Chapter 4487: Life Score (Part 1)

"I’m glad to hear it." Lith gestured to one of the waiters, and he brought a large vase holding a composition of Moonroses.

They were flowers that grew in Verendi. Snow-white roses that had large, flat petals arranged in an almost perfect circle. They also matched Kamila’s moon pendant and had become her favorite flowers ever since Lith had gifted her the first bouquet of Moonroses.

"Thank you! They are beautiful!" She squealed in joy like a little girl, drawing the attention and envy of many noble dames who had never seen flowers like that.

"Yeah, but I’m looking at someone much more beautiful right now." Lith said while staring Kamila in the eyes with an intensity that made her melt.

The meal was delicious, and Lith ordered only local specialties to immerse himself in Deshia’s tradition in a way he could enjoy and try new flavors. It turned out that the ancient Deshian’s love for spicy meat dishes matched Lith’s.

"This is delicious." Lith nursed his red wine. "Don’t you like it? You’re eating a bit faster than usual."

"It’s really good." Kamila replied to reassure him. "I’m in a bit of a hurry because I hope we can have a bit of time for ourselves before the kids wake up."

She gave him a flirty wink that made Lith reconsider ordering the dessert.

"We’ll take it in our room." Lith’s husky voice was charged with expectation.

The couple had just closed the door and started kissing passionately when the communication amulets drew their consciousness.

"It’s Elina!" Kamila said. "Answer it. Something might have happened."

"I’m sorry to bother you." Elina sighed. "The babies just woke up and want to see you at all costs. I tried to calm Ral down, but nothing worked."

"Don’t worry, Mom." Lith sighed harder. "We’ll be there in a minute."

"Why not make it ten?" Kamila wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Really? Are you still in the mood knowing our kids are crying?" Lith replied.

"No." She admitted, lowering her eyes in shame. "I just didn’t want you to-"

"And I appreciate that." Lith put his finger on her lips. "We’ll make up for this tonight. Thank the gods Ral can already sleep the whole night and never wakes up when he’s tired."

When Lith and Kamila stepped through the Warp Gate in the Mansion, the children welcomed them as if they hadn’t seen their parents in weeks rather than the few minutes since they had woken up.

"It’s alright, sweetie." Kamila gently caressed Raldarak to soothe his desperate cries. "We’re here now. Everything is fine."

"So’y!" Elysia nodded, ashamed to have failed to placate her little brother. "He dad."

"She means sad." Lith translated for Kamila.

"I noticed." She rocked the baby in her arms until he calmed down. "What’s next? More woods?"

"Sort of." Lith led her to the keep of the Mansion, where the tower was hidden in plain sight. "I’ll call you for the ride back home, Solus. Keep an eye on everyone for me."

"I will." She said. "Gods, I miss these little imps already."

"I miss you too." Valeron hugged Solus, making her almost burst into tears.

"Don’t worry, sweetie." She sniffled. "I was joking. Don’t worry about me. Go and have fun."

Much to Kamila’s surprise and Raldarak’s wonder, the tower brought them to Mogar’s Garden. Lith checked the surroundings with the Watchtower, ensuring they were alone and nothing would threaten his family.

"Not to complain, but why are we here again?" Kamila said as the tower Warped back to the Mansion.

"Ral has never been at the Garden of Mogar." Lith replied. "Also, it’s filled with the luscious green you like so much, is warm and nice, and is the place where Val accepted his Camellia branch. This place is special for him and us."

Valeron became excited the moment he recognized the place. The Garden of Mogar was where he had officially become part of the Verhen family. Not because of a piece of paper or a silent agreement between adults, but because he wanted to.

He ran to the nearest bush of flowers, sniffing their petals and enjoying the good memories that the Garden evoked in him.

"Don’t go too far away, Val." Kamila said while nodding at Lith with a smile. "Stay where we can see you."

"Yes, Mom!" Valeron smiled back and gestured for Elysia and Raldarak to follow him.

The younger kids had to shapeshift into their Divine Beast forms; their stumpy human legs and weak bodies were unable to keep up with their older brother. Lith and Kamila took a stroll, following the kids at a relaxed pace.

Lith showed her all the exotic, beautiful flowers the Garden had to offer and warned her against the poisonous species and dangerous magical plants.

"What about the kids? Isn’t this dangerous for them?" Kamila asked.

"They have Origin Flames." Lith shrugged. "Also, they take after me and hate their greens."

"Gods, that’s so true." Kamila chuckled. "You should lead by example and eat more vegetables. Not now, of course."

"Don’t push your luck, woman!" Lith replied as if she had offended his entire bloodline, making her chuckle harder. "I descend from noble Dragons, not fluffy rabbits!"

Soon the kids got tired of walking and took to the skies. They explored the plants growing along the dome of the Garden and the ruins of Maergron’s lab under their parents’ strict supervision.

Then, Lith brought his family to a small, shallow stream of clear water surrounded by a large patch of silvery sand. It was akin to a small beach, and the water was so low it barely reached Raldarak’s waist.

The kids had fun playing in the water, building weird puppets in the sand with earth magic, and having mock battles with water magic.

"Seriously, how did you know how to find so many family-friendly spots?" Kamila asked as she let the gentle flow of water wash over her bare feet. "I didn’t even notice one of these places the last time we came here." ℯℯ𝘭.

"I cheat." Lith conjured a hologram of the information the Watchtower had gathered. "I studied the Garden beforehand and found the safest areas we could visit with the kids. I prepared this date for them as much as for us."

"This is just amazing!" Kamila replied, giving him a sweet kiss. "You are amazing, Lith."

Valeron and Elysia played to their heart’s content, even tussling a bit in their Divine Beasts’ form. When Raldarak’s turn came, however, the small Tiamat had eyes so big and a smile so bright that when he opened his arms in a fighting stance, he seemed to be asking for a hug.

And that was exactly what Elysia did. She hugged her little brother, and when he tried to trip her down, she let him.

"Yoo win. Yoo doo song." Even the idea of hurting Raldarak by mistake was too painful for her to bear.

Elysia’s wounded pride didn’t matter if it meant keeping her little brother safe.

"Li! Li!" Raldarak licked her snout, and Elysia started to cry. "Li!"

"What’s happening? She can’t have gotten hurt so easily." Kamila turned around, noticing that Lith’s eyes were veiled with tears.