As an elder, Vexer couldn't let Three stay depressed forever.
The boy had just watched his future collapse before his eyes. Letting him vent a little was understandable.
So after clearing the first horde, Vexer took him deeper into the strange world beyond the portal. Along the way, they encountered even more creatures, some massive, others fast enough to leave afterimages behind. But with Three inside the armor and Vexer standing nearby, the fights barely lasted long.
Most of the time, Three simply pointed at something and blasted it apart.
Other times, Vexer casually erased entire groups before they could even get close.
Still, excitement could only last so long for a twelve-year-old.
"I'm getting bored," Three complained as the armor dissolved into particles of light around him. He dropped onto a nearby rock and stretched his tired arms. "Can we go back now?"
Vexer glanced at him with amusement.
"Tired already? Where did all that energy from earlier disappear to?"
Three's face burned slightly.
"I'm a child. Of course my stamina can't compare to yours." He crossed his arms before adding, "And I'm hungry too."
His eyes immediately softened afterward.
"Can we go home?"
Vexer sighed dramatically.
"Fine. Before your mother breaks into my house thinking I kidnapped you."
Three snorted quietly.
With a wave of his hand, the two of them floated into the air and headed back toward the entrance of the realm.
The scenery slowly shifted again. The dark wasteland disappeared behind them, replaced by the peaceful green lands filled with trees and glowing vegetation.
Moments later, they arrived near the portal.
Three's gaze instantly landed on the fruits hanging from the nearby trees.
"Are those edible?" he asked innocently.
"They're decorative," Vexer replied with a straight face.
Three's expression darkened immediately.
"Then why plant fruit trees instead of flowers? Isn't that just wasting good food?"
Vexer stared at him for a second before shaking his head.
"Of course they're edible. Can't you understand jokes?"
Three narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Those weren't jokes.
Those were old man jokes.
Actually… ancestor-level jokes considering how old his grandfather was.
Vexer ignored the look Three was giving him and walked toward one of the trees. He lightly shook a branch, causing several fruits to fall.
He picked one up and tossed it toward Three.
Three caught it easily before sitting on a pile of smooth rocks nearby. The moment he bit into the fruit, his eyes widened.
"Mmh… tasty."
Juice dripped down his fingers as he took another huge bite.
Vexer, meanwhile, summoned a wooden chair and sat quietly beneath one of the trees.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Three continued eating until his attention drifted toward the dark ring on Vexer's finger.
The old man had been staring at it for quite some time now.
"Grandpa," Three called out carefully, "what's that ring?"
Vexer lowered his gaze toward the black ring before falling silent for a few seconds.
When he finally answered, his voice was quieter than before.
"It's something that has stayed with me my entire life."
Three blinked.
"I made it myself long ago," Vexer continued. "Then I gave it to your grandmother as a betrothal gift."
The atmosphere changed almost instantly.
Even the wind felt quieter.
"When she died…" Vexer paused briefly, staring at the ring again. "She returned it to me and told me to keep it safe. Said it would help me remember her."
Three immediately stopped talking.
He had never seen his grandfather like this before.
To him, Vexer had always looked untouchable. Like someone too powerful to ever feel sad.
But right now, he simply looked… old.
Not weak.
Just lonely.
Vexer suddenly stood up and walked toward him.
"But since I'll be leaving soon, I can't keep carrying it forever."
Three looked up in confusion.
Vexer gently took his left hand before removing the ring from his own finger.
Then he placed it onto Three's middle finger.
The dark ring adjusted itself instantly, shrinking until it fit perfectly.
Three's eyes widened slightly.
"This is my gift to you," Vexer said.
Three stared at the ring quietly.
"Maybe we'll meet again someday. Maybe we won't." Vexer smiled faintly before placing a hand on the boy's head. "But remember this, Three."
"No matter what happens in your life…"
"Live without regrets."
Three lowered his gaze toward the ring again, gripping it silently.
For once, he didn't know what to say.
Vexer turned away afterward and looked toward the distant floating islands.
A small sigh escaped him.
"I'm really going to miss this place."
The words sounded soft.
Almost absentminded.
But Three still heard the emotion hidden behind them.
After a while, Vexer gestured toward the portal.
"Come on, boy. Time to head back."
Three nodded quietly before standing up.
The two of them stepped toward the glowing red portal together.
Moments later, the light swallowed them whole.