"Anders?"
Kael snapped back to reality the moment he heard Amber's voice.
He looked at her worried expression and pushed down the storm of feelings in his chest.
"Amber, I think Cecilia's hungry. Let me feed her."
"Alright."
Amber hurried outside to take care of preparing Cecilia's meal. She handed him a bowl and reminded him gently, "Blow on it to cool it. Use your lips to check. Only feed her once it's not hot."
"Got it."
Watching her like this, Kael couldn't help feeling a strange ache.
In his memory, Amber had always been that bright, lively girl—energetic, cheerful, always smiling.
But the Amber standing before him now, though still young, carried a softness only mothers had. It made her seem gentler, more mature, touched by womanhood.
Under her guidance, Kael finished feeding Cecilia.
Once she was full, Cecilia sprawled lazily across his chest, refusing to move.
So Kael held her and sat by the bed, talking with Amber.
"Anders… earlier you said the last time you saw me… was that in another world?"
Now that her emotions had calmed, Amber finally absorbed everything he had said.
"Yes. That was another world. In that world, my name is Kael."
"Is there… another me in that world?"
"There is."
Sadness flickered through Amber's eyes.
"Then… are you going back? Back to the other me…"
Kael knew she wouldn't remember any of this after he left. This world would forget he'd ever stepped into it.
But for today, at least, he wanted her to be happy.
He held her cold hand tightly. "I'm not leaving."
Amber stared at him in disbelief, watching the gentle, steady look in his eyes.
"I'll stay with you and Cecilia."
Joy burst across her face. Her eyes reddened again, sparkling with tears.
"Really…?"
"Mm."
He pulled her close. Cecilia, still resting in his arms, noticed Amber's tears and broke into a sweet smile.
"Ma…?"
Amber lowered her head and laughed through her tears. "Baby, Papa's home. He won't leave again."
Kael spent a simple, warm day in the little cabin with Amber and Cecilia.
Amber had wanted to cook a nice dinner for him.
But ever since Kael died in this world, she'd been living only for Cecilia. Nothing interested her anymore. She only maintained the bare minimum to survive.
After burning several dishes in a row, she gave up and rushed to Wangshu Inn to buy food instead.
She came back with red cheeks and set the meal on the table.
"I… I'll learn to cook properly from now on. I'll be a good wife."
She'd thought about it back when she and Kael lived together in Mondstadt—but everything that happened afterward had derailed all her plans.
Now, looking around the tiny cabin, she felt annoyed for the first time.
She hadn't cared when it was just her and Cecilia. But now everything seemed wrong.
The house was too old, too cold.
And too small… once Cecilia grew, it wouldn't be enough.
Tomorrow she'd go into Liyue Harbor to buy what they needed.
A spark of life returned to her eyes.
Kael swallowed the bitter sting in his heart, took a bite, and smiled.
"Yeah. I'm sure you'll be a wonderful wife… and a wonderful mom."
Night fell, and the three of them lay together on the small bed.
It was a little crowded, but warm enough to sink into.
Amber hadn't slept peacefully in a long time. With Kael beside her, safety wrapped around her like a blanket.
Drowsiness washed over her quickly.
"Anders… goodnight…"
"Goodnight."
Soon, he heard the slow, steady breathing of the two sleeping beside him.
Kael sat up quietly. He kissed Amber's forehead, then Cecilia's.
He gazed at their sleeping faces and whispered in his heart.
Amber… I have to go.
Please hold on just a little longer…
I'll come back to you as fast as I can. And when I do, we'll never be apart again.
"System, open the portal. Send me back."
[Understood. Please step outside. The passage is ready.]
Kael left the cabin. The tear in space appeared before him once more.
He walked toward it without looking back. If he turned around, he wasn't sure he'd be able to leave.
He couldn't waste another second. He had to gather the remaining mental fragments as fast as possible.
Only then could he restart this simulation.
Only then would their true reunion begin.
Kael had spent one full day in the simulation. One full day had passed in reality as well.
The moment he returned, he said, "System, take me to the next location immediately."
[Host, don't you want to rest first?]
"No. We can't waste time."
His enhanced body could go days without sleep. Rest meant nothing to him now.
He just wanted to finish gathering everything.
[Very well. The next location is in Liyue Harbor.]