Thailon's Point of View

  Four months. It's been four long, agonizing months since I first felt her presence again. Lara. My sunshine, my light—how could she be here, after all these years? I searched endlessly, followed every lead, but no sign of her. Nothing but fleeting traces, whispers carried on the wind.

  Those fucker is also hiding I cannot even reach some of them.

  And now, I sit here at this quaint little restaurant. I stumbled upon it by accident, but the menu caught my eye—her dishes. Every single one of them. My chest tightens at the sight, each dish pulling me back to our days together. It's cruel, really, to see these pieces of her life scattered in a place like this.

  A young woman approached me earlier, offering me coffee. I didn't want it, but something about her... it feels so familiar.

  The way she moved, the way she spoke. I sip the coffee, and the warmth floods me with memories. The smell, the taste—it's just like the mornings we used to share, back when everything was simpler. My vision blurs, and before I can stop it, a tear rolls down my cheek.

  "Are you alright child?" she asks, her voice soft with concern. She hands me a towel, and in that moment, the tone, the care in her words—it's unmistakable.

  It's her.

  I look up, my heart pounding in my chest. "Lara?" I whisper, my voice trembling with disbelief.

  Her eyes widen, and for a split second, I see panic flicker across her face. But I know. Deep down, I know it's her. She's standing right in front of me, the same person I lost centuries ago.

  Lara's Point of View

  His voice, whispering my name... Lara. My heart stutters. He remembers me. Even after all this time, all these lifetimes, Thailon knows me.

  He recognized me. This child.

  "Your Lara, right?" His voice is desperate, like he's drowning and I'm the only lifeline he has left. I want to answer, but the weight of the moment crushes me. How could he still know me?

  Tears well up in his eyes, glistening under the morning light, and my heart breaks for him. This is the second time I've seen this child cry, and it feels just as painful as the first. He holds my hands tightly, as if he fears I might slip away again, and I can feel the warmth of his tears as they fall.

  I can't lie to him. Not when he's like this. Taking a deep breath, I give him a gentle smile. "How have you been, Thailon, my dear child?"

  His eyes widen, his breath catching. In that instant, he knows. His arms wrap around me, clinging to me like a lifeline.

  "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry," he sobs, his face buried against my side. His words tumble out, raw and broken, as if he's been holding them in for centuries.

  I place a hand on his head, stroking his hair gently, just like I used to. "It's alright, Thailon. I'm here now, everything going to be fine" I whisper, my voice thick with emotion.

  And for the first time in what feels like lifetimes, the world around us falls away, and it's just us—finally, after all these years, reunited

  I bet he have a lot of story to tell.

  Lara's Point of View

  "Your eyes are puffed," I said to Thailon, but he only stared at the ground, his head hung low. This boy, my dear Thailon, had always been intense—perhaps even a yandere type, in his own way.

  "I'm glad you're still alive," I added softly, noticing how my clothes were now damp from his tears. He was truly crying his heart out, and while I wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all, I knew this wasn't the time.

  "You've been here, but you're not looking for us. What kind of leader are you?" he shot back, his voice a mixture of hurt and anger.

  "Three hundred years have passed, Thailon, I just waked up here I wouldn't know" I reminded him gently, trying to ground us both in reality. Just then, I noticed the time ticking away, and in the distance, I caught sight of Fernin approaching.

  "I need to get back. It's almost time for opening," I said, beginning to stand up.

  "Where are you going?" Thailon asked, gripping my wrist with a surprising strength.

  "The restaurant is about to open soon, I'm not going to leave" I reiterated, trying to pull away gently.

  A Few Moments Later

  "Hold that! Don't destroy it! It's only 8:30, and the shop is about to open!" I shouted as I watched Thaelon fumble with the dishes. For some reason, he seemed determined to help, but he was literally creating chaos in the kitchen.

  "It's hard! I'd be better off killing some skeletons than doing this!" he exclaimed, frustration evident in his tone.

  "You're basically just washing dishes!" I facepalmed, wondering what I expected from him. Even when we were adventuring, chores like this were not his strong suit. But somehow, it felt like I had been thrust back into our old adventures again.

  "Why is he here?" Fernin asked, disbelief clear in his voice. My other employees were equally shocked, their eyes wide as they took in the sight of Thailon—a gorgeous young man, an ethereal elf—attempting to wash dishes.

  "He's my friend. He offered to help, but..." I sighed, glancing at the mess he was creating, "as you can see, he's better off just killing things."

  "This is bull—" Thailon started but then cut himself off.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  "Bull? What bull are you swearing about?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

  "B-bullest, I mean," he corrected himself, his face flushing with embarrassment.

  "You offered help, so you better finish it off," I urged him, picking up my knife to continue chopping vegetables. "You all can watch him, but at least do some work—we're opening soon!" I called out to my employees, who exchanged glances but remained frozen, seemingly enchanted by Thailon's presence. Fernin, however, looked at me with a mix of disbelief and concern.

  "What?" I asked him, catching his gaze.

  "N-nothing," he stammered, clearly trying to process the situation.

  "Since you're back, I wanted to show you some of my works," Thailon said, appearing in front of me, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.

  "Are you done with your work?" I asked him, intrigued.

  "Oh, awesome! This guy offered to help," he said, pointing to Fernin my brother, who was diligently working on the dishes.

  Just ignore this, I can't just slapped this child.

  "Just—what kind of works?" I asked, curiosity piqued.

  "Things you wished for before?" he replied, a dreamy look in his eyes.

  "Unicorn?" I ventured, half-joking.

  "Yes -Un—uh, you mean the flying horse you were talking about? It's still one of your wishes?" he asked, disbelief evident in his tone.

  I couldn't help but smile, feeling a warmth spread through me as I saw the childlike wonder in his expression. "Yes, Thailon. It's still one of my wishes."

  As we worked side by side, I couldn't shake the feeling that somehow, amidst the chaos and the years apart, we were rediscovering the bond we once shared—an unbreakable thread woven through time.

  A few moments later, I prepared a gift for Thailon. This spoiled brat has always liked receiving items, so I thought it'd be a nice surprise for him. The item shop now has so many new and amazing things—I couldn't resist getting him something special.

  Since the restaurant was closed, Thailon had been "helping" in the kitchen. But honestly, I can't trust him in the serving area—he's too clumsy. I'd rather not deal with broken dishes or spilled food today.

  Now I saw him talking to Owen, one of my employees. Owen is a former academy student working under me to save enough to return to his studies. I gave him the opportunity, and he's been doing well so far. Fernin also said he is a diligent man so I agreed.

  Their attention shifted to me as I approached.

  "You two know each other?" I asked.

  Owen nodded. "In the academy, ma'am."

  "I told you not to call me ma'am, Owen," I said with a sigh. Then I turned to Thailon. "Academy? Did you also study there, Thailon? Wow, that's amazing!"

  Thailon's eyes narrowed at me, clearly offended. "What do you mean, 'wow'? Are you saying I don't seem like the type to study?"

  I couldn't help but smirk. "You're overreacting again, child," I teased. This was just so typical of him—always giving bigger meanings to simple comments.

  "He wasn't my classmate, though," Owen chimed in, causing me to glance at him. Not a classmate?

  "You mean you weren't in the same year?" I asked.

  "No," Owen replied simply.

  Ah, now I get it. They probably weren't in the same batch. Thailon may look like he's only 25, but he's far older than that.

  "Oh, I see now," I said. Then I turned back to Owen. "Well, anyway, there's food in the back. Eat up before we open again at 7. Gain your energy—I have something to discuss with Thailon."

  Owen nodded, glancing at Thailon once more and giving a quick four-finger salute—a gesture I assumed was an academy sign of respect for seniors. Then he left us.

  I invited Thaelon to sit down. "What is it?" he asked, curious.

  "Open inventory," I commanded softly, and my inventory appeared before me. I pulled out the box I had prepared and handed it to him.

  "What's this?" he asked, looking at the box skeptically.

  "You were crying so much earlier," I teased, unable to stop myself from poking fun. His expression shifted to mild annoyance, making me chuckle inside.

  He opened the box, his eyes widening in surprise.

  "I noticed you're not wearing the items I gave you before," I began, watching his reaction closely. "Well, it's been 200 years, after all. So I thought it was time for an upgrade. I got you a new set—cloak, tunic, boots, everything. And, of course, the trinket you liked. Oh, and it comes with an additional buff—300% more mana. Not bad, huh?"

  Thailon stayed quiet for a moment, still staring at the gift, clearly taken aback.

  "Can I wear this?" he asked me, his voice soft, as if he couldn't believe what he was holding.

  "Well, you are still in my party," I said with a playful smile.

  "Huh?" He looked at me, confused.

  "You're still in my party. Go check it," I added, knowing he would be surprised.

  Thailon's Point of View:

  "I noticed you're not wearing the items I gave you before," she said, her words both nostalgic and teasing. It wasn't that I didn't want to wear them—it's just that I was afraid I'd damage them. After all, those items were precious, reminders of a time long past.

  "Well, it's been 200 years, after all," she continued, her voice carrying a casual tone. "So I thought it was time for an upgrade. I got you a new set—cloak, tunic, boots, everything. And, of course, the trinket you liked. Oh, and it comes with an additional buff—300% more mana. Not bad, huh?"

  My hands trembled slightly as I held the box. The items inside were Level Z—just like the ones she used to give us before. The moment felt surreal. The woman standing before me was indeed Lara—my Lara.

  Even if everyone here called her Amelia, I knew better. She may have brown hair and black eyes now, but the aura, the essence of her soul, was unmistakable. She was still the Lara I had lost 200 years ago—the sunshine that lit up my life. After so long in the darkness, she had returned.

  But I couldn't shake the guilt. I had failed to revive her, to bring her back as I promised. And now, here she was, gifting me these items like nothing had changed. I wanted to express how much this meant to me, but the words wouldn't come out.

  "Can I wear this?" I asked her, my voice barely above a whisper.

  She smiled at me—just like she used to, warm and reassuring. "Well, you're still in my party," she said.

  Her words took me by surprise. Still in her party? "Huh?" I asked, confused.

  I had been preparing myself to ask if I could join her party again, thinking that so much time had passed that I would need an invitation. But what did she mean by that?

  Third-Person Point of View:

  "You don't know? You can check your status," Lara—now going by Amelia—said with a smirk.

  Thaelon, still confused, blinked a few times. "Status check," he muttered. As his status screen popped up, he glanced at the party details and froze.

  Party Leader: Lara Santos (Amelia Landfield)

  Members: Thailon Geberne

  "It reactivated immediately when you hugged me earlier," Lara said nonchalantly, watching as Thailon's eyes widened in shock, his cheeks flushing slightly with the realization.

  His heart pounded in his chest. All this time, I've still been in her party? He thought she might not want to adventure with him again, but this—this meant they were still connected.

  Lara watched him, a gentle smile tugging at her lips, though her thoughts were far from gentle. He might not want to stay in the party after everything that's happened. After all, we've already achieved our goal from so long ago, she mused, feeling a slight pang of uncertainty.

  Thailon, however, was elated. This is amazing! he thought. I'll be able to go on adventures with her again. My sunshine... she's still here. His heart swelled with the idea of returning to the life they once knew.

  "If you don't want to, though, I can cancel it," Lara said, her tone casual, but the underlying tension in her voice betrayed her real thoughts. Maybe he doesn't want to be tied to me anymore, she wondered. But with the Level Z items I gave him, this child will surely change his mind. She eyed him knowingly.

  Thailon's eyes widened again. Cancel it? What was she talking about? Why would I ever leave her side?

  "No!" he exclaimed, almost too quickly. "I will stay," he said firmly.

  Lara raised an eyebrow, chuckling inwardly. Of course he is. After all, I just gave him a set of Level Z items. This child really is predictable.

  Thailon's thoughts, however, ran much deeper. I will never leave your side again, Lara. I won't let history repeat itself. I'll protect you this time, no matter what.