They sat quietly for a long time, until a sudden gurgling sound broke the warm atmosphere.
Tike's stomach had growled at a most inopportune moment.
Instantly, everyone's eyes turned toward him, making Tike blush deeply.
Just as he was struggling with embarrassment and trying to explain, Ultear beat him to it. She rubbed her own stomach and, in that wheedling tone she hadn't used in so long, said to her mother, "Mom, we're hungry."
Ur wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and beckoned the children. "Come inside, all of you. I'll go prepare something to eat right now."
The silver-haired boy took a step forward to follow, but then he glanced at the black-haired boy, who was stubbornly remaining outside to practice magic. He hesitated for a moment, then stopped.
Ur looked at the two stubborn boys and shook her head helplessly. "You two... remember not to overdo it."
---
At the dinner table, Tike stared hungrily at the steaming food. The aroma wafted into his nose, making him swallow involuntarily, but he still didn't dare reach out.
"Can I... can I really eat all of this?" Tike asked cautiously.
"Mom..." Ultear also looked at her mother instinctively.
Ur rubbed her daughter's hair and affirmed, "Of course you can. This is all for you."
With permission granted, the two children finally dug in.
Tike gorged himself like a starving little animal. Although Ultear had better manners, she also ate quickly, as if afraid the food would suddenly disappear.
"Slow down, don't choke. There's plenty of food, no need to rush," Ur urged gently. Her heart ached as she watched the children sweep the table clean like a tornado, her chest tightening painfully.
Did those cold-blooded people refuse to even ensure the children were fed?
What exactly had Ultear gone through in that place?
Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, Ur asked softly, "Do you want more? I can go buy some."
Ultear nodded slightly, then turned her gaze to Tike. "Are you full?"
Tike rubbed his slightly bulging belly and gave a genuinely satisfied smile. "This is the fullest I've ever been! Thank you so much for the meal!"
"I'm glad you're full, child." Ur looked at Tike gently, then asked softly, "Where is your home?"
Ultear frantically shook her head at her mother. That anxious look made Ur instantly understand something, and her heart clenched in pain again.
Tike didn't seem to mind, answering frankly, "I don't have a home, and I've never seen my parents. Big Sis said..."
"Mom!" Ultear quickly cut in, her eyes shining with a pleading light. "Can Tike live with us?"
"Of course," Ur stood up, gently ruffling Tike's somewhat messy hair, her eyes full of affection. "First, I'll take you to buy some new clothes."
---
Ur took the two children to Mrs. Plain's Clothing Store—the most famous children's clothing shop in the town of Brago.
Ding-ling~
The shop owner, Mrs. Plain, was organizing the ledger on the counter. Hearing the bell, she lifted her round face, her eyes instantly crinkling into crescent moons.
"Oh my, isn't this Ur?" Mrs. Plain teased as she looked over the two children. "You woman with the overflowing heart, did you pick up more cute little ones to take home?"
Faced with this slightly teasing greeting, Ur didn't answer directly. Instead, she gently pulled Ultear in front of her, uncontainable joy welling up in her eyes. "Look closer."
Mrs. Plain leaned forward slightly, scrutinizing the girl's tender face. Then, her eyes widened in surprise.
"Ultear? How is this possible? You said she died of an illness before! Is this really her?"
Hearing the words "died of an illness," a chilling glint flashed through Ur's eyes, as if capable of freezing the entire space.
But the sharp aura vanished in an instant. Ur quickly regained her calm expression and gently stroked her daughter's shoulder.
"Tear, come on, say hello to Auntie."
Ultear took a timid step forward and whispered, "Hello, Auntie Plain..."
"It really is Ultear..." Mrs. Plain muttered to herself, reaching out to stroke the girl's smooth hair. Then she looked at the quiet Tike standing nearby. "And who is this little brother?"
"He's my little brother, Tike," Ultear answered preemptively.
Mrs. Plain's eyes widened, and she looked at Ur in shock. "When did you have another child? How come you never mentioned such a big thing?"
"Ahem..." Ur coughed lightly, her cheeks flushing slightly. "He's a child I just adopted today."
"Oh..." Mrs. Plain nodded in realization. "So it's the same situation as Gray and Lyon then?"
Ur was about to nod, but Ultear immediately shook her head in protest. "It's not the same at all! They are just Mom's apprentices!"
As she spoke, Ultear held onto Ur with one hand and firmly grasped Tike's hand with the other, as if determined to keep the three of them tightly connected.
"The three of us are the real family. Tike, you can call her Mom just like I do!"
(Huh? This is sudden. But I actually kind of like her.)
So, Tike went along with Ultear and shouted loudly, "Mom!"
"..."
Ur fell silent for a moment. Seeing her daughter's persistence, and not wanting to make her sad, she agreed.
"Mm, good boy."
(It probably looks about the same to others anyway.)
Thinking this, Ur looked back at Mrs. Plain.
"These two little ones need new clothes. Mrs. Plain, do you have any good recommendations?"
"You asked the right person!" Mrs. Plain beamed. "A lot of new styles just arrived today! How old are these two cuties?"
"Nine," Ultear answered confidently, lifting her small head slightly.
"Six... six years old?" Tike answered slowly.
This was the number recorded by the Magic Development Bureau. Tike's own clear memories only spanned about three years, one of which was basically spent in prison, so he couldn't guarantee if the number was accurate.
"Let me see..."
Mrs. Plain looked the two children over with a smile, then carefully selected several exquisitely made and uniquely styled outfits from the dazzling array on the shelves.
The two children were quickly drawn to the colorful clothes, each picking out styles they liked.
When Ultear and Tike changed into their new clothes, Ur's gaze fell on her daughter first, and she praised internally: (My daughter is getting cuter and cuter.)
Then, her gaze turned to Tike, only to see the little boy bundled up so tightly he looked like a little round dumpling.
Ur couldn't help but chuckle, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.
(Mm, he's very cute too.)
---