Chapter 150
Yo. Island Air Temple.
We had to return without Dria. It turned out that gaining full control over her own powers would take much more time. Without that, her path to the human realm was forbidden—it was too risky to endanger her life. According to rough estimates, Dria would spend one to two months in the Spirit Realm. Only then would even the smallest bursts of ancient energy no longer leave her body without her permission. Currently, Dria is helping Gaia safely relocate other nature spirits.
As soon as Chitara and I stepped into the house, we saw my little girls with glum faces sweeping the floors, wiping the windows, and generally tidying up the place.
"Father! Daddy!" they cried, immediately abandoning the mop, broom, and dustpan as soon as they saw me. My arms easily embraced all four of my daughters as they jumped into them.
The girls thought I would stand up for them and stop Celine from continuing her discipline, but... no. This time, I didn't interfere with my eldest daughter's efforts because I was genuinely upset by their reckless behavior. If not for their abilities, things could have ended much worse. And what if Celine hadn't been there? What if they'd run into a strong, experienced master? My mind was flooded with "what ifs," but it all boiled down to one thing: I had spoiled the girls too much. And that needed to change immediately.
The fear for my daughters' lives came a bit late, but it didn't stop me from joining in on the disciplinary moment. I know that children usually tune out most of their parents' lectures, but I hoped something would sink into their little heads.
Parental duties didn't take up much time, so Chitara wasn't left alone and was always occupied with something. For that, I had to thank Celine, who kept her company with another spirit while I was busy.
At first, Chitara behaved just like a real cat. With a slightly tense gait, she cautiously explored her new surroundings. Her cute little nose kept sniffing at the new "scents" of energy that permeated the entire house. It was like watching a miniature version of "a cat adjusting to a new home" on the first day.
"Everything feels... strange," Chitara shared with me one evening, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Tienhai. The city's lights reached us peacefully, creating a breathtaking view that could be admired for hours.
"Next week, we'll visit Tienhai," I said, understanding her unspoken desires. "But someone will have to hide certain non-human attributes by then," I added, my hand instinctively reaching for her ear and gently stroking it. It was clear that no one had invaded her personal space before, at least not so boldly. Knowing who her father is—everything falls into place...
Chitara didn't resist my touch; she probably just didn't know how to react. After all, this was all new to her. It was amusing to see her shyly avert her face when her body involuntarily emitted purring, slightly vibrating sounds.