Liam, taken aback by the more than warm welcome from Tilia, hesitated for a moment before awkwardly embracing her in return. The rest of the group watched in surprise, not having expected such a personal reaction from the manager.
"I missed you so much! Where have you been? Why didn't you contact us?" Tilia's voice was a mix of relief and reprimand, her concern for Liam evident in her tone.
Liam, still under his hood, gently pushed Tilia back to look at her. "I'm sorry. Things were complicated. I was…" He paused and then added, "not here."
He did not want to get into any details at the moment. He had waited long enough and now he needed to know where his sister was and Shen Yue was. "Let's talk about that later. I have something important to discuss with you."
Tilia composed herself and nodded. "Of course." She knew exactly what Liam was going to ask her and before even the question came out, she responded with a big smile.
"They are right here!"
"Do you know where they are?"
Liam shuddered as he did not dare believe what he was hearing. "They are here? You were able to protect them?" Though he had a feeling that the fairy might step in and act, he couldn't be completely sure.
Tilia smirked. "How could I not follow the orders of Emperor Liam?" She was about to continue when her face changed slightly. "Ah. Actually, please forgive me. I was able to protect everyone except for one person."
"Before I could intervene, she fell for his provocation and dashed out of the barrier to fight. I can't really blame her too. That old bastard was too conniving. He threw a ragged body on the ground and claimed that you were dead."
"I knew it was an illusion but the others were not in the right mindset and fell for it. Before I could warn them, Alex rushed out. Your sister collapsed on the ground and your girlfriend was utterly shocked and frozen so I was able to rescue both of them."
"It's ok." Liam interrupted her. "I have Alex. I got her back."
Tilia's eyes lit up and the smile on her face returned. She had been extremely worried about how to break this bad news to Liam when he inevitably returned but now the burden was finally off her shoulders.
"Ok. I don't want to make you wait any longer. Let's go."
Liam nodded and silently followed her. The rest of the group walked in tow.
Tilia led them through the shop, moving with an urgency that matched Liam's own. She took them to a back area, where a hidden door opened up to reveal a portal. The portal shimmered with a soft light.
"This portal will take us to them," Tilia explained. "This is a high-level training area that can be assessed from the system shop. Don't worry. They're in a safe place, hidden and protected."
Liam stepped forward, his heart pounding with anticipation and a mix of emotions. After months of separation and uncertainty, the thought of being reunited with his sister and Shen Yue was overwhelming.
As he stepped into the portal, he felt a rush of energy envelop him. The world around him blurred for a moment before resolving into a new environment. He found himself in a serene garden, surrounded by lush greenery and the sound of a gently flowing stream.
There, under a large, flowering tree, sat his sister and Shen Yue.
Mei Mei was seated in a meditative pose with her eyes closed. Around her petals of flowers and leaves danced in a jumbled fashion as if some sort of mysterious power was controlling them.
Not too far away from her, Shen Yue was also sitting in a meditative pose, pondering about something seriously.
Though both of them seemed whole and intact, there was a sadness about them. They had visibly thinned down and their figures looked pale and listless.
Though the atmosphere they were currently in seemed to be some sort of special natural sanctuary, the aura around them was bleak and gloomy.
Liam paused, his eyes becoming moist and red. A warm smile appeared on his face as he clutched Tilia's hand, making the fairy come to a halt. "I don't know how to thank you."
The fairy looked a little startled but then she gave a cute childish giggle. "You can pay me, of course. This training area is not cheap, you know. You have been conned." She gave a cheeky smile.
Liam let out a small laugh. "I'll make sure to settle the bill," he promised, his gaze returning to Mei Mei and Shen Yue.
Taking a deep breath, he walked towards them, his steps slow and measured. As he approached, Mei Mei's eyes fluttered open all of a sudden, and she turned towards him. Her expression, initially one of confusion, transformed into one of shock and disbelief.
"Brother?" Mei Mei's voice was a whisper. The fourteen year old girl looked worse for the wear as big blobs of tears started dripping from her eyes.
Shen Yue's meditation broke, and she too turned, her eyes widening as she saw Liam. For a moment, there was complete silence, the kind that hangs in the air when reality shifts unexpectedly.
Liam stood still in front of them, his eyes locking with theirs. "It's me," he said softly, reaching out his hands to them.
In an instant, the disbelief in Mei Mei and Shen Yue's eyes gave way to tears of joy. Mei Mei lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Liam in a tight embrace. "I knew you'd come back. I just knew it!"
Shen Yue sobbing uncontrollably joined the embrace. "I thought I had lost you forever," she said, her voice choked with emotion.
They stayed like that for a moment, holding onto each other, as if confirming the reality of their reunion.
Liam hugged the both of them tightly, only now feeling as if he was once again alive. He let out a big breath of relief that he had been holding on for a long time now. He was finally home.