We crossed the threshold, and the house erupted in joyful shouts. Aya and Alastor swarmed the kids. But when their gazes fell on Ryan, who was standing slightly behind them, the room instantly turned ice-cold.

  Alastor and Aya moved slowly, shoulder to shoulder, toward the young man. Two massive shadows loomed over him.

  "Seriously, Yara?" Alastor rumbled in a deep bass, sizing Ryan up with an appraising look. "This red guy? You deserve an emperor at the very least, and you dragged home... this."

  Instead of answering, Yara simply hugged Ryan and kissed him on the cheek. He flushed red but hugged her back, not taking his eyes off his "father-in-law." The demons drilled holes into him with their stares for about ten seconds, clearly calculating how many pieces they could tear him into right then and there, but then they smiled in sync—and in a surprisingly human way.

  "Alright..." Aya sighed, tears glistening in her eyes. "If you're going to be happy with him—we aren't opposed. Go on. But remember, Yara: our home is always open to you. At any moment."

  Tizor came running in from the yard, all grown up and looking nothing like that little bundle in swaddling clothes.

  "Oh, Ryan! Hey! How's life?"

  "Oh, hey, squirt," Ryan ruffled his hair.

  "You're a squirt!" Tizor protested indignantly. "How many times do I have to say it: I'm an adult!"

  I stood off to the side, not quite understanding why I felt so... peaceful inside. Good, even. This was their life, their feelings, their little triumphs. I was just part of the scenery here, but scenery that enjoyed watching this play unfold.

  We sat down at the table. A long, noisy conversation kicked off. Ryan, sipping his compote, suddenly looked at me with a new expression on his face.

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  "You know, Greg... when I was a kid, I completely failed to grasp the scale. I didn't realize just how strong you actually are. I was damn lucky to meet you back then."

  The conversation smoothly transitioned into discussing the incredibility of teleportation. Everyone marveled at the speed, the convenience, the magic of space... And that's when I couldn't hold back.

  "Oh yeah," I blurted out, leaning back in my chair. "Do you guys know how convenient it actually is? I can, for example, go to the bathroom without even getting up from the table. I just teleport all the excess waste from my body straight into the toilet. Who knows, maybe I'm doing it right now while you all are discussing high art?"

  Such a profound silence fell over the table that you could hear the golems shuffling around outside. Forks froze mid-air. Ryan choked on his drink, and Aya covered her face with her hand. The silence lasted for about thirty seconds until Ryan, heroically trying to save face, changed the subject to fencing lessons.

  Later, when everyone had dispersed to their rooms, Ryan stopped me in the hallway.

  "We're all incredibly grateful to you, Greg. Thank you so much."

  "For what this time?" I yawned.

  "For Alexia. She had a baby. Healthy and strong. I remember how much she suffered before... and now she and Draconite are happy. You saved them."

  I looked at him with my green eyes. Nothing stirred inside me. I simply... didn't care.

  "Happy for them," I said, and kept walking.

  That night, we climbed onto the branch of the old oak tree. Me, Yara, and Erol. Just like old times. We looked at the moon, which seemed especially bright tonight.

  "This is probably the last time we'll look at the moon together like this," I said, looking at my green hair shimmering in the darkness.

  "What do you mean, the last time?" Erol protested indignantly. "What's with the depression? We'll get together a hundred more times!"

  "Uh-huh," I smiled faintly. "You'll get together. Only when that happens, you'll be completely different. And I just won't recognize you. To me, you'll become strangers with unfamiliar faces."

  An awkward pause settled over us. To break it, I nudged Erol in the ribs with my elbow.

  "And what about you? Your sister is getting married, when is your turn? Got anyone in your sights at that Academy of yours?"

  Erol fell silent, looking at the horizon. His face grew serious for a moment.

  "If I'm lucky... then yeah," he answered quietly. "There is someone."

  I closed my eyes, breathing in the night air. Time was slipping through my fingers like sand. My timer was ticking louder and louder, and I could already feel the great white void waiting for me around the next corner. But for now... for now, I still remembered their names. And that was almost enough.