Pao's And Bao's Father

Then they manager greeted the man. "Sir Valtario," 

Bao and Pao both froze, their eyes snapping toward the man. "Valtario...?" Pao echoed, almost in disbelief.

Bao, quicker to react, took a step forward, her sharp eyes scanning the man's features, and then, as realization set in, her lips parted slightly. "Fa... Father?"

The elegant man turned toward them fully, his poised expression breaking into something much softer. His sharp green eyes brightened, and a genuine smile crossed his face as he said, "Bao? Pao?" His voice carried warmth, not just the refined tone of a noble merchant but something deeper. "What a great coincidence. I can see you're both healthy and strong. What are you doing here?"

Pao and Bao jumped down from the cart.

Bao moved without hesitation, closing the distance in an instant and wrapping her arms around her father. Amukelo was caught off guard by how openly affectionate she was. It was rare for Bao to display this kind of emotion, always composed, always sharp-tongued—but here, with her father, she was just a daughter reunited with someone she hadn't seen in a long time.

Pao, on the other hand, hesitated. She lingered a step behind, her hands clenching and unclenching at her sides. She was still happy—Amukelo could see it in her face—but something held her back. He could tell she was remembering their conversation from their date. About how she had blamed her father for what happened in the past, about how much she regretted it.

She wanted to say something. Amukelo could see it, but the words wouldn't come.

Meanwhile, Bral and Idin exchanged a glance, both grinning as they stepped forward. "No way..." Idin muttered under his breath, barely able to contain his amusement. Bral, clearly enjoying the situation, let out a small chuckle before stepping closer to the group.

Bao finally pulled back from the hug, still smiling as she answered her father's question. "We took a quest to escort this merchant. We're currently based in Llyn, and supposedly, it's gotten more dangerous for merchants in this part of Elandria."

Silvan nodded thoughtfully, his expression growing serious for a moment. "Yes, some of my people have been struggling as well. That's why we travel with so many guards, even for only fifteen carts."

Amukelo hadn't approached yet. He sat quietly on the cart, watching the interaction unfold. He still wasn't sure what to make of the situation.

He glanced at the merchant they had been escorting, who had remained silent this whole time. The man's expression was unreadable, but at the mention of "only fifteen carts," his lips twitched slightly, as if he was holding back a sarcastic remark. 

Bral and Idin finally stepped forward, Bral being the one to speak first. "Mister Silvan, it's good to see you again."

Silvan turned to them, his eyes scanning them with interest before a small, approving nod followed. "Bral, Idin. You two." His voice carried a note of familiarity, respect even. "You've grown stronger. I can see it."

Then, with a casual yet knowing smile, he asked, "So, is your guild still just the four of you?"

Bao shook her head and smirked. "Actually, we have a new member now."

Then, without hesitation, she turned and called out, "What are you doing over there, Amukelo? Come here."

Amukelo took a steady breath as he walked forward. He wasn't sure how to act, how to carry himself in front of someone like this. He had known that all of his friends were nobles, but standing before Pao's and Bao's father, the weight of that fact truly settled in. Silvan had a presence about him—composed, confident, and commanding in a way that didn't require effort. The way he stood, the way he smiled, it was all natural, yet calculated at the same time.

As Amukelo neared, Silvan extended his hand, offering a firm but elegant shake. "Nice to meet you, Amukelo." His voice was warm, but measured, a tone that carried years of negotiation and careful speech. "Honestly, I'm surprised they allowed a new member. You must be a good person."

Amukelo hesitated for only a fraction of a second before shaking his hand. "It turned out that I joined their guild," he said simply, unsure of what else to say. He wasn't one for formalities, and standing before a man like Silvan made him more aware of it than ever.

Silvan studied him briefly, just a flicker of assessment in his green eyes before he smiled again. There was something about it that Amukelo couldn't quite place—approval? Amusement? Either way, it was clear that Silvan had already formed some kind of opinion about him in mere moments.

Then, Pao stepped forward, her earlier hesitation giving way to curiosity. "Is Mother here?" she asked, her voice carrying an edge of hope.

Silvan turned to her with a slightly regretful shake of his head. "Aveline? No, unfortunately. It would have been a pleasant family meeting." 

Silvan then shifted his attention to the merchant they had escorted, smoothly changing topics with the ease of a practiced businessman. "How long until you are ready to depart?" 

The merchant hesitated, clearly caught off guard by the directness of the question. "Uh... I think two days," he finally said. "It's getting late today, so I won't be able to do much buying. I'll restock tomorrow and set off the following day."

Silvan's expression brightened, as though this was exactly the answer he wanted. "Excellent," he said smoothly. "Then, if you don't mind, I would like to borrow them for the time being."

The merchant blinked in surprise but nodded quickly. "No, no problem at all," he said, though there was an unspoken understanding between them. He couldn't refuse. Not when someone of Silvan Valtario's status made a request.

Silvan offered him a polite nod. "Good. In that case, should you require any assistance in their absence, inform my people. They will handle whatever you need."

And just like that, the matter was settled. Silvan turned back to his daughters, then to Bral, Idin, and Amukelo. "What do you say to dinner? It has been far too long since I've seen my daughters, and I imagine there are many stories to be told." His words were carefully chosen, but his tone was genuinely pleased.

Bao, still glowing with excitement, answered before anyone else. "That sounds perfect."

Pao nodded, a little more reserved, but no less happy. "I'd like that too."

Bral, of course, grinned. "If you're offering us free food, sir, I'm not going to turn that down."

Idin elbowed him lightly, but there was no denying his agreement. "Yeah, sounds like a good time."

Amukelo, though still somewhat cautious, nodded as well. "Sure."

Silvan seemed satisfied with their responses. "Good. I will tend to a few matters here and have my people prepare for your arrival. In the meantime, enjoy yourselves. Return here in about an hour."

And with that, he turned back to the business at hand, already shifting back into his element as he spoke with the manager.

As they exited the building, the energy around Bao was impossible to ignore. She practically radiated joy, her smile bigger than Amukelo had ever seen it. She took in a deep breath and exhaled in pure satisfaction. "Ahh... I can't believe we ran into our father by accident."

Bral smirked. "Yeah, that's amazing. We don't even have to do our job."

Bao turned to him, still smiling but feigning irritation. "You always say something that irritates me."

Bral, unfazed, gave her a playful nudge. "Oh come on, that first smile didn't seem irritated at all. You're way too happy right now to pretend otherwise."

Bao huffed but didn't argue. She was in too good a mood to let him get under her skin..