Brie relaxed on the corner of the hotel mattress and watched Xander direct Koda around the large room.
Sora cleared his throat.
"We only recently discovered the existence of other planets. Our entire party feels foolish and embarrassed for not looking further than our bubble of perfection."
"What do you an bubble of perfection?" Connor politely interjected.
"Oh, sorry. My parents left a large fortune and a mansion that’s larger than most small cities. It contains over 50 bedrooms, a garage full of 100 different types of vehicles, including several spaceships. Brie was my first party mber, she joined around 3 years ago. As we’ve grown in numbers, we’ve beco very close and we are more of an extended family than a party."
"Well, not searching for other planets isn’t really that big of a deal. I didn’t know about Exteria, so what’s so important about that discovery?"
Sora sighed. "Fearful of our party’s strength, the demon lord Azazel fled with his goddess duo, Helen and Eris. They also brought Eris’ army of Titans with them."
"It’s good they left, isn’t it?" Connor asked. He was confused.
"Under normal circumstances, yes. It would be great to have peace like this on Exteria. However, they travel planet to planet, destroying these worlds to steal the inhabitants’ lifeforces to gain power. Helen and Eris distribute this energy as they see fit."
"That’s absolutely horrific..."
Sora nodded in agreent.
"Please understand I am rely being honest and transparent, not looking for praise or pity. Approximately one thousand years ago, the Uthra witnessed two outcos in a vision. They are known as the Legendary Steele family. They’ve been on the planet since its conception."
"Are you the person they saw in the vision?"
"Yes. I either save Exteria or I destroy it."
Connor gasped. Koda trotted Xander to Brie.
"Xander is tired and I need a mont to process this." Koda admitted while lying next to Brie. "He’s a wonderful kid and I enjoyed playing with him."
"Sora, Brie, thank you for being honest with us. Brie, can you please pick Xander up?" Connor asked kindly.. "Koda said he really enjoyed playing with him."
Brie smiled and grabbed Xander, who gave his mama a kiss.
"Sora’s lucky to have such great people around him. His wife is lovely and his son is very gifted. I’m genuinely shocked they trusted us and opened up like that."
"Why us, though? I don’t understand. The fate of their world hangs in the balance, and they were so happy earlier. I should have kept my mouth shut." Connor said, disappointed with himself.
*****
Xander’s eyes darted from his mother, to his father, back to Connor, then to his mother, then to Koda. Finally, Xander got off his mom’s lap and walked over to Koda and started petting him.
"Sumfins werong." Xander said sadly. "Why Koduh and Connow wike new fwiend Igny... good but vewy sad."
Connor started tearing up sitting in the recliner so Koda jumped on his lap.
"Sowwy. What worng? Dadda and Mamma have lots of good fwieds. You could join them too." Xander said, showing an impressive level of empathy.
Brie stood up from the bed and walked over to Xander.
"Xander, rember when we talked about teleporting to aunty Celeste? This is kind of like that! Just because you can sense emotions doesn’t an they want to talk about those feelings." Brie said lovingly while hugging Xander.
"Well, you might as well tell them at this point. There’s no sense lying or hiding from it anymore. We’ve been in this hotel for two weeks. Maybe you just need to get it off your chest?" Koda said while licking Connor’s face.
"Aw Koduh good fwiend! He woves you Connow. Jus like you wuv him. I’m sowwy I huwt your feewings."
Connor laughed. "It’s ok buddy, we’ve actually enjoyed our ti with you! Rember when I said I had a wife and kids waiting for back on Eerth?"
"I weber."
Sora grabbed Brie’s hand and they sat on the bed. He put his arm around her and kissed her on the cheek while whispering, "I love you babe."
"I love you too sweetheart." Brie whispered as she rested her head on Sora’s shoulder, admiring her son for trying to cheer Connor and Koda up.
"They were killed a month ago in a car crash. We prayed and prayed, but no one ever answered us. Koda and I have been traveling planet to planet to try and find any hint of the gods... and we stumbled across your family on the train." Connor said as he started sobbing into Koda’s thick fur.
Koda let out a small whimper, and Xander went over and gave them both a hug. "Dadda said it fate. Wember?"
Connor perked up. Koda’s head raised quickly and turned to look at Sora and Brie.
"He did say that, didn’t he?" Koda asked excitedly.
"Yes! I knew they existed. I’m so glad I never doubted Athena and the gods! I don’t know what I’d do without you Koda," Connor said while wiping his tears away.
"I’m so sorry for your loss. How did it happen? I can’t even imagine..." Brie said as a few silver tears fell from her face.
Sora wiped her tears and kissed her on the forehead.
"Connor, you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. Dorian, one of my closest friends, went through years of agony with his lovely wife. He never lost faith in Athena and the gods. He prayed and blad himself for not having a strong enough seed. Eventually, his prayers were answered. Selenge t him in a dream and turned him into the Original vampire. She allowed him to turn his wife. You wouldn’t believe how many kids they have now!" Sora said politely.
"Would you like to return to Exteria with us?"
"Wait, really? What do you need with a human and a dog? You already have an amazing party with all different types of people who love you." Connor said disappointedly.
"Dadda make seal with Connow it will work for Koduh too." Xander said confidently.
"My son, the party leader." Sora laughed. "How do you know it will work buddy?"
"They winked together but both have own soul. Can make seal w Connow or Koduh it no matter."
"Well sweetheart, what do you think?" Sora asked his beautiful wife.
"Obviously yes. Thank you. I appreciate you always asking for my opinion, no matter what. Even if Xander invited Athena to the party you would still ask. I love you so much."
"You’re right, I would." Sora laughed. "I love you too."
"Wait, you talk telepathically like we do, don’t you?" Connor said, finally cracking a large smile.
"What gave us away?" Brie giggled.
Connor lost his train of thought as a strange voice started speaking telepathically to him.
’Would you Connor Gray, and your companion Koda, like to join the Savior’s party of Exteria?’
Connor and Koda listened in amazent as the rules and conditions were read to them.
"We accept." Connor said with a large smile. Koda barked resoundingly, "woof, woof!"
"Happy to have you! Would you like to et them?" Sora said with a large smile. "They already know you joined the party. You should be able to track them inside your head. It takes so ti to get used to."
"I’d love to et them, but I think it’d be better if we t in person! How could you get a hold of them right now anyway?"
Sora pulled out the encrypted tablet from his dinsional void, unlocked it using his thumb print and called Celeste’s number.
"Hey Sora! How’s your trip to Nexus?"
"It’s going really well. Please let everyone know we will be back tomorrow in the afternoon with so new friends!"
"Everyone’s already talking about it! Well, you enjoy your night. We’re all getting ready for bed, what ti is it in Nexus?"
Sora checked the clock, "8:30 PM. What about on Exteria?
"12:30 am! The seal woke a lot of us up, but it’s ok! Everything has been calm here! See you tomorrow!"
"Let’s leave them be and go get so sleep. It’s been a long day." Koda suggested.
"Yup, let’s pack our things. Tomorrow, we start our new life!"
User Comments
0 comments from readers