Chapter 36: A Warm Return and Fresh Ambitions

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: A Warm Return and Fresh Ambitions

When Eric rounded the corner onto Elm Street and caught his first glimpse of Sunshine Home, he stopped dead in his tracks, completely stunned.

The run-down, creaking orphanage of a month ago looked entirely revitalized.

The peeling, weather-beaten timber had been refinished with a fresh coat of warm cream paint. The cracked, tape-reinforced windowpanes had been replaced with crystal-clear reinforced glass, and a sturdy polished oak door stood proudly in place of the old warped entrance. Even the overgrown weeds in the front yard had been cleared, leveled, and turned into a pleasant little grass lawn bordered by smooth limestone pavers.

"Wow..." Eric let out a low whistle, a wide, genuine grin spreading across his face. "Money really does change everything."

Stepping up the porch and pushing through the unlocked oak door, the quiet warmth of the house welcomed him.

It was mid-afternoon, meaning Emily was still finishing her daily shift at the neighborhood diner. Eric quietly poked his head into the ground-floor living room and saw the younger children all curled up on soft, brand-new navy floor cushions, resting in peaceful afternoon naps.

Even in an impoverished outer district, leaving the front door unlocked during the daytime was standard practice. The syndicate extorted steep protection fees from every block, but in return, their thugs ensured petty thieves, pickpockets, and opportunistic burglars steered completely clear of their territory. The children were completely safe inside the perimeter.

Not wanting to disturb their rest, Eric quietly toured the rest of the ground floor.

The clanking, leaky copper pipes had been overhauled, the threadbare sofa replaced with durable cushioned armchairs, and the pantry shelves stood lined with fresh root vegetables, flour sacks, dried meats, and wholesome staples.

Feeling a deep, lingering wave of mental fatigue settle into his bones, Eric quietly climbed the creaking staircase to his attic room.

Although high-level Mortal cultivators could sustain their physical stamina purely on ambient mana intake without needing daily sleep, thirty unbroken days of rigorous sensory focus, meditation, and repetitive muscle drills had taxed his mental fortitude.

The moment his head touched the fresh cotton pillow, Eric sank into a heavy, dreamless sleep.

***

Several hours later, a rich, savory aroma drifting up from the kitchen downstairs pulled Eric from his slumber.

Rubbing his eyes, he stretched his back and walked down the stairs to find Emily setting a steaming ceramic platter atop the newly polished dining table.

"Good evening, Eric!"

Emily turned around, wiping her hands on her apron as her face lit up with a radiant, relieved smile.

"I saw your combat boots by the entryway when I got home, so I knew you were finally back. Look, I bought thick-cut beef steaks from the central butcher market today. I figured you pushed yourself to the limit during that entire month of cultivation, so tonight we celebrate!"

Eric grinned, his stomach letting out an audible rumble in hearty agreement. "Beef steak? Oh, this is the life. Count me in!"

The kitchen door swung wide, and a thunderous stampede of little feet echoed across the hardwood floorboards.

"Big Brother Eric!"

Lily, Alex, Mark, and the twins Jake and Mili swarmed across the kitchen, wrapping their arms around his legs and waist in a chaotic group hug, refusing to let go.

"Welcome home, Big Brother!"

"Hey there, little ones!" Eric laughed warmly, crouching down to wrap his arms around them and ruffle their hair. "Big brother is back in one piece, good as new. And look what I brought—"

He reached into his canvas duffel bag and withdrew a large, ribbon-tied box of assorted chocolate and honey cookies.

"A fresh batch straight from the inner market bakery," Eric whispered conspiratorially. "We’ll split these after dinner, but keep it between us so Sister Emily doesn’t catch us spoiling our appetites, deal?"

"Deal!" the children whispered back excitedly, nodding their heads with wide, mischievous grins.

The evening passed in a joyful blur of hearty food, glowing hearth-fire, and cheerful stories shared around the dinner table. Watching Emily smile without the suffocating shadow of the syndicate debt hanging over her shoulders brought Eric the deepest sense of peace he had felt since arriving in this world.

***

Late that night, Eric returned to the quiet sanctuary of the attic. He sat on the edge of his mattress, letting the cool evening breeze flow through the open window.

Coal perched quietly atop the windowsill, his pitch-black, intelligent eyes gazing out across the moonlit rooftops of Riverdale. Faint wisps of Shadow elemental mana coiled lazily around his ivory talons.

"With our stockpile of harvested mana stones completely empty, we’re heading back into the rifts first thing tomorrow," Eric said, rolling his shoulders with a focused, hungry grin. "Only this time, buddy, we’re not running from the big game anymore. With your Level 9 strength, Rank-D Shadow Talons, and my Minor Mastery of Shadow Steps, we can hunt Gorgefiends head-on."

*Caw!*

Coal let out a sharp, resonant trill, clicking his bone-white beak with eager aggression.

"Hyped up too, huh?" Eric chuckled softly, reaching out to gently stroke the crow’s sleek, metallic neck feathers. "Let’s track down a dozen of those four-meter titans, harvest their high-grade cores, and push our cultivation straight into Soldier Rank before the academy trials begin."

*Caww!*

Coal trilled in fierce, unwavering agreement, his obsidian plumage rustling as they prepared to conquer the deeper zones of the rift.