Chapter 242 - Reality (6)

Using the ice platforms created by Shalia, Luke crossed the ocean… at least five hundred meters of it. Regardless, the island had a dense forest that was quite dark and humid, so he couldn't find any traces of Danielle. It was quite a surprise that no monster laid waste to those trees when most parts of the vegetation in the continent had been burned over the years. The island was like four kilometers long and six wide, so Danielle will have an easy time hiding from Luke. Fortunately, Sylah appeared as soon as they landed. He looked troubled and exhausted, his face almost made Luke feel pity toward him since Shalia wanted to punish him even more than Luke. Still, naughty kids need to be punished and they deserved it.

"Sylah… do you have any idea how many problems you have caused us?" Shalia asked in anger which made her mana vibrate the air around. 

"I am sorry, big sis…" Sylah said. "Danielle said that she wanted to see our world and then try to help, but since we came, she only looked for a place to hide."

"Where is she?" Luke asked. 

"I don't know… while I am like this, I can't exactly find her since she is using a concealing skill," Sylah replied.

Luke sighed… Sylah was a brat through and through… he was even shorter than Danielle, so he was probably younger as well. Nevertheless, he left him behind to be punished for Shalia. In any case, Luke looked for footsteps on the island. While apparently, Danielle has been hiding for several days. Even from Sylah, she had to move to drink water and find food. Unfortunately, the grass was also quite tall in some areas, so Luke had a hard time losing the traces and confusing new with the old ones.

"Danielle! Show up! We need to talk!" Luke shouted.

Luke didn't hear any answer, but he was sure that his voice echoed throughout the whole island. She really didn't want to see him, but Luke had to keep trying. After several hours, though, he was starting to get tired. Even Shalia Sylah had already joined them, and she punished her cousin until she got sick of it.

"Why don't you say that about the broccoli thing?" Shalia asked.

"... I have the feeling that it will be counterproductive if I say it," Luke said.

Luke kept looking for several more hours, but then the sun began to set. Moving would be a pain in such a dense forest. Finding someone who was hiding using magic would be even harder. Still, Luke couldn't give up yet. So, he asked for his friends to split up, and he also asked Rina to hide inside his armor. In the end, his plan worked quite soon…

"What do you want? You liar…" Danielle's voice echoed through the area.

"I have come to bring you home. Everyone is worried about you," Luke said while looking around and not finding Danielle.

"My home isn't your home," Danielle said. "There is no one waiting for me at home."

"I am sorry for lying, Danielle… I just didn't want to make your cry," Luke said. "I lied to you, but my worries and how much my parents care about you are the real deal."

Danielle didn't say anything. She either didn't know what to say, or she knew that it was true. Those two invited her two live with them and shared many meals together. They might not be her real family, but they tried their best to make her feel comfortable.

"Let's go back home, Danielle. I want to show you something cool," Luke said. "The base changed a lot while you were away. It can fly now, you know."

"Don't treat me like I am a stupid child!" Danielle raised her voice.

"I am not. I even gave up on putting into action the broccoli plan," Luke said. "I might have neglected you for the past few months, but you still are an important friend. It would be great if we could become like siblings, but I would settle just for friendship if you think that is enough. Just tell me what I need to do to make it up to you."

"Just leave me alone, liar," Danielle said.

"That is the only thing I can't do," Luke said.

Things got silent again, and Luke didn't know what to say or do. He wasn't that tactful, and saying sorry was the best he could do when he was in the wrong. In the end, Luke just focused his senses on the area, and after clearing his mind, he began to feel someone breathing a few meters behind him. When he approached and touched Danielle's head, her skill lost its effect. Before she could do anything, Luke hugged her tightly.

"I am sorry, Danielle… you are physically strong, but I underestimated your mind," Luke said. "I didn't want to see you like this, but I only ended up delaying it. Cry as much as you want now, Danielle. It is okay. I will wait here until you dry all of your tears. Everyone will be waiting for your return when you are ready to do so."

Danielle for a short while, but eventually, she relaxed. Everyone treated her like she was made of glass, so until now, she avoided getting depressed, but Luke's words made her let out all of her sadness. People have to mourn when they lose someone close to them, which is the only way for them to be able to move on with their lives afterward. Danielle wasn't allowed to do that until now, but once she did it, she cried until she fell asleep in Luke's arms.

"What a kind big brother you are," Rina said.

"Nah, I still have ways to go with this type of stuff," Luke said. "I always tried to avoid getting close to others to avoid feeling their pain, but that is the path of cowards."