It had been seven years, eight months, two weeks, and five days.
Morticia's eyes opened wide with curiosity and amazement. She couldn't believe that after so long, she would finally meet them.
Beside her, Lorenzo quietly counted the seconds, waiting for Ivan's signal. "Look at them," he said, gesturing toward the trio slumped near the tree roots. "They're completely helpless. If we strike now, they won't be able to resist."
Ivan's cane tapped the ground with a tremor, echoing like a challenge. His voice spilt out with a trace of Russian:
"You are sure... about that?". Frustration built inside him since an unforgettable trio of misfortune rested near a bent trunk of tree roots.
The smell of a bad odour and sweat gave the urge to vomit and puke. Yet it didn't affect any of them.
Ivan was getting restless and tired; his former student was right there, served up like a gift from fate, and yet something inside him restrained him.
"They look pitiful," Morticia murmured. "We should've tried diplomacy. They're just children. But you two escalated everything."
"Believe me, I did", Lorenzo spoke with undeniable honesty, "But you should've seen Rosabella's face, haunted and melancholic. She would be the very example of...' if looks could kill'".
Mortica rolls her eyes and glares at Ivan; at least she knew he wouldn't give any excuse.
"I don't regret it," Ivan said coldly. "Whatever pain she felt—it's nothing compared to what's coming."
His words were brutally honest. There was no trace of sympathy for the children.
"You know what", Moticia diverted her gaze from him, "I don't expect much from you anyway. How long are we going to keep waiting?".
Ivan's reply came with a dry chuckle, "Longer than it'll take Lorenzo's hair to turn white."
"Wait—what?" Lorenzo blinked, confused.
"That's going to take sooo long~," Morticia groaned, sulking like a bored child.
"Now listen, you two!" Leronzo said with determination, "I swear to God that yesterday I saw two strings of white hair." He searched his head and showed it to Motricia, who again rolled her eyes and ignored him.
White hair was a symbol of dignity and honour. People worship those who have platinum white hair like an albino, but of course, you have to be born with it.
Regardless, celebrities who have come of age often have permission from their agencies to dye their hair white for fame and a good complexion, or simply because they are losing their touch.
"That's grey, not white", said Morticia without glancing.
"No...", Lorenzo hesitated, "It's white, I'm telling you, Ivan". He turns to Ivan, who was growing impatient second after second.
"It's grey", he replies coldly.
"Na ah_", Lorenzo paused at the sudden disturbance he witnessed along with his colleagues.
Orette and Rosa begin their spar as Rosa tries to strike Orette, but fails to do so since Orette is dodging her every move.
"We should stop them" Lorenzo can't take his eyes off the scene.
"No", Ivan muttered in cold.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'NO'!", Lorenzo mutter-shouted, "Those two are going to kill each other".
"If they are", Morticia enters the conversation, "Then get Kace out of there". She pointed to a tall, slim boy, who was covered in damp sewer odour. He was trying to stop the conflict that had arisen to an extreme level.
Ivan taps his cane on the rough surface to get their attention. Ivan turns to Lorenzo, "You grab Kace from behind and just strike him on the neck, he will be able to withstand the hit".
Mortica's eyes diverted between them. "Why do you want to strike him?" she asked with a pinch of sarcasm.
"Just feels like it", Ivan shrugs and turns to Lorenzo and nods.
The fight between Rosa and Orette resulted in heavy destruction of land, trees and the beaver dam. Orette took the victory as she was about to annihilate Rosa, but stopped at mid-end.
Ivan generally felt proud of Orette's ability. He easily analysed that Orette, on purpose, was avoiding using her powers, which were gifted by him.
Regardless, she used them anyway, making use of those damp logs as missiles.
Now both girls are confused and scared since they realised that Kace was missing. They searched for him, even teleporting to where they last saw him.
Orette concluded that someone dragged him away when they weren't looking. Rosa suggested that maybe it was the military, to which Orette noted to her that they were too sloppy to pull out that move.
Ivan couldn't hold his patience. Lorenzo was wrapping Kace's mouth with tape, very delicately, under Morticia's instructions. Ivan gave one look to Kace and begged Morticia to take him away.
"This is getting pointless", Ivan muttered under him impatience. "Lorenzo, Morticia, you guys better make a fine first impression." His eyes instantly shone a blue hue. "'Cause it's time to introduce ourselves."