Chapter 64 - 64 - Back Home Again

When Ren regained consciousness, he was back at home and in his own bed. It hurt all over.

Daddy? A soft voice called and Shadow nudged Ren's face with his little wet nose.

"Hello, my little Shadow," Ren whispered. "What's happening?"

Shadow's big golden eyes were misty. Daddy hurt?

Ren couldn't deny it, but he raised his bandaged hand and rubbed the little pup's grey fur gently. "What have you been up to while I was gone? Did Papa and Uncle Pax give you nice treats?" he asked softly.

At the mention of treats, the puppy's attention was successfully diverted.

Ren sat up gingerly and smiled wryly. This situation was getting a little too repetitive for his comfort, he thought to himself. The original Ren-the-villain had not been in the habit of fainting or getting injured this often, for sure!

Ren looked around the room, hoping Wolf had remembered to bring his suitcase back with him. He'd bought various kinds of puppy treats and kitten treats at each of the places he'd visited, and now that he was home, he couldn't wait to see which ones his fur babies liked best! The ones they liked, Ren would import in large quantities. Fang would probably scold him, though...

Thinking of Fang, Ren sighed softly. He was alarmed and grateful in equal measures...which put him in a dilemma. He was terrified that Fang still had the tendency to harm himself...and he was glad that he'd left the reflection magic on him. He'd actually put the reflection magic on Fang after the roof incident and had nearly forgotten about it. It was only when he'd decided to run away and sulk for a while that he remembered it... because even while throwing a tantrum, Fang's safety was always Ren's biggest concern.

Ren found the suitcase by the side of his wardrobe. He got off the bed with slow movements and went over. Taking out several different types of treats, he dangled them in front of Shadow, who got very excited.

Ren laughed. "Little foodie," he murmured, watching the pup eat happily...and remembering a little too late Fang's repeated warnings of not feeding the fur babies in the bedroom.

After Shadow finished eating, Ren picked him up and walked out of the room, wondering where everyone else was.

He found Pax in the living room downstairs, working furiously on his laptop while Snow snoozed lazily by his side. Wolf, too, was stretched out on the sofa nearby, with Smoke sleeping on his chest.

The white kitten looked up when Ren entered the room and rushed to him immediately.

Daddy I missed you. She said sweetly.

Daughters were the cutest, Ren thought, picking her up and stroking her soft fur.

"Daddy got you treats, little one," Ren murmured. He put down the two furballs in his arms and went over to Pax, who was glaring at him silently.

Smoke bounded over to Ren as well, and Wolf sat up, too, and glared at Ren just like his brother.

Daddy better? Smoke asked.

Ren picked up his third fur baby and petted him as well. Then he took their bowls and poured out treats for Snow and Smoke. Shadow gave him a pitiful look and Ren couldn't bear it, so he poured out some more for him as well.

Ren looked at Pax and Wolf. "Thank you," he said gratefully. "You really saved me this time."

"If you weren't so bloody delicate, I'd beat you up right now!" Wolf growled angrily. "What the hell were you thinking, using reflection magic like that?!"

"You could at least have warned one of us," Pax pointed out.

Ren looked away awkwardly. "I actually put it on Fang much earlier and forgot about it until I suddenly felt like running away for a bit..." he murmured. Then something struck him. "Hold on...you're both... magicians?!"

"Highest level," Wolf said proudly. "Although your magic is probably more powerful, from what we figured out over the last two days."

Ren blinked. "I've been out for two days...?"

Pax nodded.

Ren groaned. "Where's Fang?" he asked.

"With his therapist," Pax replied. "Speaking of which, you need to pay a visit to both the psychiatrist and the therapist who are treating Fang. They especially made a request."

Ren was happily surprised at that bit of news. Fang was finally willing to get some treatment!

"When did this happen?" he asked eagerly.

Pax told him all about it, right up to Fang's experiment with the knife.

"Fang says he didn't intend to harm himself at all," Pax said. "I think the truth may be slightly different. He probably intended to make a small cut initially, but got curious when the knife bounced off and started stabbing earnestly when he realised that his skin was somehow impenetrable." He glared at Ren again. "You utter idiot. Fang's properly traumatized now...but I doubt he'll ever try to harm himself deliberately again."

Ren grinned mischievously. "Then the reflection magic has achieved better results than I expected," he said. "I'm glad."

"You nearly died, you moron!" Wolf yelled.

Ren waved nonchalantly. "I wouldn't die of something like this. My emergency magic would have kicked in if I got critically injured," he said lightly. "I'm not suicidal in the least. It's just that...if one of us has to get hurt, I'd rather it be me than Fang."

"Incorrigible," Pax said with a sigh. "At least warn me beforehand about things like this next time, ok?"

Ren nodded seriously. "Tomorrow, I'll discuss with you about the residual magic I've left on Fang and all variants of its manifestation."

Pax shot him a strange look and then agreed.

"Should we go and pick up Fang now? I can meet his therapist and his psychiatrist now if they're available," Ren said.

Pax shook his head. "I'll set up appointments with them in a few days." He narrowed his eyes. "Today, I think, you need to spend time with Fang and discuss things frankly."

The three fur babies' ears perked up. Papa is back!