When Damaris heard her daughter's reply, a sad smile appeared on her face, and she couldn't bring herself to meet Hecate's eyes.
"I'm sorry for being a useless mother. I do hope you find your happiness," Damaris said softly.
Damaris turned around and walked over to her husband and Archer. Hecate watched her depart and finally felt a sense of happiness.
After a wait, she would now be able to travel with him and leave the palace. She wondered if he would permit her to continue her potion studies.
Archer and her parents conversed for a couple of hours before he bid his farewells and approached Hecate, who was waiting on the bench.
Drawing closer, he inquired, "Are you ready to get out of here? Or do you need to collect something?"
Hecate nodded and replied, "Would you mind if I continued studying my potions? And could Eione come with us? She'll be let go if not."
Archer smiled while saying, "Sure, let's go get your belongings and hit the road."
They left the hall, followed by her maid. After a brief walk, they arrived at her bedroom.
Hecate opened the door, and the three of them entered. As he stepped in, he noticed a blend of study room, potion lab, and bedroom.
Looking around, an idea struck him, and he said, "Hecate, I'll be back in a minute."
She nodded as he opened a portal to his domain. When it materialized, the two women were clearly surprised.
Archer entered the treehouse and found the girls enjoying a meal. Sera jumped up and offered some bread, saying, "Arch, take some bread El cooked. It's really nice."
He accepted the food and began eating, then praised Ella. "You're becoming quite the cook, El."
Ella emerged from the kitchen with a smile, handing bread to Hemera and Nefertiti. "Yeah, Mother was teaching me. I'm going to go see her soon."
Archer nodded with a smile before focusing on his task. He closed his eyes, envisioning the treehouse with a potions room connected to a comfortable bedroom.
The tree momentarily quivered but quickly stilled. The girls grew concerned before spotting Archer standing there.
He finished his task and opened his eyes. Teuila was the first to ask, "Did you just create something?"
Archer smiled, replying, "Yes, I made a potion lab and bedroom for Hecate."
They nodded in understanding, and Nefertiti avoided looking at him. Archer blinked next to her and whispered, "Don't be angry, don't forget what I said before. You know I love you, my pink princess."
She relented, offering a smile as he pecked her cheek. Addressing everyone, he said, "Girls, I'll go get Hecate and be back shortly. Then we can continue on."
They agreed and returned to their activities. Archer opened a portal to Hecate's bedroom and stepped through.
Inside, he saw the two women packing clothes. He cast Stone Wardens, summoning the Stone Men to assist.
Archer inquired about what to take, and Hecate pointed out items, which were then carried into her new lab.
After an hour of organizing, he turned to her. "Aren't they going to come see you off?"
She shook her head and replied, "Unfortunately, no. They never checked on me. My parents simply sent the maids."
Eione nodded and introduced herself, saying, "I'm Eione, Hecate's personal maid."
He smiled at the moon elf maid. She had the same dark features as the others. The Stone Men were quickly finished.
Archer dismissed them and opened a portal to her new lab/bedroom. They stepped through the portal and found themselves standing in a breathtaking potion lab.
The room seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly glow, casting a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Shelves lined the walls, filled with an impressive array of potion ingredients in meticulously labeled containers.
The air was rich with the scents of herbs, spices, and rare magical components.
Hecate's eyes widened in astonishment as she took in the sight before her. Her heart raced with excitement, and a delighted smile spread across her face.
She couldn't believe her eyes—the lab was a potion maker's dream come true.
"Archer, this... this is incredible," she exclaimed, her voice tinged with awe.
He grinned, pleased by her reaction. "I'm glad you like it. I wanted to create a space where you can work on your potions to your heart's content."
Eione also gazed around, her eyes sparkling with wonder. "Princess, this is truly remarkable. You're fortunate to have such a considerate fiance."
Hecate nodded, feeling a deep sense of gratitude towards Archer. She walked over to one of the shelves and ran her fingers over the rows of colorful vials and jars.
Each container held a unique substance, carefully organized for easy access.
Hecate's excitement grew as she spoke. "This is beyond anything I could have imagined. Thank you, Archer."
He shrugged modestly. "Just wanted to make sure you have everything you need."
Hecate turned her attention to the doorway at the other end of the lab. "What's through there?"
Archer smiled mysteriously. "That, my dear, leads to your private bedroom. I thought you might want a place to rest and relax after long hours of potion-making."
Eione's eyes twinkled mischievously. "And a place to escape to when your experiments go awry."
Hecate began unpacking her belongings, with Eione assisting her.
Meanwhile, Archer closed his eyes, allowing his imagination to take form, envisioning a bedroom connected to the lab through a corridor.
When he opened his eyes, he found the two women looking at him curiously. He smiled and explained, "I just created a bedroom for Eione that connects to yours."
Their eyes widened in amazement, and Hecate stepped closer, her curiosity piqued. "You can create things?"
Archer smiled warmly as he elaborated on the concept. "Yes, but only within my domain. There should be ingredients available in the forests, and you can enlist the help of any of the dragon-kin to gather them."
Eione chimed in, her curiosity was evident. "Dragon-kin are present here?"
He affirmed her question with a nod. "Indeed, they are my people, so to speak."
She inquired further, seeking clarification. "So, you are their leader?"
He was about to respond when Hecate interjected with a sense of pride. "He's not just any leader; he is the White Dragon King, the rightful ruler of all dragon kind."
Archer glanced at the potion princess and gave a nod. As he prepared to leave, he spoke, "Okay, girls, I need to hit the road. Hecate, if you want to talk to me, use this."
He tossed her a bracelet and added, "Just infuse it with mana, and you can reach me."
Hecate smiled as she put the bracelet on, watching him leave the room and head to the living room to gather the ducklings.
Upon his arrival, Teuila was asleep, while Ella and Sera chatted animatedly. Hemera, on the other hand, was immersed in her reading.
Archer scanned the room but couldn't spot Nefertiti. Ella quickly informed him, "Nefertiti has gone to the academy. She said she'll be back tomorrow."
He nodded and inquired, "So, who will be joining me?"
Ella shook her head and replied, "Not for a little while. I want to visit Mother."
Before he could respond, Sera chimed in hurriedly, "Can I stay here for today? I'm feeling really tired and just want to rest."
Archer agreed, saying, "Okay, you two. Remember how to contact me."
With that, he approached Teuila and playfully poked her button nose, whispering, "My ocean princess."
Teuila stirred and her bright blue eyes fluttered open. She mumbled, "I want to sleep, you lustful dragon. Remember not to ravage us."
Archer chuckled at her response and leaned in to kiss her forehead. She smiled and drifted back to sleep.
He repeated the gesture with the other girls, but when he approached Hemera, she declined, focused on learning a new spell.
Archer's smile then turned mischievous as he snapped his fingers, summoning Nefertiti to appear before him.
Confused, Nefertiti suddenly found herself in the treehouse, facing Archer's grin. Before she could react, he leaned in and kissed her.
In the midst of their embrace, a cough disrupted them. They separated and turned toward the source of the sound.
Xanthe stood there, ready to leave. Archer promptly sent Nefertiti back to her academy through a portal.
Stepping through himself, he emerged on the northern road. Casting a quick glance around to ensure no one was nearby, he continued his journey while eating sweet bread.
As he was walking he got a message from Hecate. ''Archer. Father just contacted me and requested your help. The swarm has been spotted north of Larissa.''
His face lit up with a smile as he responded, "Alright. Let him know I'll join the soldiers at the north gate shortly."
She acknowledged his message swiftly, and the line fell silent. Archer summoned a Gate leading to the northern entrance and stepped through.
Upon arrival, he was greeted by the sight of numerous Lunarian soldiers mounted on Hippogriffs, preparing for their departure.
Archer called out for the girls, and within a couple of minutes, they materialized before him.
He briefed them on the situation, explaining the unfolding events, and to his delight, every one of them expressed their willingness to offer assistance.
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