A Journey That Changed The World.

Chapter 1579: Anyone Need Snacks?

Archer was sitting in the back of Sashaʼs car as they flew down the highway, heading toward the Rocky Mountain National Park to meet the twinsʼ friends. Once they saw the selfie Cece uploaded, it sent them wild. Belle looked at him with an amused expression as she showed him the comments.

ʼʼLooks like they think youʼre Scandinavian thanks to being so pale and good looking,ʼʼ the platinum blonde revealed, giggling. ʼʼIʼd say cosplayer, but once you get up close, you can see itʼs all real.ʼʼ

The twins started laughing as he replied. ʼʼYes, I get it all the time with my wives, they try to call me pretty, but it pisses me off.ʼʼ

ʼʼHow many are there again?ʼʼ Belle questioned.

Archer shrugged, a cheeky grin crossing his face. ʼʼOver forty, I think, and eleven children,ʼʼ he responded.

The young womanʼs red eyes widened in shock, horror, and many other emotions before she recovered from it. ʼʼHow do you do it?ʼʼ She continued, questioning.

ʼʼA spell called Time Warp,ʼʼ he answered honestly. ʼʼIt allows me to spend time with each of them and still have time to protect my empire thanks to slowing down time around me.ʼʼ

Once Belle heard this, her eyebrows rose as she moved closer and whispered. ʼʼCan we take a photo for my Insta, please?ʼʼ

Archer gave a nod in agreement, and Belle, barely containing her happiness, slid closer until she was nearly in his lap. She planted a quick kiss on his cheek, snapped a selfie, and then kept going, striking playful poses, pouting lips, tilted head, a coy smile, each click more calculated as she created the perfect shots to dazzle her friends.

Finally, she settled back, her focus locked on her phone, tweaking filters and captions to ensure every image was flawless. Ceceʼs blue eyes sparkled with mischief as she peeked over. ʼʼOh, your friends are gonna lose it when they see him. A kiss on the cheek? Youʼre shattering hearts left and right, girl.ʼʼ

Belleʼs cheeks flushed red, and she ended up looking like a tomato, but she shot back with a grin. ʼʼGood! Heʼs gorgeous, and itʼll make them jealous, especially when they hear heʼs in a relationship with you two, too. My little townʼs going to be talking about this tomorrow morning.ʼʼ

He tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. ʼʼWhatʼs the name of your hometown?ʼʼ he asked, genuinely intrigued about where he found himself.

ʼʼErie,ʼʼ Belle chirped, her platinum blonde hair catching the fading sunlight. ʼʼItʼs growing fast. Tons of people our age are moving in, mostly because of the college nearby.ʼʼ

Archerʼs interest heightened, and Belle, sensing his attention, dove into the details. ʼʼItʼs got everything, cute cafes, cozy restaurants, all the city vibes but tucked into small-town Colorado.ʼʼ

The young woman continued talking until pings erupted from her phone, grabbing her attention as Sasha revealed. ʼʼElizabeth brought us out here when things started getting wild, but we ended up at the college anyway. Thatʼs where we met our new friends, and now itʼs like our own little crew.ʼʼ

Following that, the three girls started gossiping about their photos receiving hundreds of likes, causing Archer to tune out as he sat quietly in the backseat, the hum of the engine blending with the rush of wind as they barreled down the highway toward Rocky Mountain National Park.

The jagged peaks loomed closer, framed by a golden sunset that spilled across the pine-dotted landscape. He gazed out the window, watching the world blur, snow-capped ridges, a lone hawk slicing through the sky. ʼʼCece, did Lila confirm the DJ?ʼʼ Sasha asked from the driverʼs seat, her eyes darting to the rearview mirror. ʼʼI heard itʼs that guy from the Denver lunar festival remix.ʼʼ

Cece, slouched in the front, scrolled her phone with a grin. ʼʼYup, itʼs him! His setʼs gonna be good. She tells you who else is showing up?ʼʼ

Belle, nestled beside Archer, laughed. ʼʼKnowing Lila, half the city. Probably that art crew, too, is ready to turn the woods into a glow-in-the-dark rave.ʼʼ

The three erupted in giggles, their excitement bouncing off the carʼs walls. Archer stayed silent, his thoughts drifting to the winter back on Thrylos. Keeping the war at bay allows him to relax. The womenʼs voices wove around him, Sasha teasing Cece about her dance moves, Belle speculating on whoʼd bring the best vibes.

He let their words wash over him, content to listen to them gossiping as the highway carried them toward the music and chaos of the night ahead. He glanced out the window, noticing the highway stretched endlessly. Archer leaned against the window, watching the mountains grow larger.

The car hummed with the twinsʼ chatter, Belleʼs voice bubbling over with more stories about Erieʼs charm, its new brewery, the annual town fair, and the coffee shop where Isabella and Micha always hung out. Cece, meanwhile, was still glued to her phone, giggling over the flood of comments on Belleʼs selfie.

ʼʼSis, Rach just texted,ʼʼ she said, her blue eyes gleaming. ʼʼSheʼs losing it over your post. Says youʼre gonna start a riot at the party.ʼʼ

Belle smirked, tossing her platinum hair. ʼʼLet them riot. Our boyʼs the ultimate plus-one.ʼʼ

Sasha laughed from the driverʼs seat, her hands steady on the wheel as she pushed the car just over the speed limit, the wind whistling through a cracked window. ʼʼYouʼre gonna have to fight off Amber, too. Sheʼs already claiming dibs on a dance.ʼʼ

Archer stayed quiet, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he listened, his gaze drifting to the horizon. The world outside was a blur of golden grasslands and towering pines, the kind of wild beauty that made his stressful years feel fleeting, letting him sink into this moment, a rare slice of normalcy with these vibrant women and their small-town dreams.

The carʼs dashboard suddenly beeped, cutting through the chatter. Sasha glanced down, her brow furrowing. ʼʼUgh, weʼre running low on gas. Gotta fill up before we hit the park.ʼʼ

She flicked on the blinker and eased off the highway, guiding the car toward a small, weathered gas station just off the exit. The sign flickered with the words Mountain Stop, and a single pump sat under a rusted canopy, flanked by a convenience store with faded posters in the windows.

Sasha pulled up to the pump, the car rolling to a stop as the engine quieted. ʼʼAlright, pit stop,ʼʼ she announced, grabbing her purse. ʼʼAnyone need snacks? Belle, youʼre not stealing my chips again.ʼʼ

Belle grinned, unbuckling her seatbelt. ʼʼNo promises. Archer, you coming in or staying out here?ʼʼ

His eyes flicked to the store, then back to the women, their energy still buzzing even in the stillness of the stop. ʼʼIʼll keep the car warm,ʼʼ he said, his voice low but warm, settling back to watch the world pause for a moment.

The gas pump clicked steadily as Sasha filled the tank, the sharp scent of fuel mingling with the crisp mountain air. Archer lounged in the backseat, his gaze drifting across the lot of the Mountain Stop gas station. The nearby lights cast a dim glow over the cracked pavement.

A group of four young men, college-aged with cocky grins and loud voices, spilled out of a beat-up truck parked nearby. They swaggered toward the women, their eyes lingering on them. ʼʼHey, ladies,ʼʼ one called, his voice dripping with overconfidence. ʼʼYou two heading to the park party? Could use some VIPs like you.”

Cece barely glanced up from her phone, rolling her eyes. ʼʼNot interested,ʼʼ she said flatly, her tone sharp enough to cut.

Belle smirked, crossing her arms, and turned back to Sasha, who was now screwing the gas cap back on, ignoring the group entirely. The guys didnʼt take the hint. Another, taller with a backward hat, stepped closer, zeroing in on her. ʼʼCome on, blondie, donʼt be like that. Bet youʼd have more fun with us.ʼʼ

Archerʼs jaw tightened, his calm mask cracking. The twinsʼ attitude wasnʼt enough to deter these guys, and their focus on Cece and Belle was starting to grate. Without a word, he vanished from the backseat and reappeared behind the group, his presence sudden and commanding.

He pushed through the cluster of men, his broad shoulders parting them like water. ʼʼProblem?ʼʼ he asked, his voice low but carrying an edge that made the tallest guy flinch.

His violet eyes locked onto them as he positioned himself between the group and the women. The men froze, their bravado faltering under his stare. Sasha glanced over, a grin tugging at her lips as she caught sight of him. ʼʼOh, look, our VIP showed up,ʼʼ she teased, tossing her hair.

Cece, Sasha, and Belle exchanged a glance, their smirks mirroring each other. ʼʼGuess they didnʼt know we already have the best company,ʼʼ Belle said, her crimson eyes glinting with amusement.

The guys muttered something unintelligible, backing off toward their truck, their earlier swagger reduced to awkward shuffles. Archer didnʼt move, watching them until they climbed into their vehicle and peeled out of the lot, tires squealing faintly. ʼʼShow-off,” Cece said with a laugh, nudging him as he rejoined them by the car.

ʼʼJust keeping things civil,ʼʼ he replied, a faint smile playing on his lips as Sasha started the engine.