfortable," he told himself as he fell on the bed.

Eldi was exhausted, more mentally than physically, although he couldn't wipe the smile from his face. He had found his companions, which has seemed almost impossible a few hours ago, and even had a lead on Melia. It had been one of the best days since he had arrived in Jorgaldur. It was comparable only to those spent with his daughter.

"Are you sure it won't hurt?" Espi looked suspiciously at the fine needle.

"You look like a little girl. How old are you now? Hundred and how many? Do you want some candy?" the vampiress reproached.

The arachne stuck her tongue out while Gjaki prodded her, and filled two small vials of blood.

She hadn't objected. She had even offered herself after knowing that it was for Goldmi. She not only liked her, but the elf made delicious food. Several times, she had helped them at family meals and celebrations. Besides, her candies were very popular with her half-arachnid grandchildren.

Yet, it was one thing to volunteer, quite another to face the sharp needle. Espi had never been a warrior or hunter. In fact, she was a strange case for an arachne. She many times had freed the prey that had been trapped in her web, unable to finish them off.

"Will it be long?" she asked nervously.

"Ha, ha, ha," the vampiress laughed.

"It's not something to laugh at either..." she complained, while puffing out her cheeks.

"I have already pricked you, drawn the blood and healed the wound. Not only have you not noticed it, but on top of that you ask if it'll be long, with that pale face. You can't tell me that it isn't funny. Ha, ha," she mocked her friend.

"Silly..." Espi blushed slightly.

"Thank you. Really, thank you very much," Gjaki then surprised her, with a really friendly and affectionate tone. She even took her hands.

"It's... nothing" the arachne replied. She averted her gaze and blushed this time for real, although she was unable to avoid a shy smile.