Archer looked around only to notice Freya gazing up at him. A smile crept across his face as he leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. ’’I love you, little lady,’’ he lovingly said. ’’Now let’s sleep so more and give your mothers so rest.’’
She nuzzled her head against him as the two of them fell asleep. The storm outside was still going, but it wasn’t as bad as the tsunami. Following that, he loved cuddling his girls, while being extrely comfortable.
As they slept, a sharp knock echoed through the room. Sia and Hecate entered, their faces lighting up with warm smiles upon seeing them. They paused in the doorway, their eyes softening at the sight before them.
Archer lay sprawled across the cushion, fast asleep, the four babies nestled snugly against him. Each infant looked blissfully content, their little chests rising and falling in sync with his steady breathing.
A soft blanket was draped loosely over the group, one baby clutching a corner in a tiny fist. Sia stifled a giggle, nudging Hecate gently. ’’Look at him,’’ she whispered, her voice warm. ’’Big tough Archer, turned into a human pillow.’’
The Moon Elf’s lips curved into a fond smile, her gaze lingering on the peaceful scene. ’’They’ve got him wrapped around their little fingers,’’ she murmured, stepping closer.
She reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from Archer’s face, careful not to disturb the sleeping babies. ’’Should we wake them?’’
Sia shook her head, her eyes sparkling thanks to the mischief. ’’Let them sleep. But I’m teasing him about this later.’’
The older woman pulled out her Mana Stone, snapping a quick photo of the adorable tangle of limbs and blankets. ’’For blackmail purposes,’’ she added, grinning.
Hecate chuckled softly, then gestured toward the door. ’’Co on, let’s get so tea and give them a bit longer. They’re too cozy to disturb.’’
With one last glance at the heartwarming sight, the two won slipped quietly out of the room, their footsteps fading as the gentle rhythm of sleep filled the space once more, the sun beginning to set.
Hours later, Archer stirred awake, the soft warmth of the girls still nestled against him, anchoring him to the mont. As his eyes opened, he found two pairs of wide eyes gazing up at him, Neoma and Evelyn, their tiny faces glowing.
Their stares sparked a low chuckle from deep within his chest, the sound rumbling softly in the quiet room. ’’Well, good morning, my little darlings,’’ he murmured.
Leaning down, he pressed a gentle kiss to Neoma’s forehead, then another to Evelyn’s, their soft skin warm against his lips. The girls squealed in delight, their giggles bubbling up like a lody.
’’C’re, you two,’’ he teased, gently pulling them closer into the crook of his arms, coaxing them back toward sleep.
Their laughter softened into contented sighs as they snuggled against him, their tiny hands clutching at his shirt. His fingers found their hair, gently twirling Neoma’s silky curls and stroking Evelyn’s fine, wispy strands.
Archer noticed their eyes grew heavy as they drifted back into a peaceful sleep, breaths punctuated by the occasional adorable coo. As the girls settled, his gaze shifted to the window, where the first hints of dawn painted the sky in colors of lavender and gold.
The soft light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room, and illuminating the sleeping forms of the other two babies still tucked against him. Their tiny snores and gentle whimpers blended with the quiet morning.
He leaned back, careful not to disturb his daughters, and let the mont wash over him, a fleeting, perfect pause in the chaos of the world outside. Just then, Leira, Sia, and Hecate stepped into the room.
’’Morning, handso,’’ Sia comnted, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. ’’We’re here to feed the girls their breakfast. You know how grumpy they get when they’re hungry.’’
Hecate and the other mother, Leira, nodded in agreent, their expressions a mix of amusent and maternal determination. Archer’s deep laugh rumbled through the room, stirring the peaceful air as he carefully disentangled himself from the sleeping babies.
’’Can’t have my little girls turning into tiny terrors,’’ he teased, his eyes twinkling.
He gently scooped up Neoma and Kela, the twins, their sleepy murmurs softening as he cradled them close. With a tender smile, he passed them to Hecate, who accepted them, cooing softly to soothe their stirring.
’’There’s my girls,’’ the Moon Elf whispered, brushing her lips against their foreheads as they nestled into her arms.
Turning to the other two babies, still happily curled up, he lifted them with the sa care, their tiny forms warm and trusting in his hands. He handed Evelyn to the cat woman, who bead as she gathered her.
’’Thanks for keeping them cozy, Arch,’’ Leira said, her tone warm. ’’You’re a natural.’’
Following that, he tried to hand over Freya, but she wasn’t letting go, making everyone laugh. He noticed the little girl was smiling, causing him to poke her belly before tickling her, making the baby erupt into a fit of giggles.
Archer rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. ’’Just doing my part, beautiful,’’ he said, though the pride in his eyes betrayed how much the mont ant to him.
As the won settled, preparing to feed his daughters, he stretched and glanced back at the window, where the dawn’s light now spilled fully into the room, bathing the scene in a soft, hopeful glow.
Just then, Archer turned toward the won while informing them. ’’I’m going to head back to Pluoria and clear out the undead. I can’t risk any more soldiers after the recent attacks, so I’ll clear the empire and help survivors.’’
After that, he went around and kissed them all before teleporting back to the fortress where Ashoka, Maeve, and Inara were. He noticed they were still asleep, making him laugh as he summoned his wings and took off.
He started flying across the Avalon Empire, looking for any enemies that he quickly found, and used his mana to destroy them while sending any survivors he found back to the fortress using a portal.
Archer pressed on through the ravaged lands, aiding survivors wherever he found them, healing wounds with his magic or clearing debris, and offering words of hope amidst the chaos.
’The Alliance did a number on this place,’ he internally growled. ’I’ll turn the central continent into a desert.’
Following that, his journey led him to the outskirts of Starfall City, the once-vibrant capital now a smoldering ruin. From the air, the sight struck him like a blow: plus of dark smoke curled skyward, and tongues of fla licked at the skeletal remains of buildings.
Fires cast an eerie orange glow against the sky. The acrid scent of ash stung his nostrils as he soared closer, his wings cutting through the haze. Drawn by mory and instinct, Archer veered toward the College of Magic a few miles away.
The flight took nearly half an hour, the wind carrying whispers of the city’s forr glory as he navigated over shattered rooftops and scorched streets. As the school ca into view, his breath caught.
’The Alliance didn’t spare even the College?’ he mused.
Archer took in the sight of the place of learning, once alive due to the hum of magic and the laughter of students, now lay in ruin. The towering spires that had pierced the heavens were reduced to jagged stumps.
Stone crumbled into heaps of rubble. The great library, where he had spent ti inside poring over books, was little more than a hollow shell, its walls collapsed inward as if crushed by an unseen force.
The courtyards, once alive with blooming all kinds of flowers and students, were silent, blanketed in ash and debris. He could hear the faint crackle of distant fires as the only sound in the area.
Archer landed softly on the cobblestones, his boots crunching against the remnants of what had been. He stood still for a mont, his eyes tracing the outlines of mories, the classes where he learned about the world.
The training grounds where he’d first clashed with Kassandra and others lay overgrown with wild grass. He cleared a nearby bench and sat, absorbing the nostalgic scene. mories of eting his girls here stirred a pang of irritation,
He vowed to restore the college once he claid Pluoria for Draconia. While sitting there, he sensed sothing coming from one of the buildings, causing him to approach it only to be made jump when Ayrenn the High Elf suddenly appeared.
She was smiling, but when she realized where they were, a concerned expression appeared on her pretty face. ’’What’s wrong, Arch?’’
’’Stay quiet and follow ,’’ he replied as they approached the building that housed the Blacksmith classrooms.
When the duo entered, the place was covered in web and dust, but the faint trail of mana led to a nearby wall. As Archer stopped in front of it, he realized it was a secret entrance, prompting Ayrenn to smile.
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