The Accidental Pet ✔️

Chapter 21

Meara closes her eyes, unable to look at the blinding bright light emanating from the now open door. WuJi however, doesn't.  He takes a few steps towards the open door.

He sees flashes before his eyes, flashes of him playing in this very corridor with his mother and his friends. He narrows his eyes and looks at the shape that emerges from the other side of the door and a lone tear rolls down his cheeks, "Mommy?" He whispers hesitantly.

At the sound of WuJi's voice, Meara slowly opens her eyes. The light doesn't hurt her eyes anymore like it was, a few moments ago.

"Mommy?" Meara mutters under her breath and side-eyes WuJi, who is now taking slow steps towards the figure standing at the threshold of the gigantic door.

Meara runs to catch up to her friend, who holds a dazed look in his eyes and tear trails on his cheeks.

"WuJi, what is it?" Meara asks, softly and the baby dragon looks at her as if seeing her for the first time, "WuJi, what happened?" Meara questions.

WuJi blinks and looks at Meara, before looking back at the door. A gentle smile graces his face. The baby dragon has never looked so content, "Meara." WuJi whispers, and points at the door, "My mommy." He says, his voice cracking. Then he once again looks at Meara, and asks hesitantly, "Can you see her too? Is she real?"

Meara looks at the figure standing at the door with open arms and recognizes her instantly, "LongMu!" She gushes and turns to WuJi, "WuJi, I see her, I see LongMu... I...
I see your mommy."

"Really? Promise?" WuJi asks to confirm and Meara nods her head vigorously, "Yes. Now go to her. Run."

Behest unknown to the little human child, huge pearl-shaped tears make their way down her cheeks... Meara is happy. She is happy for her friend. Yet, a strange feeling makes itself known, a feeling of losing that, which is most precious... most dear.

Meara clutches her chest and runs behind WuJi, who is yelling, "Mommy... Mommmmmyyyy." At the top of his lungs.

Meara watches as LongMu too starts running towards WuJi, and a second later they are in each other's arms, both sobbing uncontrollably.

Looking at the scene in front of her brings fresh tears to the human child's eyes, but Meara knows she can't cry. She knows that her tears will hurt her friend, so she schools her features, and plasters a bright happy smile on her face, "Congratulations, WuJi. You finally came home." She wishes, and hands over the emerald to her friend. The two pieces merge and become one again.

LongMu walks towards Meara and unexpectedly hugs her, "Thank you, Meara, thank you for helping WuJi."

"LongMu, WuJi is my first ever friend, I am glad that I was able to help him." Meara declares solemnly.

LongMu stands tall and claps her hands and a few dragon's dressed in guard uniforms appear before her, "Make our best guest room ready." She commands, and looks at Meara, "Child, you must be tired, take rest." She suggests.

By now, Meara who is a smart child has concluded that WuJi is no ordinary baby dragon and that LongMu is someone who holds power. She bows down respectfully, and says in a clear confident tone, "LongMu ma'am, I really can't stay here. My parents are waiting for me."

WuJi runs to his friend and holds her wrist, "Just for a day Meara." He requests and then looks at his mother, "Mommy, if Meara stays here for a day, when will she return to the human realm?"

LongMu contemplates for a few seconds before answering, "Time here moves differently than in human realm, but since you did travel many miles below the sea level, if she leaves tomorrow, she will reach the human realm, day after tomorrow."