"I'm glad to see you're both doing well," Nael continued, his voice genuine and warm. "You look... much better than the last time we met."
Kael's mouth opened and closed several times, utterly speechless. Then, with a sudden, jerky movement, he bowed deeply at the waist.
"Th-Thank you!" he blurted out, his voice thick with emotion. "For everything! The money... the apples... You saved Lia!"
Nael gave a gentle nod while thinking about this unexpected situation. Somehow, it made perfect sense. Of course, the pragmatic and kind-hearted Old Man Hemlock would have seen their potential and taken them in.
"My name is Kael," the boy said, straightening up. "And this is my little sister, Lia. We... we can never repay you."
The little girl, peeking from behind her brother, gave a small, shy wave. "Shank you, mishter," she whispered, not fully understanding the depth of what had happened but sensing her brother's profound gratitude.
Nael reached out and gently ruffled both of their heads. "Don't mention it," he said softly. He then gestured to a small table in the corner. "Shall we sit?"
At a nod from Hemlock, Kael immediately sprang into action. "I'll make tea!" he announced, rushing to prepare the cups with a focus that showed he'd already learned the routine.
As Nael took a seat, he glanced toward the counter where Hemlock was now watching them with a faint, knowing smile.
"I see you've already found a replacement for me," Nael chuckled.
The old man snorted. "Yeah," he grumbled, though his eyes twinkled. "I hope he's better at sweeping than you were. You always missed the corners."
"Yeah, that's because I couldn't reach them with my height." Nael grinned.
"You always made excuses too," Hemlock chuckled, finally coming out from behind the counter and settling into the chair opposite Nael with a soft groan. His expression grew more serious. "So. How did it go? The exam, I mean. What happened? And... are you really leaving?"
Nael nodded, his own smile fading slightly. "Nothing much. I just got injured fighting a monster, that's all. But I'm okay now." He paused, then delivered the bigger news. "And yeah, I am leaving tomorrow. Believe it or not, I got recruited to a pretty good Awakened Academy."
"Oh?" Hemlock's brows shot up in genuine surprise, followed by a slow, approving nod. "That's good then. Really good."
Just then, Kael returned with the tea, carefully setting the cups before them before stepping back respectfully. Hemlock glanced at the young girl, Lia, who was watching them with wide, curious eyes.
"Little girl," he said, his voice gentler than usual. "Bring me that pouch from the third drawer."
Lia nodded obediently and hurried over, returning a moment later with a small, worn leather pouch. Hemlock took it and slid it across the table toward Nael.
"Here," the old man said gruffly. "Take it. It's not much, but it should be enough for a few things on the road."
Nael glanced between the old man and the pouch, a warm, appreciative smile touching his lips. Then, he gently shook his head and pushed the pouch back toward Hemlock, along with the package of honeyed nuts and food he had brought.
"I appreciate it, Master Hemlock, truly. But you don't have to worry. I already received a stipend from the academy. It's more than enough." He tapped the gifts he'd brought. "This is for you. A farewell gift."
Hemlock stared at the returned pouch and the gifts, his usual gruff demeanor faltering. He was, for once, at a complete loss for words. After a long moment, he simply nodded, a look of profound pride mixing with a touch of wistfulness in his eyes.
"You've grown up now, huh?" he muttered, almost to himself.
Nael feigned offense. "What, was I a kid before?"
"...Weren't you?" the old man shot back without missing a beat.
Nael's defiant expression melted into a sheepish grin. "...Yeah. I was."
"Anyway," Nael continued, steering the conversation back. "That's it from me. I also wanted to ask about the siblings, but..." He glanced over at Kael, who was now carefully showing Lia how to wipe down a shelf. "...I see I don't have to worry, right?"
Old Man Hemlock followed his gaze, his expression softening. "Yeah," he said, his voice low. "I took them in as helpers. And you know Mila... That day they came, she was here too. After hearing everything and seeing little Lia shivering with fever... she decided to take care of them herself." A faint, fond smile touched his lips. "Naturally, I didn't argue. Perhaps... perhaps I too had missed having somebody around the house again."
"I see..." Nael muttered, understanding dawning.
Old Man Hemlock and Aunty Mila had lived alone for a long, long time. They had had two children, but one had tragically lost their life in a dungeon exam years ago. The other had grown up, gotten married, and moved with their spouse to a distant city.
If he remembered correctly, the old couple had been living alone in that quiet apartment above the shop for over twenty years.
"What about them?" Nael then muttered, gesturing discreetly toward the siblings.
Hemlock understood his meaning perfectly.
"Thankfully, there wasn't much of a rejection," the old man said, his voice low and warm.
"They were scared, of course. Still are, a little. Trust like that doesn't bloom overnight. But..." He watched as Kael carefully corrected Lia's grip on the rag, his movements patient. "They've already started to treat us as family. And we them."
Nael nodded slowly. "I'm glad to hear that."
As an orphan himself, he knew how much one would yearn for that sense of belonging, yet how terrifying it was to reach for it, fearing it could be snatched away or prove to be just another illusion.
The fact that Kael and Lia were already beginning to lower their guards was a testament to the genuine, quiet love the old couple was offering them. It was the best possible outcome he could have imagined for his impulsive investment.
And speaking of which...
'I need to meet with Aunty too...' Nael muttered inwardly. He knew she must have been worried a lot, too. And if she heard what happened, coupled with the past incident... 'Yeah, I should definitely meet her and bid farewell in person.'
With that in mind, he turned back to the old man and asked.
"Is Aunty Mila upstairs? I'd like to see her before I go."