A Journey That Changed The World

Archer continued humming the final notes of A Whole New World to lull them deeper into slumber. Sometime later, the girls drifted off, their peaceful faces bathed in the fading sunlight, and he got comfortable while hugging them as he felt a sudden shift in his consciousness.

A vision, vivid and unbidden, enveloped him, pulling his mind from the cozy room to a bustling scene. He found himself seated in a private booth high above a sprawling stadium, the air alive thanks to the roar of a cheering crowd.

The arena below buzzed, its stands packed with spectators waving colorful banners. At the center, a sleek track curved through the field, and dragon-like sculptures were built all over the place.

A banner overhead proclaimed a Draconian Racing Tournament, and he recognized the organizer’s name: Teuila, his fierce and brilliant wife who had been alongside him for many years.

Moments later, his gaze landed on three figures in the distance, and a surge of recognition sent his pulse racing. His breath caught as he instantly knew who they were: his eldest daughters.

Among them, one stood out, a tall girl with white hair that mirrored his own, shimmering under the sunlight like spun silver. Her blue eyes sparkled, and her pointed ears, a hallmark of their shared lineage, peeked through her locks.

‘Freya,’ he thought, a warm smile spreading across his face.

She was practically his mirror image, but a female version of him, giving off a confident energy as she bounced lightly on her toes excitedly. Though her features were like his, there were subtle traces of her mother, Sia.

Yet, there was no mistaking it; she was Freya, his eldest daughter, radiating a joyful confidence. He couldn’t help but marvel at how much she’d grown in the vision. Archer’s eyes shifted to the second girl, Kela, and his heart swelled.

She was the spitting image of her mother, grey skin catching the light. Her white hair, pulled back into a neat ponytail, and her large red eyes glowed thanks to the warmth that set her apart.

Unlike her mother’s reserved demeanor, Kela was animated, her laughter ringing out as she chatted to a group of girls around her. As Archer watched, he caught the familiar curve of her smile, a mirror of his own, wide and infectious, radiating a charm that drew others in.

Her pointed ears, much like Freya’s, twitched slightly, a subtle sign of her awareness, and she turned her head as if sensing his gaze. Kela’s red eyes locked onto his and broke into a grin, raising her hand in an enthusiastic wave.

His chest tightened, and he couldn’t help but return the gesture, his hand lifting instinctively as a proud smile spread across his face. This was his daughter, a vibrant blend of Hecate’s mystique and his warmth, her lively spirit lighting up the scene before him.

Following that, his gaze drifted to the third girl, and a jolt of recognition hit him like a thunderbolt, freezing him in place. His breath hitched as he instantly knew who her mother was, Mary.

The girl stood out with her short, tousled grey hair, catching the sunlight in a way that gave it an almost metallic shimmer, a stark contrast to her sister’s longer locks. Like them, she had the telltale pointed ears of their bloodline, twitching slightly due to her barely contained energy.

But it was her big, violet eyes, radiant and brimming. What struck him most was the way she carried herself, mirroring his wife’s unforgettable confidence and the teasing smirk that reminded him of his own.

‘Gods, she’s our daughter,’ he thought.

This girl was a living echo of her mother, though her features carried a hint of his influence in the sharp angle of her jaw and the mischievous curve of her lips. She bounced on her toes as her violet eyes scanned the track.

Every movement radiated a contagious enthusiasm, drawing the attention of those nearby. His shock softened into a proud, bittersweet smile as he watched her, marveling at how this spirited girl embodied Mary’s fiery essence.

‘They all look like me but have their mother’s features,’ he mused.

Just then, the vision cut short as he was woken up by something hitting his face. Archer opened his eyes only to see Freya staring at him with her big blue eyes. This sight put a smile on his face.

”Hello there, my special lady,” he muttered.

Archer leaned down, his heart swelling, and pressed a gentle kiss to the little girl’s forehead. Her delighted giggle filled the air, bright and infectious, as he scooped her up into his arms, which she loved.

Freya was nestled against him, her short grey hair tickling his chin, her blue eyes sparkling joyfully as she looked up at him. His fingers brushed through her hair, smoothing it back from her pointed ears, which twitched excitedly.

He fussed over her, adjusting her little dress and tucking a stray lock behind her ear, his touch tender but playful, drawing another peal of laughter from her. ”I just dreamed about you, little one,” he said softly as he gazed into her wide, curious eyes.

”You were about to race alongside your sisters, out there on a track, full of fire and ready to win,” he revealed, chuckling.

When he said that, Freya’s head snapped to him as he continued. ”These visions… they’re confusing, aren’t they? They show us what might’ve been, what could be, if a certain road was taken.”

The little girl tilted her head, her eyes fixed on him with an intensity that belied her young age. She hung on his every word, her small hands clutching his sleeve as if anchoring herself to his voice.

”You can always change a vision, my lovely,” he said playfully, gently booping the little girl on the nose.

Her eyes sparkled, and she let out a squeal of laughter. ”I had plenty growing up, you know, wild dreams of what might be. But only a handful ever came true. The future’s yours to shape.”

Freya, bouncing excitedly at his words, squirmed in his arms, her energy too much for him to contain. He shifted to sit her on his chest to keep her from launching herself into the air as she got even happier.

She flashed him a gummy smile, her pointed ears twitching, and leaned forward, wrapping her tiny arms around his face. In her adorable way, she kissed him, gumming his forehead with enthusiastic affection, her soft baby babble filling the air.

The gesture melted his heart completely, a warmth spreading through him like sunlight breaking through clouds. But the moment grew even more chaotic, and sweeter, as the other girls stirred, roused by their eldest sister’s antics.

Each woke, letting out giggles and eager wiggles. Before he could brace himself, he was swarmed. Tiny hands grabbed at his cheeks, tugged at his hair, and patted his face as the girls clambered over him, their laughter a chorus of pure joy.

One sister planted a slobbery kiss on his nose, while another squealed and nuzzled his chin. He burst into laughter, the sound deep and unrestrained, as he tried to keep up with the onslaught of affection.

His arms encircled the wriggling pile of daughters, pulling them close as their playful attack overwhelmed him. ”You lot are going to be the end of me!” he teased, his voice muffled by the cascade of tiny hugs and gummy kisses.

Archer enveloped the girls in a heartfelt embrace, the warmth of their closeness lingering as Freya, Evelyn, and the twins nestled against him. Their soft breaths filled the quiet room, and soon, they slipped back into the gentle embrace of sleep.

He watched them for a moment until a sudden, sharp voice pierced his thoughts. ‘Arch! The Demi Gods have returned!’

It was Ashoka, her tone urgent. A weary sigh escaped his lips as the weight of duty settled over him. He rose quietly, careful not to disturb the sleeping children, and summoned the girls’ mothers.

The air quivered, and Sia and Hecate materialized, their faces etched with a blend of quiet concern and steadfast resolve. He held his babies close, savoring the warmth of their tiny forms for one final moment, carefully giving them to the women.

”Trouble’s brewing on Pluoria,” he said. ”The others need my help. I’ll return as soon as the storm passes.”

Sia’s eyes softened as she nodded, her arms instinctively wrapping around Freya and Evelyn, who stirred faintly in her embrace. The Moon Elf gathered the twins. He stepped forward, pressing a kiss to the Dragonkin’s forehead, then Hecate’s.

With a final glance at his family, Archer’s form flickered, and he teleported to Ashoka’s side, the fierce tiger woman already poised for battle amidst the chaos of Pluoria. Once the enemy realized he was there, they fled.

This made him laugh, turning to the Tiger woman and giving her a tight hug while apologizing. ”Sorry for that, I was spending time with the girls.”