Chapter 61: A Heartfelt Confession!

Chapter 61: A Heartfelt Confession!

The group emerged from the SSG base, the massive steel doors groaning as they swung open. Tessa led the way, her pace strong but thoughtful, the weight of responsibility heavy on her young shoulders. Beside her, Adrian walked casually, hands tucked in his pockets as if they had just finished a stroll through the park rather than storming a secret government facility.

Ms. Caldwell sidled up to Tessa, her eyes warm but concerned. "So, where do we go now, Tessa?"

Tessa stopped in her tracks, looking out into the endless horizon before glancing back at her mother. "Mom... you can't go back to school. The other branches of the SSG will hear about what happened here. They'll come for revenge. I need to keep you safe."

Ms. Caldwell sighed softly, her shoulders drooping as she nodded. "I thought as much..."

Before the conversation could grow too somber, Adrian threw in his two cents, grinning cockily. "Well, we can just break more heads. I mean, I haven't even stretched properly yet."

Ecdy rolled his eyes so hard it looked like they might pop out of his skull. "Shut up, Adrian. You're not invincible, you know. You'll pull a muscle next time."

"Oh, is that so? Says the guy who flew halfway across the field with one punch?" Adrian shot back with a mischievous smirk.

Nyala burst out laughing while Nymff covered her mouth, trying to stifle her giggles. "One punch!" she mimicked, tapping Ecdy on the arm. "You should put that on a T-shirt."

Ecdy threw his hands up in mock frustration. "Hey, hey, don't you gang up on me now. That wasn't my finest moment, okay?"

"Not your finest? You looked like a bird trying to learn how to fly," Adrian teased, mimicking a flapping motion with his arms. The group burst into laughter again, the tension from earlier melting away.

Ms. Caldwell couldn't help but smile at the scene but turned back to Tessa, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. She pulled her daughter in for a warm hug. "So, where do we go?"

At that moment, Nyala stepped forward, her eyes filled with admiration. "If you don't mind, Moon Goddess," she said reverently, "why don't you come with us? There are still battles among the Rhemonic people, and my people are not safe. With you, we can rebuild Rhemon City. Maybe we'll even rename it to Tessa City and unite the Rhemonic people, eliminating the bad eggs once and for all."

Tessa blinked, her face warming with pride at the thought of helping her people. But when Nyala mentioned renaming the city after her, she winced, stepping back. "Nyala, I'm not a god. I don't want to be worshipped. I'm just a girl who came from a different planet. That's all."

Ecdy, however, wasn't having any of it. He stomped his foot, the passion in his voice unmistakable. "No! You may have been a normal alien at first, but you've inherited the Moon Goddess's legacy. That makes you more than just an ordinary being! You are a pristine force, a quintessential masterpiece!"

Adrian leaned over to Nymff, whispering just loud enough for everyone to hear, "Here he goes again with the 'quintessential masterpiece' thing. What, does he have a poetry book on hand or something?"

Nymff chuckled softly, covering her mouth. "Ecdy and his dramatic speeches. He should get his own soap opera."

Nyala glared at Adrian, though a hint of amusement tugged at her lips. "You're not helping, Adrian."

Adrian just shrugged. "Hey, I'm just saying. Ecdy talks big for someone who can't even stay grounded during a fight."

Ecdy glared back. "I can ground you right now, if you like."

Adrian cracked a grin. "Careful, you might end up flying again."

Nyala raised her hand, signaling for them to focus. "The point is, Tessa, we need you. The Rhemonic people need you."

Tessa looked between them all, her heart torn between her desire to keep her family safe and her duty to the Rhemonic people. After a long breath, she finally spoke. "Alright... I'll go with you."

Ms. Caldwell smiled warmly, proud of her daughter. "Wherever you go, Tessa, I'll be right there with you."

Mr. Thompson, who had been hovering protectively around Ms. Caldwell, immediately puffed out his chest, nodding like a soldier who had just received his marching orders. "Well, wherever Ms. Caldwell goes, I go." He glanced at Ms. Caldwell with a bashful smile. "I've got to keep you safe, after all."

Tessa couldn't help but chuckle. "Mr. Thompson, are you... are you trying to be my stepdad now?"

Mr. Thompson blushed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I mean... if the shoe fits."

Ms. Caldwell raised an eyebrow but smiled fondly. "Oh, Mr. Thompson..."

Mr. Joel, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly cleared his throat. "Well, it's not like I'm going back to school either. That place sold me out to the SSG without a second thought. I've lost faith in the system."

Ecdy snorted. "You? Go back to school? Nah, mate. You'd last five minutes before throwing chalk at someone's head."

---

As the group continued their walk away from the SSG base, the night air was cool and filled with laughter. But Ms. Caldwell, her expression more serious now, gently pulled Tessa aside, motioning for Mr. Thompson to follow them. The rest of the group slowed down, sensing something important was about to unfold.

Tessa noticed the shift in her mom's demeanor, her brow furrowing in curiosity. "What's going on, Mom?" she asked, glancing from Ms. Caldwell to Mr. Thompson, who was standing there, his chest puffed up like a nervous bird.

Ms. Caldwell sighed, taking Tessa's hand into her own. "Tessa, there's something I need to tell you."

Tessa crossed her arms, staring at them with playful suspicion. "This sounds serious."

Ms. Caldwell glanced at Mr. Thompson for support, and he nodded like an overly enthusiastic backup dancer. "Well... you see... I've... I've decided to start dating Mr. Thompson." She blurted out nervously.

For a moment, Tessa said nothing. She simply stood there, blinking, her face unreadable. The silence stretched long enough for Ms. Caldwell to start panicking, her heart beating faster.

"Tessa?" Ms. Caldwell asked, her voice a little shaky. "Are you... are you mad? I thought you'd—"

Suddenly, Tessa's lips twitched into a grin. "Mom, relax. I'm not mad." She laughed softly, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "I think it's sweet."

Ms. Caldwell blinked, her eyes widening. "Wait... you're not mad?"

Tessa shook her head, her grin widening. "No, but you looked like you were going to faint for a second there. Just thought I'd have a little fun with you."

"Oh, you little—!" Ms. Caldwell playfully smacked Tessa's arm, laughing with relief. "You scared me! I thought you didn't want to accept him."

Tessa giggled, her hands going up in surrender. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I just wanted to see your face."

Mr. Thompson, still standing there with an awkward smile, looked between the two, feeling a little out of place. "So... I'm in the clear then?"

Tessa turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "Well, as long as you promise to be good to her... and stop acting like a bodyguard 24/7."

Mr. Thompson puffed his chest out proudly. "Of course! Your mother will be the safest woman on this planet."

Just then, Adrian, who had been hanging back but overhearing everything, chimed in from the side. "Well, with the way the two of you have been holding onto each other like lifelines, I think anyone who comes between you would be declared an enemy of the state."

The group chuckled, and Nymff whispered to Nyala, "Looks like we're witnessing a romance arc in real-time."

Nyala smirked. "I give it two days before Mr. Thompson tries to teach us combat techniques."

Ecdy, never missing a chance to poke fun, added, "Well, I guess we'll have to start calling him 'Stepdad of the Year.'"

Adrian gave Ecdy a nudge, grinning. "Careful, or he might make you clean up the Rhemonic City streets as a punishment."

Ecdy rolled his eyes but chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, whatever."

Ms. Caldwell smiled warmly, her eyes full of affection as she looked at Tessa. "You really don't mind?"

Tessa wrapped her arms around her mom in a tight hug. "Of course not. As long as you're happy, Mom."

The warmth of the moment seemed to spread to everyone, and for a moment, it felt like the battles, the struggles, and the danger had all melted away. They were just a family now, building something new amidst the chaos.