Philadelphia, right back in the state of Pennsylvania.
Walking down the street, right after they parked their car, were Christian and Eva.
Unlike Eva's eager steps, as she looked ahead toward the park where they were supposed to meet Olivia, Christian was in the mood for a relaxed stroll.
"You know, Olivia hasn't even arrived yet. There's still nearly an hour before the meeting time," he said softly, casting a glance at Eva. "So, how about we take our time getting there?"
"… How about we do that together, after meeting her?" Eva replied.
She didn't seem to be in the mood for anything else before seeing her daughter again, and Christian decided to respect that.
And so, without hurrying, they made their way toward the famous yet supposedly hidden park.
Surrounded by lush greenery, the occasional chirp of birds, soft mist from decorative fountains, and cozy stone benches carved with age, they waited.
Christian's mind wandered. Though everything on the surface seemed normal… something still felt different beneath it all.
He had chosen Philadelphia on purpose. It wasn't far from Washington, the capital, and that mattered. He wanted to get a sense of how things were, now that people related to essence were slowly becoming more visible in the world.
And Philadelphia was the safest choice. There were many individuals here who were involved with that side of the world… but none strong enough to pose any real threat to him. That was the point.
Hearing everything from Iris and seeing it for himself were two different things. Life wasn't just about theory, after all… or so they said.
And so, while his thoughts drifted elsewhere, and Eva became increasingly restless as the hour drew closer, time continued to pass.
A loud, familiar voice rang out across the park. From the far end of the path, Olivia's eyes landed on them, and she called out with joy that couldn't be contained.
Eva's response was just as loud, just as filled with emotion, the moment she saw her daughter and heard her voice.
Christian, sitting on a nearby bench, quietly rose to his feet and began walking toward Olivia with a calm, steady pace.
He watched the mother and daughter duo run to each other, their arms outstretched, and collide in a tight embrace… like two people who had survived the end of the world and were meeting against all odds.
They had only been apart for a year. They had still talked on the phone, seen each other through screens, video calls, messages.
It was the digital age, after all.
And yet, their reunion was intense.
Christian, standing a few steps behind, and sensing that they would keep hugging for a while longer, shifted his gaze to Aria, the girl who had arrived with Olivia.
She had long brown hair tied in a ponytail, blue eyes, and delicate facial features. Her figure was slender, with modest breasts, and she was noticeably taller than Olivia.
She stood with quiet poise, her posture elegant and composed. When she noticed his gaze land on her, she nodded politely.
Christian nodded back with a light smile, but his thoughts weren't focused on the greeting. What occupied his mind was the subtle yet unmistakable sensation he had picked up from Olivia and Aria's bodies.
Both of them had more essence than him.
Did that necessarily make them stronger? Not quite, at least not in Olivia's case.
She was different. She was likely stronger than him, and from what he could sense, she was already on the verge of stepping into the second stage.
'Can I really not overcome the talent barrier with just one Idle slot?' Christian couldn't help but wonder.
It almost felt like the gap between him and Olivia hadn't changed much at all since one year ago… at least, not if he only counted the advancements tied to the Core Creation system.
While he was immersed in his thoughts, the mother and daughter finally pulled apart.
Eva's eyes were slightly red, clearly moved to finally see her daughter in person. Olivia, though not as visibly emotional, still seemed affected.
Christian watched quietly for a moment, before finally locking eyes with Olivia.
Opening his arms, he said, "You're not going to give your dad a hug?"
At the word dad, Olivia looked slightly displeased.
But in the end, she still stepped forward… and hugged him.
Christian was a little surprised at her sudden obedience, but he didn't question it. He simply wrapped his arms around her and returned the hug.
He felt her soft body in his arms for a moment before they separated again, and he couldn't help but comment with a tone of admiration, "You really are your mother's daughter."
At first, Olivia didn't react. Not until she noticed where his gaze had landed, on her breasts. She blushed slightly, then glared at him and snapped, "Keep your eyes away!"
"You mean, I'm not allowed to admire your beauty?" he asked teasingly, raising a brow.
Olivia grew visibly more flustered. Her cheeks warmed even further, but she still pointed a firm finger at him and scolded, "You! Mother is right here… can't you act more decently?"
As she said that, she couldn't help but glance quickly at Eva, expecting disapproval for him. But to her dismay, her mother didn't seem particularly bothered. In fact, Eva only gave a small smile, her expression calm and relaxed.
That reaction left Olivia slightly dejected, as if her backup had quietly stepped aside.
Christian, on the other hand, only seemed more amused.
At the mention of Eva, he casually stepped closer to her, wrapping one arm gently around her waist. With a teasing glint in his eye, he asked, "So what you're saying is… it's fine if Eva isn't here with us?"
Then, widening his eyes, he added, "Could it be that you think about me… like that?"
Olivia froze for a beat, seemingly caught off guard… even when she knew this was a statement intending to tease her.
It was just their usual banter, but doing it when they talked alone, was one thing, and in front of her mother, and friend, was another, after all.
"S-shut up," she muttered at last, her voice small and embarrassed.
Her reaction, more cute than angry, seemed to surprise Aria, who blinked quietly from the side.
Meanwhile, Eva, still resting comfortably in Christian's hold, let out a soft chuckle, her smile warm and amused.
And just like that, the emotional weight that had hung in the air from the reunion softened. The mood lightened, and they finally sat together.