Sudden departure

"Coming!" 

The moment Adrian pressed the doorbell, a cheerful young girl's voice echoed from inside the house. Shortly after, the door swung open, revealing Alan's daughter, a slightly plump and adorable little girl.

"Dad, there's a boy and a little girl at the door," she chirped, her voice filled with youthful enthusiasm.

She called out while peering at Adrian and Emilie with wide-eyed curiosity, well aware that their household rarely received visitors.

"I'm coming. Invite them in."

Stepping inside, Adrian found himself squinting at the brightness of the place, not accustomed to such well-lit surroundings. At his own home, dimmer lighting was the preference for both him and Emilie.

Before long, Adrian spotted Alan approaching the door with his wife. This wasn't Adrian's first time meeting Alan's wife; he had frequented their home when he was new to the city, finding her in a case, and that's how he initially met Alan.

The case might not have seemed particularly unique to Adrian, but the police struggled to uncover the evidence needed to prove her innocence. This was why Alan held a deep appreciation for Adrian, as he had provided significant assistance when it mattered most.

"So, you've finally brought your sister along. Selena told me what a little angel she is, living with you," Martha remarked as she stepped forward to embrace Adrian and then Emilie.

'Is Adrian been having hugs all alone without letting me know?' 

Emilie couldn't help but long for Martha's motherly hug, finding it incredibly comforting. Observing that Adrian had moved on to shake hands with Alan, she also followed suit and joined in the exchange of greetings.

"You can both make yourselves comfortable in the living room; dinner is running a bit behind schedule," Alan informed them with a welcoming smile.

With that, Martha left them in the living room and headed to the kitchen, leaving Alan to chat with Adrian and Emilie. Their daughter had already scampered to the kitchen, hoping to find some snacks to nibble on.

"You've been on quite an extended vacation, Adrian," Alan remarked, engaging in conversation as he joined Adrian and Emilie in the living room.

Alan's voice held a hint of weariness as he added two sugar cubes to his tea, which had already been prepared.

Adrian regarded Alan with a pensive expression and quipped, "I never realized you missed me this much, which is quite uncharacteristic of you."

Hearing Adrian's remark, Alan couldn't help but let out a gentle chuckle.

"Yeah, I only realized it after you'd been gone for a while," Alan admitted. "It wasn't that the cases were particularly challenging; it's just that we kept overlooking these minor details, and thinking about it later gave me quite the headache."

Upon hearing Alan's words, Emilie couldn't help but contemplate how Adrian was genuinely helping ordinary humans with their everyday problems. She couldn't quite fathom why he chose to engage in such seemingly trivial matters when he possessed the capability to join special forces or agencies to track down the core bearers.

'His brain really works in different ways.'

Adrian refrained from discussing cases further, aware of Alan's tendency to view himself as average. With the awkward silence lingering, Martha came to the rescue, inviting them to the dinner table and breaking the tension.

Dinner was a delightful and cozy affair, with delicious food that Adrian had missed immensely. Emilie, on the other hand, relished the meal, as it had been quite some time since she had enjoyed a proper dinner that extended beyond her beloved chips.

"It's a good thing that you both are savoring the meal. You should come by more often. I'm certain Emilie would relish being here," Martha remarked with a warm smile, making them feel welcomed.

Martha expressed her delight at the positive reception for her cooking. She relished the opportunity to showcase her culinary skills, which didn't come around often.

Concluding the dinner, Martha treated them to a cake as a sweet ending to the meal.

"I only know how to bake sweet dishes like this cake because Lizzy adores it," Martha explained. "I thought, with another little angel visiting, and since you, Adrian, are like a kid to me, I decided to bake it." She shared her fond reasoning with a heartfelt smile.

Her enthusiasm was truly palpable in her voice, adding an extra layer of warmth to the occasion.

Adrian couldn't recall the last time he had felt this enthusiastic about anything, but he still held a deep appreciation for humans for this very reason. They cherished their brief lives to the fullest, in stark contrast to the core bearers.

Emilie and Adrian didn't extend their visit, as it was already past 10 o'clock, so they made the decision to take their leave.

"I think I'm starting to grasp why you choose to remain in human society," Emilie mused. "It's simply so tranquil and comforting here, and I'd make the same choice," she added, appreciating the peaceful atmosphere.

Emilie shared her thoughts as Adrian unlocked the door to their home, contemplating the serene quality of human society.

"See, I told you, humans are enjoyable company. You haven't interacted with many of them yet, but you'll come to appreciate them. They have a way of infusing life with reasons to find joy," Adrian pointed out with a contented smile.

With those words, Adrian entered their charming but dimly lit home, relishing the peaceful atmosphere that he and Emilie cherished.

"When are you questioning?" Emilie inquired, her curiosity piqued as she gazed at Adrian.

Adrian removed his coat, and as he did, his gaze fell upon his cane, which was leaning against his favorite chair. Observing his attention, Emilie followed his gaze, and they both noticed the cane resting there peacefully.

"Did you forget it once more?" Emilie asked. There was a touch of suspicion in her voice, as this marked the second occurrence in the recent past, and Emilie couldn't help but wonder about it.

"Well, it seems I need to leave right now. I can't afford any further delay. If it's Alaya, I'm pretty certain she has ways of tracking my whereabouts, so waiting until morning doesn't seem like a good idea." 

Having finished their conversation, Adrian swiftly retrieved his cane and vanished through the door, his figure blurring as he departed. Watching him disappear, Emilie couldn't help but feel a sense of concern wash over her.

'I hope its nothing like last time.'