The refugee camp was the size of a village and utterly silent. Though large enough to be called a city, it showed no trace of life. Ironically, the only things to be seen or heard were the silence itself and the people's utter listlessness.
Watching a group pass us with hollow gazes, wandering aimlessly with their bags, I found myself thinking that perhaps I hadn't suffered all that much by comparison. Ayam would smack me if I tried to minimize my own struggles, but in a way, this was a good thing. Sympathizing with these people made me feel a little better; it was proof that I had done things right to get this far.
I had saved a shut-in from a life locked away in books. I had healed the broken heart of a mother who, despite her mistakes, loved her daughter above all else, even if she still harbored deep-seated resentment. Her heart remained hardened, true. Cliff, that arrogant boy I'd managed to change, was still arrogant (mostly), but he had proven that change comes from within. I had reunited with my father, healed him, given peace of mind to Norn, and a purpose to Aisha.
Had I done the right thing? My body told me yes, but Hikari insisted it was simply duty, that I had merely followed an obvious path that corresponded to me as an older brother and a Saint Rank mage.
We headed toward the center of the settlement, where a building resembling the Adventurers' Guild stood. According to the sign out front, this was the camp's General Headquarters.
"That is..." Eris pointed to a sheet of paper.
The header displayed the name of the Feudal Lord of the Fittoa Region, James Boreas Greyrat. Beside it was a section titled: Search Status (Deceased or Missing). Below, listed alphabetically by village and city, were the names of those lost in the incident.
"Let's check that later."
"Yeah."
The list of the deceased was long. Furthermore, the Feudal Lord named at the top was not Sauros. I already knew his fate, partly thanks to Paul, and I had been forced to tell Eris the day before we left; I couldn't keep something like that from her.
However, I knew nothing of the whereabouts of Eris's parents. Not seeing them here made me anxious.
...
We arrived at the counter, manned by a middle-aged woman.
"Eris Boreas Greyrat," she said simply, stepping back toward me.
"Very well, Eri..."
I was about to speak, but the woman cut me off, rushing abruptly into the back room. She returned moments later, beaming, with a man and a woman in tow.
"Ghislaine!" Eris wore an expression of pure joy as she ran toward the woman. I was happy, too.
The man beside her was Alphonse. With his white hair and beard, and a suit that looked far too fine for a refugee camp, he was impossible to miss. He was the one who used to send my compliments to the chef back at the mansion, or rather, the one who handled the chef's spatulas.
Ghislaine looked at Eris and smiled broadly.
"Eris... no, Eris-sama. I am so happy you have returned safely..."
"...It's fine, just call me Eris." She nudged me with her elbow. "Don't be like this idiot who took three years to notice..."
Ghislaine looked happy for a moment, I could have sworn she laughed, but her expression darkened quickly. I noticed Alphonse looking at her with pity, too.
Don't tell me... I thought, feeling a pang of grief.
I'd be lying if I said I hadn't grown fond of Philip. He was a smart man. I detest politics, but the Boreas branch had a distinct way of doing things that I didn't dislike, even if I didn't want to get involved.
"Eris... let's talk inside."
I had never seen Ghislaine so serious, not since the Mana Incident. Her tail was bristling. Her joy at our return had vanished, replaced by nervousness.
"Yes, alright." She followed Ghislaine deeper into the building.
I moved to follow, but Alphonse stopped me.
"Daiki-sama, please wait outside."
"No. Daiki is coming too," Eris interrupted, grabbing my wrist.
"If that is what you wish, Eris-sama."
I let her lead me without resistance, offering the anchor she needed, repaying her for all the times she had kept me standing during this journey. Rudeus looked at me and nodded, leaving the moment to us.
I'll tell you later, I thought.
...
We walked silently down a short hallway and entered what looked like a meeting room.
Eris didn't wait to be offered a seat; she dropped onto the sofa and dragged me down beside her. Ghislaine took her usual position in the corner. Alphonse stood before Eris and bowed formally.
"Welcome home, Eris-sama. I had received word you were on your way and waited patiently for your..."
"Enough with the pleasantries. Just say it. Who died?" Eris cut him off. She asked directly, but I knew anxiety was tormenting her. She was squeezing my hand tight enough to bruise.
"Regarding that..."
Alphonse didn't know I had told her about Sauros, so I needed to clarify.
"She already knows about Sauros. I had to tell her; I couldn't keep something like that bottled up for months."
Alphonse looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite place, relief, perhaps, mixed with annoyance at my lack of tact. Maybe he was right. I hadn't sugarcoated it. I had simply told her that her grandfather had died... no, that he had been unjustly executed.
"If she already knows about Sauros-sama... then I must inform you about your parents. Philip-sama and Hilda-sama... are dead."
The moment she heard those words, Eris's fingers dug into my flesh. Sensing she needed something to hold onto, I squeezed back to let her know I was there.
I wished it were a mistake. It hadn't been that long.
"No... there isn't any doubt, is there?"
Eris's voice trembled slightly, as if she still wanted to cling to the hope that this wasn't happening. I didn't blame her; I felt the same.
Alphonse nodded.
"Philip-sama and Hilda-sama were teleported together and died in the Conflict Zone. Ghislaine confirmed it."
Ghislaine nodded.
"Where was Ghislaine teleported?"
"To the same place as Philip-sama. The Conflict Zone," she said briefly.
While traveling on foot through the Conflict Zone, Ghislaine had chanced upon their bodies. That was all she said. She didn't explain the condition of the remains or exactly how she found them, but I knew it was bad.
As Alphonse said, Eris's grandfather had been executed, forced to take responsibility for the Fittoa Displacement Incident. It made my blood boil. It was a stark display of political power... seeing an innocent family man executed on mere presumption.
My anger was such that I stood up. I wasn't going to let this slide. Once I found my mother, I would hunt down those responsible for this injustice. Partly to give Eris peace, and partly because it would make me feel better. I am not a man of "high moral values" who believes revenge is never the answer, that is absurd to me.
"Daiki, sit down."
"..."
Eris pulled my hand, forcing me back into my seat.
"Eris..."
She said nothing, only stroked my hand slowly. I understood.
"Daiki-sama, I understand your feelings, but... this is the reality of the Asura Kingdom."
"So... what do you suggest? That we stand by and watch? You know I'm not that kind of person."
"Pilemon Notos Greyrat has offered to take Eris-sama as a concubine."
Ghislaine stepped forward with a low growl.
"Alphonse, you bastard! Do you really intend to tell her to accept that!?" she roared. "You remember what that man said!"
"But if we think about the future of the Fittoa territory, a little inconvenience is..."
"There is no way Eris will be happy marrying a man like that!"
"He is trash, but his surname is prestigious. There are many examples of unwanted marriages resulting in happiness," Alphonse argued.
"I don't care about precedents! Do you not care about Eris at all!?"
"I am thinking of the Boreas family and the Fittoa Region."
"So you plan to sacrifice Eris for that!?" Ghislaine roared back.
I was ready to stop this useless argument, but out of respect for Eris, I stayed calm. However, it was she who stood up.
"Enough!"
The scream was so loud Ghislaine had to cover her ears.
"Just... leave me alone. I want to think." Her dispirited tone left them both bewildered.
Alphonse was the first to leave. Ghislaine hesitated, looking at Eris, but eventually followed.
Only I remained.
"Eris..."
"Daiki, didn't you hear me? Leave me alone." Her tone left no room for discussion.
"Yes, I understand. I'm sorry..."
But as I turned to leave, she closed the door and hugged me from behind, holding on tight. I felt dampness soaking into my shirt, so I turned and held her hands against my chest. She was crying, far harder than when I told her about her grandfather. She had no family left.
"I love you, Eris."
She tightened her embrace. She said nothing, but the action spoke volumes.
After a few minutes, she let go and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. I caught her wrist and used a soft handkerchief to wipe her cheeks. She looked at me expressionlessly, staring straight into my eyes. It made me blush, or at least, that's how it felt.
After that, Eris said she wanted to be alone. She handled it better this time, offering a smile that stirred something inexplicable but warm in my heart.
Alphonse had prepared rooms for us. Mine was next to Eris's, and Rudeus's was a bit further down, though close enough in case of trouble.
My brother and I checked the list for Buena Village. Just as we feared, Laws was confirmed dead. However, right below him, I saw Sylphy's name crossed out in the missing column.
"It's her!" Rudeus's pulse raced. He scanned the deceased list immediately, but her name wasn't there.
"That means she's a confirmed survivor."
I let out a long sigh of relief. I knew Sylphy could survive. Paul had told me he'd kept training her with the sword, just as I'd asked. Plus, thanks to the diaries I left her, she could use chantless healing magic. That ability is a guarantee of survival in this world.
I crossed Lilia and Aisha off the missing list. Ours had already been updated.
Now, the only variable left in my family is my mother. They still haven't found her.
"No info on Mom..."
Rudeus put a hand on my shoulder.
"We'll find her, brother."
...
Alphonse asked Rudeus for a detailed report of the last three years: the Demon Continent, Ruijerd, the Great Forest, the reunion with Paul in Millis, and the events in Shirone. Rudeus was concise but didn't omit Ruijerd's help. This sparked a brief discussion about a reward, though my brother clarified Ruijerd wouldn't accept one.
Then, the conversation turned to the grim reality. Alphonse revealed that only the three of them remained of Sauros's servants. The rest had died or gone home.
But the real issue was Eris's future.
Without Sauros or Philip, and with James (the current Feudal Lord and Eris's uncle) obsessed with appearances, Eris had no place in the main house.
Alphonse presented a proposal I could never accept. Pilemon Notos Greyrat, Paul's younger brother, had offered to take Eris as a concubine. But rumors suggested Pilemon was just trying to curry favor with Prime Minister Darius. And Darius had a twisted interest in Eris.
"That's ridiculous, Alphonse." I stood up. "You can't simply accept something like that."
Thinking pragmatically about Fittoa's restoration, Alphonse wouldn't rule it out, arguing that Darius's influence could ensure Eris's safety and help rebuild the land. Ghislaine opposed it furiously, prioritizing Eris's happiness and suggesting she run away with us.
The discussion hit a stalemate: Alphonse's political duty versus Ghislaine's protective instinct.
"Anyway, Eris is the one who decides. It's useless for us to argue. Let's talk about something constructive. Is there anything else?" This time, Rudeus took the initiative.
Alphonse looked at him, perplexed. Ghislaine fell silent.
And so, the meeting ended.
Night had fallen by the time we finished. I returned to my room, which was furnished with only the essentials. My luggage was already perfectly organized.
I leaned my sword against the wall and collapsed onto the bed. My body sank into the mattress. I was more exhausted than I thought.
"What is happening to me...?" I stared at the ceiling.
[Many things, little brother.]
...Ayam? You're back. I hear your voice in my head.
[I needed a break.]
...What happened to you? Why did you take form in that white space? I couldn't ask you then...
[I was always part of you, Daiki.]
...I know. Since the fire. Even though you were just analysis, you acted like some kind of AI...
[Because I was part of you, I couldn't be anything else. You were void, analysis, thinking only of protecting the weak. So I did the same.]
....That is—
[It was my fault... When the fire happened, the only thing I could do was block your emotions. 'Dissociative Trauma' was the only way I could think to protect you...]
Just as I was about to ask more, a knock resonated on my door.
"Come in."
It was Eris.
"Good evening, Daiki."
"Good evening... Did something happen?"
"Nothing happened," she said, walking over to stand in front of me, adopting her usual pose.
"...Really?"
"Well, I supposed this would happen."
Eris spoke as if she didn't care. She was prepared. She had expected it. I couldn't even fathom doing the same. I believed my mother was alive, even if the odds said she might be dead. I wouldn't give up the search until I was sure.
"Now I am alone. Besides, you know I turned fifteen. I thought your brother would realize, but you know how he is."
"Eris, what do you mean...? You aren't alone. If you want a present, I..."
"Yes, there is something I want," she interrupted.
"What is it?"
"A family."
I didn't know how to respond. How could someone like me, who had lost his own family, give her such a thing? No, wait. I can. I'm not that person anymore.
"Daiki, become my family."
I swallowed hard, straightening up on the bed.
"Eris, do you know what you're asking...?"
"I know... I don't care what you're thinking." She was bright red, yet she refused to look away. "So, basically, what I'm saying is... um... let's spend the night together."
I stood up to face her.
"Eris, your proposal is..." I gulped. "Isn't that something we should think about for later...?"
"There is no 'later,' Daiki. Right now, it's just us. Are you going to go back to being a 'thought'? Or are you going to be my family?"
[Emotional Inhibitors: Deactivated]
[Starting release: Oxytocin]
...A-Ayam?
I felt a sudden heat in my chest.
"Eris..." Unable to hold back, I took her hand. "This is a big step..."
[Second release: Dopamine]
...Ayam... stop...
[Testosterone...]
"D-Daiki?" She squeezed my hand. "I'm willing..."
[It's for your own good... Enjoy something for once.]
"After this, there is no turning ba—"
Eris whispered something in my ear.
I couldn't fight it anymore. Perhaps it was a desire deeply rooted in my being, one hidden away and now driven by Ayam, but what burst the bubble was Eris's faint whisper: "I love you, Daiki. Make me happy," as she leaned in to kiss me.
It was clumsy. Our teeth clashed, but I eventually found the rhythm. It was my first time doing something like this. Of course, she took it personally, unleashing a ferocity she hadn't shown until that moment as she pushed me onto the bed.
"About time, Mr. Serious," she whispered against my lips.
And we let ourselves be carried away by the night.
...
In my past life, this was unthinkable. It had never even crossed my mind to have a relationship, but tonight, against all odds, I had done it. It wasn't a metaphor; I really did it.
I ran both hands through my hair, messing it up completely, then let one arm fall over my forehead. In my past life and in this one, I thought I was in control. I had been, but this time Ayam made it impossible. Still, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy. On the contrary, I felt an indescribable joy, though it was tainted by the feeling that we should have waited.
Even knowing that nothing would be the same after this, I understood I had a greater responsibility now: to protect her beyond just swordsmanship, and to ensure I didn't die and leave her alone. If that was what I had to do, I was willing to do anything to make her happy, to be the family she needed.
But she wasn't by my side.
Eris usually woke up early, just like me, but this time was different. For the first time in years, I woke up late.
I got out of bed. I found my pants, but my underwear was missing. How embarrassing, I thought as I finished dressing.
I was about to leave when I noticed something red scattered across the floor.
"Huh...?"
It was hair. Crimson strands were everywhere.
"Her... her hair..." I picked up a lock carefully.
Confused, I looked up and saw a single sheet of paper. I picked it up and read the words:
«We aren't equals right now. I'm leaving.»
I ran to her room. It was empty. I had organized her luggage myself; though she had few possessions, not a trace remained.
"Brother...? Did something happen?" Rudeus's voice came from behind me.
I ignored him. I bolted toward headquarters, where I found Alphonse.
"Where is Eris!?"
"She left on a journey with Ghislaine."
"A journey... That doesn't... Are you serious, Alphonse!? Where did they go!?"
Alphonse looked at me with cold indifference.
"I was ordered to keep it a secret from you."
I didn't say another word. I just walked out. My brother approached me again.
"Daiki, what's wrong...? I've never seen you like this..."
"She left."
I left them standing there. I returned to my room, locked the door, and lay down on the bed. The same bed where everything had happened last night.
It's my fault, I thought.
I wasn't strong enough to protect her against Orsted. I promised her so many things I couldn't fulfill in that fight. The note said we weren't equals, but all I could read was my own weakness. Resigned, I sank into the mattress, determined not to get up all day.