Orryx returned to the black, cramped room. A faint fissure shimmered behind him—unstable, pulsing like a wound. He looked at Ariel and bowed deeply.
"It's all done, my lord. There were around a hundred or so people. Now… they're all dead though."
Ilya looked at the creature—and shivered. The memory of blood and screams still clung to her skin like ash.
Ariel noticed her reaction, sharp and immediate.
He spoke, calm but commanding, "Change to a human form. Or a cat. A cat would also go fine—even though I don't really know what a cat is."
With a ripple of reality, the void creature shifted. Now stood a tall man, handsome, well-built, clad in a black suit sharp enough to slice starlight. He looked like the kind of bodyguard you'd see in stories—not real life.
Ariel coughed, smirking. "Now that's completely a bodyguard. I have to praise you, really."
Orryx just chuckled.
Ilya was still clinging to Ariel, though. Still scared.
Ariel looked at her and whispered gently, "Don't worry now. If he tries anything, he knows exactly what will happen to him. And besides, he's just a sweet guy. No—sweet monster. No, wait—sweet… yeah, sweet bodyguard."
Ilya didn't laugh. But she clutched his shirt tighter.
Then came the sound.
A loud, growling rumble. But not from Ilya. It was from Ariel himself.
Ariel blinked, then laughed. "I'll prepare something special today. What do you wanna eat, Ilya?"
Ilya crossed her arms with a scoff. "That's up to you. I'm not the one who hasn't eaten for two whole days."
Ariel gave a sheepish grin. "Yeah, yeah. But tell me anyway."
Ilya paused. Thought for a moment. Then said, "That potato dish."
Ariel raised an eyebrow. "I know you don't like that. Why are you lying? Just because I like it?"
"I am naut," she shot back instantly.
Ariel chuckled again and turned to the food materials—though they were running low. His job had been lost. Another thing sacrificed to the call of the Quiet Witness.
Still, he crafted something warm. Something special. Even with so little.
When the dish was done, he placed it gently before Ilya, then sat beside her.
"Enjoy."
She nodded quietly, taking a bite. So did Ariel. They ate slowly, as if savoring the rare taste of peace.
Then Ariel turned to Orryx, speaking between mouthfuls. "How's the plan going?"
Orryx bowed slightly. "My people have already begun the work. And… I have news, sir."
Ariel stopped chewing. Frowned. "What is it?"
"They know now," Orryx said quietly. "Fate. Time. Death. They've sensed your existence. They were the ones who interfered with your path. You're not strong enough yet, my lord. So I suggest… we keep our presence low. For now. That doesn't mean we hide—but we can't afford recklessness."
Ariel was silent. Thoughtful. He stared into the half-empty plate. Then slowly nodded.
Ilya watched them, confused by the strange words. But she didn't ask. Not yet.
Ariel looked at her, and then at Orryx again.
"And the palace? The one I told you to build in my dimension? Is it ready for humans?"
"I made it so," Orryx said. "We can go anytime. I used human design—to fit your taste. But it's a bit too big for just two people. So I'll send some of my kin to maintain the land, grow food, and build useful things. For mortals who may reside there in the future. Everything else is ready."
Ilya's eyes lit up at the word palace.
She turned to Ariel, beaming. "Am I thinking what I think I'm thinking, brother?"
Ariel grinned. "Of course you are. I did promise, didn't I? A magnificent palace. A divine realm. Orryx would've made it beautiful."
Then he added with a wink, "But before we go there, we've got somewhere else to be. Tomorrow—we go shopping. I got the money."
Of course, he hadn't found it by chance. He and Orryx had hunted down a harrowing creature. A horror from beyond. They'd sold its remains quietly—and earned a generous reward.
Ilya's eyes sparkled. The kind of sparkle she rarely let him see. She never asked for much. She knew how much Ariel had already sacrificed—just to keep them afloat.
Ariel looked at her softly, hand brushing her hair. "Ah… you'll kill me with that cute face. Stop now."
Ilya gave him the look. That "big-sister-in-a-tiny-body" glare.
Ariel just chuckled.
And for the first time in a long, long while—
They slept a peaceful night.
--
Ariel woke up, more refreshed than ever before. He did the house chores after that. Not that there were many he had to do. He then began cooking food—or at least, that was what he thought at first. But before that, an idea came to his mind.
"Why not just go to a restaurant?"
That was probably the best decision. They could finally eat delicious food. Not that Ariel was interested in food. But he knew Ilya was surely interested in delicious food, even though she didn't show it.
Ariel called out to Orryx with as soft a sound as possible.
"Hey Orryx. I want you to find a top-notch restaurant too. I'll be taking Ilya there."
Orryx nodded. "Sure, my lord." He then left like he didn't even exist.
Ariel was done with all the work. He laid beside Ilya and started staring at her. He ran a hand through her soft and silky hair, and her soft ivory cheeks.
'Isn't my little cutie too beautiful? Of course, why wouldn't she be? She took after our mother, after all. I remember how beautiful our mother was.'
Ariel poked her soft cheeks because he couldn't resist anymore. But Ilya woke up because of that. She slowly opened her eyes. A cute smile appeared on her face.
"Good morning, brother. Were you playing with my cheeks again?"
Ariel replied, "Oh? So now I can't even play with my own little sister's cheeks? I am hurt. So hurt."
Of course, that was an act, and Ilya knew it too—so she chose to go along with it.
"No! No, I didn't mean it like that, brother. You can play with my cheeks all you want. I love to play with you too."
Ariel squished her soft cheeks.
"By the way," Ariel said, "I didn't make food."
Ilya frowned. "Wait. Did the supply end? But there was some left. Did you use it all yesterday? Don't tell me you did?"
Ariel chuckled. "Of course not. But it's for a different reason. Today… I am going to take you to a… restaurant too!"
Ilya seemed surprised at hearing the word restaurant. Her eyes sparkled.
"Did… did I hear that right, brother?"
Ariel replied, "Of course. When have I lied to you?"
Ilya retorted with a joke, "Many times."
Ariel replied, "Oh now you're even talking back, huh?"
Ilya looked at him with a frown. "Sometimes I'm confused who the older one is."
Ariel chuckled.
Then a fissure opened in the room and Orryx walked out. Ilya seemed scared at the sudden entrance of Orryx. Ariel noticed that and looked at Orryx.
"Make your presence known before you decide to come suddenly. Not everyone is able to sustain the sudden surprise, you know?"
Orryx nodded. "Okay, my lord." He then looked at Ilya with a gentle smile.
"Good morning, your highness. How are you feeling? Is there pain anywhere in your body?" Orryx looked worried.
Ilya was surprised to find that someone other than her brother would be worried about her, because no one even knew of their existence—as they were from the streets. Ilya changed her opinion of him. She looked at him with a cute smile.
"Good morning, Uncle Orryx. I am feeling good. Even the pain in my head is gone."
Orryx melted due to her cute smile and hearing her say Uncle. He knew humans named special relationships like their friends and family. So Ilya was indirectly calling him family. It was the first time Orryx, an Outer God, felt emotion.
Orryx looked at Ariel. "It's all done, my lord. I found the best one out there."
Ilya looked uncomfortable with the words lord or highness. Ariel noticed that.
"It's good. But Orryx, drop that lord or highness stuff. Just call us by our names."
Orryx replied, "But that would be disrespect, my lord."
Ariel retorted, "And refusing to obey my command would not?"
Orryx was startled by that. He hastily replied, "As you say, my lord… Ariel. But I will only call you by name in front of other people."
Ariel nodded. "That's good." He looked at Ilya.
"Good now?"
Ilya replied as if satisfied, "Yes, brother."
Ariel then stood up and rubbed her cheeks.
"So now, be ready. We will leave for shopping."