"Charles, where do you think Mom is now?" Agatha tilted her head on the garden stone bench, watching her brother stare blankly into space.
"Dunno." Charles barely glanced at her before sighing. Life without Mom was unbearable! No one to fight over food with—everything tasted bland now. Even Albert wasn't fun anymore. *Sigh...*
Watching Charles mope for the umpteenth time, Bai couldn't take it anymore. Though Charles excelled at the magic Malifao taught, his constant gloom was worrying. At least Agatha seemed normal, only occasionally asking about their mother.
"Relax! Your mom's fine. She'll probably be back soon!" Bai tried comforting him.
"You've been saying that since she disappeared! Still no sign of her!" Charles finally showed some energy—to snap at Bai.
"Ungrateful brat!" Bai huffed, turning away.
"Charles! Agatha! Time for spatial transposition practice!" Malifao called cheerfully from across the garden. Teaching Charles was the highlight of his life—the boy's talent would shake the world someday. (Conveniently forgetting he'd lost one student already—albeit a mediocre one.)
"Coming..." Charles listlessly took Agatha's hand. Maybe someday he'd teleport straight to Mom, wherever she was.
---
Meanwhile, in the Beastmen Kingdom...
"HAHA! Beastmen gold is so easy to earn!" Sophie cackled, counting her first day's profits from the vine-dress sales.
After returning from the palace, she'd handed the aquatic vine seeds to Sly with detailed instructions—demanding 70% profits as the "inventor." To her surprise, Sly agreed instantly, already envisioning the dresses' popularity.
Watching Sophie gleefully tally coins, Sly mused, *She's as shrewd a merchant as I am... Will she keep traveling with us to the next realm?*
"Oh, Sly!" Sophie finally noticed him, casually sweeping gold into her Phoenix Bag. "What's up?"
"Thought you might want to see the sales frenzy outside."
"Sure!"
Without thinking, she looped her arm through his—an old Earth habit resurfacing in her excitement.
Sly stiffened momentarily before relaxing, giving her an unreadable look as they stepped out.
---
"Please, sister! Just one on credit! I'll pay you back slowly!" A young voice caught Sophie's attention.
A boy with pale blue hair—just like Charles'—stood pleading at a dress counter. Her breath hitched.
"Charles...?" She reached out trembling.
The boy turned. "Auntie?"
Disappointment crashed over her. Not Charles.
Noticing her distress, Sly asked softly, "What's wrong?"
"Just... remembered my kids." Her voice thickened. "My son Charles would be about his age now."
*Sophie has children?!* Sly's mind reeled.
Meanwhile, the boy—Bradley—continued begging the clerk. "I want to gift my mom a dress, but I only have five gold..."
Sophie's heart melted. "Here." She pulled a prototype vine-dress from her bag. "A gift."
Bradley hesitated. "Mom says never take things for free. I'll repay you!"
"Then keep the money until I return, alright?"
As Bradley ran home excitedly, Sophie watched wistfully.
---
Back at the inn, Sly finally voiced the question burning in his chest. "Sophie... are you married?"
"What? No!"
"But your children—"
She explained Charles and Agatha's origins, then paused. *Why am I telling him all this?*
That afternoon, the innkeeper announced visitors for Sophie. Puzzled, she headed out—who could be looking for her here?
(*Special thanks to reader Li Riyun for pointing out—no mother would truly forget her children! Lesson learned!*)
**Who awaits Sophie outside?**