Chapter 265: Visiting Home

Jasmine, Solomon’s thirteen-year-old sister, stood in front of her bedroom mirror, tying her pale blue hair into neat twin tails. She hummed a cheerful tune while adjusting the collar of her shirt.

A sudden burst of loud barking echoed from the downstairs hallway. She paused and called out to Barbaros, fully expecting the large, fluffy family dog to trot into her room.

However, when the barking continued without him appearing, she walked out to investigate the commotion.

She moved through the living room and the kitchen, finding only empty spaces. The barking ceased for a brief moment before erupting again from the second floor. She hurried up the wooden stairs and found Barbaros scratching frantically at the closed door of Solomon’s bedroom.

Jasmine crouched down and scooped the energetic dog into her arms. "What is going on with you today?" she asked, scratching behind his floppy ears.

Barbaros squirmed out of her grasp and pressed his wet nose against the wooden frame, letting out another series of barks.

"You cannot go in there," Jasmine scolded gently. "Big bro will get very angry if his room gets messed up. He likes everything exactly where he left it. Mom has not even gone inside to clean it since he left for the academy."

Barbaros whined and pawed at the brass knob, completely ignoring her warnings. Jasmine sighed and reached for the handle. "If you knock anything over in there, all the blame falls on you."

Jasmine let out a defeated sigh. "Fine, but all the blame falls on you if you knock something over."

She turned the brass knob and pushed the door open. Instead of an empty room, she found a tall figure standing by the desk, casually rummaging through the top drawer.

"Who is in here?!" Jasmine shouted, taking a defensive step backward.

The figure turned around and offered a familiar, warm smile. "Relax, Jas. It is just me."

Jasmine gasped in surprise. She rushed across the room and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Barbaros excitedly bounded forward, jumping up to plant his front paws on Solomon’s legs while wagging his tail furiously. Solomon hugged his sister back, laughing as he leaned down to scoop the large dog into his arms.

"Did you miss me, buddy?" Solomon asked, vigorously rubbing the dog’s thick fur. Barbaros licked his chin in response, letting out a happy yip.

Once the initial excitement settled, Jasmine stepped back and looked at his casual attire. "When did you even get home?"

"I arrived about five minutes ago," Solomon replied, setting Barbaros back on the floor. "I called out for Mom and Dad when I walked in, but no one answered. I thought you were in the bathroom, so I did not want to disturb you. Also, why was the front door left unlocked? Anyone could have just walked inside."

Jasmine crossed her arms defensively. "I did not know when Mom and Dad left the house today. They must have forgotten to lock it on their way out."

Solomon sighed and leaned against his desk. "Did they already leave for the diner?"

Johan and Elara Ketzer supported their family by running a cozy diner and a small, attached convenience shop in the local commercial district, catering primarily to busy morning commuters.

"Yes, they left early," Jasmine confirmed, her expression turning serious. "There is something weird going on down in the commercial district lately. Every single shop owner keeps gathering for secret meetings. When I asked Mom and Dad about it, they just shooed me away and insisted everything was fine."

Solomon furrowed his brow, finding the secretive behavior highly unusual for his parents. "I will have a talk with them today. Are you heading to the shop now?"

Jasmine nodded eagerly. "Are you coming with me?"

"I am," Solomon answered, offering a gentle smile. "But I need to stop by somewhere else first."

Jasmine tilted her head, her eyes softening with understanding. "Are you going to visit Serah?"

Solomon nodded quietly. "It has been a long time since I last visited her. I promised her I would come back. I also need to finally put some closure to all of this."

Solomon excused himself to take a quick shower. He washed away the lingering grime of his dimensional travels and changed into a comfortable, dark gray hoodie and casual jeans. He walked downstairs, clipped a leash onto Barbaros, and left the house with Jasmine.

They strolled down the familiar suburban sidewalks of Blue York. Solomon took a deep breath of the crisp morning air, a nostalgic smile touching his lips. "I really missed walking around this neighborhood."

However, as they ventured further down the block, Solomon noticed a strange emptiness settling over the area. Even though it was mid-morning, the streets were entirely deserted. Normally, there would be people jogging along the pavement, neighbors chatting over fences, and parents walking their children to the local park.

Today, the sidewalks sat barren.

"Did something happen around here recently?" Solomon asked, glancing at the quiet houses. "Why is it so silent?"

Jasmine shook her head, pulling her cardigan tighter around her shoulders. "I have no idea. Like I said, no one tells me anything."

They approached the edge of the local commercial district. The area operated much like a tight-knit colony, where all the store owners knew each other and shared a strong sense of community.

They lived in the same district six Solomon lived in, and most of the time, they would stop by each other’s house to give leftovers and gifts from their shops which were soon to expire.

Solomon knew everyone’s name and what shop they ran.

He stopped outside a small, familiar florist shop.

"Hey Doretha, how you doing?" He greeted the owner.

The wonder was surprised and shocked to see him that she couldn’t even utter a word in response.

"Don’t bother. I know what you are going to ask, so here is my answer. I just returned, and I will be leaving soon."

He walked inside and purchased a bouquet of white lilies, remembering they were Serah’s favorites.

Jasmine and Barbaros followed closely behind him as he navigated the winding paths. He took one familiar turn after another, passing through the wrought-iron gates until he finally reached the place.

"Hey, Serah," he greeted softly.

However, he received no response from the quiet grave.