The afternoon sun bathed the Kingdom of the United Sanctuary in a gentle warmth. Among the passing citizens, an unrecognizable figure strolled calmly, dressed in simple, casual attire. Beneath this modest appearance was the White Knight, Ahmes, pushing a stroller that held two peacefully sleeping infants—his children, Alice and Noah. A woolen bag hung over his shoulder, filled with supplies for the picnic planned for the day.
"There's the gate," he murmured, approaching the entrance to the kingdom's outer limits. After reaching the open gates, he paused, stepping around to check on the twins. Kneeling down, he smiled at their serene faces, both tucked under a soft blanket. "Already asleep?"
He adjusted the shade of the stroller, ensuring they were protected from the sun's rays. Rising, he scanned the area but saw no sign of his companion yet. "She's not here… perhaps I arrived too early?" He glanced up at the sky, the sun still hovering high.
As he pondered, a voice called out to him. Turning, he spotted an approaching figure, a familiar one at that. Salome hurried toward him, slightly out of breath, her long chestnut brown hair swaying with each step. She, too, was dressed casually, carrying a cloth-wrapped bento box and a small purse.
"My apologies for being late!" she called out, stopping in front of him and bowing her head. "I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long."
"It's fine," came his gentle response, smiling as he took the bento box from her to lighten her load. "We've only just arrived."
Salome's gaze shifted to the stroller, where a small yawn escaped Alice, who stretched her tiny arms while Noah remained fast asleep. Kneeling, she smiled as Alice giggled, reaching out her hands. "Hello, Alice. Hello, Noah."
The little girl squealed with joy at the sight of Salome, waving her hands in delight.
"They always seem so happy when you're around," Ahmes observed, his tone light as he watched the playful interaction between the elf and the child.
Salome nodded, her hand gently caressing Alice's chubby cheeks, eliciting more giggles. "It's strange," she admitted softly, her fingers brushing the child's soft skin. "I've only known them for such a short time, and yet… it feels like there's this bond, as if I've known them forever." Her smile widened as Noah stirred, blinking awake, his coos directed toward her. "It's almost… familiar."
Ahmes knelt beside her, watching the twins bask in her affection, sharing her sense of connection without needing to voice it.
After a few moments of quiet conversation, the two prepared to set off for their picnic.
"Salome," he began thoughtfully, breaking the silence as they walked, Alice now comfortably nestled in the elf's arms, tugging at strands of her hair. "I've been meaning to ask—would it be alright if a few of my companions join us today? I've wanted to spend some time with them since the war ended."
The elf glanced at him, her expression curious. "Of course," she replied with a nod, then smiled down at the now-drowsy Alice resting against her. "I'm sure Alice and Noah would enjoy the company."
"Thank you," he replied, his gaze warm. "I believe so, too."
With that, they passed through the gates and exited the kingdom, unaware of the shadowy figures observing them from a distance. Hidden among the trees were several members of the Jewel Knight Squadron, their expressions a mix of surprise and confusion as they whispered amongst themselves.
"Are those… children? Could they be Salome's?"
"And who's that man with her?"
"What's going on here?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down, or they'll hear us!"
"But you saw what I saw!"
"Less talking, more following! We'll figure this out later!"
The group continued to chatter in hushed tones before hurriedly following Ahmes and Salome, determined to uncover the mystery of their commander's unexpected companions.
The worn-down trail outside the Kingdom stretched ahead as Ahmes and Salome continued their journey, pushing the stroller where Alice and Noah slept peacefully. The air was calm, with only the soft sounds of their footsteps breaking the quiet.
"We're almost there," Ahmes remarked, glancing around before pausing, a smile tugging at his lips. "And it looks like the rest are, too."
"The rest?" Salome echoed, her brows knitting in confusion. Before she could question further, he brought two fingers to his lips and let out a sharp whistle. The sudden sound startled both Salome and the twins.
"Ahmes-san?" she asked, blinking at him in surprise.
"Just wait," he replied, a playful glint in his eyes as he looked toward the distance. "They're on their way."
Salome's keen hearing picked up the faint sound of barking, growing louder with each passing second. She turned her head toward the source. "Barking?"
Moments later, three familiar figures bounded into view—Wingal, Barcgal, and Flogal, running excitedly toward them.
"Ah, there you are!" Ahmes greeted them, kneeling to give both Wingal and Barcgal affectionate scratches behind their ears while Flogal wagged her tail energetically. "Looks like you've been having fun. I hope you don't mind joining us in our favorite spot today."
The canines cocked their heads at Ahmes, then turned their attention to Salome, who was smiling at the sight of them.
"Nice to meet you all," she said softly, kneeling down to greet them. "Wingal, Barcgal, Flogal."
The three High Beasts responded with enthusiastic barks, surrounding her as if welcoming her into their fold. Salome giggled at their unexpected affection, her smile widening as they nuzzled her playfully.
While the canines showered Salome with attention, Flogal's curiosity was piqued by soft babbling from the stroller. Padding over, the pink-furred canine peeked inside and found the twins just beginning to stir. Alice yawned, stretching her tiny arms, while Noah blinked sleepily. The two looked up at Flogal with wide, curious eyes.
"Arf?" Flogal let out a small, inquisitive whine, tilting her head in confusion as she stared at Alice, who gazed back in equal bewilderment.
Seeing the interaction, Ahmes knelt beside Flogal, gently petting her head. "Curious, aren't you?" he mused with a chuckle as Wingal and Barcgal joined them, with Salome following closely behind. He smiled at the tender scene. "Everyone, meet my children." He reached into the stroller, caressing Noah's head first. "This is Noah." Then, he softly stroked Alice's cheek. "And this is Alice."
The canines tilted their heads again, processing the introduction before leaning in to sniff the twins. Their gentle investigation made the babies giggle in delight at the ticklish sensation.
"Be gentle with them," Ahmes said softly, and the three canines responded with affectionate nuzzles, their snouts brushing against the twins' faces, prompting more giggles.
After the warm introductions, the group continued their journey, heading deeper into the forest. The atmosphere was light and cheerful, the sound of the canines' playful barking mingling with the rustling leaves as they walked alongside the stroller.
Unbeknownst to them, hidden eyes were still watching from a distance. Tiffany, along with her companions, continued to trail behind, keeping their distance as they followed Ahmes and Salome deeper into the woods.
"Let's go," Tiffany whispered, motioning for the others to stay close as they stealthily kept pace, their curiosity driving them forward.
In the heart of the forest, Blaster Blade Exceed and Salome ventured along a slightly worn path, accompanied by Barcgal, Wingal, and Flogal.
"Are we still far from our destination?" Salome asked, glancing at Ahmes.
"Not much farther," he replied, a reassuring smile on his face.
As they continued, Wingal suddenly barked excitedly, prompting Barcgal and Flogal to dash ahead. Salome followed their gaze and gasped in delight at a clearing bathed in sunlight, where a grand old tree stood beside a serene pond.
"Oh my," she breathed, marveling at the picturesque scene.
"This is a secret resting spot Wingal and I discovered a few years back," Ahmes explained as he pushed the stroller closer to the tree. He paused to caress a scratched X mark etched into the trunk. "It's been our favorite place ever since."
Joining him, Salome leaned in to admire the surroundings. Suddenly, they heard babbling from the stroller. Both turned to find a butterfly perched on Alice's head, mesmerizing both twins.
Alice watched the delicate creature until a sudden sneeze sent it fluttering away. Salome giggled at the sight of the twins cooing and babbling, enchanted by the butterfly.
Moments later, they spread out a picnic blanket beneath the tree's shade. The twins, curious about their new environment, began to crawl around.
"Come now, Alice," Salome said gently, lifting the little girl onto her lap. "Don't wander too far."
Alice babbled happily, reaching toward the pond.
"They say children are more curious than cats," Ahmes chuckled, holding Noah in his arms as the boy waved a leaf he had found. "I guess it's true."
"Perhaps," Salome replied with a smile, watching Alice play with her long chestnut hair. The little girl squealed in delight when Flogal nudged her cheek with a gentle snout.
Meanwhile, Tiffany and the other Jewel Knights were hidden nearby, peeking from their concealment as they observed the unfolding scene.
"Maybe we should leave; they're just having a picnic," Tracie whispered.
"Not yet," Tiffany countered, her gaze fixed on the happy pair. "We don't know who those children belong to or why Salome is with them. For all we know, they might be secretly married."
The group gasped quietly at the possibility, their excitement barely contained.
"Shush! Quiet!" Tiffany admonished them, turning her focus back to the cheerful picnic.
Ahmes lifted Noah playfully, earning delighted laughter from the boy. Salome smiled as Alice, eager to join the fun, reached out to mimic her brother. Flogal, sensing her desire, barked and circled around them.
"Want to go for a ride with Flogal, Alice?" Salome asked, her tone encouraging. The little girl looked up, curious.
In no time, Flogal was trotting around with Alice on her back, the baby giggling in pure delight. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and joy as the makeshift family enjoyed their time together.
"Whoa, Noah!" Ahmes exclaimed suddenly, catching the boy just as he slipped from Barcgal's back, narrowly avoiding a fall into the pond. However, the knight soon found himself splashed with water as he stumbled.
"Goodness!" Salome and the others gasped in surprise.
Emerging from the pond, Ahmes shook off the water, his hair soaking wet. The sight of his disheveled appearance only made Noah laugh harder, his giggles filling the air. Wingal, Flogal, and Barcgal barked cheerfully at their wet friend.
Salome couldn't help but giggle, pulling a dry towel from her bag. "Here you go," she said, handing it to Ahmes after taking Noah into her arms.
"Thank you," he replied, drying his hair as he settled back down with Salome. He glanced at Noah, who was now focused on playing with the elf's damp hair. "Children really do have short attention spans, don't they?"
"I suppose so," she chuckled, stroking Noah's head affectionately. "Noah, focus a little more, alright?"
The boy made a curious noise, looking up at her with wide eyes. Meanwhile, Alice babbled happily, still riding on Flogal's back.
"It's one thing after another with these two," Ahmes said with a smile, lifting Alice into his arms. "What's the matter? Are you hungry?"
Alice cooed, her tummy rumbling in response, which only added to her confusion.
"I think that answers it," Salome laughed, adjusting her hold on Noah as he attempted to climb over her shoulder. "Shall we have lunch? I've prepared enough for everyone."
"Yes, please," Ahmes nodded, settling down with the twins as they prepared to eat.
Meanwhile, Tiffany and her companions continued to watch from their hiding spot.
"Do you think that baby named Noah is really his son?" someone whispered, noticing their similar blue hair. "And Alice—she looks so much like Salome!"
"They're adorable!" another chimed in.
"Quiet! If you want to fawn over them, do it quietly!" Tiffany hissed, trying to keep them hushed.
Just then, Wingal, Flogal, and Barcgal approached their hiding spot, noses sniffing the air curiously.
"Crap! They must've caught our scent! Run!" Tiffany ordered, and the group scattered as fast as they could, hoping to escape before they were discovered.
"What's wrong, everyone?" Ahmes called out, noticing the high beasts sniffing the air and tilting their heads in confusion while holding both Alice and Noah on his lap.
As the sun began to set on the horizon, Ahmes and Salome strolled through the gates of the kingdom, returning from a delightful day of picnicking with the high beasts and their children.
"They certainly tired themselves out," Salome remarked with a smile, cradling the sleeping Noah in her arms.
"They played quite a bit today," Ahmes chuckled, supporting a drowsy Noah in one arm while pushing the empty stroller with the other. He glanced at his high beast companions. "I take it you all had fun too?"
Wingal and the others barked happily in response.
Ahmes nodded, a warm smile gracing his face. "Thank you for coming today, Salome. Not only did you prepare a wonderful meal, but you also brought so much joy to Alice and Noah."
"It was my pleasure, Ahmes-san," she replied, looking down fondly at Alice. Salome placed a gentle kiss on the child's head and caressed her back, causing the little one to snuggle closer. "All for them."
Ahmes smiled at her words until he heard a soft whimper from Noah, who was stirring awake, still battling drowsiness.
"It's alright, you can still sleep," he said, carefully placing Noah into the stroller, with Salome doing the same for Alice. "We have plenty of time before we reach home."
"Agreed," Salome nodded, stroking Noah's head. The child babbled before yawning, finally drifting back to sleep. "Just rest, alright?"
Watching Noah settle back into slumber brought a smile to Ahmes's face. He then noticed Flogal peeking into the stroller, letting out a small bark as her fluffy tail wagged excitedly. The knight chuckled and gave her a playful rub on the head before they resumed their walk.
The group made their way through the kingdom, ready to retire for the evening.
Once they had left, Tiffany and her fellow Jewel Knights emerged from their hiding spot.
"Should we report this to Lady Ashlei?" Rachelle asked, still watching the retreating figures of Ahmes and the others.
"No, let's keep watching for now," Tiffany replied, her gaze focused. "We still don't know if those children are really Salome-san's. When did she have a chance to get pregnant? And who is their father? Lord Blaster Blade?"
Rachelle pondered for a moment, struggling to recall any time when Salome could have eloped and had children without anyone knowing.
"Let's stay and observe," Tiffany suggested, and the other Jewel Knights nodded in agreement before they set off to continue their watch.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye