The Golden Road: The Pentakill Prince

Chapter 4 - The Devilish Pixie

"Morning, sleepyhead." Eryn's voice drifted gently through the room as Charles blinked awake, taking a moment to orient himself. Sunlight filtered through the curtains in Noel and Eryn's cozy living room, and she stood nearby, holding a steaming mug of coffee with a smile.

"Oh... hey," Charles muttered, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. He felt the stiffness in his shoulders from the night before but gratefully accepted the coffee.

Eryn chuckled. "Don't worry about crashing here—you're practically family. Besides, Noel hasn't stopped talking about the team since you agreed to join him. He's got that fire back."

Charles took a long sip, the warmth sinking in, but Eryn's words resonated. "He really thinks we can do it, huh? Bring ROG back?"

She nodded. "He does. Honestly, I think he needs this as much as you all do. You've been more than a team; you were his dream."

Charles was quiet for a moment, the weight of their past—and the unfinished journey—sinking in. He looked up as Noel walked in, his expression both determined and slightly worn from a night spent searching for Grace.

"Morning," Noel greeted, then turned to Eryn. "I looked everywhere, but Grace has gone completely silent online. It's like she just disappeared."

Eryn's face softened as she considered this. "Have you tried reaching out to her parents?" she suggested. "She was always close with her mom. If anyone knows how she's doing, it would be them."

Noel paused, clearly surprised at not having thought of this sooner. "Her parents... you're right." He looked to Charles, who nodded in agreement. "It's worth a shot."

"Sometimes, family knows where to find us even when we don't want to be found," Eryn said with a small smile, her hand resting on Noel's arm.

Noel took a breath, a new spark of hope in his eyes. "Alright, let's do it."

---

Later that afternoon, Noel and Charles stood in front of a familiar house painted in a soft, cheerful yellow, surrounded by a well-kept garden. It was a place they'd been countless times in the past for team gatherings. Today, though, it felt weighted by memories and an uncertain future.

Noel rang the doorbell, and after a moment, Mrs. Ng opened the door, her face lighting up in surprise and unmistakable relief when she recognized them. Her warmth hadn't faded over the years, and her gaze softened as she took them in.

"Noel, Charles," she said, her voice a mixture of warmth and nostalgia, "it's so good to see you both again. I can't tell you how happy I am that you're here."

Noel's voice softened as he replied, "Thank you, Mrs. Ng. We're looking for Grace... trying to bring the team back together."

Mrs. Ng's expression turned bittersweet. She looked toward the hallway leading to Grace's room before meeting their eyes again. "She's here, but... she hasn't been herself for a long time. That loss... it took something from her, something that's been hard for her to get back."

There was a pause as she took a breath, steadying herself, then gave them a hopeful smile. "But if anyone can reach her, it's you. ROG International meant the world to Grace, and so did all of you."

Mrs. Ng led them upstairs to the end of the hall. She rested her hand on Grace's door for a moment before turning to Noel and Charles, her voice gentle but resolute. "She's carried this hurt for a long time, maybe longer than she should. I've tried to help, but she needs you. I raised her on my own, and there were plenty of times I stumbled or failed. But I learned that sometimes, even in the hardest moments, others can lift us up when we can't do it alone."