It was warm. The smell of dry air, with the faint hint of petrichor soothed their nostrils. They just stood there, feeling the sun and the breeze blow through their draperies. The tree they were standing by felt so real. They could even hear chirps of different birds. Then Sierra actually spotted one flying past them all; a sparrow.

"Look!" she jumped.

It flew right up to the tree, sitting on a slim branch in the shade.

"Looks like even birds come here like us," said Jayden, "That means every creature of Earth and all the other worlds have been here too."

Saaret stepped forward, "Well, you see there is a balance that is maintained. Of the countless worlds that are there; some perish, while others cherish longevity. And so there is a limit to living beings. Thus has the circle of life been from the beginning. Everyone originated here. But they pass realms. Why? You may ask. It's a refreshment. A release. An escape from boredom. By continuing like this we live billions of lives; yet we are not aware of it," Saaret smiled. Yet another iteration of him.

Jayden closed his eyes and let all the information sink in him. He concentrated on each of his senses. Then he sat down on the grass. The others joined him. Lily rested her head on his shoulder, Markus rested his on the other. He felt their warmth and smiled in happiness. This was peace. Something so beautiful that could only be achieved when someone truly forgot about all their bonds and barriers and for once liberated their selves to the world. Sierra came and sat on his lap. "Just like old times!" She flashed a smile.

Jayden looked at her small face and clasped her hand in his. Then he looked up at the sky, a palette of colours, and closed his eyes again saying with a sighing breath, "Yes, just like old times."

Drio could feel their emotions. He felt relaxed. He laid flat on the ground and looked at the sky. They defied any explanation for their possible occurrence. But he wasn't searching for any. What he truly sought, had been received; serenity.

Sharlotte watched them from afar, leaning on another tree. This was pure bliss. Even she couldn't imagine how it would be in reality from the foretelling. But she couldn't let them know of it just yet. They needed to set forth for the Book of Gods soon enough. It would all slowly make sense to them. It was time for her to stop blaming herself. It was her destiny and she was going to fulfill it as she was told.

________

They jumped from hyperspace and landed their feet on red soil.

Sanduo looked around. There were grand apartment complexes around. His eyes bulged out at the sight.

"Arkhram is well known for its architecture, I see you are quite impressed." He started walking and conversed with Sanduo. Saaret walked with him and told him about the surroundings. Sanduo despite being marvelled by the details, could not help to focus. He wanted his daughter. To see her, to hold her to his chest, to caress her hair, to look at her face and look her in the eyes and say, "I'm here sweetie. Your Baba's here." He couldn't imagine how she would react, or how he would at the moment they meet each other again after being torn apart for so long.

"Wh-where is she?" he asked Saaret. The senceptian turned around and stopped.

"Right ahead, look," he pointed his rangy fingers in the direction.

Sanduo went infront of him and saw three girls chatting with each other.

And there she was, in the middle of the group, looking as lively as always, his daughter.

"Radhika," he whispered and fell to his knees on the ground.

The girls looked at him surprised. They sprang up. "Sir? What's wrong!" As they came running, one stopped.

Their eyes met. The whole world seemed to go black and they could only see each other. The sounds of the surroundings reduced to a hum. She placed her hands to her mouth and couldn't breathe.

Then she ran. Dust lifted off the ground as she placed each step with a thump. She fell on top of him crying.

As her body convulsed, shivers ran down his spine. Tears ran down his cheeks. "I'm here sweetie. Your Baba's here."

He could feel her happiness, it resonated through him and caused him to smile as tears continued to flow down his face. He moved his hands through her hair and kissed her on the forehead. Then they both sat up. For a moment, they just looked at each other.

Then Radhika turned to her friends, and introduced him to them,"This is my Baba."

Her joy was unparalleled. It was like a river that carried the words and enriched them with a sweetness that showed the euphoria flowing inside of her.

For the next few minutes they chatted about Afterlife as they wandered through the park and Radhika brought him inside her apartment. She introduced him to her other friends. There were twenty of them.

"I'm glad you aren't alone."

"I was never alone. Even when I came here, I thought I had lost everything. Inspite of dying with honour, I couldn't find peace. There was a storm raging inside of me. But then, I thought of you, of all the memories I had of you. How you cared for me, how you took me on your ship and showed me the planets of our system, and how you were always there for me in the gravest of times. Baba, you were my strength, and you always will be," she smiled warmly and hugged him.

"I am so glad to see you. I can't even begin to state my feelings that have haunted me for the last two years." Then he turned his face to the side and then back at her, "I have something to tell you."

"Before that, tell me how you died. As much as I love to see you back, I cannot imagine what caused you to come here."

"I will, sweetie. Show me the way to your room."

"Yes Baba," she opened a door on the far corner, "come in."

_________

The rest of the IMG were now back inside, each of them having an apple.

"They really are juicy! You guys are perfectionists!" Markus said, biting off a large chunk.

The chefs giggled, "We have to. After all, we try to make you all feel at home."

"Can you show us how you make food?" Sierra leaped in excitement, "Shaping matter into food, how awesome it would be!"

And indeed. The chefs took a handful of purple soil from a nearby basket, heated it up and it became a swirling mass of glittering gold! They shaped it round. Then they rested it on the marble. It gradually cooled to form a cupcake! But it was still black with glittering gold. Then they touched metal sticks to it. Prongs came out and retracted back. They handed it with great dexterity. Slowly, a warm yellow colour came out of the cake. Then cream started forming on top of it, decorating it with frosting. At last a tiny cherry appeared at the centre.

The chef took it and presented it to Sierra, who gleed in joy as she took it in her delicate arms.

"Mmm! Nothing came so close to Mom's recipe!"

"Hey, gimme a bite!" Jayden tried to grab it, but Sierra snatched it away.

"Nope, it's mine!"

Sierra ran in circles and then around the perimeter as Jayden followed her behind. They played like that. Just like old times. The others watched them in admiration.

Then Drio came downstairs. "Hey, has anybody seen Sir Sanduo? He's not in his room."

Sierra and Jayden stopped. They all bobbed their heads no.

"That's strange."

"Oh, the old man is out with Saaret. A different iteration of him of course. I don't know where they're headed though," a chef said while cleaning a dish.

"Hmm. That seems unlikely. If you account for the condition he is currently in. I thought he was going to spend the next few days alone in his room. He was definitely gloomy," Lily pondered.

"Do you believe he got a hitch or something? Something that influenced him?" Markus said, "Or do you think he got plain mad?"

Lily glared at him.

"Sorry. But it could be, right? We need to think through all the possibilities," he grinned.

"Trust me, you want to keep your teeth."

Markus' mouth came to a close in an instant.

The others burst out laughing.