Knock, knock, knock-
Sifa knocked on a room's door and heard a familiar voice from inside. "Come in."
He pushed open the door and saw flames dancing in the fireplace. The lady seated beside it was setting down a book.
It was Sifa's adoptive mother, Enilu.
At the sight of Sifa, surprise crossed Enilu's face, then turned into a smile. She stood up and spread her arms.
Sifa smiled, stepped forward, and gave her a gentle hug. "Good evening, Mom."
"It certainly is late. Why did you only come now?"
Enilu gently patted Sifa's back, then stepped back twice and said with a smile, "Let me have a good look at you."
Sifa winked and deliberately teased her. "Should I turn around a couple of times?"
Enilu laughed. It had been a long time since she had laughed so happily.
Sifa stayed and chatted with his mother.
Before they knew it, it was late at night.
Looking at her son in the lamplight, Enilu said, "Now that Intis has joined the war too, Belle and I are both very worried about you."
Sifa gently took his mother's hand. "This is the path I chose for myself. If one day you hear bad news, don't grieve. It's all fate's choice."
Enilu's expression shifted slightly, and she wanted to say something.
But Sifa had already stood up and taken something out.
"What is this?" Enilu looked at the diamond-like object, its interior constantly shifting.
"A Traveler's Beyonder Characteristic."
Sifa explained that this was the Beyonder Characteristic he had obtained from Mr. X. He had kept it all this time.
"The world will only grow more turbulent from here."
"Mom, I don't know why you left the mystical world."
"But I think you need to advance to Sequence 5."
"I'll feel more at