Side Story 1.3 

“It’s okay, Philly. Daddy’s not mad. Don’t cry.”  

Elena patted Philly’s back and approached Felix. Up close, she noticed that Felix’s face and neck were glistening with sweat. He hadn’t run all the way here, so it was likely cold sweat.  

Even though it had only been a short time, Elena felt ashamed for being so happy about Philly’s genius earlier.  

From the moment Felix realized Philly was missing until he found him, every second must have been a nightmare.  

She knew this because she had felt the same panic when Little One had suddenly disappeared during Saint Esna’s Festival.  

“Felix.”  

“…”  

“It’s okay now. Philly is safe.”  

“What happened?”  

“I was chatting with Alice when Philly suddenly appeared under the table. He must’ve remembered Alice’s house and used spatial magic. Remember when he moved us during the swordsmanship competition?”  

“Yeah, that makes sense. There are traces of magic here.”  

Felix, now somewhat calmer, raised his head. Philly, sensing his father’s gaze, reached out his arms. Felix took him from Elena and buried his face in the child’s neck.  

“You must’ve been so worried.”  

“Is that even a question?”  

Felix let out another deep sigh.  

“I thought he was hungry and went to get his baby food, but when I came back, he was gone. There’s no way a baby who can’t even walk yet could’ve gotten out of the crib, opened the door, and left. Still, I searched the entire house just in case, but there wasn’t even a sound of crying. No one had seen him, and there were no signs of an intruder.”  

“Mm.”  

“At first, my mind went blank, and I couldn’t think of anything. Then, as I regained some composure, I realized Philly might be able to use magic at this age. He was about this old during Saint Esna’s Festival too.”  

“He was.”  

“So I thought he might’ve come here. I hoped for the best but prepared for the worst.”  

Elena could guess what Felix meant by “the worst.” He had likely feared that Philly had traveled through time, just as the future “Philly” had done before.  

Even if it wasn’t time travel, Philly could’ve teleported to an entirely different place.  

“Phew, but thank goodness he was here.”  

“Yes, truly. Thank goodness.”

Felix pressed his forehead against Philly’s. The commotion had finally settled.

“By the way, Philly’s clothes have changed. Did you change him here?”  

“Yes, Alice gave them to him as a gift. Doesn’t he look like a little chick? Isn’t he cute?”  

“He does.”  

Elena smiled as she leaned her head against Felix’s shoulder. Felix grumbled in a dissatisfied tone.  

“Elly, stay by Philly’s side for the time being.”  

“I will. But does that mean I have to stay by Philly’s side until he can control his magic on his own?”  

“I’ll figure out a solution.”  

Felix’s determined expression made him look more reliable than anyone else.  

‘That’s right, it’s Felix.’  

Felix, the problem-solver who always handled everything Elena couldn’t. She decided to trust her husband.  

“Then I guess we’ll have to head back today.”  

She mumbled regretfully, but just then, the door swung open, and Alice entered.  

“Head back? Where do you think you’re going? You came all this way to visit.”  

“Well, something came up…”  

“You mean Philly following you here? Philly’s here, and so is Felix. What’s there to worry about?”  

“Huh?”  

“It’s fine. My house has plenty of rooms. Stay the night. I’ve already prepared the largest guest room and had Philly’s baby food made. Just relax and enjoy.”  

“Are you sure?”  

“Of course, obviously. Isn’t it better to stay at Auntie’s house, Philly?”  

Philly, who somehow understood his name, grinned widely, showing his front teeth.  

“Mya!”  

* * *

That night, Elena spent a joyful evening at Alice’s house with Felix and Philly. With the four of them together, it truly felt like they had returned to their academy days.  

It was reminiscent of the time when Little One from the future had suddenly appeared at the academy, bringing a wave of nostalgia.  

“Come visit again. You’re always welcome.”  

“Thank you. We’ll definitely come again!”  

“Bya!”  

After what felt like a midsummer night’s dream, the one-night, two-day visit came to an end, and they returned to their mansion.  

Following Felix’s advice, Elena stayed close to Philly for about three days, hardly leaving his side.  

Then, on the evening of the fourth day, Felix returned home from work and placed a bracelet on Philly’s wrist. It was a silver bracelet adorned with an unfamiliar sky-blue gem, though it wasn’t an artifact.  

“What kind of bracelet is that?”  

“A magic-suppressing bracelet.”  

“What?”  

At her startled question, Felix adjusted Philly in his arms and replied calmly.  

“If he disappears every time you go somewhere, it’ll be a problem. Last time, he went to a place he’d been before, so he was lucky to find it easily. But who knows where he might go next time? And you can’t stay by Philly’s side for years.”  

“That’s true.”  

In reality, Elena had spent the past few days constantly worrying that Philly might disappear the moment she took her eyes off him.  

As Felix said, Philly had been lucky to find her last time, but there was no guarantee it would happen again.  

The thought of Philly teleporting to an isolated place and crying alone sent shivers down her spine.  

In the worst-case scenario, he might even travel to another time.  

‘Of course, if that happened, the Felix and I in that timeline would take good care of him…’  

Even imagining such a scenario made her heart sink. Feeling an emptiness in her arms, she reached out to hold Philly.  

“Philly, come here.”  

As she held Philly close, the warmth of his small body reassured her.  

“Amuuu.”  

Whether he understood her feelings or not, Philly was already chewing on the bracelet, drooling as saliva trickled down his chubby arm.  

He didn’t even know what the bracelet was for. 

Philly, with that on, you won’t be able to follow Mommy anymore.  

“Honestly, couldn’t he have been born with a bit less talent?”  

“Why are you looking at me like that? I didn’t have him on my own, you know. If anything, Philly’s talent comes from you. And I’m so proud that Philly was born with such talent. Isn’t that right, Philly?”  

“Awoo!”  

“See? Philly agrees.”  

Felix let out a disbelieving chuckle. Elena ignored him and kissed Philly’s plump, wiggling cheek as he gnawed on the bracelet.  

“And thanks to Philly’s talent, we’re able to be this happy now.”  

She still couldn’t forget the face of the teenage Little One she had last seen. The boy who had said he was happy because, even if his future self disappeared, he had saved her and Felix.  

Elena recalled the letter the teenage Little One had left for her. She had carefully stored it in her drawer with her old diary, but she hadn’t dared to read it again.  

Even thinking about it stirred her emotions, and she knew she would burst into tears if she read it.  

“Oh no, I feel like crying again. Philly, Mommy loves you so, so much. I loved you even before you were born, and I love you now.”  

“Buuu.”  

Noticing her declaration of love, Philly stopped chewing on the bracelet and looked up at her with wide eyes. Then, with a drool-covered smile, he opened his mouth wide and laughed.  

“Mamu.”  

“Yes. Philly loves Mommy too, doesn’t he? Mommy loves you even more.”  

“Abubu.”  

Felix, who had been silently listening to their touching yet slightly silly conversation, kissed the top of Philly’s head. Then, in a very quiet voice, he murmured,  

“Daddy too.”