ACCIDENTAL ACCIDENT

XV. Enigma of time

When the darkness of the cave finally released its grip on us, we were consumed by the radiance of the sun, a stark contrast to the confining shadows.

As I cradled Von Walter, our precious baby, beside me stood Jace, tenderly kissing my shoulder.

As predicted by the pixie, the cave walls crumbled behind us, sealing our escape route forever. The onlookers, rushing towards us, were taken aback by the unexpected turn of events.

Their cries of both shock and relief filled the air, leaving us bewildered. Why were they sobbing? What had transpired during our captivity?

In the midst of the commotion, Princess Sierra rushed towards us, enveloping me in a heartfelt embrace. Anxiety washed over me, fearing that I might lose my grip on Von Walter, I entrusted him to his father's caring arms. Returning the princess's embrace, her actions spoke volumes about the depth of the emotions experienced during our absence.

"Where have you been? We've been waiting for your return," she sobbingly said.

"Why?" I asked.

Peculiarly, we were informed that the people had endured almost two years while we perceived our time in the cave to be a mere four hours.

Jace speculated that time elapsed differently inside and outside the cave, offering an explanation for this perplexing phenomenon. The memory of the pixie's words echoed in my mind, "now go home, I know your family missed you so much." It became apparent that time had become entangled within the cave's boundaries, creating a rift between our experiences and those of the outside world.

Further insight came from my personal assistant, who revealed that other adventurers had ventured into the cave before. However, the fierce monsters lurking within had proven insurmountable, with the longest recorded duration of stay being merely six months.

While overwhelmed with gratitude for the unyielding efforts made to find us, sorrow gripped our hearts for the lengths our loved ones went to in their search. Their undying determination to bring us back safely resonated deeply within us, illuminating the strength of their love and bond. "Thankyou," I sincerely said.

"By the way who's child is that?" Sierra asked. Enquiries about the baby we carried abounded, eager to understand the circumstances surrounding his birth.

"He is Von Walter Rouge Eliurè, my son—, I mean our son."

"But how?"

"Well, she's overly inloved with me and the history goes on," Jace interrupted.

"Excuse me? Ikaw kaya ang nagsabing 'let's get married then' at 'I'll give you proper proposal and marriage, but let's finish this first now'."

"Hep! Stop!" Roxy shouted. I even saw Sara na namumula na, and the boys around us even rejoicing. What are they thinking?

To pacify their curiosity, I spun a tale that contradicted the truth. I claimed that the demon lord and I had wed with the help of the pixies, and that our son, Von Walter, was the fruit of our union. Veiling the actuality of the baby's identity, a child of a dragon, was a protective measure, shielding him from potential harm.

"What? Kinasal na kayo?" They asked in chorus.

"Paulit-ulit?" I jokingly state.

Our traverse from the cave's darkness into the embrace of the sun marked not just our physical liberation, but also the unveiling of the enigma of time. Two years for the world outside had felt like mere hours to us, revealing the intricate interplay between reality and perception.