Lucia stood in front of the Gokerun household, where Kaienley lived. Maeyurai, behind her, stood along silently with slumped shoulders.
"Are you seriously just going to ask for food?" asked Maeyurai behind Lucia while his eyes glanced at the corner of her eye.
No response was heard from Lucia. She simply waited in front of the door, arms crossed as she tapped her biceps with her finger.
"This woman probably doesn't even know Kaienley that well..." Maeyurai muttered under his breath as he let out a sigh.
"What did you say?" Lucia flicked her head to glance at Maeyurai.
"Nothing," Maeyurai immediately replied, his gaze averted from her face. He let out the words by accident, and he himself couldn't believe that he didn't notice such a slip of the tongue.
Lucia gave Maeyurai a skeptical gaze. While she didn't hear what he said, she had an idea of what he could be talking about.
The door opened, and behind it was Metilda. The two, Maeyurai and Lucia, turned their attention in front.
"Oh, Lucia!" Metilda exclaimed delightedly. "And you have Maeyurai with you; how unexpected."
"Yes, Granny Metilda," replied Lucia. She glanced at Maeyurai in the corner of her eye. "I brought this... boy with me."
Metilda dipped her head forward as she invited the two inside the house. "Come in, you two," she said as she opened the door wider, gesturing the two to enter.
"Excuse me," said Lucia with a nod as she walked in.
It seemed that Lucia had been in the Gokerun household before.
Maeyurai followed along, his foot tracing Lucia's steps. Her path felt confident and memorized, as if this was a place of second nature to her.
"Have you been here before, Lucia?" asked Maeyurai curiously, his eyes locked on to Lucia's calm shoulders.
"I have," Lucia answered shortly after, her hand touching one of the sliding doors. "Several times, actually."
But before she could pull open the door, it moved on its own and slid to the right.
It was Kaienley who opened the door.
"Hm?" Kaienley hummed in question, his eyes sleepily glancing between Lucia and Maeyurai. "What are you doing here, master?"
As Maeyurai heard the word 'master,' his head pulled back in surprise as the image he had of Lucia in his mind suddenly changed.
"Wait—wait!" Maeyurai yelled out, his hand reaching forward to gain the attention of the two in front of him. "Kaienley, Lucia is your master?!"
Lucia's and Kaienley's faces twisted to look at Maeyurai.
"Yes," Kaienley answered. "She, Master Lucia, is the master I've been talking to you about. I didn't expect you'd meet Master so soon."
"Damn, Kaienley, you should've told me about her sooner," Maeyurai retorted, his eyes staring at Kaienley in a mock glare.
Kaienley chuckled in reply. "Haha, you're right. My bad, Maeyurai."
Lucia spoke in a stern manner, cutting in between their conversation. "Don't leave me in the dust," said Lucia, her eyes locked on Kaienley. "Maeyurai and I wish to eat breakfast here."
"Oh, so that's why you're here, master," said Kaienley. "Okay, I'll tell Grandma Metilda to prepare something for us. Let's all eat together."
With an inclined head, Lucia hummed in reply. "Mhm."
Kaienley led them to the dining area before he headed somewhere to talk to his grandmother. Little did he know, Metilda had already started cooking breakfast for their visitors.
Metilda stood in the kitchen, cooking several omelettes.
As Kaienley slid open the door, he didn't expect that Metilda had already acted. His eyebrows raised as he opened his mouth. "Grandmother, are you cooking already?" he asked as he stepped foot into the kitchen, closing the door behind him.
Without turning her head back to Kaienley, Metilda replied, "Of course. I see visitors; I tend to them immediately."
A soft smile spread on Kaienley's lips. He approached his grandmother with a gentle touch to her shoulders and offered, "Allow me to help you, Grandmother."
"I'll take you up on that offer then," replied Metilda. "I'll cook the eggs on a pan; you can go ahead and crack the eggs in a bowl. You know how many, right?"
"Of course," Kaienley confidently answered. "You've taught me this before; I don't forget that easily."
As he moved to the kitchen, Kaienley complied accordingly, helping Metilda cook the omelettes.
The sizzling omelettes slid from the hot pan; the delicate aroma of butter and freshly cracked eggs filled the air. With practiced motion, Metilda tilts the pan, guiding the omelette onto the plate.
The edge of the omelette fluttered slightly as it landed with a soft plop.
35 minutes later, they have prepared two omelettes for the visitors and three omelettes for their family.
Kaienley carried three plates of omelettes, holding them like a professional server. Metilda carried the other plates that he couldn't carry.
They entered the dining room, carrying the plates. At the table, Lucia and Maeyurai had already sat down, eyeing the omelettes with a hungry gaze.
Metilda and Kaienley lowered the plates on the table alongside the wooden utensils. The finely cooked omelettes had a warm, rich scent—inviting eager noses with comforting familiarity.
"Woah, these look delicious," said Maeyurai, his eyes eating up the sight of the omelettes.
Beside him, Lucia kept silent. But it was obvious in her expression just how much she wanted to consume the food presented to her.
As Maeyurai's gaze lingered on top of the omelettes, he noticed that there was an excess piece, a fifth omelette. He raised a question with curiosity. "Is the extra omelette for Kaienley?"
When Metilda sat down, she immediately answered. "It's for Asideo, my husband."
After she answered, Kaienley followed. "Grandpa Asideo should be returning any time soon. He loves watching the sea outside, since our house is pretty elevated."
Maeyurai's lips twisted into silence, his expression shrinking into one of contemplation.
Asideo? Isn't that the name of the old man I met yesterday?
Is it just the same name or an actual coincidence that I met him?
Wait—he did say he had a wife; it must be him that they're talking about then!
Before they started eating, Metilda spoke up. "Let's wait for Asideo to return. That way, all of us will be eating together."
After Metilda finished talking, Kaienley turned his head to Maeyurai. "Maeyurai," he called. "I'm sorry I didn't inform you, but Master actually stays in the treehouse. Where did you sleep last night?"
"Oh, yes, you didn't inform me of that," answered Maeyurai. "I gave her the bed last midnight. I had to sleep on a chair," said Maeyurai as he leaned into his hand, elbow rested on the table.
After speaking, Maeyurai received Lucia's elbow to the side of his stomach.
Lucia shifted in her seat and moved closer to Maeyurai. "Idiot! Why did you say midnight?" Lucia whispered.
Maeyurai's response was delayed. The moment hung heavy in anticipation until Kaienley spoke up.
"Huh?" Kaienley muttered. "Midnight? As in, around 11 to 12 o'clock?"
"Uh... No?" Maeyurai answered.
Beside Maeyurai, Lucia clicked her tongue in annoyance. It seemed that Maeyurai's answer would bring her into trouble.
Kaienley turned his gaze to Lucia. "Master... What did I tell you about working late?"
With a sigh, Lucia replied. "Work isn't simple, Kaienley. The Leviathan keeps roaming around Wyumatsui Island, and it's been getting closer since the last time I guarded the shores."
"I understand that work isn't simple," said Kaienley. "But you have to take care of yourself, master! If you keep working for the whole day, you won't have enough energy for the later work hours."
"This is for the safety of the people," Lucia retorted in a firm voice, her hand resting on the table. "There's no one else fit for the task aside from me. Only I have a standing ground against the Leviathan."
"I know it is for the safety of the people... But... What will happen to us if you end up being at risk? Who will protect the people then?"
Lucia fell into silence. While she did have a point, Kaienley's argument was just better. Without her presence, may it be due to sickness, the people would be much more prone to danger.
"Fine," said Lucia after a while. "I'll finally comply with what you say, Kaienley."
With a thankful smile, Kaienley nodded. And around the same time, the door to the dining area slid open.
The person who entered was Gokerun Asideo, the old man Maeyurai met yesterday. He was Metilda's husband and Kaienley's grandfather.
Everyone's eyes were upon his form as he stepped foot in the dining room.
It is him!
The old man I talked to yesterday!
"Hello, Asideo!" Maeyurai greeted, a bright smile forming on his face.
Asideo approached Metilda, and as his eyes turned to Maeyurai, he replied, "Oh—it's you, young man! What a surprise to see you here."
"You both know each other?" asked Kaienley, glancing between Maeyurai and Asideo.
Maeyurai's gaze shifted to Kaienley. "Well, yes," he answered with a slight nod. "I talked to him in the park yesterday. He gave me information about Yugihanata and the statue of Oahbal."
"So he did..." Kaienley muttered. "That's great; it saves us the time for introductions."
As they finished talking, Metilda cleared her throat. "Ahem, let's eat now, shall we? The food's going to run cold."
When Asideo took a seat near Metilda, everyone else aside from Maeyurai took on a gesture, both their hands placed on the table.
Everyone nodded and spoke in unison.
"Thanks for the food."
As Maeyurai saw their actions, he couldn't help but follow along. Although late, he imitated the gesture. "Thanks for the food," he said with an unaccustomed motion.
Then everyone in the room took their own wooden utensils from the table and started eating.
The room was quiet and peaceful; no one talked as they ate. It felt formal, as it was part of their culture when eating.
It's so quiet... I'm so used to people chatting whenever I eat.
Is this how it is when you eat with a full family here on Wyumatsui Island? I'd guess it is.
After a while, everyone finished eating. Metilda acted immediately and took everyone's wooden plates, bringing them to the kitchen to wash them.
Lucia, Kaienley, and Maeyurai were the only ones left in the room as Asideo went on to leave, headed for the main parts of the city. Though old, Asideo was healthy and energetic.
Still seated down, Maeyurai turned his head to Lucia and asked, "Miss Lucia, what's your work like?"
"My work?" Lucia repeated. "I don't work for the council, meaning I'm not formally contracted to do so. I merely volunteered to work, and they allowed me to."
"Oh, okay," said Maeyurai. "What do you usually do at work?"
"Row a boat around Wyumatsui Island, specifically to patrol a certain part of the shore. I'm currently assigned to guard the area around Tahaktatsu's edges, near Point Weyu, to be exact."
"And you force yourself to stay until midnight?"
Lucia doesn't answer immediately. She knew that if she gave an honest answer, Kaienley would just scold her.
It wasn't that she was afraid of Kaienley; she just didn't want him to worry about her. Seeing his distressed look whenever he finds out that she hasn't been taking care of herself for the sake of others lowers her morale, affecting her mind and her performance.
But not taking care of herself has the same result, though she isn't aware of it.
It's due to her stubbornness to protect the people that forces her to act without even thinking of her own self, which causes her to neglect her physical well-being.
After a few seconds, Lucia finally decided on a reply to Maeyurai's question.
"Yes," she answered. "Purely because I'm trying to get as much information as I can for the whole day. And just in case the Leviathan suddenly attacks the cities."
Lucia's eyes darted to the corner of her eye, landing on Kaienley expectantly.
However, Kaienley stayed quiet as he listened to their conversation unfold. Lucia kept a blank expression—but inside, she was surprised.
Usually, Kaienley would try his best to tell her off to take care of herself. But now, his lips were shut tight.
And it wasn't because of anything bad. In fact, it is because Kaienley was glad that Lucia openly admitted her actions instead of lying.
The warm smile that tugged on his lips proved his joy for Lucia—for her trying to change.
Slowly, Kaienley stood up from her seat, accompanied by the gazes of Lucia and Maeyurai. He opened his mouth slightly. "Do you guys want to walk around Yugihanata?" he invited, dusting his pants while walking towards the door.
"Oh, sure," Maeyurai replied first as he stood up to follow along.
Kaienley glanced at Maeyurai before turning his gaze to Lucia. "Master, do you want to come?" he asked as he stopped in front of the sliding door, his hand pressed against the recessed handle.
"I will," replied Lucia, standing up from her seat to walk behind Maeyurai.
With a nod, Kaienley opened the door and led them both outside, headed towards the city of Yugihanata.
Kaienley, Lucia, and Maeyurai walked through the streets in the city; several eyes from the people peeled over them.
It was because of how popular Kaienley and Lucia were in the entirety of Wyumatsui Island. Their fame reaches from Yugihanata up to Tahaktatsu.
The both of them were known for their own unique characteristics.
Kaienley being a golden-haired swordsman on the third rank, General—and Lucia being the strongest individual in the entire nation.
However, the people's eyes were not only attracted by two powerful individuals but also by the peculiar presence of a certain someone whose name they do not know.
This person in particular was Maeyurai, an archer who was walking along with the two highly esteemed swordsmen.
"Why is that archer with them?" a voice amongst the people echoed.
"Kaienley's so handsome today!" a teenage girl squealed.
"What's Lucia doing here in Yugihanata? Isn't she supposed to be in Tahaktatsu?" said one of the boys in a group.
Amongst the group, one of them replied, "Probably because of Kaienley. I've heard that Lucia and Kaienley were close."
"Oh, really?" asked another person. "I wonder what the connection between the two of them could be!"
"Maybe they're lovers," assumed a man from the group, his eyes raking over the walking Lucia and Kaienley, disregarding Maeyurai as a minor side character.
The man's voice lingered through the air until it reached Lucia's ears. Not even a second after, Lucia's gaze snapped towards his direction, her face contorting with scorn. She paused momentarily, her right eye twitching in disgust.
A second after, she calmed herself and continued pacing the path with Kaienley and Maeyurai.
The man who assumed such a thing felt true fear. Her sharp gaze was enough to cut his confidence into pieces. Who knew that such simple words were enough to offend her? Well, who would want to be mistaken as the lover of their apprentice? Anyone would naturally react in contempt.
At the side, Maeyurai saw Lucia's minor halt to glare at the man. Though his hearing wasn't exactly sharp enough to completely discern what the man had said, he knew that whatever Lucia heard was most definitely something stupid.
What did she hear? The way she reacted also frightened me.
I felt the sharp gaze from up close, even if it wasn't directed towards me.
Is it the mere pressure of someone that is of a High-Lord rank? Scary.
Now that I think about it, the Shrieker that I met during The Hunt also exuded a similar, deadly vibe—only being weaker—but not too weak to be considered low-level.
In front, Kaienley was walking calmly. His laid-back demeanor was accompanied by his silent strides, giving off an aura of nonchalance.
Kaienley slowed his pace to match Lucia's. He spoke without pivoting his head to glance at Lucia. "Master, do you not like walking with me?"
Lucia's face was aloof, though not for the reason you would expect.
"It's not that I dislike it," she answered, her gaze still pointed forward. "I just don't like the mood here in Yugihanata. Compared to Tahaktatsu, it feels a little out of place to walk in here."
"So you do dislike it," Kaienley said with a passive voice, his arms continuing to swing gently by his side as he walked.
"I'm telling you, it's not like that," Lucia rebutted, her eyes glancing at Kaienley for a split second. "I simply enjoy the rougher feel of Tahatatsu's environment and people, which is a contrast to Yugihanata's soft and inviting ambiance."
A strong gust of wind blew past the master and her apprentice. In that brief moment, silence drooped. The two caught a glimpse of each other, followed by a stillness tinged with misunderstanding.
"I'm sorry, master," Kaienley apologized. "I must've been disturbing you with this walk. I'm sure you want to go back to work now."
Lucia's legs ceased to move, abruptly stopping in her tracks.
Maeyurai bumped into Lucia due to her sudden stop in motion. "Uh," he uttered in surprise. Lucia didn't even budge. If ever, Maeyurai felt like stumbling into a wall. That was just how strong she was.
The silent Lucia stood still for a moment in time, looking for the right words to reply to Kaienley. Her chin lowered, followed by the echo of her voice. "You're right," she said firmly. "I do need to get back to work."
She immediately spun in a different direction, where Tahaktatsu is, and began to walk away without any parting words. Although it was subtle, there was a hint of suppression behind her actions, a hint of something deeper.
As she traced her steps forward, Maeyurai watched her back intently, his Sense Boost flickering to life without thought.
A single strand of her hair sparked yellow—reflecting the sun's gentle smile. A stark reminder of her constant exposure to sunlight, causing her black hair to lighten.
Maeyurai released his Sense Boost upon realizing he had accidentally triggered it. He turned towards Kaienley, his gaze still on Lucia, and asked, "Is this normal for the both of you?"
"You can probably say so," Kaienley answered. "But... she would usually bark more at me. This time, she doesn't even bite once."
"Seems that you always get into arguments with her," said Maeyurai, his eyes shifting to look at Kaienley.
"Well, yeah, she can be quite petty. But I still respect her a lot regardless of how she acts sometimes. I'm grateful to her."
"You're probably not aware of it, but you may be the problem in the arguments on some occasions."
"Maybe I am," Kaienley said before continuing to walk. "C'mon, let's continue walking for a while. I have something to do with you after."
Maeyurai nodded and followed along. "Got it—"
Crash!!
A loud explosion, followed by several pieces of debris flying everywhere.