A portal opened inside a hut on a mountain. Elodiaren gawked his eyes as he stared at the phenomenon and then looked at Emersyn who was smiling at him from ear to ear.
"... how?" He asked.
"I connected it to the coordinates of Strevalia. We can seek temporary shelter there."
"... yeah, I mean… how? You need incredible energy just to make a portal then even more energy just to connect it to another world. How far is this Strevalia anyway?"
"Around 450 billion light years away."
"..."
"Come on now. I can sense a lot of people coming near here."
"... okay," then he hastily entered the portal before Emersyn.
When the portal closed, one of the people outside felt a strong energy fluctuation inside an unsuspecting hut and immediately ran towards it. As he busted open the bamboo door, there wasn't anyone present. Even still, he reported it to the upper brass and marked the location as one of the possible place where they might appear again.
"What do you suspect?" The other end of the line asked.
"A portal."
***
"So… this is Strevalia…" Elodiaren mused as he felt the air that was purified by mana and Qi. "This is a perfect place to cultivate!"
However, Emersyn was fiddling with the bracelet she had around her right wrist, not paying any attention towards Elodiaren who was now sitting on the grass and regulating his breathing. She browsed through the map of Strevalia and then was elated as soon as she found Lasirion on the indicator. Only large cities seemed to appear in this map. She couldn't pay attention to that and activated teleportation on their feet. When she appeared before a familiar forest, she sighed in relief as she went towards--- ah, Elodiaren. She turned to look at the man in question as his lips curled into a bigger smile. It seemed that the concentration of mana and Qi in Lasirion is bigger because there was a Gate nearby. She rolled her eyes and dragged him towards a particular spot outside the city.
ChangHao firm.
She stopped in her tracks once she read the sign on the building. It was booming in business as she recognized her servants back then all matured. There was a new installation and the adventurers could freely eat and talk outside the building. She didn't know how long she stay rooted there.
Meanwhile, a woman in work clothes that clung on her curves and her astounding chest, and a fluffy tail, looked at the spot where she could see a very beautiful woman standing just before their building. Even though she could recognize all the customers the second time they visited here, however, this particular woman caught her eyes. She also seemed to look like someone she once knew… but at the same time, she was a stranger. But… but… her heart was racing and her mind became heavy.
"Flora! What are you dilly dallying for?!" A man shouted from inside the building.
"Wait for a moment!"
"What?! This is the time we should be working hard!"
"Just shut up, Farma! I am going out!"
"What?!"
"I'll be back!"
"Flora!"
Farma's voice just fell into deaf ears as he watched Flora run towards… a stunning beauty that his jaws dropped. When the adventurers stopped chattering when they heard the workers' shouts at each other, they simultaneously looked at where Farma was looking and their eyes went wide when they saw Emersyn. They bursted into a loud noise as they checked out this beauty that was never seen before.
'Flora… you grew up so splendidly…' Emersyn thought.
"Excuse me!" Flora called as she ran towards the woman in question.
"Yes?"
"Have you been here before?"
Emersyn smiled brightly then shook her head. "This is my first time here. Why?"
"You just... looked like someone we knew."
"Oh, that's cool. May I know who?"
"..."
"What's the matter?"
"I-... you look like someone so precious to me, but it seemed like I am wrong."
"Where did that person go?"
"... dead."
"Oh… I'm sorry for asking. I am kind of insensitive in these kind of thing."
"No… after all, it has been five years ever since she disappeared in this world. I am all okay now. We all are..."
Out of nowhere, Emersyn hugged Flora tightly. She rested Flora's head on her well developed chest then patted her head.
"You've been so strong in all those years."
Suddenly, she could feel that her clothes were getting wet and saw that Flora hugged her back, crying. Emersyn engulfed her body in a tight hug.
"You've done well."
"Master…!"
"You must have missed your master so much."
"Hic… yes… I've always wanted to do things with her. But… now… she's gone..."
Emersyn caressed Flora's head then said, "Stop crying now. You need to work, right? The adventurers might say that I made you cry and attack me."
"Hic… yes. What is your name? May I know?"
"Emersyn."
Flora wiped her eyes then flased Emersyn with a bright smile. "So, what business do you have with us? I saw you looking at our building without moving at all."
"We're actually just walking around," Emersyn said as she gestured at the man who was sitting on the ground. "He is my companion. I just passed by and saw that this place seems interesting. I decided to check it out."
"Yes! We offer great food services. Our master passed it onto us and we are doing our best to spread Xiuying Resto all over the globe! Come inside! I'll treat you guys for lunch!"
"Really? How about that long line?"
Flora nodded as she mused, "Then, let me invite you in the upper floors. That way, they won't see that it is unfair."
"If you insist," Emersyn turned to look at Elodiaren then scratched her cheek. "Hey, Aren. Are you going to come or not?"
"..."
"Alright. I'll carry you," she muttered in exasperation and then carried Elodiaren in her arms. Despite him being taller than Emersyn, she still easily carried him like a child. Suddenly, there were whispers that she could hear from the restaurant. She didn't pay any mind to those and just followed Flora towards the back door then was led towards… her office? However, Flora stopped before an empty room and said, "Lady Emersyn, please settle the man here."
"... okay," then she threw him---put him down on the bed. She turned to look at Flora and then the woman smiled at her before gesturing at Emersyn to follow her.
"..." she is doing everything so suspiciously.
When they entered her former office, it was clean and organized. No one seemed to be using it, but it was still kept clean.
"Is this an office?" Emersyn asked, just in case.
"Yes. My master's office. She used to work here all the time and I used to cook her food and served her until she went to bed," she said with a small smile. "I… really miss my master..."
"Hmm… you said that your master and I have a resemblance. Is this why you took me here?"
Flora flinched. "... to tell you the truth, yes. I was wondering if she lived here again and I always hoped to meet her. Then… you came. I… thought for a second there that you are master."
"I see. Even after five years, you still treasured your master and even hoped that she will come back to you one day even if you are old and worn. Waiting for her until you die..."
"Hehe. Yes," Flora smiled then hopped on her toes as she realized something. "Please wait here. I am just going to cook for you," she said then turned her heels towards the kitchen.
"Flora," Emersyn called that made her stop in her tracks.
Flora turned to look at her then replied, "Yes?"
Emersyn smiled widely before saying, "Thank you."
'For everything you had done for me. For being able to be beside me all this time. You are waiting even if there are no chances that I would come back,' she continued in her thoughts.
"You're welcome~," then she proceeded to go towards the kitchen.
Emersyn stood up then followed Flora into the kitchen. Flora was baffled when she entered, but smiled seeing that she came to prepare drinks.
"I can do all of those, Lady Emersyn. Leave it to me."
"Well… I am craving for some mango graham shake."
"Mango graham?"
"I have mangoes and graham crackers in my storage, so I want to prepare it."
"... mangoes?"
"..." wait… it doesn't exist here?! Wait wait wait!
"Where did you get those… mangoes? Specially… graham crackers? What is that?"
"... in my travels. I stocked up a lot. And uh… graham is a cracker… a crunchy biscuit."
"Nope. Never heard of those. Can I see it?"
"Sure," Emersyn spread her hand wide then a pack of crackers materialized as it fell on her hand.
"... what is that material?"
"This is plastic..."
"And how come you can materialise things?!"
"Uhm… I came from somewhere that is not here..."
"Where exactly?" Flora said as she leaned over to Emersyn with her eyes twinkling in curiosity.
"Uhh..."