Once they stepped out of the Rutherford Property, Amaranda activated her magic and they instantly disappeared from that place. In the next moment, they reappeared standing outside the Chand Household.

“I must admit that experience was something I wouldn't get out of stories,” admitted Amaranda while letting out a sigh. “I think this is why I completely severed my ties with my clan and walked out.”

Emilia smiled and said, “That's probably for the best since you're more at peace now than when you're together with them.”

Amaranda sighed again and said telepathically, “Well, I just hope they will sort out their issues with their relatives while letting nothing get in between them.”

“They will. Knowing my husband, and knowing that he follows my husband's principals, I am confident that they will get over this,” replied Emilia confidently. “Anyway, I believe it's about time we make lunch. All the other ladies will be coming soon.”

Amaranda nodded her head in agreement, and they both entered the house. Upon entering the house, they found Lagron sitting in the hall with his eyes closed. Hearing the sound of their entry, he opened his eyes and straightened up to look in their direction.

“Oh. You're back and Ama? By chance did you go shopping together?” He asked and when they nodded, he wore a stern look on his face and asked, “In that case, what took you so long?”

Emilia headed off into the kitchen while Amaranda took her seat and explained what had transpired. In the kitchen, Ondine and Sumatra joined her in sorting out the food while she informed them why they were late in coming home.

“That guy did all that?” Lagron asked, looking amused by what he heard. “I kind of find it hard to believe considering all that justice talk he keeps going on about each time I met him. Totally unbelievable.”

“Don't think too badly off him. He just wanted to meet his relatives after so long,” said Amaranda softly.

“Heh. It's him so he did that but if it were me, I would've shown the one hellish nightmare for betraying me!” Lagron said, an evil glint in his eyes.

Amaranda sighed and telepathically said, “Yes. I expected nothing less from you regarding anyone that would betray you. By the way, what happened with your trip to the Dragon Continent?”

He snorted and said, “I gave them some good lessons and made sure the Dragon Kings got it into their heads to bring my people back to the power they once held in the ancient times.”

“So, by lessons you basically mean you threatened them that you'd destroy them if they don't meet your expectations.”

“That's pretty much it,” admitted Lagron in a carefree manner. As his lover eyed him strangely, he shrugged his shoulders and said, “It's their fault for become weaker than the Phoenix Clan in these times of peace. Seriously, when disaster struck in the form of the Calamity Titan, the Phoenix Clan were better equipped to handle them than us! I am displeased, so I want to bring my clan back to the top!”

“Isn't that basically dictatorship?”

“History has proven that my kind will only listen with a good deal of spanking to get them motivated. That's what I did, although, I think most would relate it to the saying 'using a carrot and a stick’ right?”

Amaranda shook her head just when Priya, Indira, and Cantia entered the house while chatting happily.

“It's not every day we get to come home together,” commented Indira happily.

“It's just sad that Vondinalu did not come with us due to work,” said Priya, referring to Venezuela and Erza that stayed at the castle.

“Hey, you two,” said Lagron, greeting them and they turned to look at him in surprise.

“Lagron! You're back already?” Priya asked in amazement.

“What? Should I come back tomorrow?” He asked in exasperation, causing the twins to laugh. He smiled a little and said, “How's your studies coming along?”

“We're doing great!” Indira replied excitedly.

“Yeah! We're confident we'll achieve the best grades and graduate at the top of the year!” Priya said confidently with a grin on her face.

He snorted and said, “That's far better than the unfinished education that your brother has on his shoulders. I'm still astonished that he didn't complete his studies fully.”

His comment about their brother made both Indira and Priya to go quiet. Amaranda quickly scolded him for needlessly meddling into other people's businesses. Suddenly, Priya put on a brave face and spoke seriously to her brother's rival.

“I'm sorry that my brother was unable to finish his degree, but I don't think that's enough to stop him from being the strongest warrior in the world!”

This made Lagron become heated with irritation, and he said to her by correctly guessing her name due to the strong-minded personality he associated with her.

“Look, Priya. You may think he's the strongest, but the fact is I'm the strongest and the best there is.”

“Is that why you're still here and not my brother?” Asked Priya without relenting her stance to shield her brother.

Lagron’s eyes narrowed sharply with anger, and he said, “Are you kidding me? He was weak and that's why he isn't here. As for me, if it weren't for me taking the brunt of the attacks meant to kill Ama, I would've done the same.”

“Be that as it may, the fact remains that you weren't there when the Calamity Titan attacked the capital, you weren't there when the God of Calamity opened that black hole above our world, and you weren't the one who closed that portal, falling through in the process and leaving behind his entire family. So much for the tough warrior act; my brother is better than you at any given time.”

Lagron slowly rose to his feet and glared menacingly at the younger girl. Normally, it would make anyone feel a little concerned, as seen from Indira looking worried, but Priya looked right back at him a cool expression on her face.

“Look, young lady. I'm patiently listening to your nonsense but you're taking it way too far. If you continue to–!”

Priya completely ignored him and turned to Amaranda before saying, “Ama, tell this guy to wake up and face reality because he is living in a delusion that anyone in this house is scared of him.”

With that, she gave him one strong look before grabbing her sister's hand and left for their room. The other three watched them go before turning to look at one another.

“I suppose that should teach you a lesson of not messing with anyone from this family,” commented Cantia before heading over to see the others.

Lagron slowly turned to look at his lover and sighed before saying, “Well… One thing I learnt today is that every woman in this family are as fiery as their man of the family. Be it in the past, today, or tomorrow; these women are strong hearted like their male counterparts. Well, except for Indira who is quite different in contrast to her twin.”

“Presently, she is, but it doesn't mean she will be in the future. Who knows? Perhaps finding a mate and becoming a mother would make a big difference in her.”

“Good point,” agreed Lagron with a nod of his head.

Amaranda smiled a little, knowing full well that he got carried away because of his temper and got the backlash he deserved. So, she decided to give him a slight warning to make sure he is more careful. Still, she could not help but ask out of curiosity to find out what he would say to her question.

“Still, was it that necessary to find that out in this kind of manner?”

Lagron shrugged his shoulders and said nothing as he sat back down. After a while later, lunch was ready and since there were more than their dining table could allow, they moved to eat in the hall where everyone could easily fit.

“So, what kept Vena and Erza from this delicious food?” Silvera asked curiously.

“Work,” replied Cantia with an exasperated look on her face. “Apparently, the Mariana King demanded that we pay them compensation for loss of warriors with money in addition to wanting to have a branch of the Phoenix Clan open at their end.”

“Huh?!” Everyone at the table exclaimed in shock.

“A branch clan? Isn't that… ridiculous?” Priya asked, looking incredulously at Cantia.

“They are way over their heads by coming up with that plan,” commented Tera with a sigh

“Zen won't accept it. Even the Phoenix Sages won't just let it happen quietly,” stated Ondine.

“It’s not just them. You're forgetting the Phoenix Clan as a whole,” said Lagron in between munching his food while wearing a knowing look on his face. “They'd rather cut their ties with the outside world and live independently rather than allow themselves to bow down to some stranger.”

“Just like the Dragon Clan did?” Ondine asked in a quiet voice.

He instantly became annoyed and replied, “I admit my clan is stupid at times but I'm going to have to defend them on this one. They watched the rise of the Phoenix Clan dominate society as number one in the entire world and they watched it get crumbled to its current state as well. So, it's only fair that they learn to be careful from observing them and avoid the same result at all costs. That's why they secluded themselves on that island and concealed themselves from the world except for selling that sweet, sweet Dragon Liquor that is the pride of my clan.”

As the women were surprised by his statement, Silvera decided to joke by saying, “Well, it takes a strong man to admit that, doesn't it, Lagron?”

She met his glare while wearing a sweet smile on her face. Suddenly, her daughter tapped her on the arm and swallowed the food that her mother placed in her mouth with a spoon.

They all were able to somehow eat their food and manage to feed the children as well, who were not able to stay still if it were not for Emilia's movement freeze spell. Still, from time to time, they would become restless, and Emilia deactivated her spell to help them not get cramps.

“So, what decision will Vodina come up with to tackle this issue?” Priya asked Cantia while indirectly referring to Venezuela.

Cantia shrugged her shoulders and replied, “No idea. She and Erza are deep in discussion with the ministers and the sages but I'm sure it'll be a tough call.”

“The Mariana King wouldn't start a war against us, will he?” Indira asked nervously, looking anxiously around.

Everyone shook their heads and wore exasperated expressions on their faces. She was confused why they all had such a similar reaction until Tetra explained why.

“Indira, they wouldn't suddenly start war with us, not because the Phoenix Clan is here, but because the Nine Pillars Of Power have assembled and will restore balance and order if anyone steps out of line.”

“Oh!” Indira said, realization dawning on her by what she just heard. “It's because they fear that their kingdom will get destroyed?”

“Precisely!” Tetra said firmly with a smile. “So, rest assured, the worst they can do to us is shout at us, blame us and try to frame us as the bad guys.”

“Which, I must admit, sounds childish,”

“Wait! That's bad, isn't it?” Indira asked, her eyes widening with fear.

“Of course not!” Tetra said with a laugh. “No one in the world would believe them, not after all the heroic deeds the group had performed, especially the sacrifice that the Phoenix Titan made!”

“You're right, Tetra,” said Ondine, nodding at her in agreement. “Thanks to the war effort, Lucky has made himself a good name and has great favor towards him from both on and off this continent. So, that's why there is no way–!”

“Alright! I'm done!” Lagron suddenly said, startling them with his loud voice. “I've finished my meal.”

He rose to his feet and headed off into the kitchen to wash his hands. Once done, he returned to the hall while rubbing his hands dry on a dry cloth that he found lying at the kitchen table.

“Thank you for the excellent meal. It was splendid!” He said with a smile. Then it fades as he turned towards Amaranda and said, “Ama, come quick once you're done. Okay?”

“I will,” she replied in an exasperated voice.

They watched him walk towards the entrance and pause before turning to glance at them over his shoulders.

“Before I go, I want to clearly state that I'm not leaving because I disliked the topic about my rival or my feeling of jealousy over him. I'm stronger, better, smarter, and more handsome than the guy so it's nothing to do with that. I just finished quicker than the rest of you chatterboxes. Alright? Okay!”

With that, he exited from the building and left for his house situated on the Spirit Turtle. The women kept staring towards the door in complete silence for several seconds before turning to look at each other. Then they all began to laugh at how hilarious that was.

Several minutes later, everyone finished eating their meals and set them down in the kitchen sink for Emilia, Ondine, and Sumara to wash and clean later. In the meantime, Priya, Indira, and Cantia were going to return back to the castle so that Cantia gets back to training the soldiers while Priya and Indira attend the Astral Academy while Amaranda quickly left for her home on the Spirit Turtle after bidding them a quick goodbye.

“It's a pity that Sonia didn't make it back for lunch,” commented Indira, looking up at the sky sadly as if hoping to see the person descend.

“It’s fine. I'm sure she's busy on her end just like Vena and Erza,” said Emilia with a sweet smile. “You two do well at the academy.”

“We will Vondinalu!” Replied both Indira and Priya simultaneously.

Waving their farewells, Indira, Priya, and Cantia approached three Phintex Rajas and placed a hand on their shoulders. A moment later, in a swirl of wind, all three disappeared from there.

“Okay. Time to face that cleaning chore,” said Sumara bracingly, turning to head into the house.

“Yeah. Got to put the kids to sleep now,” said Silvera with a smile, and Tetra nodded from beside her.

Ondine, Tetra, Silvera, and Sumara all entered the house while talking causally with each other. Emilia was about to do the same when she suddenly sensed something and turned in a certain direction, towards the mountains that separated the main land and the forest and the open fields. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously as she got a bad feeling for an unknown reason.

“Emilia! What's wrong?” Sumara called to her, and she walked out of the house to see what was delaying her.

Emilia turned to her, still with that cautious expression on her face and replied, “Nothing. I'm coming.”

She looked one last time towards the mountains before turning around and heard towards where Sumara was waiting.

“Did you sense something?” Sumara asked, seeing the look on Emilia's face.

Emilia nodded and said, “Yes. I sense that someone, more like a group, are approaching our house from over up that mountain and fast. I'm not sure who they are but I'm getting bad vibes from them.”

Sumara nodded, understanding that the other woman did not know how to describe it. They all knew her wisdom and maturity were far greater than theirs and so was her ability to sense danger. It was her who would sense her husband's feelings first, and it was also her who detected the danger she faced during dangerous times in the past will let than the rest. So, she believed that Emilia sensed something that they could not without a single doubt.

“Okay. Whoever they may me, I suppose we should be ready for anything,” said Sumara, to which Emilia nodded in agreement.

As they entered the house, Emilia silently prayed in her mind, “Please, let nothing terrible happen in the absence of my husband because… I don't know if we're capable of protecting each other…!”

So, hoping for the best, she went with Sumara to meet the other women of the Chand Family and prepared to receive their uninvited guests.