The dining room smelled of roasted fish and herbs. Morning light filtered through the window curtains, soft and golden, making the wooden table gleam with a warm glow.
Kael sat in his usual lazy composure, one elbow on the table, chin resting on his hand.
Evethra sat on his left, graceful as ever, her posture perfect even as she reached across to serve him another piece of fish.
On his right, Lyra smiled quietly, while across the table sat Alenia and Selene, the latter humming softly as she set down a pot of soup that smelled faintly of lemongrass and smoke.
"Eve, sit," Kael said with a flick of his wrist when she made to stand again.
"But, Master, I—"
"Sit," he repeated, his voice lazy yet decisive.
Evethra blinked once, then lowered herself obediently beside him, though her hands fidgeted on her lap before she picked up her spoon with a small, polite bow of her head.
She didn't think this was how maids were supposed to behave, but since her master was telling her to do something, she must do it.
After all, from what she knew about maids, a maid never went against her master's words.
So, she sat quietly and ate.
A gentle silence covered the hall for a while before Kael's golden eyes wandered across the table.
Missing the usual chatty voice, he asked, still taking a sip of the soup. "Where are Rue and Rina?"
Lyra looked up, smiling faintly. "They went out to play with Druvarn and some of the village children. They've already eaten—Selene's cooking is their favorite, so there's no way they'd miss breakfast."
Kael turned toward Selene, who froze mid-bite, feathers faintly ruffling.
"Your cooking really is good," he said, his voice smooth and easy. "I like it quite a lot."
Selene's lips parted, her silvery eyes softening. "That's… kind of you to say, Kael. But it's only the least I could do. Because of you, we can live under a roof, safe from the forest's dangers. Cooking's my way of saying thank you."
Kael chuckled, leaning back. "If gratitude tastes like this, then I could get used to it."
Before Selene could answer, a soft growl echoed from the doorway—not the menacing kind, but the sort of muffled rumble a stuffed toy might make if it had opinions.
They all turned.
Druvarn waddled in, small, round, and fuzzy, his little plush paws moving with ridiculous seriousness.
His button-like eyes glimmered with irritation as he muttered in his sharp, childlike voice, "Safe, huh? For how long, exactly?"
Kael blinked once. Lyra nearly choked on her soup. Evethra's brows lifted slightly, and even Alenia looked a touch amused.
Kael tilted his head, eyes lazy and gleaming as he noticed the absence of Rue and Rina, who were supposed to be with the bear.
So, ignoring the bear's question, Kael asked. "Where are the girls?"
Druvarn stopped mid-step, staring up at him. "I'm trying to make a point here."
Kael only smiled. The kind of smile that didn't say much but somehow said everything.
Druvarn's plush shoulders drooped with a dramatic sigh. "They're outside," he grumbled. "Now, can I continue?"
"Go ahead," Kael said smoothly.
The bear straightened, puffing his soft chest. "I walked around the village this morning. Wanted to know all the ins and outs—since I'm supposedly the 'guardian' now."
His voice dripped with mild complaint, but there was a strange pride beneath it. The others smiled; even Lyra covered her mouth to hide a giggle.
"Anyway," Druvarn went on, pacing in little circles. "I know this forest better than anyone here. It's my home, and I've seen what lurks in it. The kind of monsters that sleep under the old trees, the things that hunt without leaving shadows—"
He paused dramatically, lifting a paw. "Even I don't mess with some of them. And I'm not exactly weak."
Kael raised a brow, clearly amused.
The bear continued, his voice lowering. "If one of those things decides to come here, this merry little village won't last. No matter what walls we build, one real monster and—poof—gone."
Evethra frowned, crimson eyes narrowing. "Are you… daring to say there's someone stronger than Master in this forest?"
Her tone was sharp—not loud, but icy with quiet offense, as if Druvarn had just committed blasphemy.
The plush bear froze. "I—uh—no, that's not—"
Kael chuckled softly, reaching over to pat Evethra's head. "Calm down, Eve."
The moment his hand brushed her hair, she melted—her sharpness dissolving into quiet bliss as she lowered her gaze, murmuring a soft, "Yes, Master."
Lyra blinked. Selene blinked. Even Alenia raised her brow as she noticed what others did.
Kael and Evethra seemed closer for some reason.
They couldn't quite put their finger on it, but they knew something was happening—something they were oblivious to.
Kael's hand stayed on Evethra's head for a moment longer, then he turned back to Druvarn. "Continue, oh mighty guardian."
Druvarn grumbled something under his breath before muttering, "First of all, I meant no disrespect, as the situation I was talking about was in case you went out. At that time, even with me here, things might not always be in our favor."
"It's fine," Kael chuckled at those words. "I know what you meant."
Inwardly sighing in relief, Druvarn went on. "So, what I wanted to say was, even if you are strong, if the villagers stay as weak as they are, they will become your weaknesses."
Selene also nodded, her soft voice cutting through the air. "He's not wrong. Even with Kael here, it's not just about strength. There are other things to consider."
Kael turned his head slightly, intrigued. "Such as?"
Selene lifted her gaze, her tone thoughtful. "The fish we ate today—it was delicious, wasn't it?"
Kael tilted his head. "I'd say it was perfect."
She smiled faintly. "But what if that's all we have? What if we have to eat the same thing every day for years to come? It would taste worse than stale bread at that point. So, we need variety."
Alenia, who had been quietly stirring her soup, finally set the spoon down with a soft clink.
"Selene has a point," she began, her calm, even tone drawing everyone's attention. "But food is just one piece of the puzzle."
She folded her hands neatly on the table. "There's also the matter of idleness. Safety and shelter are good, but if the villagers have nothing meaningful to do, it won't take long before they start harboring ill thoughts. People aren't built to sit still. Give them too much comfort, and they'll start looking for problems where none exist."
Her gaze shifted toward the window, where the faint laughter of children drifted in.
"They can't go into the forest—it's far too dangerous. But staying here, doing nothing, will eat at them from the inside. Sooner or later, this safe haven might turn into something worse than Veldera City."
The words lingered, heavy yet logical.
They all knew she was right, and slowly, they were realizing how hard it was to manage so many people.
Unlike the time when they brought these people here, they were now feeling the weight of their actions.
Evethra and Lyra both turned toward Kael instinctively. Lyra tilted her head, her red eyes curious, while Evethra merely waited, trusting his thoughts more than anyone else's.
Kael finished the last bite of his fish in silence. Then, setting the fork down, he leaned back in his chair, golden eyes glinting faintly.
"You're all right," he said, his voice unhurried. "I've been thinking about that too."
Lyra blinked, ears twitching slightly. "You have? Since when?"
Kael swirled the cup of water in his hand, looking thoughtful. "Since last night."
Alenia deadpanned. "You were asleep the whole night."
"Since morning, then," Kael replied smoothly, as if that made perfect sense.
Everyone just stared at him.
Selene sighed under her breath. "You've only been awake for an hour, Kael…"
Kael chuckled, unbothered. "An hour's plenty of time to think, isn't it?"
Lyra giggled, covering her mouth. "You're impossible."
He smirked faintly, then leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "Anyway, I thought we could build a system—something that gives everyone work. Not just chores or hunting, but actual tasks that matter. Repairs, farming, crafting, and even simple teaching. Everyone should have a role, something to do that makes them feel needed."
Everyone leaned in, even the bear, who was already munching on some fish, as they realized that Kale had finally decided to make an order in this village.
He was finally becoming a leader who did more than give. Now, he would also ask the villagers to work.