It was rare for the manor to feel this alive.
After weeks of tension, betrayal, shadow beasts, and near-death battles, the brothers had finally earned a day to just be… idiots.
Eren was the first to start the chaos.
He'd enchanted one of the spellbooks to sing out dramatic opera whenever opened—and left it innocently on the kitchen table. Leo, ever the curious cat, opened it expecting potion notes, only to be blasted in the face with:
"OOOOHHH MIGHTY SON OF DARKNESS, DOOMED IN YOUR DESTINY—"
He flailed, tripped on a chair, and hit the floor with a loud THUD.
Eira, sipping tea in the corner, snorted. "Genius spellwork."
Leo shot her a glare. "You are so lucky Cain still hasn't kicked you out."
Cain wasn't in the kitchen. He had more important matters to attend to—like Selene, who was currently trying to braid his ridiculously thick, jet-black hair.
"This would be easier if you didn't have vampire silk for hair," she grumbled, tongue peeking from the corner of her mouth.
Cain chuckled. "You're the one who insisted I sit still and 'let you practice.'"
"You said you wanted to bond."
"I said I wanted to hold your hand. Not get turned into a Disney princess."
She slapped his shoulder lightly, laughing.
They sat outside in the back garden, under a canopy of ivy and soft moonlight. With all the chaos they'd lived through, this moment—quiet and absurd—was oddly precious.
"Done," Selene finally announced, admiring her work.
Cain turned his head slightly. "How do I look?"
"Like an emotionally damaged warrior prince who's going to slay his enemies in style."
He smiled, and for once, there was no shadow in his eyes. "Good. That's the look I was going for."
Back inside, Eren had escalated his antics. He now wore sunglasses indoors, shirtless, with a towel around his neck like a gym coach.
"You think you can just skip training because Mom woke up?" he yelled, pointing at Leo. "We fight demons, not nap demons!"
Leo, sprawled on the couch eating grapes, rolled his eyes. "Touch me and I swear I'll replace your shampoo with goat slime again."
"YOU WHAT?"
Eira didn't even look up from her book. "Boys. You're not normal. None of you."
"Oh, and you are?" Eren challenged.
Eira raised a brow. "I at least pretend to be normal."
Just then, their mother, Amara, walked in with a soft robe, looking stronger every day. She glanced around the chaos and smiled gently.
"Gods, you're all so loud. I missed this."
The boys froze, then practically sprinted to her, arguing over who got to make her tea.
"I made her tea yesterday—"
"Yeah, but you almost burned the kitchen down!"
"I was experimenting!"
"WITH FIRE?!"
Amara laughed softly and waved them off. "You all make terrible tea. I'll just have water."
Cain reentered the manor with Selene on his arm, still laughing from their garden escape.
Eira's eyes flicked to them, but this time there was no bitter heat—only a flicker of quiet acceptance.
Leo, however, noticed. He leaned toward her with a cheeky grin. "You know… you're cute when you're jealous."
Eira shot him a death glare. "Say that again and I'll staple your wings to your ears."
He grinned wider. "Kinky."
Outside, Cain guided Selene to the quiet hallway near the music room.
"I know things won't stay peaceful forever," he said softly. "But I wanted you to know… I'd choose you in any lifetime."
Selene's eyes shimmered. "Even if everything burns again?"
He cupped her cheek, voice low and honest. "Then we burn together."
They kissed—slow, aching, full of everything left unsaid in battle.
Selene pulled back just slightly, eyes dancing. "Can I keep braiding your hair if we survive?"
"Only if you stop calling me a princess."
"No deal."
The manor buzzed with laughter, ridiculous arguments, and warmth that made it feel like home.
But far away—on the cold mountain edge—a new figure stood, draped in shadowed armor and flanked by winged beasts.
"I found them," the figure whispered.
Behind them, Silas smiled coldly. "Then it's time to tear their peace apart."