"OK, I picked everyone up from the cave in the Bernink Province." Lyle said as he came bounding up towards Ayn. The prince tried to hobble over to him, but his left leg didn't have sufficient strength and so he fell. Lyle helped him up.
"Anyway, your parents are here. Come on." Lyle whispered to the prince, helping him up and taking him to his parents. When Rhys and Maia saw him, they were overjoyed.
"My son, you did it! You found our safe haven." Rhys said as he embraced Ayn. The prince told him all about the ordeals with the cyborgs and the fact that he'd nearly been killed by Siren. Maia had heard the story too, and she gave him a huge hug.
"Well, at least you're alive to tell the tale. That's all that matters now." she said as she brushed her son's fringe out of his face. Ayn instinctively stepped back, but he forgot about his wound and fell to the floor.
"Ouch! I got hit in the fight. This wound wouldn't heal up, even with a technique." Ayn explained. Rhys helped him up and knelt down in front of him.
"Ayn, my son. You've proven yourself to be a man. Now, you're going to need someone to be with you. It's time you married." he said. Ayn began to shuffle slightly.
"I've never really been..." he began to say, but Rhys hushed him.
"Listen, my son, and listen well. If you don't marry, who's going to look after you when you're old? I know that I won't be around then! Anyway, Thea and Sari seem to be showing an interest in you. It's up to you." Rhys explained, looking into Ayn's eyes.
"Well, to be honest, I've had a crush on both Thea and Sari, but I don't know who to have for a wife." Ayn said uneasily. Rhys reminded him that it was his decision, not his parents' decision. Thea and Sari stepped forward, and Ayn looked at both of them. His eyes flickered between the two of them. Behind them, Lyle was jumping up and down, pointing at Thea.
"I hope he picks my daughter!" Lyle hissed. Wren silenced him.
"Let Ayn choose! It's his decision." Wren hissed in reply. Meanwhile, Ayn had still been pondering over who to marry.
"I've decided, Father. I choose Thea." Ayn said. Thea ran forward and embraced him, kissing him on the cheek. Sari didn't change her expression at all. Lyle cheered silently, but Wren held him down.
"Well, like your father said, it was up to you. Good luck with the wedding, Prince!" Sari said. She decided that she would go back to Samesina and become Queen of Landen, even though she hadn't married. She wasn't going to go just yet; she was going to wait until after the wedding. Darren had also decided to depart with Sari, so that he could help her.
"We should make the preparations right away!" Maia said, and so everyone went off and began to prepare for the wedding.