Eldric’s expression softened once more into gentle amusement, a mischievous twinkle lighting his eyes as he laughed heartily, "Whatever she is, she clearly regards Orion as her father. Hahaha, I cannot wait to see how he explains this to us. It will be incredibly entertaining."
Selene gently elbowed Eldric’s ribs, giving him a reproachful glare filled with protective affection, "Don’t you dare embarrass my precious grandson."
Eldric’s grin turned even more wicked, clearly planning something devious as he declared playfully, "Hmm, the brat will take some days to reach the Capital. Stay here and watch over them carefully. Meanwhile, I’ll go prepare a nice surprise for his arrival!"
Before Selene could voice her protest, Eldric vanished swiftly, leaving her mildly stunned. Shaking her head helplessly, she muttered softly, "Is that old fellow finally approaching that critical breakthrough? Hmph, if he’d only been less playful in his youth, he’d have already reached it."
Smiling tenderly, Selene gazed fondly back at the heartwarming scene below.
Meanwhile, on the ground beneath the verdant canopy, Orion’s hands had completed his masterpiece.
The Tier 9 beast meat had transformed into an exquisite delicacy, its mouthwatering aroma wafting gently through the air, making even the nearby forest creatures pause curiously.
Orion carefully presented a portion to the eagerly waiting Lyra, who was practically bouncing in place with excitement, and kept a portion for himself.
Lyra quickly took her first bite, and her big emerald eyes immediately widened in pure bliss, her cheeks instantly puffing adorably as she chewed. "Mmm!" she exclaimed joyfully, eyes sparkling brightly, "Papa’s cooking is truly the best! So yummy!"
Orion smiled softly, now he could finally say with pride that his cooking was good and the taste was good not only due to the high grade of meat. He was a peerless genius himself with a monstrous comprehension, and he had spent over months learning and mastering the art of cooking.
At least among the Tier 9 and below Spirit Chefs, he would be among the top ones.
Looking at Lyra eating , he felt immense satisfaction and warmth filling his chest, gently patting her head affectionately. "Eat slowly, little glutton," he chided gently, but his eyes showed how pleased he truly felt.
Lyra giggled sweetly in response, thoroughly savoring every delicious bite.
Far above, hidden in the clouds, Selene’s eyes softened deeply seeing the warmth below. She murmured tenderly to herself, a warm, content smile on her lips, "I wonder how he’ll explain this little treasure to us when we meet... I’ll definitely tease him a little myself."
After finishing their meal beneath the shade of trees, Orion stood up leisurely, stretching his arms lightly as Lyra hopped energetically beside him, clearly satisfied and full of spirit. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝓷𝓮𝓽
The delicious spirit food seemed to have infused her small body with boundless energy, making her even more lively than usual.
"Did you enjoy the meal, Lyra?" Orion asked with a warm smile, gently ruffling her silky green hair.
Lyra nodded enthusiastically, her emerald eyes sparkling brightly. "Mm! It was delicious, papa! Lyra has never tasted anything so yummy!"
Chuckling softly at her adorable enthusiasm, Orion held her small hand and began walking steadily along the path toward the capital.
As they traveled, the scenery shifted around them, from lush forests filled with wildlife, to stretches of plains where tall grasses danced gracefully with each gentle breeze.
However, their journey was not completely peaceful. Along the way, Orion encountered multiple groups of bandits lurking in ambush, attempting to loot travelers or merchants passing by.
Without bothering to waste time with them, he decimated group after group of bandits. He had killed a lot of the high-ranking mana beasts of the surrounding area, making these ambushes easier for the bandits.
Yet, Orion knew well that others would eventually take their place. He sighed softly inwardly, understanding the inevitable cycle of power in these remote regions.
’Still, at least the mana beasts will have some time to recover their numbers,’ Orion thought to himself, feeling a faint sense of satisfaction at his actions. ’Perhaps this minor respite will stabilize the region temporarily.’
Days slipped quietly past as Orion continued his journey, diligently using every opportunity to hone his skills.
After nearly a week of continuous travel and casual cultivation, he was pleasantly surprised to discover a noticeable increase in his cultivation base.
Inwardly, Orion mused thoughtfully, ’This spirit food I prepared isn’t far behind the quality of the meatballs made by the Infinite Meatball Forge. Perhaps I should cook something special for those girls when I return to the capital.’
As the faces of those familiar girls drifted fondly across his mind, a gentle smile formed at his lips.
Orion shook his head slightly, dismissing his distracting thoughts, and refocused his attention on the bustling capital gates that now appeared on the distant horizon.
Lyra, noticing his cheerful mood, looked up at him curiously. "Papa, are you thinking about something nice?"
Orion laughed softly, squeezing her cheeks gently, "Just planning some meals for us when we get home. You’ll get to meet everyone soon."
Her eyes brightened, nodding eagerly at his words, "Yay! Lyra can’t wait to meet everyone!"
Soon, the majestic city walls came in Orion and Lyra’s view from afar. To Orion’s mild surprise, Edgar and Lucan stood outside, clearly waiting for someone.
Edgar maintained his usual calm and dignified bearing, resembling a robust spear. In contrast, Lucan seemed restless, idly tossing a pebble in the air, obviously bored.
The instant Orion appeared, both men simultaneously turned their heads, eyes immediately lighting up with excitement and relief.
Without hesitation, they vanished from their spot, rapidly approaching Orion in mere seconds.
Edgar reached Orion first, arriving with astonishing speed. Relief and warmth filled his voice as he bowed respectfully, "Young Master, it’s so good to see you safely returned."
Lucan quickly arrived next, grinning broadly as he greeted cheerfully, "Greetings, Young Master!" He then smirked playfully at Edgar, adding smugly, "See? I told you! How could anything possibly happen to our incredible Young Master?"
Orion’s lips twitched slightly, caught between amusement and surprise as he sensed fluctuations in Lucan’s aura. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously, asking curiously, "Brother Lucan, what happened to you? Why does your aura suddenly feel so... fluctuating?"
Lucan straightened his posture proudly, a broad smile crossing his face as he announced confidently, "Young Master, I’ve finally broken through to the Exalted Grade. Now, I’m truly among the top echelon of powerhouses in the Thunderpeak Kingdom."
Orion’s eyes instantly brightened, his face formed a big smile as he laughingly congratulated him, "Fantastic news! Congratulations, Brother Lucan! A celebration is definitely in order now."
Lucan’s smile instantly turned strained, and his lips twitched uncomfortably, "Please spare me, Young Master. You already have Magi to empty the pockets of. My poor wallet can’t handle your extravagant celebrations."
Orion shook his head dramatically, feigning disappointment, "Nonsense! Can’t you even feed your beloved Young Master and this little girl here?"
Only then did Edgar and Lucan finally notice Lyra, who had shyly hidden herself behind Orion’s legs, clutching onto his robes. Their expressions instantly shifted from amusement to shocked curiosity.
Before either could ask about her identity, Orion suddenly interjected with a slightly dissatisfied tone, "By the way, why didn’t you two come find me earlier? You made me endure so many unnecessary troubles along the way."