kingnovel Chapter 96: The Agreement
Chapter 96: The Agreement
“Nia came over to my place last time and forgot to take something with her. I came here specifically to return it to her.”
As he spoke, Lance pulled out the 【Starry Journey Commemorative Album】 from his chest.
The album was exquisitely packaged, and from its appearance, it indeed looked like a girl’s personal belonging.
If Lance didn’t come up with a proper excuse, Homan would definitely throw everything Lance brought straight into the trash.
That annoying old man had always guarded against him like a thief.
But he did have one advantage.
He respected Nia’s personal privacy.
As long as he believed it was Nia’s personal item, he would absolutely never open it without permission.
Lance couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Even giving a gift required wits and strategy.Homan stared suspiciously at Lance through the iron gate for several moments before finally reaching out to take the album.
“I’ve received it. You should leave now. I’ll pass it on to Nia.”
“Alright, uncle.”
Lance responded obediently, then immediately slipped away, turning and running off.
Behind him, Homan’s furious roar erupted at once:
“You brat! What did you just call me?! Get back here! Explain yourself clearly!”
Lance’s unrestrained laughter echoed through the quiet street.
An old man’s emotional breakdown really did come without warning.
……
At the same time.
Upstairs, Nia had clearly heard the commotion coming from the front yard.
At the moment, she was lazily lying face-down on her soft bed.
She wore a loose white silk nightdress, her fair legs gently swaying in the air.
Under the light by the bedside, she was fully focused on studying a mysterious mark on her wrist.
It was a peculiar imprint—a star encircled by flames.
Hearing the loud voice of her elder outside, Nia immediately pulled down her sleeve to conceal the mark.
She slipped into a pair of fluffy slippers and quickly walked to the top of the stairs.
“Uncle, Auntie, what’s going on outside?”
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Homan pushing the door open and entering while muttering curses.
Hearing his niece’s voice, Homan raised his head.
The anger on his face instantly switched into a warm, affectionate smile.
“It’s nothing, nothing.”
Homan quickly walked up the stairs, his tone gentle.
“It’s just that brat Lance. He said you left something at his place and specially came to return it to you.”
Hearing this, Nia immediately understood everything.
Of course she knew she hadn’t left anything behind—this was obviously an excuse Lance made to deal with the adults.
But she chose not to expose it.
“Ah, right…” Nia nodded along smoothly. “I’ve been looking for it these past few days. Didn’t expect I left it there.”
As she spoke, she quickly walked down the stairs.
She took the 【Starry Journey Commemorative Album】 from Homan’s hands.
“Thank you, uncle.”
Nia looked up and gave Homan a sweet smile.
Seeing his niece so happy, the anger Homan had just been worked up into instantly dissipated.
He felt completely healed.
He was an incurable doting father figure.
Since she was very young, his sister-in-law had entrusted Nia to their household.
Homan had no children of his own and had raised Nia like his own flesh and blood, cherishing her in the palm of his hand.
So every time he saw Lance getting close to Nia, he felt as if a wild boar was rooting up his precious cabbage.
He targeted Lance at every turn.
All of it came from a father’s unwillingness to let go.
Nia ran back to her room with light steps.
She threw herself onto her soft bed.
After burying her face in the pillow and rubbing against it for a moment, she turned over and looked at the beautifully packaged gift in her hands.
At a glance, it looked very expensive.
It must have cost Lance quite a lot.
To be honest, the resentment in her heart had long since dissipated.
Some time ago, when she ran off to White River City in a fit of anger, it was largely because after crying that night, she felt too embarrassed.
She felt she shouldn’t have vented her negative emotions onto her good friend, and when she thought back on it afterward, she felt deeply guilty.
During the time she spent visiting Amber, she completely figured out the true reason behind her emotional breakdown that day.
She had been afraid.
Afraid that growing distance and passing time would dilute this precious friendship.
While her friends were all heading out into the world to witness magnificent sights, she could only sit day after day at the Adventurers’ Guild front desk stamping commission forms.
She felt that everyone’s life paths were about to diverge, and only she would be left far behind.
Flora was going to the holy land Viridia to pursue her alchemy dreams.
Amber was heading to an Adventurer Party to protect her family.
And Lance—he had also been preparing all along to step into the wider world.
In this group of four, everyone had a distant goal of their own—only she could not see the direction of her future.
That was why, a few days ago, she finally made up her mind to leave Graystone Town for the first time and go to White River City to see the outside world.
And that brief experience had been quite fantastical.
Nia rolled over and lay on her back on the bed.
For now, she should take a look at the album Lance prepared for her.
She carefully lifted the cover.
“Tap.”
A neatly folded sheet of letter paper slipped out from between the pages.
Nia paused for a moment, then picked it up and slowly unfolded it.
【Sorry, Nia. That night at the housewarming gathering, I couldn’t chase after you to comfort you.】
【The vision you spoke of that day was actually the most beautiful future I’ve ever heard.】
【But unfortunately, in this world full of uncertainties, it seems we each hold tickets heading in different directions.】
【Flora has her truth to pursue, Amber has her family to protect, and I also want to explore those unpredictable Underground Dungeons and the broader continent.】
【But Nia, leaving Graystone Town doesn’t mean we’re leaving you behind.】
【This Starry Journey Commemorative Album enclosed with the letter is a magical item I obtained by chance. As long as you insert those crystal sheets into it, it can project the recorded scenery vividly into your room.】
【How about the four of us make an agreement?】
【Since your favorite things are the herb bread and the clock tower of Graystone Town, then stay here at ease.】
【No matter where we go in the future, we’ll record those landscapes with crystals and send them back to Graystone Town to place into your album.】
【You’re not being left behind by us—you are our anchor point.】
【All you need to do is sit comfortably at home, eating freshly baked desserts, and through this album, travel across the entire continent together with us.】
【The day this album is completely filled will be the day we wandering fools return to Graystone Town and tell you stories of our journey across the world.】
【So don’t cry anymore.】
【A friend who will always share the scenery with you: Lance.】
When she saw the name signed at the end—
Nia’s eyes instantly reddened, and scorching tears fell uncontrollably like beads from a broken string.