Shiki leaned back in his chair, one arm draped casually around Ai's waist, fingers resting lightly against her hip. The fire in the hearth crackled softly, casting warm, flickering light across the table. Plates were half-empty now—salmon bones picked clean, bread crumbs scattered like confetti, the creamy stew reduced to a few spoonfuls.
Nova sat stiffly, fork still hovering halfway to his mouth, a piece of glazed carrot dangling precariously from the tines. Sera had finished her salmon and was now curled in a tight white ball beside his plate, purring like a tiny engine, one paw stretched possessively over the last flake of fish.
Shiki's golden eyes settled on the boy.
"Tell me," he said quietly. "How did you get the relic?"
Nova froze.
The fork trembled. The carrot fell back onto the plate with a tiny clink.
Shiki tilted his head slightly, voice calm but unyielding.
"Your relic. Doesn't it belong to the Voss family?"
