Chapter 506: The Journey Home

"You see, I know just how much that village means to you. It’s not just some place you were born, it’s where your memories are. Your family, your home. And..." He paused, his tone turning unexpectedly sincere. "...well, I might’ve only stayed there for a few days, but I grew quite fond of it too."

Nala turned around fully now, curious and a little startled at how earnest he sounded as he went on.

"The people there...they’re good people. Brave, loyal, and way too selfless for their own good. They were willing to fight and die for you without even thinking twice about it. I can’t just walk away knowing that. So I’ve decided to do something about it."

Her tail twitched behind her, a sign that he’d caught her attention completely.

"Do something? Cassius, what are you planning to do?"

He smirked slightly, clearly enjoying the buildup before saying,

"I’m buying it."

"...Buying what exactly?"

"The land." He said with a shrug, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "All of it. The village, the surrounding hills, the forests, the mountains. It’ll all be transferred to the Holyfield estate. Under my family’s name."

Nala blinked. Her mouth fell open slightly as she processed what he just said.

"Y-You’re what?!"

Cassius nodded calmly, clearly pleased with himself.

"That way, the entire area will be under my administration. I’ll send guards, soldiers, and proper law enforcement to make sure everyone stays safe. No more raids, no more thieves, no more monster attacks."

She just stared at him, completely speechless.

"And that’s not all." He went on, his voice filled with a quiet excitement that made it obvious he had been planning this for some time. "I’ll bring in proper healers and medical staff from the capital. Maybe even build a small clinic there."

"I’ll also establish a school for the kids—no more growing up without reading or writing. The next generation of that village will have real chances in life."

He smiled softly, his eyes glancing ahead toward the road.

"I’ll make sure the whole place flourishes. When you visit next time, you probably won’t even recognize it. It won’t be just a fishing village anymore, it’ll be something bigger, something alive."

Nala’s lips trembled as she stared at him in awe, while Cassius looked down at her again, his tone growing gentle.

"And as for your grandmother, don’t worry about her either. I’ve already sent word to Lucius to dispatch a few caretakers to the village. They’ll look after her, make sure she eats well, stays warm, and gets regular checkups."

He leaned closer with a small, teasing smirk.

"So stop worrying so much, alright?"

Nala’s breath hitched. She didn’t even know what to say. Her heart swelled with warmth so powerful that for a moment she couldn’t breathe properly.

This man—this infuriating, reckless, brilliant man—had gone so far out of his way, not because he had to, but because he wanted her to be at peace.

Her lips parted, but the words just wouldn’t come out.

All she could do was look at him—really look at him with eyes so soft and filled with emotion that even Julie, Aisha, and Skadi, who were riding nearby, caught the expression and went completely still.

Aisha’s grip on her reins tightened, her cheeks flushing faintly.

Julie quickly turned her head away, pretending to look at the trees.

Even Skadi, who rarely showed embarrassment, muttered something like. "Tch...too mushy." and glanced away, her ears red.

Cassius, however, seemed utterly oblivious to the effect he was having or maybe he wasn’t, judging by the faint grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

But Nala didn’t care about any of that.

She knew that simple words weren’t going to show how grateful she was. But luckily she did know one way to do so and leaned back slightly against Cassius, tilting her head so that her lips were near his ear.

"You know..." She began in a low whisper, her voice dripping with mischief. "...while you were away, I learned a few new techniques."

Cassius blinked, caught off guard. "...Techniques?"

"Mhm." Nala smiled coyly. "Tail and tongue techniques."

"And I thought I’d..." Nala continued in a sultry whisper, enjoying every reaction. "...show you what I learned tonight when we make camp."

The words were spoken softly, but the implication hit like a thunderclap.

Julie nearly choked on her own breath. "W-What did she just—?!"

"That’s my kind of woman!" Skadi, grinning ear to ear, barked out a laugh.

Even the old caravan driver in front nearly dropped the reins. His face turned red as he coughed awkwardly and stared straight ahead, muttering under his breath.

"Ah, young people...so full of passion these days..."

Cassius, meanwhile, was trying very hard not to laugh...or blush.

"Nala." He said, half-exasperated, half-amused. "We’re surrounded by children in carriages."

She just giggled, glancing back at him with a teasing smile.

"Then you better behave yourself till nightfall, Cassius."

Behind them, Aisha covered her face with both hands, groaning.

"I swear, if they start doing that while we’re camping, I’m sleeping in another forest."

Skadi just laughed. "You say that now, but you’ll be the one peeking first."

Aisha turned even redder. "I-I most definitely will not!"

But in truth, Skadi was speaking to the wrong person as it wasn’t Aisha who was having such thoughts.

But it was actually Julie instead who was already planning in her mind to sneek over and watch everything play out like the pervert she was.

—

The return journey to the Holyfield Estate was far longer than usual. With the carriages full of rescued children, the convoy moved at a slow and steady pace.

Yet, not a single one of them complained. Not even once.

In fact, the delay made it all the better.

For Aisha, Julie, and Skadi, it was one of the happiest journeys they’d ever taken.

Skadi especially was in heaven.

Every time they stopped for camp, Cassius would sit beside her, brushing through her long, fluffy tail with that patient care that made her heart melt.

She’d hum softly, half dozing in contentment while he gently combed the silvery fur, occasionally teasing her whenever she purred.

"Master." She murmured once, tail twitching under his fingers. "If you keep doing this, I’ll never want to leave."

Cassius stopped combing and gently tapped her nose. "Good. That’s the plan, puppy."

"Puppy loves the plan!" Skadi giggled.

Aisha, on the other hand, spent most of her time riding with Cassius, constantly reading spell books alongside him.

After realizing just how much of a genius he was when it came to magical theory, she swiftly transitioned from skeptical mage to humble student. She treated him as if he were her esteemed mentor, absorbing every piece of knowledge he imparted.

"Wait, Cassius." She demanded one afternoon, pulling him up short. "You’re telling me that the integrity of a rune matrix is determined by the user’s emotional stability? Not just the purity of their mana?"

"Pure mana is just fuel." Cassius nodded, his expression relaxed. "If the matrix is disturbed, then the entire architecture collapses."

Aisha stared at him, her mouth slightly open. Her usual confidence had melted into profound admiration.

"I...I’ve wasted years reading ancient texts. You—you’ve condensed a decade of research into one sentence." She shook her head, laughing softly. "You’re something else, Cassius."

From that day onward, Aisha was glued to his side, absorbing every word like it was a sacred text, determined to master the concepts he shared.

Julie, meanwhile, had a simpler goal.

Cassius had promised her that by the time they reached home, she’d be able to ride a horse on her own. And he kept that promise.

Every day, she practiced beside him—falling, cursing, laughing, and trying again.

"Keep your back straight." Cassius called, riding beside her. "If you lean too far forward, the horse thinks you’re nervous."

"I am nervous!" Julie snapped back.

"Then stop acting like it owes you money and relax." Cassius said with a grin.

But by the end of the journey, Julie could finally ride on her own—her hair flying in the wind, her cheeks flushed with pride.

"Look, Cassius!" She called out one morning. "No hands!"

Cassius turned, saw her standing up on the saddle, and shouted. "Julie, no!" just before she nearly fell off.

When she fell straight on her face, everyone laughed—including her.

And then there was Nala.

Unlike the others, she spent most of her time among the carriages, talking to the rescued children, helping them eat, or simply playing with them.

Her heart ached when she first heard their stories, the fear and loss in their tiny voices. So, she made it her mission to make them laugh again just like Cassius once did, showing how similar they were.

She’d slither between carriages, popping up out of nowhere to make silly faces or tell ridiculous jokes.

She told them stories about the "Great Snake Queen Nala" who once wrestled a crocodile, scared away a bear, and caught fish with her tail—all of which were, of course, wildly exaggerated.

And to everyone’s surprise, her antics worked.

One by one, the children began to smile again. Some giggled, others clung to her tail like it was a lifeline, and a few even cried openly, finally releasing the fear they’d held in for so long.

Even Cassius found himself smiling quietly whenever he glanced back and saw her surrounded by laughing kids.

"You really have a gift." He said one night, watching her tickle a little girl until she squealed.

"A gift?" She asked, grinning.

"Yeah. You make people forget their pain."

Nala chuckled softly, her golden eyes twinkling.

"Guess that’s something I learned from you."

But of course, the journey wasn’t only innocent.

At night, when the campfires dimmed and the children were asleep, the warmth of the group took a far more passionate turn.

The nights became their little secret—shared whispers, soft gasps, stolen moments of love under the stars.

Each woman had her turn, and Cassius never left any of them unsatisfied. In fact, he made sure they were far beyond that.

Every morning, they practically glowed, faces flushed, hair tousled, eyes dreamy. Even Nala, whose energy was usually endless, was left weak enough that she shed her tail skin twice in just a few days.

Skadi teased her relentlessly about it.

"You’re molting early this season." She’d say with a smirk.

"Be quiet, Skadi!" Nala would snap, her face bright red.

And so, through laughter, love, and warmth, the long road finally led them home.