As the sun rises, Arwain rushes into the bedroom, pouncing on Kazu. Kazu reaches out and grabs her into a hug, she giggles as he pretends to munch on her shoulder and tickle her sides. Anna turns to the commotion next to her and can't help laughing at the spectacle.
Kazu stops long enough to give his morning greeting, "Good morning, welcome to tomorrow, ladies."
Petal peeks her head into the room, drawn by the sound of Arwain's infectious laughter. Her eyes soften, a mix of longing and tenderness crossing her features. She smiles, almost unconsciously murmuring, "I want a child too…" Realizing she has spoken aloud, a wave of crimson floods her cheeks. Embarrassed, she quickly retreats from the room, her heart a tumult of emotions—desire, vulnerability, and a hint of self-consciousness.
Anna catches Kazu's eye, her smile playful and knowing. "Looks like we need to find her a good man, otherwise you'll need to help her with that," she teases, her voice light but carrying an undercurrent of genuine care for her friend. She chuckles to herself, stretching as she rises from the bed.
As Kazu begins to dress, Arwain clings to him with the tenacity of a young child seeking security. "Sweetie, it's hard to get dressed with you clinging to me. Can I set you down long enough to get dressed?" he asks, his tone gentle and patient.
Arwain reluctantly agrees, but the moment Kazu is dressed, her small hands reach out, silently pleading to be held. Kazu scoops her up without hesitation, meeting her gaze with a warm smile. "Happy, sweetie?" he asks. She nestles into his embrace, nodding contentedly, her trust in him absolute.
Anna observes the scene, her expression a blend of affection and amusement. "Looks like you have been adopted as her father. Congratulations, let me know when you want a non-adopted one," she quips, winking as she saunters towards the door. "After me, I'm sure there are some other volunteers in the house, residents and visitors alike." Her playful comment hangs in the air as she descends the stairs.
Kazu looks down at Arwain, meeting her innocent gaze. She shrugs, her child-like gesture both endearing and disarming, and declares, "I think you are a good daddy." Touched, Kazu kisses her forehead, a gesture of pure paternal love, before carrying her downstairs to breakfast.
Lost in thought, Kazu wrestles with the complexity of Arwain's behavior. Her regression to a younger emotional state intrigues and concerns him. Is this a coping mechanism—a way to feel safe by reconnecting with a protective male figure? Or is she subconsciously trying to reclaim the childhood stolen from her, symbolically resetting her emotional age to six? The uncertainty gnaws at him. "Am I helping her heal," he wonders, "or am I inadvertently stunting her emotional growth by indulging her?"
As they arrive downstairs, the morning light filters through the windows, casting a soft glow on the expectant faces of Tara's team. The boys – Mica, Kristoph, and Johan – look up eagerly, but Ari and Tara are conspicuously absent.
Mica, his curiosity piqued, leans forward and asks about the magical illumination filling the room. Kazu, recognizing the young man's genuine interest, carefully breaks down the magical principles into digestible terms. With practiced patience, he demonstrates by holding a glass bulb in his palm. A gentle pulse of electrical magic courses through his fingers, and the bulb flickers to life, casting a warm, steady light. Mica's eyes widen, his scientific curiosity momentarily sated. Seemingly lost in thought, he retreats to the couch, his mind processing the magical mechanics he's just witnessed.
The minutes tick by, and the absence of Tara and Ari becomes more pronounced. Ten minutes pass with no sign of the missing women.
Lina enters the room, her crisp announcement cutting through the morning stillness: breakfast will be served in five minutes. Her eyes sweep the room, landing on the task of rousing the late sleepers. A chorus of voices unanimously nominates Kazu for the mission. He catches Anna's knowing smirk – a glance that immediately signals some underlying mischief.
Deciding to play along, Kazu ascends the stairs. He knocks on Tara's door, met only by silence. Entering the empty room, he deduces they must be in Ari's bathroom. Another knock goes unanswered. Pushing the door open, he's greeted by an unexpected scene: Tara and Ari, languidly relaxing in a steamy bath, seemingly oblivious to the passing time.
Perched casually on the tub's edge, Kazu delivers a playful warning: "Ladies, your breakfast is getting cold, and those pruning fingers suggest it's time to emerge."
Tara, still half-dreaming, offers a sleepy invitation. "Join us, this is very relaxing." Her smile freezes as sudden awareness floods her – her state of undress, Kazu's presence. She bolts upright, inadvertently colliding with his face, then slips. Kazu's reflexes save her from a potentially embarrassing fall.
Ari's laughter erupts from the background, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "All that swagger last night, talking about how hot he finds…" Her teasing words hang in the steamy air, promising more revelations.
Tara tackles her with a hand over Ari's mouth, her eyes sparkling with a mix of mischief and protective instinct. Looking back at Kazu, she offers a sheepish grin, her cheeks flushed from the steamy bathroom. "Don't listen to this mad woman, the hot water is messing with her mind," she says, her voice a blend of embarrassment and playful deflection.
Kazu reaches for Ari's hand, which she accepts with a grateful smile. As he helps her out of the bath, the steam swirling around them, he gets his first clear view of the hair she had been so self-conscious about. Gently, he moves her damp locks to the side, revealing her shoulder. His eyes soften with genuine appreciation. "Well, it's official, Half-Minotaurs can still be very pretty," he says, his tone warm and sincere.
Ari's face erupts in a brilliant crimson, a stark contrast to her usual tough demeanor. She turns to Tara, her eyes gleaming with a triumphant 'I win' smile, a silent celebration of her newfound confidence.
Kazu turns back to Tara and extends his hand, offering her assistance. She grabs it, her fingers intertwining with his, and he helps her out of the tub with practiced ease.
As the girls head to their rooms to dress, Kazu follows Tara into her room. Pausing at the doorway, he turns with a playful grin. "I want to see both of your cute butts downstairs for breakfast... see you in a bit, ladies," he calls, his voice a mix of teasing and anticipation.
A few minutes later, two radiant adventurers enter the dining room, their shared secret adding an extra sparkle to their smiles.
Mica, Kristoph, and Johan look up, their gazes bouncing between Tara and Ari in confusion. Johan, his curiosity piqued, asks, "Who's your pretty friend?"
Ari answers in her deep, familiar adventurer voice, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes, "Oh... That's Tara, don't you recognize her out of her adventuring clothes?"
After a comical double-take, Mica rushes up to Ari, his words tumbling out in a mix of shock and excitement. "Ari, is that you? What happened? When did you turn into a girl? Did Kazu do this to you?"
Ari's laughter fills the room, rich and uninhibited. "Don't blame Kazu, he had nothing to do with me being a girl, I was born this way," she explains, her confidence growing with each word.
As she speaks, the group unconsciously gravitates towards her, drawn by an inexplicable curiosity. Before Ari realizes it, she's surrounded, her heart racing with a mix of nervousness and anticipation. She braces herself, expecting judgment or ridicule.
Instead, she's met with unexpected warmth. The boys in her party, overcome with remorse, apologize for years of inadvertent insensitivity. The girls shower her with genuine praise, celebrating her beauty and strength. Rask, in particular, commends her for navigating their masculine world with such skill and discretion. Never once hinting that she was a girl.
Eventually, the Q and A session with Ari winds down, the room buzzing with newfound understanding and acceptance. The tension dissipates as Lina arrives, her crisp, no-nonsense demeanor breaking the emotional spell, announcing that breakfast is ready. The aroma of freshly prepared food fills the air, drawing everyone's attention away from Ari's revelatory moment.
After a hearty breakfast, Kazu turns to Tara with a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. "Would you like to see the workshop I've been working on?" Tara's enthusiastic nod is met with immediate curiosity from her teammates. Within moments, the entire group crowds into the doorway of the workshop, their eyes wide with anticipation.
Rask, ever the industrious worker, quickly notices her previous night's work is complete. Without hesitation, she moves to begin the next batch of projects, her hands already reaching for tools. Kazu begins the tour at the wood lathes, his fingers tracing the intricate machinery with a mixture of pride and reverence. As they progress, they observe Rask meticulously working on the metal lathe, her movements precise and calculated.
Kazu explains the technical intricacies of their manufacturing process, his voice a blend of technical expertise and passionate storytelling. "Some components are too intricate for even a level 4 metal magic user to create consistently," he elaborates. "When magical precision falls short, our metal lathes and CNC machines take over, ensuring absolute accuracy."
The tour continues, with Kazu showcasing each innovative machine: a specialized device for creating pipes from softened steel, a powerful hammer designed to expedite sword and dagger production. Each area of the workshop held something completely foreign to his audience, sparking endless questions and wonder. What was meant to be a brief hour-long tour stretched into three captivating hours of technological exploration.
As Kazu approaches the conclusion of his workshop demonstration, Lina appears in the doorway, her voice cutting through the excited chatter. "Kazu, there are some guards at the front door who want to talk to you."
Kazu walks around the side of the house, the group following curiously. As they round the corner, the doorway stands mysteriously empty. Kazu turns to Lina, who offers only a bewildered shrug. Continuing to the front door, Kazu steps inside to find the guards casually rifling through items in the foyer, their actions suspiciously casual.
Standing firmly in the foyer, Kazu's voice is calm but laden with underlying tension. "How can I help you today?"
The six village guards pivot to face him, one stepping forward—the same creepy guard Kazu and Anna had encountered during their initial village visit. As the guard approaches within a meter of Kazu, his words drip with barely concealed malice: "It has come to our attention that you are harboring dangerous creatures on your property."
Kazu looks down at the guard, his voice steady and resolute, "I have no idea what you are talking about. There are no dangerous creatures on this property. If anything here poses a threat to my family or my people, I will eliminate it swiftly and permanently."
The creepy guard's finger jabs menacingly toward Orolfie. "So you do not think that creature is dangerous?"
Kazu's gaze follows the guard's accusatory gesture, his eyes narrowing as they lock onto Orolfie. He turns back to the guard, his tone a blend of protective defiance and controlled anger. "Dangerous? She absolutely can be. But she is no mere 'creature.' She is a friend, a member of my family, and a respected, carded Hunter."
When the creepy guard shifts his target, pointing at Ari and beginning to utter "And what of this monstrosity, is she—"
Kazu cuts him off sharply, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "Choose your next words carefully. You are standing in my home, speaking about my friends. That beautiful woman you are insulting is also a skilled, carded Hunter. Now state your purpose and get out."
The guards in the foyer collectively draw their swords, tension crackling like electricity as the lead guard issues his ultimatum. "By order of the Guards of the Village of Touren, all non-humans in this house are to be handed over to us, and you are to be arrested for harboring non-humans."
Kazu's response is immediate and razor-sharp. "Hunters are granted significantly more legal authority than village guards, and we are not even in the village. By what possible jurisdiction do you think you can make such demands here? Most of the people in this room are Rank B or higher hunters. You will take no one from my home today—or ever. Now leave before I charge you with breaking my floor with your face."
Suddenly, the creepy guard points upstairs. A guard stands behind Arwain, a dagger pressed menacingly against her delicate throat.
The guard's smile is a grotesque mockery of civility. "Come quietly, and no one will get hurt."
Kazu's response is ice-cold, each word laden with imminent threat. "Oh, someone is going to get hurt—and I guarantee it will be those wearing blue guard uniforms. Release her in the next three seconds, or none of you will leave here under your own power. 1... 2... 3."
As the final number leaves his lips, Kazu's eyes ignite with an electric blue luminescence. In an instant, he vanishes. The creepy guard turns towards the guard with Arwain, only to see the same guard flying through the air directly toward him. Kazu had appeared instantly beside Arwain and removed the threat to her, his protective instincts blazing.
Kazu's movements are a blur of protective paternal instinct, his electric blue eyes scanning her for any sign of harm. Gently cupping her face, he brushes a soft kiss against her forehead, whispers, "You're safe, my little one," before vanishing in a burst of blue energy.
The guard from upstairs crashes into the creepy guard with a thunderous impact, bones and armor colliding. In that same heartbeat, Kazu appears behind the three guards in the foyer, his hands moving with surgical precision. He seizes the helmeted heads of the guards on the left and right, pulling them in towards the third guard in the middle. Their metal helmets ring as he slams them together with calculated force. The synchronized strike creates a symphony of impact, and all three guards crumple unconscious like discarded puppets.
As the guards fall, Kazu turns toward the remaining two. With each deliberate step, something primal and ancient seems to emanate from him. The air grows thick with tension, and the guards witness Kazu seemingly expanding, his shadow stretching and morphing, transforming from a man to something more primordial and terrifying. Their muscles lock with paralyzing fear—one guard's bladder gives way, and the other on the left simply faints, overwhelmed by the raw, predatory energy.
Grabbing the remaining guard's head, Kazu's voice is a low, dangerous growl. "Explain yourself. Why are you here?"
The guard's eyes glow an unnatural yellow, his voice a flat, hypnotic drone. "We were sent to separate you from your women."
"By whose command?" Kazu's grip tightens imperceptibly.
"Lord Ozul. We were to arrest you and hold you until his men arrive. The women... they are our reward." The last word drips with a grotesque implication.
A spark of rage flashes in Kazu's eyes. "Reward? As in property?"
Anna's voice breaks through, panic threading her words. "Lord Ozul Casimir?"
"Yes," the guard confirms, his voice still that eerie monotone.
"Kazu," Anna grabs his arm, her voice trembling, "that's the warlord who destroyed my hometown. We must leave, now!" Her eyes are wide with remembered trauma.
Kazu pulls Anna close with his free hand, his voice a blend of reassurance and steel. "We do not run. Not from bullies, not from warlords. Last night, Tara and Ari decimated over a dozen MossWolves in minutes. A single MossWolf can decimate an army of a hundred regular soldiers. We. Will. Stay."
His gaze bores into the guard. "Is this 'lord' coming to our village?"
The guard's affirmative response echoes in the charged atmosphere. "How many men does he have?" Kazu's voice is calm, calculating, probing for strategic intelligence.
"15,000 as of 11 months ago, though I don't know current troop numbers," the guard responds, a hint of resignation in his monotone voice.
Kazu's interrogation continues for several more minutes, but beyond the initial troop count, only fragments of useless information emerge. The guard commander and the majority of the guards are not a part of their group and can most likely be trusted.
As consciousness slowly returns, the captured guards find themselves bound ignominiously in the back of a rough-hewn wagon, stripped not only of their weaponry but also most of their dignity and clothing. The creepy guard, predictably, erupts into indignant protests the moment he awakens. Rask, seated stoically beside the prisoners, silences him with a sharp, stinging slap to the back of his head. "Shut up," she commands tersely.
Kazu, Orolfie, and Orelfa methodically pull the wagon, their movements synchronized and purposeful. Tara's team flanks the cart, fully armed and alert, while Anna and the twins maintain a vigilant rear guard.
"Do not fret, you greasy, incompetent excuse for a guard," Kazu remarks dryly, "You'll be released soon enough—directly into a jail cell, preferably with a big guy named Ben Dover."
Minutes later, they approach the familiar town gate. The stationed guard, initially casual, suddenly realizes the wagon's occupants are not bandits but fellow guardsmen. "Well, crap," he mutters, "What in the nine hells did you do to get treated like this?"
Kazu succinctly outlines the morning's events, and the gate guard, somewhat bemused, waves them through.
At the guard station, two outgoing guards stop in their tracks, recognizing the prisoners. Their laughter rings out, a mixture of derision and genuine amusement. "Finally screwed up spectacularly enough to get caught, eh? I knew you were fools, but attacking a house full of Rank A and B Hunters? The Commander's going to have a field day with this. I'm going to enjoy watching this unfold."
The second guard dashes back inside, his boots echoing urgently against the stone floor. Minutes later, he returns with the Commander—a commanding figure in his late 30s, his chiseled physique and weathered face speaking of years of military discipline. Four additional guards flank him, their expressions a mix of curiosity and professional detachment. They carefully collect the bound and humiliated former guards, escorting them inside with a practiced efficiency that suggests such incidents are not entirely uncommon.
The Commander listens intently as Kazu methodically details the morning's events, his keen eyes narrowing at each transgression. Kazu's formal complaint is comprehensive: breaking and entering, attempted kidnapping, assault, battery, and theft—three of the guards had brazenly pilfered items from his foyer during their unauthorized intrusion. The paperwork is filled out with meticulous care, each accusation documented with legal precision. When Kazu shares the intelligence gathered during his interrogation, the Commander's professional demeanor shifts, revealing a deeper concern beneath his stoic exterior.
"We'll handle this," the Commander assures them, his voice a low, gravelly promise. As Kazu's group turns to leave, they hear the Commander's sharp commands slicing through the administrative space, ordering the immediate separation and processing of the "former guards"—the tone making it clear their careers in law enforcement are unequivocally terminated.
During their journey home, Anna begins to unravel the complex tapestry of information about Lord Ozul. Her narrative is punctuated by contributions from other group members—fragments of rumors, whispered tales, and personal accounts that paint a progressively darker picture of the warlord.
Their homecoming is marked by a flurry of relieved embraces. Lina, Arwain, and Petal welcome them with tight hugs and the promise of comfort food. Arwain, still visibly shaken by the morning's events, clings to Kazu with an intensity that speaks to her lingering fear, only finding momentary peace when transferred to Orelfa's protective arms.
Petal and Lina, consumed by guilt over Arwain's near-abduction, transform into hypervigilant caretakers. Their attentiveness reaches near-comical levels as they anticipate and fulfill every conceivable need, their movements a synchronized dance of maternal overcompensation.
As evening settles, the living room becomes their sanctuary. Kazu, sensing the group's need for normalcy and distraction, declares a movie night. After careful consideration, he selects an anime series about a beast tamer—a narrative featuring a protagonist who rescues a cat spirit and befriends a dragon girl encountered during a bridge confrontation. Thirteen episodes later, collective exhaustion signals bedtime.
The evening's bath becomes an intimate family affair. Arwain joins Kazu and Anna, quickly followed by Orelfa, who arrives seeking proximity to her mother. Their bedtime routine is a tender choreography of comfort: Arwain nestled on Kazu's chest, Anna in her familiar spot, and Orelfa claiming the remaining space. Soft kisses and whispered good nights drift into the peaceful silence of shared sleep, the day's tensions dissolving into collective warmth and security.