Zorat quickly conveyed to Myrra and Florielle to stay in the underground accommodations he had prepared for the meantime.

And though they weren’t delighted with this news or what it might mean, seeing the new guest approach, both ladies still obeyed Zorat and retreated down the stairs into the cabin’s underground accommodations.

Ava saw the ladies enter the cabin as she drew close to Zorat’s position. A quick touch of irritation creased her brow, which instantly subsided the moment Zorat’s calm voice met her ears....

"Your first visit here, right ?... How do you like the change in scenery ?"

Zorat greeted, smiling at her. Though he knew Ava had always stalked the cabin on multiple occasions, he saw no reason to bring that up.

Ava, hearing Caleb’s voice, brightened up instantly, forgetting she had just seen those two gorgeous ladies enter his home, almost.

"Ah, yes....my first..." Ava murmured in response as she twirled nervously in place.

"The scenery is good, Caleb....Good um..."

"...good connection to nature," She blurted, gesturing widely at the expansive forestation behind the cabin.

"Quite true.... "

"You look amazing in that dress, by the way." Zorat complimented genuinely.

Ava did look amazing in her black gown, so well-tailored to her sharp, luscious curves, leaving subtle hints at the delicate fullness of her feminine figure.

A crimson blush crept up Ava’s cheeks as she stammered in response...

"Than...thank you... "

"You too.... You look so different now..."

"No... but in a good way!... I mean, you look good!... "Ava added anxiously as she cast furtive glances at Zorat before quickly diverting her blushing gaze.

"Well, thank you.... Do come inside, Ava. I, too, have some things I want to talk to you about," Zorat remarked, gesturing in the direction of the cabin’s entrance.

As Ava walked ahead inside, she was contemplating the fact that she would have to see those ladies again.....

Of course, she knew who they both were and that they had good reasons for being there....

But that still does not quell the burning need she was currently trying to suppress, which so greatly wants both ladies to disappear.

However, when she arrived inside the cozy cabin, with its warmth and lingering soothing smell of maple wood and Caleb’s distinct musk...

Ava was surprised to find that both ladies were nowhere in sight.

She glanced sharply around to look at every corner, but no matter where she looked, there was no one....

unless they both could fit in the small restroom in the corner, which she could clearly see to be empty with the curtains drawn and the door open.....

The cabin was, for all intents and purposes, completely devoid of every other person aside from the two of them.

Seeing Ava’s confused reaction, Zorat grinned and chose not to address the strange fact of both ladies’ disappearance at all, and to simply leave her wondering.

Zorat designed the entrance in such a way that, unless you knew what you were searching for, even if you were to repeatedly jump on the hatch, you would still sense nothing.

"Here.... come have a seat here, Ava...." Zorat beckoned, smiling while handing her a mug of fresh citrus tea from the pot Florielle had made earlier, as he gestured for her to sit on his mattress.....

which Ava shyly did, her attention now removed from her earlier curiosity and centered solely on the young man before her.

"You’ve changed..." Ava murmured with a nervous, small smile on her face as she wrapped both hands around the ceramic mug on her lap.

"How so, Ava ?" Zorat muttered in response, intrigued as he sat next to her on the mattress, genuinely curious about what connections the former Caleb and this person shared.

"No, it’s nothing.... Never mind, I said anything!" Ava anxiously replied, waving one hand to dismiss the matter with a weak, unconvincing smile.

"I really want to know, Ava....."

"...actually, I have a confession to make..." Zorat muttered, appearing vulnerable as he drew closer to Ava on the mattress.

He looked her directly in her large blue eyes as if anxious about what he was about to say.

"What is it., Caleb.... You know you can tell me anything, right? Talk... talk to me..." Ava muttered pensively, anxious about what Caleb had to share.

"Ava.... "

".....remember when we first arrived in this world...." Zorat began in a solemn tone, as Ava nodded attentively, following his every word.

"I think I lost some vital portions of my memories during our transfer... " he added, as he noted the expression on Ava’s beautiful face change from one of curious trepidation to relieved, worried, and then a little fearful again.

"When you say some of your memories...."

"How much are we talking, like .... Do you...."

"You remember me.... Right, Caleb ?" Ava murmured in a broken tone, looking Caleb in the eyes while hers slowly began to water with shimmering, barely held tears.

"That’s the thing, Ava...."

"I can’t remember most of my past, just some bits and pieces, but I can tell we are supposed to be quite.... Close... right ?" Zorat added curiously, holding Ava’s gaze.

A look of slight relief washed upon her face, though there was still lingering worry as she drew closer to Zorat....

Slowly and unsteadily, she set the mug down on the mattress, as she proceeded to take Zorat’s hands in hers before muttering with tears slowly streaming down her pretty face...

"I knew it... "’

"I knew something must have happened.... But..."

"I am here now.... I.... "

"...what ... how can I help, Caleb ?!" Ava croaked as she spoke, struggling to arrange her words, and doing her best to hold back from breaking down from mixed emotions.

Hmmm....

Why do humans love crying so much?

Zorat sighed inside, looking at the beautiful young lady barely holding back from bawling her eyes out.

From her words, it was obvious he had been acting quite differently from the usual Caleb in her perspective....

Which was expected, of course....

But such unfamiliar changes in him must have been quite confusing to the young lady who apparently knew the original Caleb quite well.

"Ava, there is indeed one way you can help... " Zorat began solemnly as he held her gaze.

"Help me fill in the blanks in my memory..."

"Help me remember!"