Katelyn furrowed her brows, puzzled by his behavior. It had been days since she’d agreed to Austen’s peculiar request. Logically, he should have returned to Yata by now. Yet, here he was, still lingering in Granville, a choice as perplexing as it was uncharacteristic. His prolonged stay in Granville defied reason.

Vincent raised an eyebrow, his voice steady.

“Let’s not overthink it for now. We’ll deal with him when we get to Yata.” All Katelyn could do was nod along.

Meanwhile, in the airport lounge’s snack shop, Alfy and Ashlyn were busy turning the snack counter into their personal treasure trove. Alfy, practically bouncing with excitement, stood at the entrance, waving enthusiastically.

“Katelyn! Over here! What do you want to eat?”

Katelyn composed herself, gathering their belongings before walking over.

A glance at the shop’s shelves—and at the mountainous pile in Alfy’s arms—told her that the apprentice had literally raided the shop! Raising an eyebrow, Katelyn remarked, “You’ve bought so much. Are you sure you can finish it all?”

Alfy giggled, her joy as unrestrained as a bubbling brook.

“Who cares? Everything looks so good! You should pick something too!”

Katelyn chuckled, shaking her head lightly.

“No need. What you’ve got is plenty. Here, give me your bag before you drop everything and make a mess.”

The snacks piled in Alfy’s arms threatened to topple over like an unstable tower. At this rate, walking would soon be out of the question. Without hesitation, Alfy passed her backpack to Katelyn.

Ashlyn watched the scene unfold, her expression softening. There was a sisterly bond between Katelyn and Alfy—a kind of effortless care that warmed the heart.

Ashlyn had grown up as an only child, and she never shared such a connection with anyone. Watching the two of them made her feel a pang of wistfulness.

Breaking Ashlyn’s reverie, Alfy picked up a fudge from the stash and offered it to Ashlyn.

“Here, Miss Marshall. This one’s super tasty and sweet!”

Ashlyn accepted the fudge, a gentle smile gracing her lips.

gα?ησν?s． brings magic to life

“Thank you, Alfy.”

Alfy waved it off casually.

“Hope you like it!”

Unwrapping another fudge, Alfy popped it into her mouth, her delight so infectious that Katelyn couldn’t help but smile.

With Alfy around, boredom didn’t stand a chance. The flight passed in a blur of chatter, laughter, and occasional naps. By the time they disembarked, the five to six hours felt like minutes.

At the hotel, as everyone was settling in, Alfy’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen, her eyes lighting up as she answered, “Uncle, I’ve arrived in Yata, but I’m staying with my mentor tonight. I won’t be coming home just yet.”

Katelyn busied herself unpacking, but when she returned from the closet, she noticed Alfy sitting by herself, her usual brightness dimmed. Katelyn frowned slightly and asked, her tone tinged with concern, “Why the long face? Did your uncle say something to upset you?” Right before she stepped into the closet, Alfy had been on the phone with her uncle. Whatever mood she was in now probably had something to do with that call.

Alfy, her lips forming a pout, looked up with a touch of melancholy.

“Uncle wants me to go home.”

Her voice carried the weight of reluctance. Just thinking about leaving Katelyn put a damper on her mood.

Katelyn’s heart softened. She walked over and gently rubbed Alfy’s back, her voice soothing.

“He probably just misses you. You’ve been in Granville for a while, and he’s likely worried. That’s all.”

Alfy leaned into Katelyn, wrapping her arms around Katelyn’s waist. There was something about being with Katelyn that made the world feel a little less heavy, a little more alive.

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