Chapter 123: A happy morning

The rising sun cast a rosy hue across the clear morning sky. The golden fingers of sunlight lit up the messy room, forcing the melancholic darkness to escape to their just corners.

As the egg yolk sunny beam reached a big puffy feather-filled double blanket, it's resident slowly came back from the land of dreams, her little feet cheekily pried out from its protective shield. The slow and exploratory movements were followed by a muffled yawn. 

A messy blonde haystack, the top of the owner's head slowly showed itself, followed by a pair of defiant, closed eyelids. Her lithe arms flew out from the comfy feathery ocean, flying to the sky. 

The loud stretching exercise, which was accompanied by another loud yawn, eventually given enough willpower for the person, to slowly raise her eyelids revealing her beautiful aquamarine eyes.

Turning her head towards the window, a small smile crept on the edges of her lips. She really liked the clear summer sky. Her mind still booting for its morning routine, she absentmindedly reached to her right addressing the person that used to sleep next to her in the last few days.

"Good morning brother!" She spoke while gently swiping towards her brother's head area.

However, when her hand hit the pillow instead of its intended target, she looked to the right with more vigilance this time, only to notice she was alone. Her heartbeat immediately increased, she nervously looked around, only to notice she was sleeping in her own bed, and not in her brother's, where she usually went after getting home each day. 

Frowning at her own stupidity, she grudgingly stood up, and with one last yawn, she left the comfort of her bed, walking to where she was supposed to be in the first place, the other side of the room, her brother's much comfier sleep bunk.

Along the way, her mind completely ignored the two black mounds puffing at the side. It was way too early for weird stuff like that! Her destination, her desire to get into her brother's domain was the only thing that mattered to her sleepy mind currently.

Arriving at the destination, she was about to sneak in and was already picturing the moment when she snuggled into his embrace only for a few extra precious minutes for a happy morning, when she noticed that it was missing the key component, her brother wasn't there!

Her previous nervousness resurfaced with newfound vigor. Turning around, frantically looking to each corner and sides of the room, her heart was palpitating madly. 

Suddenly her eyes found something new, something unexpected at the ground next to her own bunk, two large black mounds, going up and down as the creatures breathed. The black mounds sparked some of the events of last night to resurface, causing her to tightly clench her adorable fists. Walking to the two still sleeping dogs, she crouched down, gently patting both of their heads.

Releasing a heavy sigh, she continued her patting session, now with both hands, while also giving a hearty smack on the top of their heads. This action seemed to be a temporary cure for her agitated, troubled mind, forgetting her previous folly, she spent the next few minutes hugging and playing with the waking dogs. 

Although these massive war hounds were terrifying monsters in the eyes of their enemies, in the hands of Lily, they were playful little kids, enjoying the girl's affection. A happy giggle filled the air, as Lily planted yet another loud smack on one of the doggies. 

"Ehehehe, you two are so cute! Since you are staying with us now, I will have to think about naming you guys!" 

Looking at the door, caused her expression to turn sour. She now was awake enough to know and remember most of the events of yesterday, but she had no memory of what happened after she left with Granny. 

Gazing at the closed wooden door, she mumbled into the air.

"I... I have to find out what happened with brother…"

Giving one last pat on the head to both dogs, she stood up and walked to the doorway. As she reached for the lever, she noticed as she looked at her own arm, that she was still in her pajamas. Hesitating, she pulled her arm back, walking towards her side of the room. 

Opening a drawer, she quickly dressed, combed her hair, and used the small already prepared wash basin to wash her face. Only then, she felt ready to leave the safety of her 'fortress'.

Leaving the room, her ears perked as a familiar tune reached them. Turning her head towards the source of the sound, she found the merrily humming Granny who was in the middle of preparing the table for a hearty breakfast.

Noticing the sudden gaze, she turned towards the now-awake girl, and with a gentle smile on her face, she waved for her to come closer.

"Come, dearie, help me set up the table. We have been waiting for you to wake up."

As she arrived, Granny immediately pulled her into a big hug. Caressing the top of her head, she gently whispered.

"Tell me, dearie, how are you feeling?"

Only now did Granny notice the two dogs as they silently followed after Lily, still obediently following Aiden's command from yesterday.

Giving a contented nod towards them, she released the girl from her embrace. Seeing that she had a question forming, she patiently waited, looking at her with her usual calming, gentle smile.

A moment later, her expectations bore fruit, Lily spoke with clear agitation in her already trembling voice.

"G-granny, where is brother? I-is he okay?"

Hearing the question she already expected caused her to chuckle. Reaching for the top of her head, she patted her head, messing up her just combed golden locks. 

"Ahahaha, oh you troubled child. You worry about him instead of yourself?"

Frowning, Lily reached for Granny's head, trying to free herself from the terror. 

"Granny! S-stop it! Tell me where he is, please!"

Seeing her expression, Granny calmed herself and pointed towards the backyard.

"Don't worry dearie, he is fine. Go check it yourself in the backyard. If you listen carefully you can already hear the sounds of their training."

Perking her ears, she indeed just noticed the faint noises of her brother shouting and two bodies clashing. Unable to restrain herself any longer, she immediately turned and bolted towards the backyard, leaving Granny in the dust.

Granny just smiled at the girl while gently shaking her head.

"Oh, you poor troubled child. Life is indeed unfair to you... I hope with his help, you can put this nightmare behind."

Then looking at the two dogs who were looking towards the receding backline of their new mistress, she patted their heads, grabbing their attention. With her trademark gentle smile on her face, she asked them.

"Leave them for a bit, okay? What would you both like to eat? Something tasty I bet!"

She laughed at her own joke once again while she stood back up and reached for two meaty bones from the table.

It didn't take long for Lily to reach the backyard and with a loud bang flung open the door. Although she could already see that Aiden was okay and was in a heated sparring session with Number 3, she couldn't help herself, she had just had to go and feel her warmth.

"Broooother!" Her cry echoed through the wind, interrupting their spar. In the next moment, a blonde little rocket flew through the air pushing Aiden down to the ground before he had any chance to react. 

She couldn't calm herself, her tears once again stained her freshly washed face. Sitting up, Aiden hugged the girl's back, who was already tightly latched onto him. Looking at his master with a helpless expression, he could only smile wryly. 

Number 3 only gently smiled at the scene, and while shaking her head, she raised her hand signaling that everything is okay, and he should just spend time with her for now. 

While their training was important as Aiden desperately needed to learn some control over his own abilities and emotions, right now, healing the troubled heart of her sister was much more important.

Turning around, she silently left, leaving the two alone in the hoary morning grassy field.

"Brooother!!! I was so worried!" Amidst her sobs, her trembling voice could be heard.

"Silly girl, what is there to worry about? What could happen to me, when I know my big sis was waiting for me to get back? We just rescued the Nortons and left as well. Nothing bad happened, calm down." Aiden gently whispered, ending it with a hearty smack on the top of her head.

The magical smooch seemed to have some calming effect, as the sobs slowly died down, receding into some teary sniffing.

"W-where are they? How are they?" Lily stutteringly asked between two sniffs.

"Don't worry, they will be fine. We healed them enough so they would be stable and then left them with professional healers. Granny and Master also erased the painful memories from them, they will not be troubled by those horrors. They will be fine once they get their health back."

Lily didn't answer but just by listening to her slowly sniffing, Aiden could tell that she should be fine now. Keeping up the hug, he slowly stood up. Looking towards the door, he merely whispered as if afraid to scare away the frightened animal.

"Let's go, big sis, the breakfast should be ready."

To that, a barely audible meek "Uhm" could be heard.