Chapter 295 â How Loving
Noah was walking along the beautiful road in the Willâs zone of Laeh. The sight was spectacular.
The sky was an amalgamation of every color that could possibly existâboth in objective reality and in the realms of imagined reality. They blended together in such a seamless, perfect fusion that it was impossible not to be in awe when looking up.
In front of him stretched a white and silver forest, its trees towering like sky-reaching spires, their beauty bordering on the ethereal. The grass covering the soil mirrored that same silver-white hue, glowing with a soft, tranquil light that soothed the heart of anyone who walked upon it. Here and there, small animals could be seen at playâsometimes with their own kind, sometimes with entirely different species.
For example, just beside a narrow, glittering river, a female chimpanzee was playing with a wolf, their laughterâor what seemed like laughterâcarrying easily through the forest, a strange yet heartwarming sound.
It was a place of pure peace, the kind that could make you forget the rest of the world.
But Premier and Foxy didnât seem to share the feeling. They walked behind Noah, keeping just enough distance to make it clearâthey were hesitant to be too close.
The sight was quietly saddening. They were father and children, but it didnât look like it. It looked instead like a master leading two nervous pets, following because they had made a mistake.
Noah sighed. "Itâs kind of embarrassing if you walk behind me like that, you know? Come here. Walk beside me and enjoy the view." He didnât turn around, but his voice reached them all the same. They hesitated, then slowly closed the gap until they walked alongside himâPremier on his right, Foxy on his left.
Together, they moved at an easy pace. Noah occasionally commented on the animals, or joked about how this would be the perfect place to nap far away from his noisy wives.
He spoke of the Willâs zone in the Shadow Realm, praising the countless shadows that filled it but also calling it unbearably dull compared to Laeh.
At first, Premier and Foxy barely responded, only nodding or giving a single word here and there. But Noah didnât stop talking, and eventually, their replies lengthenedâsmall, hesitant at first, then warmer.
Noah smiled softly.
The more he spokeâtelling not of grand conquests, but of strange little moments and ridiculous situationsâthe more the tension broke. They even laughed at some of the sillier stories, seeing a different side of their father.
Bit by bit, the invisible wall between them thinned.
It was only then that Noah stopped walking and sat beneath the largest silver-white tree in the forest. Premier and Foxy joined him without hesitation this time, their expressions lighter than when theyâd first arrived.
"Father, I didnât know you actually dared to use Mother Neko to win over Mother Zara," Premier said, eyes wide. In his hands, he scribbled in a small notebook.
Noah chuckled. "I was new back then. All I could do was count on my dear wingmanâwell, wingwomanâto help me win Zara over. You should have seen them. Zara was completely taken with Neko."
Both Premier and Foxy laughed.
"Youâre such a player, Dad... is that why you have so many wives?" Foxy teased before suddenly adding, her eyes glowing, "I want to meet someone exactly like you!"
Instantly, both Noah and Premier turned their glares on her.
"Iâd like to see the man who dares love anyone other than my daughter," Noah said, voice cold.
"Have you lost your mind? Youâre marrying a monogamous man," Premier added, equally cold.
Foxy froze, startled by the sudden intensity. Then,
"YouâFatherâyou have more wives than I can count. And you," she turned to Premier, "youâre taking notes from him so you can do the same one day." His wolf ears twitched in embarrassed silence.
The two males glanced at each other, then looked back at her with identical expressions.
"So what? Youâre not marrying a polygamous man."
"No negotiations."
The words came in perfect sync.
Foxyâs irritation flared, and the argument beganâa woman pitted against her overprotective father and brother.
Neither of them listened to reason. In the end, she gave up, unable to win against the two of them together.
But not without a parting shot. "Fine. But Iâm telling my mothers...all of them."
Noah and Premier laughed, the sound warm in the cool forest air, before they fell into a companionable silence. They sat watching the forest, their hearts lighter.
Noahâs eyes closed quietly.
And thatâs only thenâ
"You are my children," he said suddenly.
Both Premier and Foxy immediately turned their attention to him.
"It doesnât matter what the worldâor the entire universeâsays about you, or if they question your worth. You donât have to listen. You donât have to care."
"You, Premier... you were the first being I ever created with my talent. Thatâs why I gave you your nameâPremierâ that means âFirstâ in another language. You are my first..."
"...and like Iâve always said, the first always holds a special place. Be proud of that, Premier. Be proud to be the first and eldest child of Noah Vaelgrim. Do not cower. Do not falter."
Premierâs chest tightened, his heart pounding. Tears welled up before he could stop them, spilling freely down his cheeks. His breath hitched, heavy with emotion.
Noahâs tone softened, but he didnât stop.
"As for you, my dear golden fox... you might not be the first, but you are the second. My first girl. My first daughter."
A small chuckle escaped him.
"And you know how much a father can love his daughterâespecially his eldest girl, the one who makes him realize the joy of being looked at with tenderness, with love, with admiration. You are my little princess. Be proud of that. So donât cower, and donât falter...because you are the little princess of Noah Vaelgrim."
Foxyâs eyes brimmed with tears. The emotion in her chest swelled until it overflowed, spilling out in choked sobs.
Neither of them could stop crying. They didnât try. It was the kind of release that went deeper than words.
Their sobs echoed through the silver-white forest, and soon animals of every shape and size approached. Their eyes were soft, filled with the same love Noahâs words carried.
Noah stood, pulling both Premier and Foxy into his arms. They clung to him, crying harder.
Hic... hic... hic...
"F-Father..."
"D-Dad..."
Their voices trembled between sobs.
Noah smiled faintly. His eyes shimmered, but he closed them, hiding the moisture.
And thenâ
"I love you, my dear children."
"And remember... you are Premier Vaelgrim and Lorna Foxy Vaelgrim..."
"...the Eldest of the Blasphemer of Reality."
So...
Show them who you are.
âEnd of Chapter 295â