"Father, I'm back."
The instant Kael heard those words, his head snapped towards the sound. His chaotic heart that was relentlessly calmed instantly.
"Ria!"
He rushed towards his little girl and scooped her tiny body into his palm. It was funny how the little thing was barely the size of his thumb, but meant an entire world to him.
"Are you hurt? Did something happen?"
He asked the first few questions, and before Imperia could even answer, he shot another batch of questions,
"Why were you gone so long?! You said ten minutes, and it's been—!"
'Six minutes, Father.'
Igni answered in a monotonous tone.
"Six minutes?"
Kael blinked in disbelief.
"Only six minutes?"
He repeated his own words.
'Yes, Father.'
Igni nodded.
"I swear it felt like an hour had passed!"
'You just walked in circles before you sent the message.'
"Igni, you stop keeping an eye on me."
Kael ordered, as he then turned towards Imperia and,
