From the perspective of Matteo Romano
If Alessio thought he could fool me with a shiny item, he was, of course, mistaken.
Hana's new bow might have been an effective distraction for the rest of the group — a beautiful, magical gift worthy of admiration and praise — but that didn't work on me.
I knew that look of his.
The look of someone trying to change the subject before the questions begin.
But that was fine.
I could wait.
Certain types of curiosity can't be satisfied with immediate answers.
Some questions require the right moment — and the right moment always comes.
Even in silence, Alessio seemed to feel the weight of my gaze.
After a few seconds, once Hana finished admiring the bow with that sparkle in her eyes, he finally turned to us.
"Everyone," he began, with the calm tone he always used when he wanted to appear in control of everything, "allow me to introduce…"
He paused for effect, then continued:
"This is Freya. She helped me on the mission and will be joining our group.
This is Lotte, her sister.
And these are Anna and Steve — Freya's children."
The words were simple, but the impact was immediate.
The entire group fell silent for a moment.
Even Cassandra, who rarely showed surprise at anything, raised an eyebrow.
Eleanor blinked a few times, trying to process the information.
Hana, still holding the bow, recovered quickly, though curiosity danced in her eyes.
As for me —
I crossed my arms and watched.
Alessio then turned to the other side, continuing the introductions.
"Freya, these are Matteo, Hana, Cassandra, and Eleanor."
That was the cue.
The greetings began almost automatically — the kind of polite formality that appears when everyone senses a new social structure forming and must find their place within it.
But, to my surprise, the adjustment was… smooth.
Much smoother than I would have imagined.
The girls got along right away.
Freya, with her calm and commanding presence, seemed to fit naturally among them —
Cassandra, who loved testing everyone's limits, remained respectful;
Hana looked curious, observing the woman with quiet admiration;
and Eleanor, always the reserved one, knelt beside the children with a genuine smile, as if finding relief in their simple presence.
Of course, the true social glue there wasn't words.
It was the children… and the cubs.
Anna and Steve drew everyone's attention almost instantly.
And when the two little lions woke up, stretching and yawning as if the world itself were an extension of Lotte's lap, even Cassandra — the same woman who once set half a dungeon on fire without blinking — let out an "awww" she would never admit later.
The circle formed naturally.
The girls crouched, smiling; the children approached without fear; and even the cubs, with their golden fur and wide eyes, accepted everyone's affection as if they had been born for it.
I had to admit — Alessio had underestimated me less than I'd underestimated him.
The man knew how to play the game.
And not just inside the dungeons.
It was a master's move.
Unite the group emotionally, turn potential suspicion into empathy, use instinct and tenderness as social weapons.
Of course, that didn't mean I would let him off the hook.
Too many questions burned in my head, and sooner or later, he would have to answer every one of them.
Who exactly Freya was.
But Alessio knew what he was doing.
When his eyes met mine — over the girls' heads and the gleam of the portals — he didn't need to say a word.
His look was clear: not now.
And I understood.
He held my gaze with the firmness of someone demanding silence, and I responded with a small nod — the kind of gesture that, between us, meant agreement.
For now, I would wait.
But sooner or later, he'd tell me everything.
And if he tried to hide something…
Well, I'd always been good at uncovering truths people preferred to keep buried.
With our silent pact sealed — that brief look of understanding between me and Alessio — he returned to his usual self.
The strategist.
The veteran player who always seemed three moves ahead of everyone else.
"Alright," he said, calm but firm.
"Now that everyone's acquainted, we move to our next objective."
That was enough to make Cassandra react.
The redhead crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow — the fire of her personality as visible as the flames she conjured in battle.
"And what would that be?" she asked, a mix of curiosity and indignation in her tone.
Her voice challenged the very idea of authority.
Alessio remained unfazed.
Didn't even blink.
"Leveling up. Leveling up fast."
A brief silence followed — the kind that hangs right before someone inevitably cracks a joke.
In this case, that someone was me.
"We using that trap again?" I asked with a smirk.
It wasn't just curiosity; I wanted to see if he'd have the guts to repeat the same method…
Running shirtless again — this time in front of the girls.
Alessio shot me a quick look — the kind that said don't start.
Then replied, curtly:
"That won't be necessary. We'll have a better opportunity."
His tone was so certain that even Cassandra, always ready with a retort, simply frowned and fell silent, waiting to hear the rest of the plan.
Before he could continue, a softer voice broke the rhythm.
"Alright, then this is where I say goodbye…"
Lotte, still cradling the cubs, spoke with a gentle smile, though her eyes betrayed the attachment she'd already formed.
She turned toward her sister, and the contrast between them — Freya's upright, austere posture and Lotte's serene, almost motherly demeanor — was striking.
"I'll take the kids to school and head back to the university," she said.
"You enjoy your life in the forest."
Freya merely nodded.
Her normally impassive face softened for an instant — subtle, but enough to show that the gesture meant more than it seemed.
"Will you be able to take care of them?" Freya asked, glancing at the cubs still asleep in her sister's arms.
Lotte looked down at them tenderly, a small smile touching her lips.
"Yes. I'll rent a place, and they'll stay with me," she said with quiet conviction.
Freya nodded slowly.
It was one of those brief exchanges that carried more emotion than words.
Then Lotte approached, gave the group a gentle wave — Anna and Steve at her side, the cubs nestled close — and disappeared into the bustling streets of Eldenwall.
The sound of the crowd seemed to swallow the little procession as they vanished among the pale stone alleys.
And for a moment, no one said a word.
Not even Alessio.
It was strange — somehow, that simple farewell made the air feel lighter… and at the same time, more serious.
The group was smaller now, yet it felt complete.
The kind of fragile balance only a good leader can create — and Alessio, somehow, always did.
I just took a deep breath, glancing at him.
He was already thinking three steps ahead.
And I, as always, was already preparing to find out what kind of madness he'd drag us into next.