After the ceremony, she, the elders, and the aborigines went directly to a meeting, aiming to polish what they could before a well-needed rest. When it was all over, everyone congratulated each other, before going out of the room to go their separate ways.
They went down the stairs and Althea stretched her arms, but her yawn paused midway when she saw who was waiting at the bottom steps of the stairs.
It was Sheila and Harold, each holding her children, arrived to pick her up.
"Mwmammaaaa~!"
"Ghghmoghamgga~"
They looked very cute and very very happy to see her fine.
Althea immediately brightened and wanted to kiss her babies, but stopped herself due to all the grime and blood.
In a hurry home, she said her polite goodbyes to the men, with Ansel striding along with her.
However, before going anywhere, she looked at the Aborigines who had been watching everything with warm eyes. Althea paused, turning to the (former) Terrans.
"We should also stop calling them NPCs." She told them, "I know that gamifying this world lessens the load, but our protection will soon disappear."
She paused, finally looking away, sights looking past everything in the territory.
"For better or for worse, we are now part of this world."
…
Althea and the group went home and she quickly took a bath. After that, she hurriedly went out to hug her babies, giving them many, many, smooches on their cute cheeks.
She carried them both to the bed, embracing them with her warmth, feeling their softness.
"I missed you soooo much…" she mumbled, and the two children giggled cutely, and she couldn't help but place another set of pecks on their pudding-like cheeks.
Then little Meatball yawned adorably, followed by Little Pepper, and then Althea herself. She felt her eyelids become heavier and heavier.
As she laid down with her babies in her arms, she used her remaining strength to make an announcement: One asking everyone to get a good rest.
Let them rest for several hours.
The bell would ring when it was time to wake up—to signify that it was time to start preparing for yet another battle.
…
Ferrol Town
"The mobs have been particularly antsy." Bart's right-hand man, Eloi, mumbled as they walked towards the Terran Mercenary camp. He mentioned this because a monster managed to nick his shirt and now he had to buy a new one.
He was a middle-aged man with big eyes and a very high hairline. Like Bart, he also had a large waistline, though it increased lately and he blamed the Terran mercenary team for it.
They had just arrived from their base in Twinwave and noticed the mobs on the way were quite irritated. Fortunately, the mobs around weren't too high, and it didn't cause them too much trouble.
They passed by Ferrol, though mostly to meet Garan and the others. It was because they happened to be going to Cape Rushless, which was not too far away from here and they wanted to see if there was some new stuff to see (and get some exclusive food by the way).
But when they got to the Terran Mercenary Team's camp, they saw them packing up, as if preparing to go somewhere far. Bart also noticed there were several people who were not there.
And also…, they were all covered up in bandages? "What happened to you?"
Reuben shrugged, "Encountered some hard stubble."
Another—the pale-skinned Minko—nodded. "Very hard stubble."
"..."
However, they basically ignored him and were busy packing up. He noticed somewhat of a flurry in their movements.
Bart watched patiently as they finished up, with those who completed their tasks earlier looking in the direction of the fog. They looked both worried and excited and it made Bart very curious.
He walked over to Eagle, who seemed relatively freer now than the others, but he was obviously a bit antsy.
"Level 5 Mobs were found entering the fog a day before," Eagle told him, face pale. "Captain and the others hand already gone to take a look."
Bart flinched a bit, narrowing his eyes. He knew these people had something to do with the fog, and it seemed their connection was deeper than they thought.
According to what the rumors he heard a few days ago… he kind of worried for this team.
"All of you are going?"
He shook his head. "Only those with relatives there," he said. That was to say, all Aborigines would remain to watch their properties.
Bart thought for a while before nodding. Curious, he offered to come with them in the end, and Eagle and the others gladly agreed.
Maybe they'd get more information along the way.
…
They arrived at the border of the cloud several hours later, which would have taken longer had Bart and the others not come.
After all, there were really a lot of aggressive monsters around. Such a strong group really helped them breeze through it.
Bart received the team's gratitude (in the form of good snacks) with a smile, and he turned his head to look for the advanced team.
Soon, he saw Garan and the rest in full gear, eyes never leaving the cloud in front of them.
It was obvious they would be traveling, for a long time.
"There were changes?" Bart asked, approaching the serious man while taking a bite of the heavenly snack they gave him.
Garan nodded. "It seems like a month has passed."
"What are you planning?" He asked him as well as Gill, who was standing still next to him.
"We will find our relatives, of course."
Bart nodded, having such an idea.
"Well, then, I hope you succeed." Bart paused. "And don't forget our business!"
Garan nodded. "Of course." He needed to feed his wife well, after all.
However, before going, Bart couldn't help but give them a bit of warning.
Bart walked over and said with a lowered voice, "I heard… a few forces are mobilizing in this direction."
This made the Terrans whip their heads to him with furrowed eyebrows. Attention from aborigines of this kind of world… was definitely not a good thing.
Bart raised his hand. "That's all I know."
Garan sighed and nodded, "Thanks for the warning."
Bart sighed and just wished them good luck before bidding his farewell. The man continued on to his destination, leaving the Terrans behind to watch the changes, thinking deeply about what could happen.
They set up camp right next to the cloud, lighting fires, and cooking meals. Except for a couple of monster groups, the wait was relatively peaceful.
But soon they noticed their barbeque sticks started moving, and the charcoal started rolling.
Gill sighed. "It's another mob," he said. Everyone else took out their weapons and prepared for the monsters they'd be facing.
But they noticed this mob seemed a bit larger than others so they packed up and found a higher ground so as to not be surrounded.
It was a mob of Suide, predominantly level 8 and 9, probably attracted by the smell of their food. They dealt with them with relative ease, with no injuries whatsoever.
It was just that the wind users' abilities accidentally wisped away the smell, some of the escaping mob went in the direction of the fog by chance.
The team went nearer the fog and planned to kill the monsters when they came out of the fog.
But, who knew…
After several minutes, the mob still hadn't come out yet!
"What? Are they inside??"
"Huh?"
"The fog is clearing!!!" Someone yelled and they looked up to see that it was true.
Their eyes widened as they looked closer, watching the cloud slowly ebb. However, instead of relief, they only felt heavy with worry.
They had hoped the return of relatively higher monsters would take a while to get here, but apparently not. No matter how amazing, the Terrans definitely wouldn't reach level 8 or 9 within a month.
Garan's heart beat frantically, terrified of what his wife might have to face next.
"Let's go!!!" He yelled, and everyone rushed into the fog—hearts all calling for their own loved ones.
Please be alright, wife!