“I can’t thank you all enough for taking them for the evening. We got invited to go to the opera and we haven’t been on a date for a long time,” Crystaline chuckled a bit as she put Angelette down. She wandered over to her cousins Emry and Wisteria who were playing with a tea set. This was Emry’s room at the Bastion which had been set up for the small sleepover party.

When Colden put Triss down, the toddler looked up at her father and started to cry. “Oh no! Baby girl, it’s okay it’s not forever. We’ll come back I promise.” Crystaline and Colden babied her and before long Triss had her favorite blanket and was wandering over to her cousins. “We love you two!” Crystaline reinforced and Triss looked back before she ran to them and hugged their legs looking up at them with big blue eyes.

“Sure, we’ll be fine. Love you too,” Angelette enforced how independent she was as she continued to play with her cousins.

They were leaving them with Maliik who had been told the situation by Angela and Nemesis. It was just a night. It was hard for the parents to leave Triss behind as she went through the bags that held their pajamas and stuffed animals. She pulled out a teddy bear and dragged it around with her blanket.

It was only an hour into their sleepover when Maliik got pulled away for some business. He told them to stay put and the girls nodded to him. They were now crowded around Angelette listening to her read some stories from a book. Once the ghost was clear Angelette snapped the book shut and looked at her sister and cousins. “Alright, let’s go adventuring!”

“ADVENTURE!” Wisteria jumped up and chuckled as she went over and grabbed Emry who held onto her aunt.

The four toddlers made their way out of the room. They checked around the corners and made their way out of the Bastion’s main temple. “There’s a big building right there!” Wisteria pointed with a free hand as they made their way through the dangerous areas boldly. “Isn’t it dangerous?”

“Uncle Nemesis wouldn’t let it hurt us~”

“Oh!” Wisteria spoke as Emry gave an approving grunt.

They found the big building that was the cathedral and made their way into it. Luckily all together they got one door open. They looked around before Angelette pointed out a tray full of silver. “THERE! TREASURE!”

The toddlers stacked together as Angelette pushed Triss up and Wisteria pushed Emry up. They were spooked by someone finding them resulting in Triss and Emmy throwing the tray. The crashing sound of coins echoing around the room.

Maalik found himself these days having a new responsibility, not that it was his first pick though. Ever since the Volkovs found their numbers growing thanks to the addition of Angela as his lord's future wife, the blended family became larger and the well being of the younger members fell onto his lap at times. This one was no different, other than having to take on extended members in Angelett and Tristine. "It's no trouble", Maalik spoke seldomly.

Colden did feel bad the moment Triss begun to cry; this wold be the first time that they had left her since she was born so it would be especially bad because of that. He comforted her along with Crystaline for a bit before they were able to leave. "We will be back, sweetheart. Don't fret." He wasn't too worried about Angelet; she was far too independent at this point in her life.
After they left, Maalik kept a close eye on them while doing his best to avoid becoming a living art canvas up until he was called on to do something that would take a few moments. He left the oldest girl in charge without thinking about how much of a terrible idea it was and made sure they were safe in the room and then took off.
———–
When he returned, he saw that all four were gone and grimaced before looking up and down the Bastion for them, filling the manor with echoes of that of their names.
——–
It wasn't often that the twins were called upon to the head cathdral but it was certainly a honor for them to be invited. Reaver was in the midst of giving a sermon so they were on patroal to make sure things were going well. Elijah was bored as usual up until he spotted something…strange near the offering pedestal. He drew closer to see four little girls trying to get into the offerings.
"Hey, what are you little ones doing?"

*Crash*

The next thing he knew, the floor was littered with scattering coins. Isaiah soon came up and shook his head at the display. "What happened?"
"Found these kids trying to get into it and they spilled", he replied as he picked up Triss. "Hey sweetie, what's your name? Where did you come from?"

"We should find out who their parents are and where they are at. I doubt that they are here for the sermon."