WHERE LOVE RESIDE
The flickering golden glow of the hearth danced off the polished wood of the dining table. The aroma of roasted meats and warm spices lingered in the air. Snow drifted gently beyond the frosted windows of the Viking hall.
Akio, already munching happily, heard soft footsteps. He looked up—and lit up like the moon itself.
"Mom! Dad!" he cried, jumping up with excitement.
He ran over and pulled out a chair. "Here, Mom! Sit here, please!"
Mizuki smiled warmly, touched by her son's gesture.
Varnok—tall, regal, softened only by the glow in his eyes—gently guided her into the seat, then stepped back with mock grandeur before taking his own place beside her.
Akio bowed dramatically, moving backwards. "Your Majesty."
He winked, then darted back to his chair.
Mizuki laughed softly. "What am I going to do with you two?"
As Varnok sat, he glanced at Akio with playful curiosity. "Did you pray before turning that chicken into a battlefield?"
"Uh... I was about to when you came in," Akio said, his mouth half full.
"Then let's fix that." Varnok reached out his hands. Mizuki and Akio joined him.
Their hands met gently across the table. The moment stilled.
"Heavenly Father, we come before you with humble hearts," Varnok said. "We say thank You—for family, for Your provision, for Your love. The love that gives us hope, and for the strength to guard what matters most.
"Bless this food, this home, and the future we hold in our hands. Amen."
"Amen," they said together.
They began to eat. Mizuki took a slow bite, then noticed Varnok's eyes on her—like she was the last aurora in the sky.
"Why are you staring?" she teased.
"Nothing," he said, softly. "Just admiring my greatest achievement."
Mizuki blushed instantly.
"Honeyyy..."
"Mom, come on!" Akio said with his mouth full. "How many very beautiful Queens have you seen around here, huh? Exactly. None!
"I pray my wife is as beautiful as you are... then I'll smile like Dad all the time."
Varnok laughed, proud and teary-eyed. "You hear that? Our boy's already spitting poetry at dinner."
Mizuki laughed, hand over her heart. "He's got your tongue and my charm."
"I've also got a big stomach, just like Dad!" Akio added.
They all burst into laughter, warm and full.
Later, with the fire burning low, they carried a drowsy Akio to bed, tucked him in, and kissed his forehead.
Stars gleamed above. Varnok and Mizuki stepped out hand in hand, cloaks over their shoulders.
"That was perfect," Mizuki said.
"You make every moment perfect," Varnok replied, pulling her close. "The cold outside doesn't stand a chance against you."
"And you, my King... still manage to make me blush after all these years."
Varnok leaned in and gently kissed her forehead, then her lips—softly, deeply. A snowflake landed on her cheek. He brushed it away like it was too unworthy to touch her.
"With you, Mizuki, I don't just conquer battles... I conquer time."
Their embrace faded into the starry silence of the night, a perfect portrait of love beneath the frozen heavens.
Outside the house the house the house, the silver moonlight reflects on the water, the cold night wind brushed Mizuki's hair across her face. Varnok said nothing at first.
She broke the silence.
"So... how did it go?"
Varnok paused. His eyes were distant, the pain tucked behind his strength.
"You know... with the king?" she asked softly.
He exhaled deeply. The silence between them stretched like the night sky.
"There's a war coming," Varnok said. "Two days from now, I leave with the king's men."
Her heart dropped. She stumbled back a step.
"No. No... no. Why you?" Mizuki's voice broke. "They have knights. They have guards. Why does it have to be you?"
He stepped toward her, reaching out, but she turned and walked swiftly toward the river. Her voice cracked through her sobs.
"I don't want to lose you, Varnok. Please..."
"You won't lose me."
He tried to explain, but her pain overwhelmed his words.
"What about me? What about Akio? Did you even think of us before choosing to fight for a kingdom that's never even looked our way?"
"No, my love..."
"Then tell me why, Varnok. Please... tell me why you have to fight."
He slowly walked to her side and gently took her hand. Her trembling fingers were cold, wet from her tears.
He led her gaze to the water.
"Look..."
She looked.
Two faces in the reflection. Hers. His beside her. A family bound by more than blood—by love. By legacy.
"This... this is my reason to fight. Not for the king. Not for his crown. For this. For us."
Mizuki collapsed into his arms, she wept bitterly, clinging to him as though the world might tear them apart at any second.
"Promise me you'll come back..."
"I'll be back before you miss me too much. Besides, you'll have Akio... and I know he'll take good care of you."
She sniffled, wiping her tears, breath hitching.
"You better not die... or I'll kill you myself."
Varnok grinned. "It'd be an honor to be killed by you. Besides, I couldn't even stay in the afterlife without you... it'd be too quiet. Too lonely."
He touched her cheek, wiping away her tears.
"A man's heart lies where his treasure is. And my heart? It's right here."
She smiled through the sadness. They held each other closely, the moon casting its glow like a blessing.
"You better come back."
"I will. I swear it."
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you more," he smiled.
She rested her head on his shoulder, both of them staring at the moon. Not saying another word. Because sometimes, the silence between two hearts says more than a thousand words.
Days before the war…
Akio played in the dust with the other children—running, laughing, falling, and getting back up again. Sometimes he helped his father, Varnok, fix the horses, feed the animals. But most of the time, Akio caused more trouble than good.
He dragged tools across the road, chased chickens in circles, knocked over barrels, and shouted war cries with a wooden sword like he was already a full-grown warrior.
Once, he tied the horse reins in such a tangled knot, even the elders gave up trying to undo it. Varnok pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head.
"This boy is going to be the end of me," he muttered.
Mizuki, watching from the side with flour on her cheek, smiled. Sometimes she laughed out loud when Akio tripped and tumbled, only to rise and strike a heroic pose like nothing happened.
One afternoon, Akio battled invisible monsters with the other kids, swinging his wooden sword with full force.
"Wait here! I'll get a real sword!" he shouted.
The other children gasped, wide-eyed.
But on his way inside, Akio bumped right into Varnok.
"Real sword, huh?" Varnok said, raising a brow.
Akio paused mid-step and flashed a guilty smile. "...Hi Dad."
Varnok smirked, hoisted him up by the legs, and gave him a playful swat.
"Aaaah!" Akio cried, dragging the sound out dramatically.
Mizuki stepped out just then, holding a steaming bowl.
"Come, little warrior," she said. "Eat before you conquer the village again."
Everyone nearby laughed. Warmth filled the air like sunlight.
Still sniffling from the playful swat, Akio took the bowl with both hands and tiptoed toward his father, carefully balancing it. He found Varnok sharpening his blade.
Akio peeked from behind a corner, a few other kids sneaking beside him.
Varnok turned slowly, his face serious.
"Run!" Akio shouted.
They all screamed with laughter and scattered like birds, feet slapping the ground.
That evening, Akio sat beside Varnok near the fire. They both looked up at the stars in quiet wonder.
Later that night, the villagers gathered in the center of the village. One by one, they told stories. Some were scary, some silly. Some made the elders laugh until they wiped tears from their cheeks.
Akio sat in the middle, eyes wide, soaking up every word like they were ancient treasure.
Eventually, he dozed off. Limbs sprawled in every direction like he ruled the whole bed.
Mizuki stood in the doorway, arms folded. She looked at Varnok, her eyes speaking with soft humor.
Like father, like son.
"Huh?" Varnok asked.
Mizuki giggled softly.
They both chuckled quietly, watching the boy sleep.
She turned off the light. The fire's glow faded to embers. The house grew still.
Outside, the night wrapped the village in a soft blanket of peace.
A calm before the storm.