The pale green light of the circular rift continued to wash evenly over the entire spacious bedroom, illuminating the silent figures standing directly at the threshold of the mystical opening. The elven guards by Claude's side stood perfectly still, their posture entirely rigid as they maintained their absolute defensive array within our private quarters. The quiet atmosphere of the early morning remained completely unbroken, creating an incredibly heavy and expectant tension that hung heavily between the bed and the shimmering gateway. I kept my physical frame entirely relaxed against the plush pillows, my senses completely alert as I watched the steady, rhythmic pulsing of the vibrant emerald illumination radiating smoothly across the smooth floorboards. Right beside me, Elphyete remained lifted up on one elbow, her complete attention locked entirely onto the figures framed by the glowing portal. The deep silence of the room seemed to stretch out endlessly, forcing an absolute focus on the unexpected arrival of our allies during these quiet early hours. The soft sound of Salphy's heavy breathing provided the only continuous movement in the background, anchoring the peaceful state of the sleeping arrangements against the sudden, mysterious materialization of the spatial gateway. Elphyete shifted her physical position slightly beneath the thick covers, preparing to address the leader of the arriving vanguard.
Suddenly Elphyete asked Claude why is he here now, her clear voice breaking through the profound stillness of the private quarters with a completely firm and direct tone. The unexpected question echoed softly across the polished surfaces of the spacious bedroom, instantly demanding a response from the silent figure standing within the shimmering, pale green radiance of the circular rift. Her posture became entirely alert as she spoke, her words cutting cleanly through the ambient humming of the mystical gateway to challenge the sudden presence of the guards in our room. The elven guards standing directly by Claude's side did not shift their footing or break their disciplined formation, but their collective attention seemed to lock entirely onto her figure as she voiced her confusion. The bright emerald light continued to pulse softly around them, casting long shadows that moved gently against the solid walls of the mansion while the conversation began. I remained perfectly still beside her, tracking the immediate reaction of the leader as he prepared to address her direct inquiry. The question hung in the air for a brief moment, completely shifting the dynamic of the early morning encounter from a silent standoff to a direct, formal dialogue between the members of our aligned group.
Claude shifted his physical stance slightly within the center of the glowing ring, his expression remaining entirely serious and completely composed as he prepared to answer the direct inquiry from the bed. He looked straight toward her position, his voice carrying an absolute, formal tone of deep respect that resonated clearly throughout the quiet atmosphere of the spacious sleeping quarters. Claude said, "Princess Elphyete, I must be here to guard you because King Nishighi asked King Elfhonse to be here on the war." The formal declaration provided a clear explanation for the sudden appearance of the portal, revealing the strategic coordination that had taken place between the rulers while we were resting. The elven guards by his side seemed to reinforce the weight of his words, their disciplined posture reflecting the absolute importance of the protective mission they had been assigned. The pale green light of the circular rift seemed to shimmer even more intensely as he spoke, emphasizing the grave nature of the conflict that required their presence within the grand mansion. His explanation was entirely straightforward, sticking perfectly to the parameters of his orders without offering any unnecessary details or breaking the solemn dignity expected of his high rank during this critical period of preparation.
The moment the formal explanation was completely delivered, the atmosphere inside the private bedroom took a sudden and entirely unexpected turn. Claude suddenly looked at me with a scary look, his facial expression instantly shifting from a composed, respectful mask into a terrifying display of absolute intensity that was directed entirely at my position on the mattress. The sheer weight of his intense gaze focused completely on me, sending a sudden ripple of sharp tension through the quiet space between the bed and the shimmering portal. The elven guards by his side remained completely motionless, but the sudden hostility radiating from their leader was entirely unmistakable as he stared at me. However, the terrifying display did not last long, as he deliberately managed to regain his composure before the situation could escalate any further within the room. He stopped it for a second, completely neutralizing the scary expression and forcing his features back into a state of strict, professional discipline. The sudden transition left a lingering sense of surprise in the air, but he successfully controlled his reaction, preventing any disruptive conflict from interfering with the formal nature of his arrival. I kept my own frame perfectly still, watching his rapid adjustments closely as the early morning silence returned.
The brief pause in the conversation was immediately interrupted by a slight movement from the center of the large bed, drawing everyone's attention away from the initial exchange. Beside us under the thick blankets, the small figure who had been sleeping heavily throughout the entire arrival began to stir as the bright green light continued to pulse around the room. Claude noticed Salphy waking up, his eyes instantly tracking the subtle shift in the covers as she rubbed her eyes and began to look around the illuminated space. The sight of the small child completely caught the leader off guard, shattering his professional composure much more effectively than any verbal argument could have achieved. His serious expression vanished entirely, replaced by a look of profound, absolute bewilderment as he stared at her. Claude asked, pointing his shaking finger, "Whose kid is that?!" His voice carried a mixture of pure shock and intense confusion that echoed loudly across the spacious room, his hand trembling visibly as he directed his pointed gesture straight toward the mattress. The elven guards by his side remained silent, but the absolute surprise radiating from their leader was completely undeniable as he demanded an immediate explanation for the child's presence.
The loud and sudden outburst from the shaking leader caused an immediate reaction from the small child who had just emerged from her deep slumber. Startled by the trembling gesture and the intense volume of the question, she instinctively sought comfort and protection from the familiar presence right next to her. Salphy suddenly hugged me, her small arms wrapping tightly around my frame as she buried her face against my side to shield herself from the staring figures within the portal. The sudden movement was completely natural and filled with an absolute trust, anchoring her entirely to my position on the large mattress. While holding onto me securely, she slowly turned her head to look over toward the other side of the bed where our companion was resting. Salphy suddenly hugged me and looked at Elphyete and asked, "Mommy, daddy, who's that?" Her innocent and completely clear voice echoed softly throughout the spacious room, her simple question delivering a completely unexpected shock to the already bewildered leader standing inside the shimmering gateway. The words she used completely transformed the dynamic of the entire room, leaving an absolute and heavy silence hanging over the assembled group as the full meaning of her question registered.
The innocent words spoken by the small child produced an immediate and completely overwhelming effect on the leader standing at the threshold of the circular rift. The absolute shock of hearing her address us in such a specific manner completely broke through his remaining mental defenses, leaving him entirely incapable of processing the situation any further. His shaking finger dropped completely to his side as his facial features froze in a look of total, unadulterated disbelief. The elven guards by his side could only watch in silent surprise as their commanding officer completely lost his footing right in front of the shimmering, pale green light. His eyes widened to their absolute limits as the sheer weight of the massive misunderstanding entirely overwhelmed his physical frame within a single fraction of a second. The complete lack of movement from anyone else in the room only heightened the dramatic impact of the moment, cementing his absolute confusion regarding our aligned group. Without any further words or actions to stabilize himself, his entire body went completely limp as he collapsed heavily onto the invisible foundation of the gateway before anyone could even attempt to catch his falling frame. The unexpected revelation had completely paralyzed his cognitive functions, making it utterly impossible for him to maintain his conscious awareness under the extreme mental burden of such an incredible and deeply shocking declaration from the innocent little child currently resting beside us on the large bed. At that very instant, Claude just looked shocked and then he suddenly passed out.