The city was alive.
Vendors shouted over each other, colorful banners swayed overhead, spices and smoke mixed in the air. Reider, Vael, Mei, and Eryndra walked through the crowded square like the most suspicious "family" anyone had ever seen.
Reider moved like the chaos didn't exist.
Vael walked with rigid purpose.
Mei tried not to touch anyone.
Eryndra looked like she owned the place.
They fit in beautifully… or horrifically, depending on who was watching.
---
Mei's steps were small and tight. She kept adjusting her cloak anytime someone brushed too close.
"So many people…" she whispered. "I hope no one recognizes us."
Reider barely turned his head. "If they do, they will regret it."
Mei winced. "That's… not comforting."
Vael held her arms crossed, posture sharp enough to kill someone by proximity. Eryndra walked ahead, hands behind her head, relaxed like she had nothing to fear.
Reider finally asked the question that had been simmering since they left the castle:
"How do you know Eryndra?"
Vael stiffened immediately. "That's… complicated."
Eryndra looked over her shoulder with the grin of someone who lived for drama.
"Oh, please, Vael. Tell him. What, worried he'll think less of you?"
"I'm not afraid of what Reider thinks," Vael snapped.
Reider blinked once. "You are being suspicious."
"Oh, trust me, Demon Boy," Eryndra laughed, "suspicious is her normal state."
Vael glared. Mei just blinked between them, trying to follow.
Eryndra threw her arms around in a theatrical spin.
"Alright, if you must know: me and Vael go waaaay back. We used to fight over everything."
Reider: "Fight over what?"
Vael: "Nothing important."
Eryndra: "Tell him about the time you broke into my house because I outbid you on a relic."
Mei's eyes widened.
Reider blinked. "You broke into her house."
Vael turned bright red. "That was a misunderstanding."
Eryndra patted her head like mocking a child. "Sure it was, sweetheart."
Vael's hands twitched like she wanted to commit a felony.
"You're blushing," Reider observed unhelpfully.
Vael's ears burned. "It's hot out."
"It's winter," Mei whispered.
Reider just nodded. "Suspicious."
Eryndra cackled.
---
They passed a fruit stall. Mei slowed to look; it smelled sweet, grounding. She watched the two old rivals bicker and couldn't help smiling softly.
"They're kind of funny together…"
Reider, however, remained stone-faced.
"So you were rivals?"
Eryndra wagged her brows. "Rivals. Enemies. Teammates. Depends on the day."
Vael muttered, "Depends on you."
"Aw," Eryndra cooed, "you missed me."
"Like an infection," Vael hissed.
Eryndra only grinned wider.
Reider looked at both of them, unimpressed.
"Sounds like a mess."
"Correct," Vael muttered.
Eryndra elbowed Reider. "Look at you judging us already. Careful, or I'll start thinking you're warming up to me."
Reider shrugged. "I already tolerate you more than most."
Eryndra stopped walking. "Hold on. That might be the nicest thing anyone's said to me in years."
He blinked. "It wasn't meant as praise."
Eryndra beamed like he'd proposed.
---
And then Eryndra dropped the bomb.
"So… you two already fighting over him yet?"
Both Vael and Mei froze mid-step.
Vael's ears went red.
Mei's eyes widened like a cornered rabbit.
"N-no one is fighting over anyone!" Vael sputtered.
Mei waved her hands. "I-I'm his mother!"
Eryndra leaned down to Mei with a serpentine grin.
"Are you though?"
Mei combusted on the spot.
Before the two could recover, Eryndra slithered over to Reider, poking his arm.
"Maybe I should join, hm? Might as well tell people I'm your wife too."
Reider didn't even hesitate.
"Alright."
The universe stopped.
Vael & Mei:
"WHAAAAT?!"
Eryndra exploded in laughter.
"Oh gods— Reider, you can't just AGREE to that!"
Reider blinked. "You said it. I accepted."
Vael stormed up to him, face red enough to ignite.
"You can't agree to something like that! What kind of answer—?!"
"You told me before I'm a child," he replied calmly. "It doesn't matter."
That landed harder than a punch. Vael literally froze.
"O-oh…"
She looked away sharply, cheeks bright.
"I… didn't mean it like that…"
Eryndra wiggled her brows. Mei turned red again.
And then—
"I'll take good care of my husband," Eryndra teased.
Reider nodded.
"Thank you."
Three women short-circuited simultaneously.
Vael massaged her temples. "He really doesn't get sarcasm…"
Mei giggled softly.
Eryndra grinned like a fox watching chickens.
---
"You're dangerous," Eryndra said, elbowing Reider playfully.
"Say yes to anything a woman says and suddenly you've got a harem."
Reider frowned.
"What is a harem?"
All three women screamed:
"WHAT?!"
Mei nearly fainted.
Vael's tail flopped in defeat.
Eryndra fell to her knees laughing.
Reider blinked, confused.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Mei giggled. "No, you're fine…"
Vael watched the softness in her expression and swallowed, suddenly conflicted.
Eryndra popped up, stretching her arms.
"Well, husband, shall we all get a house together?"
Reider: "If you need a place to stay, yes."
Vael groaned into her hands. Mei hid behind her cloak. Eryndra smirked triumphantly.
---
Reider walked on, completely unfazed by the trail of emotional carnage behind him.
"Let's find a place to stay," he said simply.
Vael sighed, exhausted but softening.
"Yeah… let's do that."
Mei nodded, cheeks warm but smiling.
Eryndra walked ahead, winking mischievously at both women over Reider's shoulder.
Two rivals glared at her.
She winked harder.
They glared harder.
Reider, oblivious, led the group forward as the sun dipped behind the tall buildings, painting gold across their path.
Three flustered women followed the socially lethal monster-child into the sunset.
Chaos… very much achieved.
---
End of Chapter