The human realm (3)

"You have a point, papa." Dahlia rushed into her mother's arms. "Mama, will you help me bake a cake for Jasmine? It's our homework."

"Of course, dear. Come here." Sophie laughed, happy to finally have her jovial daughter back.

The duo went to the kitchen hand in hand while Jasmine watched them with a gentle smile. "I had missed this so much." She whispered. How rude of Dairon to forcefully take this away from her. Luckily she was back. She still didn't understand how it happened but she didn't want to go back.

Dahlia and Sophie were done baking soon, and they brought the cake to the table for dessert. Dahlia excitedly cut a piece and picked it using a fork, putting it in Jasmine's mouth.

"It's delicious!" When the blueberry flavour melted into her mouth, Jasmine couldn't help taking another bite. She grabbed Dahlia into a hug and kissed her cheeks. "Thank you."

Dahlia wrapped her arms around her waist while resting her head against her chest. "Jasmine, I was worried that I would not be able to give you the first cake I baked. It means a lot to me."

"I'm here now, Dahlia." Jasmine tousled her hair gently. "And thank you for having me in your mind. It means a lot."

"Don't leave me again." Dahlia demanded like a spoiled child.

"Mmh." Jasmine kissed the top of her head before cutting pieces of the cake for her parents and sister to have a taste too.

After eating her piece, Dahlia excitedly took her notebook and pencil.

"Are you going to write the report?" Harry asked as he looked over to see what his daughter was going to write.

"Yes." Dahlia seriously responded and gathered the right words as her parents and sister peeked at her book.

"My sister was happy to receive the cake because it made her feel special. Although the cake was not nearly as yummy as the ones mama bakes, she was so happy that she hugged me and kissed my cheeks." She wrote.

"Oh Dahlia." Jasmine hugged her from behind and gave her yet another kiss on her cheek, which made the girl happier and invigorated.

"Finish up your homework and go to bed early so you wake up in time for school tomorrow." She patted the girl and let her go up to her room.

When Dahlia left, it was just the three of them.

"My dear, where did you go?" Sophie asked as she rubbed her cheek. She had been worried especially when everyone told her that Jasmine was probably long dead.

She couldn't hide it forever so she sat down while pulling her mother beside her on the couch. "I was… on an island."

"You were washed away?" Harry was terrified.

"Yes." She nodded. She wanted it to remain anonymous, but when she saw her parents exchange curious glances of disbelief, she could only bite the bullet and explain in detail. "Actually, I was saved by a water demigod."

"A demigod?" Sophie was shocked.

"They exist, mother." She nodded. "I didn't believe it either and thought he was bluffing until I saw him use his powers on the sea. It was him who taught me how to communicate with you and Dahlia."

"So Dahlia really did hear your voice." Harry finally believed it completely. He had thought that it was Dahlia's hallucination.

"Was it the demigod who brought you back?" Sophie asked. "Does he want anything in return?"

Jasmine's eyes drooped. If she were to rely on Dairon to bring her back, she might have had to spend the rest of her life on the island whose name she still didn't know.

"What's wrong, my dear? Did he ask for something you cannot give?" Sophie asked worriedly.

Harry patted her head. "If he asked for a life in return of yours, you don't have to worry about it. I will give myself."

"You can't. I will go instead." Sophie interrupted her husband, rendering Jasmine flabbergasted.

"No one asked for anyone's life." She stopped them from arguing about who should be the one to give a life for their daughter's.

"Why would you even think that he asked for anyone's life?" She found them bizarre.

"He didn't?" They both asked in surprise.

She looked at them suspiciously.

"It's not every day that anyone saves a life without wanting anything in return. We thought the demigod would ask for a favor." Sophie explained.

"No, he didn't." She laughed dryly. He asked for nothing. He only kept her at the island against her will. "It doesn't matter, does it? As long as I'm back."

"Yes." They both hugged her.