As the people watched in awe of the monumental transformation of the Heart of Civilization, a giggle sliced through the silence.
Baron, a small figure in his black ethereal armor, seemed to shrink even more as he stood in front of the majestic feline, his eyes wide and gleaming with innocent excitement.
"Kitty~!"
He exclaimed, rushing towards the larger-than-life spectral creature.
The enormous cat, shimmering with a spectral glow and looking every bit as regal as a leopard, lowered its head to meet the child's approach. The golden designs glowed brightly on its dark coat, giving it an otherworldly aura.
"Vrrr~!"
The cat's purr resonated across the square, a low, harmonic, and strangely soothing sound.
The citizens watching the livestream could almost feel the vibration, and comments flowed in.
[ Aww that purr is soooo cute~! ]
[ That lil' boy is so brave! If I were him, I'd be peeing my pants right now! ]
Baron, with all the fearlessness of a three-year-old, reached out and patted the cat's head. He gave out a hearty laugh that was filled with pure joy.
"Soft Kitty~! Hehehe"
The sight of the mighty Heart of Civilization gently nuzzling the tiny child was endearing.
A delicate balance between its formidable aura and the tender affection it showed Baron painted a heartwarming scene.
Emboldened by the cat's acquiescence, Baron began to play.
He pushed at the cat's paw, eliciting another, "Vrr~!" from the creature.
The child's laughter filled the square as he rolled around with the massive cat, their playful noises echoing off the buildings.
Unexpectedly, the Heart of Civilization, now in the form of the spectral cat, let out a rather inelegant
"Buurp~!"
The feline creature blinked its vibrant eyes in surprise, its ears twitching slightly as if embarrassed.
Baron, who had been in the midst of a gleeful roll, paused and looked at the cat.
His round, innocent eyes went even wider.
"Kitty burp~! Hahaha! "
He declared loudly, pointing a chubby finger at the creature.
[ OMG!! Kitty burped! That's adorable and hilarious!! ]
[ ROFL!! After eating two Hearts, it burped! ]
[ Chat! Doesn't his ethereal armor look just like King Brandon's ]
[ +1 ]
[ +1 ]
[ OMG… Could it be… What that white haired chick said… ]
Amidst the laughter and warmth, a streak of pink and purple rushed towards the playful duo of Baron and the spectral cat.
Ruby, hand in hand with Jade, made her way across the plaza, her brows knitted in concern.
"Auntie Jade! I want to plway with the Kwitty twooo~"
Jade piped up, her small voice filled with determination and a hint of whining.
Her tiny feet stumbled as she tried to keep up with Ruby's hurried pace, but the woman was quick to support her, pulling her up whenever she wobbled.
Just as Ruby was about to reach Baron, she paused, her eyes widening at the figure standing a distance away - Brandon.
"Brandon..."
Ruby breathed out, her voice barely a whisper, recollecting Crystal's previous confession.
She tightened her grip on Jade's hand unconsciously, prompting a confused look from the child.
In the midst of the hustle and bustle, Brandon's gaze was locked onto the twins.
His heart pounded in his chest as he took in the sight of his children - his beautiful twins - who he was seeing for the first time.
Their resemblance to him was uncanny, their hair, their eyes, even their smiles held hints of him.
Walking slowly yet steadily towards them, he finally came to a stop before the duo.
His eyes softened as he knelt down to their eye level.
Baron, still giggling from his encounter with the spectral cat, blinked at the man before him.
"And who might you be?" Brandon asked, his voice gentle.
"I'm Baron!"
The boy replied proudly, a big grin on his face.
"And I'm Jade!"
The little girl chimed in, letting go of Ruby's hand and running to her brother.
At that moment, a soft voice echoed through the plaza.
Crystal had finally arrived, her eyes glassy as she witnessed the scene unfolding before her.
"Brandon…"
She called out gently, her voice laced with a smorgasbord of emotions.
"Mommy~~!!!"
they squealed, their tiny bodies colliding into Crystal's with unrestrained delight. Their laughter filled the air, a melody so pure it felt like a healing balm to the previously tense atmosphere.
Seeing them, Crystal's face lit up with a joy that was so palpable it radiated off her.
She crouched down to meet them, her arms immediately pulling them into a warm, comforting embrace.
There was such tenderness in her eyes as she held them close, whispering sweet words into their ears, her hands gently ruffling their hair.
As he watched them, Brandon could feel a surge of emotions threatening to overwhelm him.
It was a strange cocktail of happiness, yearning, and a touch of sorrow that coalesced and crashed into him like a tidal wave.
'Is this how it feels to be a father?'
He mused, his eyes never leaving the trio.
'To watch your children grow and laugh, even from a distance...'
Crystal looked up from the happy bundle of her twins, her eyes finding Brandon's standing in front of them.
With a soft smile, she gently disentangled herself from the twins and rose to her feet.
"Baron, Jade,"
She began, her voice calm and soothing.
"There's someone I want you to meet."
Their little faces tilted up to look at her, curiosity sparkling in their eyes. She extended her hand, an unspoken invitation to Brandon.
Taking it as his cue, Brandon stepped forward, his heart hammering in his chest.
His gaze was soft as he looked at the two small beings who were his flesh and blood.
Crystal glanced at him, her gaze full of warmth and understanding, then back at the children. She held their hands in hers, giving them a comforting squeeze.
"This is... your father, Brandon,"
She said, her voice clear and resolute.
The children's eyes widened in surprise, their gazes quickly turning to the towering figure approaching them.
Brandon knelt down to be on their eye level, his strong features softened by a warm smile.
"Hello, Baron. Hello, Jade."
He greeted, his voice just above a whisper.