-The Land of ETERNALS-

-Part 24-

Eric's POV

Nervously, I press the doorbell, my anxiety building with each passing second. The door swings open, revealing Linda, the maid. I manage a strained smile and step inside, my heart pounding in my chest.

"How's it going, Linda?" I ask, my voice strained.

Linda returns the smile, her kind eyes hinting at her understanding of my nerves.

"They've been eagerly waiting for you and the girls, Eric. Come on in," she says.

I make my way to the dining room, where Darla and my dad sit, enjoying their dinner. My stomach ties itself in knots as I force another smile.

"Hey, Darla. Hey, Dad," I greet them, my apprehension simmering beneath the surface.

Darla's warm gaze lands on me, her expression curious and expectant. I can sense her questioning my hesitation, her mind already searching for answers.

"We were waiting for you guys to join us," Darla says, her voice filled with a mix of hope and uncertainty. "So, where are the girls? They should be here by now."

My heart skips a beat, panic threatening to consume me. I struggle to maintain composure, my mind racing for a plausible explanation.

Darla's eyes narrow, suspicion lacing her words.

I swallow hard, desperately searching for the right words. "Um, they're actually... at Alaric's place, you know. Just thought it would be fun to hang out there for the evening."

Without missing a beat, she puts on a facade of acceptance, attempting to quell her doubts.

"I see. Well, it's good that you guys are getting to know each other better," Darla says, her voice laced with an undercurrent of hesitation.

"We decided to go camping in the forest for a few days. It was a spontaneous plan to bond," I explain, my tangle of nerves slipping through my words.

Darla's brow furrows, skepticism painting her expression. She's not entirely convinced, but she masks it with a smile, trying to be supportive.

"Well, I'm glad you guys are taking the time to bond," she says.

As relief washes over me, my dad jumps in to defuse any remaining doubts.

"Darla, Eric has always been responsible. Trust me, he'll be a great brother," Dad assures her.

"So, you mean you guys won't have dinner with us either?" she asks, her eyes searching for an explanation.

With a heavy sigh, I nod in response, "Yeah, I'm actually just here to inform you. I need to get going."

I try to muster up a smile, my eyes darting between Darla and my dad, hoping they won't see through my act.

"Well, alright then. If you have to go, take care," she says, her tone strained with a mix of acceptance and disappointment.

"Thank you for the permission, both of you," I said as I went and hugged them both. "When we get back from this camping, I'll make sure we spend time as a family too."

They both nod, and I turn to leave. I knew this would work. I wasn't completely proud of myself, but I had to do this. After leaving from there, I teleported to the Eternals, looking for Alora and Fiorella, who should be with Alaric.

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-she breathes love everywhere she goes-

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