The following day.

After eating breakfast in the dining room, the couple went back to their room. ​​

Graven hugged his wife and planted a kiss on her head. "Our coal mining business will have an expansion in the next town. I already purchased the area. Unfortunately, some thugs are giving the workers a hard time. My men and I have to do some sweeping down the area before the business can be established properly..."

"So...?" she raised a brow.

"I'll be gone a couple of days. I'll just pop up here and gone again. I can't stay long until the coal is already established there," Graven explained.

Laura sighed. "Ok. Take care of yourself..."

Graven cupped her face. "Don't be upset, my love, okay?" he said.

Laura smiled. "I'm not upset. I'll be missing you!" she said and hugged him tightly.

Graven planted a kiss on her head. "Don't worry, I'll have Grandpa Terros come here to check on you guys while I'm away," he said.

"Ok!" Laura said. "I love you!" she said, her eyes shone with love and affection for her husband.

"I love you too!" Graven replied affectionately.

They kissed each other on the lips. Their passionate kiss lasted for a few minutes.

"I'll get going..." Graven said.

"Take care of yourself, husband!" Laura said.

"You too and the baby!" he said and kissed her lips one last time.

Laura looked at her husband fondly.

Graven smiled and disappeared from the room in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile...

At Grandpa Terros's place.

He just came back from getting drinking water from the stream. He climbed the stairs and deposited the water jug in the kitchen.

He took a mug and made himself a hot coffee. He retired into the balcony while sipping his drink.

He was pondering about Sofia, wondering where she is right now. He had scouted the neighboring areas around the manor, but he failed to find the runaway girl. Where could she be right now? He hoped that she's in good hands.

He was in that state of deep thoughts when Veronica suddenly materialized on the balcony.

"Grandpa! I'm back!" she said in a cheerful voice.

Terros smiled brightly and looked at the bag she was carrying in her hands. "What is inside that bag made of leather?" he asked curiously.

"Ah, this-? They're all elixirs!" Veronica answered and put the bag on the table. "We completed making the elixirs! The main ingredient is the thousand-year-old tree mixed with different roots of herbal plants that can only be found in that secret cave! And here's the complete list of instructions and dosage on how to administer the herbal medicines," she said and handed the piece of paper with written instructions to him.

Terros's eyes twinkled in happiness. "That's great! How many elixirs you have made so far?" he asked while looking at the bag.

"We made a total of five elixirs!" Veronica answered proudly. She removed the bottles from the bag and lined them up on the table.

"Awesome!" Terros gushes in delight. "I hope one of them is effective in getting rid of the black liquid lurking inside Graven and his men's bodies before it will attack them again," he said.

"Let's hope for the best and prepare for the worst!" Veronica said.

"How is the deity?" he asked.

"She's pregnant and loving every minute of it. I've never seen her so happy before, only now! She's looking forward to welcoming her baby into this world and become a mother!" Veronica answered.

Terros sighed. "She's still not open to the idea of letting Graven know that he fathered her child?"

Veronica shook her head. "We haven't talked about that topic lately. We're focused on making the elixirs on time before the next attack will come," she said. "By the way, has Graven come here lately?"

"Not yet... maybe he's still busy finding his missing sister-in-law," Terros replied.

"Why did it take him so long to find his sister-in-law? Didn't he used the powder I've given him before when he was looking for his wife?" she asked.

"Maybe it's no longer effective, or he doesn't have the powder with him anymore," he answered.

"He can always ask for more. I still have some in my room," Veronica said.

"Okay. I'll tell Graven when he comes here," he said. "By the way, are you going to go back to the deity's place tonight?" he inquired.

"No. I'll stay here for tonight. Tomorrow afternoon I'll go back there," Veronica replied.

"Good! Would you like to go with me to Graven's manor where his wife Laura was staying together with her family?" he offered.

"Sure! Since I have nothing to do here," she responded.

"And then afterward, would you like to help me find Laura's missing sister? Maybe we will get lucky to find her this time," he said.

"Sure! I would love to help you find the runaway girl. Count me in!" she said eagerly.

"Ok. Let's water the plant and feed the animals first before going to Laura's place," he said.

"Alrighty!" Veronica replied.

They began their work and finished one hour later.

They went back to their rooms and changed their clothes.

A few minutes later, they exited their rooms.

Terros looked at his companion. "Ready?"

"Yep!" Veronica replied. She clasped his right arm, and together they vanished from the house.

They appeared inside Graven's manor, where Laura lives.

They stood in the middle of the living room.

"This is where Graven and his wife live," Terros said.

"I see. Wow, it's a big house! It's looking grand! The sofa looks comfortable to sit!" she gushes.

"Yes, it is a grand house indeed!" Terros replied.

"And look at the majestic chandelier hanging in the ceiling and the staircase! Awesome!" Veronica raved.

A female servant came into the living room. "Good afternoon, Grandpa!" she conveyed her greetings.

"Can I talk to Lady Laura?" Terros asked.

"Ok. I'll go upstairs and informed the lady of your presence," the servant replied.

"Wait... any news about Sofia?" he asked.

The servant smiled brightly. "She's already back home!"

Terros smiled. "Wow! That's great! Did Graven found her?" he asked.

"No. Sofia returned on her own," the servant explained.

"Ah, okay. That's good!" Terros said. "You may go now," he said.

The servant turned around and climbed the stairs going to the second floor.

"Let's have a seat..." Terros said to his companion.

They lowered themselves on the sofa.

"Looks like I came here too late. The missing girl is already back home from her little vacation!" Veronica commented with a joke.

Terros smiled. "Interesting! But I'm grateful that Sofia is already home safe. Laura and her parents were worried sick to death when she went missing, and no one can find her," he said.

"All ends well. Problem solved!" Veronica said. "I just hope the girl will no longer run away next time..."

"Hope so!" Terros spoke.

Meanwhile...

Upstairs on the second floor.

The servant knocked on the door of the master's bedroom. "Lady Laura! Grandpa Terros is waiting for you in the living room. He brought a lady with him!"

"I hear you. I'll come down in a moment! Prepare a refreshment for the visitors!" Laura replied from the inside of the room.

"Yes, my lady. I'll take my leave now," the servant said and walked in the hallway going back to the staircase.

Inside the master's bedroom.

Laura changed into a new maternity dress, combed her hair in front of the mirror, and exited the room. While walking in the hallway, she was pondering who is this lady that Terros have brought into the manor? She must be someone important to him because he won't bring a stranger into the manor due to their delicate situation. Graven told her a few times about Veronica, Terros's housemate, that he considers his daughter. She must be the lady! No one else!

She reached the staircase and descended.

Veronica looked at the woman coming down the stairs. "Is she Laura, Graven's wife?" she asked.

"Yes, she is!" Terros replied.

"She's indeed beautiful and heavily pregnant!" Veronica gushes.

Laura's feet landed on the floor. She walked towards the sofa and smiled at the visitors. "Grandpa! Thank you for visiting today!" she said and sat on the couch facing them.

"I come here and bring Veronica with me so that she can help us find Sofia. It turns out that she's already back home. I'm glad that she's back now," Terros said.

"Yes, she just returned yesterday afternoon!" Laura replied jovially.

"Ah, let me introduce to you my adopted daughter, Veronica! And this is Laura!" Terros said. He introduced the two women to each other.

"Hello, Laura... nice meeting you!" Veronica said.

"Nice meeting you too, Veronica!" Laura responded with a smile.

The women exchanged pleasantries with each other.

"So... Sofia is... okay?" Terros asked.

"Yeah. We're thankful that a kindhearted couple gave Sofia a ride to the next town and offered their house for her to stay temporarily for a few days. After a while, she decided to return home. Finally, she's back safe and sound!" Laura said.

"No injury or wounds?" he asked to clarify the doubts in his mind.

"Yup! She's fine. Thank God!" Laura replied.

"That's great!" Terros smiled.

The servant came into the living room and placed the refreshment on the center table.

"Let's have some snacks!" Laura offered the food to the visitors. She picked up the pitcher and poured the orange juice into the glasses and handed them to the visitors. "The rice cakes were freshly baked. Please have a taste!" she said.

Veronica smiled. "Thank you!"

"Don't mention it!" Laura returned her smile.

Laura and the visitors ate their snacks in comfortable silence.

Fifteen minutes later, they finished their snacks.

"Thanks for the tasty snack, Laura. We've better get going!" Terros said.

"Thanks for visiting our home, guys! Come again next time! Don't you like to stay for dinner?" Laura offered.

"Maybe next time? We're going to the market to buy some stuff for my house in the forest," Terros said.

"Okay. Next time, bring Veronica with you," Laura said.

"Sure!" Terros said.

"Bye, Laura," Veronica said sweetly. "Thanks for the tasty snack!"

Laura smiled. "You're welcome! Come back again some other time," she said.

Veronica looked at Terros, and they vanished from the living room in the blink of an eye.

Laura left the living room and joined her family in the backyard.