In order to lift up the spirit of Penelope. Grand Ecstasy decides to make one more stop on a quiet riverside resort before they return home. They become the emotional anchor for Penelope who slowly feeling better as the three days of retreat goes by.

  On the last night. Penelope walks outside of their cabin, down to the riverbank where she listen the peaceful flow of the river water. Penelope smile as she feels the pain getting washed away.

  "I hope you're not planning on ending it all Penelope."

  Penelope hears the familiar voice and behind her is Claustrine walking towards her spot. Penelope chuckle.

  "No. Not at all. I'm just enjoying this peaceful night." Penelope answers softly.

  Claustrine creates a chair made of stones and both of them sit gently.

  "I know I already seen it many times but it still amazing as always?"

  "About my magic?"

  "Yup. In fact I'm still amazed that you guys came from another world. You're world must be a beautiful and peaceful one."

  Claustrine makes a pained smile after hearing Penelope's opinion. She remembers that Yhigressia is not what Penelope is envisioned.

  "Not really. I can say that this world is a lot peaceful and safe compared to ours."

  "How so?"

  "You see our scars right? We barely escaped many life-or-death situations and our world also have terrible people and monsters."

  Penelope makes a gentle smile.

  "It seems that it's not that different to us."

  Claustrine feel that their conversation is turning into a negative note so she thinks a way to lighten up the mood.

  "But it doesn't mean that our life is just misery day and night. There's also the good times. The happy moments between the hardships that makes us move forward despite how harsh the world can be."

  Penelope just watch on Claustrine's nostalgic expression.

  "For every hard missions we complete as adventurers, we always end it with a celebration. For each turmoil, there's always the hope that things will eventually turn out fine. That's how we live our life and make it worth it."

  Claustrine gently pats Penelope's shoulder.

  "I wish it also apply to you Penelope."

  Penelope makes a wistful sigh.

  "I think it already happened Claustrine. Despite every painful things that transpired that day, It happenned that I meet very amazing people that help me move on with peace of mind."

  Penelope held Claustrine's hand.

  "For that. I'm so glad that I met you all guys. I don't know what would happen if we didn't cross paths."

  Claustrine makes a gentle smile as she grasp back on Penelope's hand.

  The two just continue to have small talk until they both feel tired and finally went to sleep.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  The white van now enters PITX station, a huge bus terminal and a hub for people who leaving and entering Manila.

  "Here we are. Is your things aready prepared?" Mateo asked.

  Penelope look on her bag. She only bring few spare clothes as she leave most of them on Isabela. But despite that, it's still packed tight as the abandonned clothes got replaced by diapers and essentials for her baby.

  "Yup!"

  "Good. Where's your destination so we can drop you to the exact bus station?"

  "Lets go to the Cavite station."

  Grand Ecstasy froze for a moment.

  "Huh? Why you'll suddenly got quiet guys?"

  "Penelope. Where exactly in Cavite, you going to?"

  "I think I gonna return to my hometown of Tanza for a while that now I have a baby. I'm sure mom and dad is gonna be delighted once they see her." Penelope looks on her innocent child and smile gently.

  After few seconds. Grand Ecstasy chuckles.

  "Eh?"

  "Haha. We're from Ternate Penelope. Good grief, it turns we don't even need to stop here." Shiva happily speaks.

  "Ehhhhhhh?"

  .

  .

  .

  Now knowing their last stops. Grand Ecstasy directly brings Penelope on her own Baranggay with her guidance. Until they finally reach a street where Penelope's home is. It's the middle of the night and they stop few meters away from its front gate.

  "Here we are. Home sweet home, just for you tho." Beltrand smirks

  "I'm glad we really bring you back instead of sending you off alone. Now that you have a baby on your arms, carrying this baggage is surely tiring." Sophia pats the bloated bag.

  "Guys are you sure you don't want to stop for a moment? We can make you some food." Penelope asked with hint of sadness as she really want to pay back Grand Ecstasy on some way. Mateo just gives a warm smile.

  "Nah. We're also going home and return to the other world. Besides, we don't want to interfere with your parents swooning with their new grandchild."

  Penelope chuckle.

  "I guess you're right."

  Everyone exits the van. Beltrand place Penelope's luggage on the pavement in front of the gate. Penelope look at her new friends with a fresh smile on her face.

  She gives her baby to Sophia and she starts hugging each one of the people who saved her both physically and emotionally. There'e no words uttered and everyone knows the sincere gratitude and farewell for each other.

  Penelope now carrying her baby back. Mateo looks on the baby, he didn't say anything but instead he reach his finger to the baby who still awake.

  The baby innocently held his finger as she look at Mateo. Mateo meanwhile gets a very pleasant feeling that makes him smile gently. In front of her is a life him and the others saved and given another chance to experience everything the world can offer. Mateo is filled with joy and hope for the future of the child.

  Mateo gently pull his finger and gets his sling bag inside the van.

  "Wait. Before you go, please take this."

  Mateo gives Penelope the small bag.

  "What is this?"

  "Just a help for you and your child. Use it wisely."

  "B-but you guys already gave so much to me." Penelope frowns as she feel guilty just accepting gift while giving nothing in return.

  "Haha. Worry not, that's the last. Besides, you make our vacation a memorable one so we're quits." Mateo speaks with calm, understanding tone.

  Knowing that Mateo would surely want him to accept the gift. Penelope calms down and gives her gratitude.

  "Thank you Mateo. I promise that I will do anything if you guys needed me."

  "I will put that in mind." Mateo answers with a confident smile.

  Penelope and Grand Ecstasy finally seperate ways. After watching the van leave, Penelope finally starts to call for her parents inside the house.

  .

  .

  .

  Before resuming their travel back home, Grand Ecstasy stops on a Alfamart store which open 24/7. They're outside of the store on the benches and table, eating cup noodles, snacks and drinking coffee as they watch the quiet night time road lit by street lights..

  "By the way, are you sure about giving all of that to Penelope?" Shiva asked as he takes a sip on his coffee to wake himself up.

  "Yeah. I think she needs that the most for her child. I hope she use all of them wisely." Mateo answered as he sips on his coffee.

  Beltrand's head suddenly poke out between Mateo and Shiva.

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  "Hey. You know, I have an idea." Beltrand speaks with a smirk on his face.

  "What is it?"

  "This world also have a brothel right?"

  Everyone except Shiva looks at Beltrand. Their eyes filled with dissapointment.

  "Oh come on! What's wrong having some fun?"

  Shiva laughs loudly.

  "With you looking a hunk AFAM. I guarantee you that those girls will ensure you gonna make them pregnant." Shiva explains with ethusiasm.

  "Eh? And what's wrong with that?" Beltrand tilt his head.

  "It means those woman gonna chase you for child support or ask you to form a family with them. And that's gonna be a bad thing for us." Mateo answers as he pinch the bridge of his nose.

  "Oh..."

  As Beltrand realizes the implications. Sophia slaps his head.

  "You horny bastard. Atleast control yourself." Sophia answers with annoyance.

  "Hehe." Beltrand only laugh in embarassment.

  .

  .

  .

  Inside of Penelope's home.

  Penelope's parents are doting the baby who seems very happy for the love she's experiencing.

  Penelope smile as she watch her parents with their granddaughter until she remembers the small bag Mateo give to her. Penelope opens the zipper of the bag.

  "!!!"

  She close it with her hands quick before slowly opening it again. And there, Penelope can clearly see the bundles of 1,000 peso bank notes tightly packed inside.

  "Mateo! This is too much help!" Penelope screams inside her head.

  "Ate Penny? Is there something wrong?" Her little sister asked as she place the mugs of coffee on the small table. Penelope close the bag.

  "N-nothing. Thank you bunso."

  Penelope makes a deep sigh as she slowly slumped her back on the sofa. She can only repeatedly scream "Thank You!" on her mind after seeing the final gift Mateo give to her and her baby.

  "Penny. You say that she still doesn't have a name right?" Her mom asked.

  "Uhmm yeah."

  Penelope decides that her daughter named after the mother of the monster who tried to eat them was in poor taste. So Penelope instead throw her Rosa name out-of-the-window and start anew.

  "How about you name her after me?"

  "Ma. Your name is so old school. I can't imagine calling her Lualhati."

  "Oh come on! My name is not that old school!"

  "Yes it is." Penelope's little sister answer.

  As the two banter. Penelope thinks for a moment. Until she finally picked a name.

  "I think I have a name for her."

  "What is it Ate Penny?"

  Penelope walks towards her daughter and smiles proudly as she looks at her precious child.

  "From today. You're now Claustrine Facardo."

  Penelope's mom, dad and little sister raise an eyebrow.

  "Claustrine? What kind of name is that?" The little sister confusedly asked.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  A day after the end of their vacation. Their return to Yhigressia is halted after Sophia makes an innocent request. Now, Mateo and Sophia are in a supermarket buying assortments of snacks.

  Sophia'e humming as she picks candies, biscuits, and small cakes then put them on the cart which being pushed by Mateo.

  "Is this too much for a souvenir?" Mateo asked as he look on the almost full cart.

  "Because I need this many. I want everyone to experience this world on some way." Sophia smile sweetly.

  "Is your family a huge one?"

  "Hmmm... Yes."

  Mateo didn't inquire further and just appreciate Sophia's joy.

  Until her mood suddenly shift.

  "Say Mateo... What do you think about your world now?"

  Mateo is taken back on her question but he manages to answer.

  "To be honest. I'm more confused instead. There's just so many implications now that my beliefes got flipped upside down."

  "That might be the normal reaction Mateo."

  Silence for few seconds.

  "You know Mateo. I was concerned on what the Aswang leader said about this world."

  "About how it's dying... Magically?"

  "That's one of it but the thing that disturbed me is about the god he mentioned. What kind of god would destroy his own creation?"

  Mateo sigh.

  "If the myths of Earth so to believe, so many gods already did that with so varied reasons. Ego, jealousy, wrath. What I can say is the gods of your world is completely different to us."

  Mateo picks a bundle of chocolate bars and put it on the cart.

  "Besides, this world have so many stories of gods that it's impossible to say who's the real unlike for example your Goddess Vivvily which have a recorded participation. This world's gods are... missing in action for so many millenias now if they're really real."

  Sophia stares on Mateo who continues looking on the products on the drawer as he push the cart.

  "Hehe... You're not really a religious person Mateo." Sophia smile.

  "In the past yes. But now I believe in gods, just not the ones in my world. I can't really be an Atheist in Yhigressia with those solid and not just conceptual evidences of gods' existence scattered everywhere."

  "Atheist?"

  "That's what we name people who doesn't believe to a God or gods. Just show you how much absent the Earth's gods are if that term manages to exist at all here."

  "Ah right. No one can't be an Atheist on my world. But isn't also weird that that term also co-exist with people who seems have so much faith on the gods of Earth which you deemed non-existent until now, in our point-of-view atleast?" Sophia answers as she remembers the devotion of the people from the Earth churches they visited.

  "Hmmmm... Perhaps because of Psychology?"

  "Psayko-what?" Sophia is confused.

  "Sophia, I can't really answer you abouth such inquiry. But feel free to explore that concept on your own and reach your own conclusion. I'm sorry." Mateo makes a embarassed smile.

  "It's ok Mateo. Sorry for turning this talk about something you're uncomfortable with. How about we change the topic." Sophia's suggestion.

  Mateo agrees and their talk focused on more mundane stuffs about both worlds.

  After grocery shopping, Mateo and Sophia visits a supplies store where they buy many papers of different designs.

  "Is Claustrine asked you to buy papers?"

  "No."

  "But why we buy so many?"

  "You gonna see later."

  .

  .

  .

  Sophia is grumpy as she covers biscuits, candies, and snacks with papers. On the corner are empty plastic wrappers and alongside them are Shirna, Claustrine, Beltrand and Mateo also doing the same.

  "Why you even buy so many Sophia?" Claustrine asked as he gently place a covered biscuit on a pile she created.

  "I'm sorry ok?! I didn't expect that we gonna do this!"

  "But you should expected this Sophia. Remember how hard we tried to prevent this stuff to enter your world." Mateo answers as he waves a empty plastic wrapper in front of everyone.

  "Fine fine." Sophia sniffs.

  "But really, these amount of snacks is not a souvenir. More like you're planning to open a store on Nattunia." Beltrand's muffled words as he munching on a butter filled biscuit.

  "Hey Beltrand don't eat them!" Sophia is angry.

  "Geez calm down. We have plenty here."

  Shirna just quietly covering candies with small pieces of paper while sneakly eating chocolate pieces.

  "If you planning to stock these. Forget about it Sophia. If opened, they're only good for 3 days at max."

  "Don't worry Mateo. I'm sure all of these would be done in just a single day." Sophis gives a smug smile.

  "If you say so... Now I wonder what kind of family you have Sophia that you needed to bring this many?" Mateo asked as he covered a Strawberry filling biscuit sandwhich with paper.

  "How about you guys come with me this time instead? I appreciate helping hands for all of these." Sophia's honest request.

  "This is the first time you invited us to your home Sophia." Shirna speaks.

  "Really?"

  "Yup."

  "I guess a short rest before we return on our adventuring job is a good refresher." Beltrand nods.

  "As if we didn't get enough rest already." -Claustrine.

  "You call that rest? Ghost hunting and fighting a village of monsters is not exactly an ideal vacation." Beltrand counters Claustrine.

  "Yet I remember you really enjoy the moments we have fun. Drinking and eating a lot, also the first one to do new stuffs." Shirna casually speak as he focus on wrapping candies.

  "Fine fine you got me. But still, we need a refresher to our own world. We can't just jump back adventuring when we just stayed on another world for a very long time. We might become unused to it." Beltrand's reasoning as he continues to munch on biscuits.

  "Beltrand!" Sophia pouts.

  "Geez..."

  "Hmm... He's kinda making sense. Quiet surprising."

  "What do you mean by that Claustrine?" Beltrand is slightly unamused.

  "Hehe nothing."

  "I guess you're correct Beltrand. Well then, lets help Sophia while also remembering the basics." Mateo's finallization which the rest agree.

  "Thank you guys." Sophia gives a sweet smile.

  "Welcome." Mateo returns the favor."

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  NATTUNIA ORPHANAGE

  Grand Ecstasy is in front of the orphanage manage by Church of Vivvily. The building is very well maintained and designed, there's even a playground and a huge park which the kids enjoy.

  The entire complex is located few meters behind of the huge white church which one of the many in the entire Nattunia.

  "Huh?" Why here?" Beltrand asked as he look up on the building.

  Sophia face her friends and gives a welcoming smile.

  "Welcome to my home guys."

  "You're an... Orphan?" Mateo's inquiry.

  "Yup!"

  "I think I kinda understand now why you bring so many snacks." Claustrine makes a sigh of disbelief then smile.

  Sophia opens the wooden gate.

  "Come on guys. Lets go and meet them."

  Grand Ecstasy look at each other for second before following Sophia.

  .

  .

  .

  The party is now walking on the hallway and they encountered few people. Some nuns and clerics who look at them with admiration yet they're too shy to start a short conversation.

  Mateo move his gaze on the surroundings, filled with surprise which caught Sophia's attention.

  "Why you look like in disbelief Mateo?" She asked innocently.

  "It's just. For an Orphanage, this one is quiet beautiful."

  "What you even expecting Mateo?" Claustrine joins their chatter.

  "Because I commonly see Orphanage as either small, simple or downright neglected. This one surpass them."

  "Your thinking about those orphanages in the movies and anime right?"

  Mateo nods on his head, answering Claustrines question which make Sophia chuckle.

  "All of this thanks for the full support of Church of Vivvily and people like me."

  "People like you?"

  Sophia happily waves at one of the nuns who greet her before she answers Mateo.

  "Orphans like me who manages to become successful and now living on our own. We helping the orphanage by giving donations in any form."

  "And base on how good this orphanage, I guess there's so many out there who gives their support." Mateo smiles as he appreciates the work it takes to maintain such institution running.

  "Yup! We showing our gratitude of the orphanage taking care of us by helping with the best of our abilities."

  "IT'S SISTER SOPHIA!!! YEY!!!"

  The group suddenly see a bunch of kids running towards them. Each of them hugging until it turns into a mini-dogpile, pinning the happy Sophia to the stone floor.

  "Geez guys. I miss all of you!" Sophia hugs back.

  "Sister Sophia? Who are they?" One of the female kids notice the other just standing and looking at the scene unfold.

  "They're my friends. Say hello to my adventurers party."

  .

  .

  .

  "Wow! What is this dark candy?! It's so delicious!"

  "It's pink and sweet! I love it!"

  "Look! This one is shaped like a rabbit!"

  "So cuteeeee!"

  The kids are ecstatic as they taste the treats from the other world. They question the new food but it doesn't matter in the long run as they just enjoying the food.

  In the hallway are Grand Ecstasy playing with the kids.

  "Weeeeeee!" One of the kids happily scream alongside others who being carried by Beltrand.

  Claustrine showing safe magic to mesmerize the kids.

  Shirna playing chase with a lot of kids.

  Mateo meanwhile are playing tea time with a group of girls.

  In the corner are Sophia alongside some nuns who happily watch the kids.

  "Phew! Thanks you Goddess for the rest you given to us." One of the nuns prays with a smile and relief.

  "Also for the food. Thank you for bringing these to us Sophia." Another younger nun then toss a chunk of chocolate on her mouth and proceeds to savour its sweet and bitter taste. Humming with glee as the chocolate melts on her mouth.

  "It's nothing. I just want see everyone to be happy." -Sophia.

  "Not gonna lie, I'm surprised that your friends are so good at these?"

  "Hehe. There are times in our mission that we need to interact with children. We already have experience although it's nothing to compare to the experts." Sophia looks on the older nun with admiration.

  "Hehe you flatter us." The nun blushes.

  "Anyway. I didn't see Grandma Isther? Is she busy?"

  Sophia watch as the nuns' expression changed from joy to worry. She also feel anxious.

  "Is there something happened to Grandma?" Sophia asked.

  "Nothing drastic Sophia. It's just... Grandma Isther is now slowly getting senile. She decide that she wants to spend the rest of her life on the caring facility inside the church."

  Sophia's mouth is wide open but she realized something.

  "She decide it on her own?"

  "Yes. Because her memory lost and mood swings are becoming more serious as the time goes by that it affected everyone including the children. That's why she decided to isolate herself away. Also, Grandma Isther leaves a message for you."

  "W-what is it?"

  "She said that she doesn't want you to see her on such sorry state and for your sake, please don't visit her." The older nun relays the message with sadness.

  .

  .

  "Grandma..." Sophia's only words as she filled with sadness and confliction.