At the end of the avenue, the gathering place came into view. In the morning light, Helena, Elliot, and Evelyn stood outside, resembling a family group united to welcome someone.
When Helena saw Rex, her face showed the same warmth that had been there since the goblin king incident. It was the kind of warmth that comes from trusting someone and not having to change that trust.
She greeted him like someone who considered him to be family. "I'm so glad to meet you again, Rex... it has been a while, hasn't it? Like three days?"
"Yeah... I've been busy with the academy and stuff, but I could manage it all." Rex responded in kind, like someone who had worked hard to earn that.
"You're probably thinking, who's Elizabeth to the Starlight family, right?"
"Well, I can guess that she's young—" Rex stopped immediately because he just said something sensitive; he should have said 'age' with an older woman. "Ehem! I can guess that she's probably your sister."
