Supreme Magus novel Chapter 1670

"Also, remember never to reveal my or aunt Solus's secrets, or bad people like those who attacked you two will come for us." Lith said.

"Sorry, Uncle. I promise I'll be careful." Leria squeezed his hand, afraid that something might happen to Lith because of her big mouth.

The kids had spent so much time in the Desert that they had forgotten that it was the only place beside their home where they could talk freely about their odd family and friends.

Lith checked the road ahead with Life Vision, noticing how many things had changed in the last nineteen years. The constant passage of the carriages between his house and the village had smoothened the once rough path.

In the distance, he could see new buildings being built over abandoned unfertile lands. Sometimes, the silence was broken by the echo of a faint noise from Lutia that had been carried by the wind.

"Gods, I can still remember when our village was just a few dozen houses that you couldn't see from the road until you almost got there. Now I can see the grey mass of the buildings from here and even hear its noise." Lith sounded like an old man even to himself.

"Well, it's not all that bad." Rena said. "Now instead of mud we have paved roads and when you go out for a romantic walk at night it doesn't feel like a haunted village anymore. There are enough establishments and lights to not make you feel alone."

"Romantic?" Lith echoed with an amazed tone.

"We are married, not dead. My life may not be as adventurous as yours but we never get bored." Senton grunted. "Speaking of boredom, Dad often whines about you not allowing merchants to use your Gate.

"He says that otherwise Lutia would already be a middle-sized city."

"I won't sacrifice the safety and the privacy of my home in exchange of a few coins. Allowing people to come and go would endanger us all." Lith replied.

"I know. I'm just trying to warn you. Dad loves you, but when it comes to business, he can be really annoying." Now that Leria had relaxed enough to stop clutching Abominus' fur, Senton took her other hand, restoring his wounded fatherly pride.

***

Heavenly Plume tribe, at the same time.

Solus had no problem with the Desert's heat, but for Elina using an oven during the day was akin to torture. The chilly nights instead were the perfect moment to ask for a cooking lesson and have a chat.

Especially now that the children were away and wouldn't barge in at any moment demanding attention. Also, Lith's absence would make it easier for Solus to open up.

"Are you alright, dear?" Elina asked while arranging the ingredients for the cookies on the table. "You weren't as lively as usual during dinner and Raaz told me that you didn't assume your human form upon your return."

"I was just tired." Solus lied through her teeth. "I needed to rest a bit on the mana geyser to get my strength back."

"Was it that bad that you feel the need to hide it from me?" Elina said.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Solus became beet red in embarrassment.

"Solus, you may have learned many things by living with Lith over the years, but lying isn't among them. You wince every time you lie and the moment someone calls it out you act all awkward." Elina sighed.

"Yes, but they are also what makes a living being different from a statue. You have spent years worrying whether you were a person or an enchanted piece of stone and know you know. I say that it's worth celebrating instead of brooding." Elina said.

"Thanks, Mom." Solus stood up, returning Elina's embrace and melting her heart. "How do I prepare chocolate chip cookies?"

"You just need, flour, eggs, sugar, butter, and a pinch of salt." Elina put emphasis on the last word, remembering Solus' stone cookies. "The chocolate chips go last so we'll worry about them later.

"The trickiest part is the beginning since you can't taste the dough until you are done."

Solus followed her instructions, adding the butter and sugar to the flour and kneading them together before adding the eggs.

"By the way, Mom, I still don't have my period but-"

"You what?" Elina froze while looking at Solus' womb and counting in her head the days since Solus had gotten her human body back to see if the numbers added up.

'That woman in Zeska was right, yet it's not even been a full month. How can the bun already be in the oven? Maybe it happened when she fused with Lith and it remained in stasis along her body!' She inwardly promised never to underestimate a woman's intuition again.

"Okay, that came out wrong." Solus blushed up to her ears. "I meant that sooner or later I'll regain my period as well and I want to be prepared."

"Good gods, and here I thought that Lith was horrible with conversation starters. I need to sit down." Elina took a few deep breaths. "Don't worry, dear. A woman's period is nothing complicated.. We'll talk about it as soon as my heart starts beating again."