Several hours later...
"Mom... I'm back... Hehe..." Elizabeth's voice drifted through the house as she entered, her posture relaxed and tired from the day's work.
Amoria, standing in the kitchen, was surrounded by the aroma of cooking food.
"Ah, Liz... How was your day at the guild?" she asked cheerfully yet gently, not turning from her cooking as she awaited her daughter's response.
Elizabeth wearily made her way through the house and leaned against her mother in the kitchen, embracing her gently as Amoria continued to cook.
"Exhausting... Aunt Marcy is relentless..." Elizabeth murmured, her eyes half-closed, resting her head on her mother's shoulder and glancing at the simring pots.
"...Wow... All this for ... Yay..." she added, her voice trailing off in fatigue.
Amoria chuckled softly. "I might have to scold Marcy next ti I see her," she teased.
"No... As much as I want to scream from the muscle pain... I think I need to bulk up a bit before heading to the academy next week, don't you think? They're definitely going to ramp up the training now..." Liz sighed, using her mother's shoulder for support.
Amoria smiled warmly, continuing her cooking with a calm focus. "Well, they will indeed panic and make things more strenuous for the students... Especially for first years like you and Anne."
"Were you here all day? What happened that Aunt Mika had to take you so suddenly?" Liz asked, her voice tinged with worry.
"Oh, that... I t with an old friend, one I haven't seen in over a decade, actually before you were born," Amoria replied casually.
"Really? Who is it?" Liz's eyes lit up with curiosity.
"Hmhm, Van Hellix. My forr party mber," she stated proudly.
"Oh...?" Liz responded, a mix of curiosity and confusion in her voice.
"What a cold reaction, Liz," Amoria sighed. "This is your brave uncle we're talking about. He was summoned alongside your father, you know," she added.
"No, I know. It's just... He doesn't have the greatest reputation, that's all. Everyone says he didn't contribute much to the party and just dragged them all down..."
"Haha, if it wasn't for him, your mother wouldn't be here," Amoria chuckled.
"You always speak so highly of him... Was he stronger than father?" Liz asked, her gaze intense with curiosity.
"In every single way," Amoria responded firmly, her expression turning to a frown tinged with spite.
"I'm sorry. I... I also haven't really forgiven father for leaving us," she confessed as Liz buried her head further into her mother's shoulder.
"It's not just about that, Liz," Amoria added reluctantly.
"What?"
"...No, forget about it," Amoria shook her head, dismissing the subject. "That's a story for when you're a bit more grown up."
Liz pouted, her voice a mix of protest and softness. "Stop treating like a kid...! I'm 17!"
"ALMOST 17. Regardless... You. Are. Still. A. Kid!" Amoria playfully emphasized each word, a teasing sparkle in her eye.
Liz watched the pots simring on the stove, her thoughts stirring just like the soup that was beginning to boil.
"Hey, Mom... Do you think another dragon like Arutol might attack us?" Elizabeth asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
Amoria paused her cooking, setting aside her utensils and turning to face her daughter more directly.
"Elizabeth," she began softly, her hand gently caressing her daughter's back.
"Whatever happens, you mustn't burden yourself with such worries. I may have unfinished matters with your late father, but he did have a few words of wisdom. Rember them?"
"Yes..." Liz murmured, pressing closer to her mother.
"If you focus too much on the future, you'll miss the present," Liz recited, feeling a slight ease wash over her.
"Good girl," Amoria purred as she turned back to her cooking, picking up her utensils to focus on the al.
"Now, go and take a seat at the table. I'll bring the food over shortly, okay?" Amoria instructed calmly.
Liz nodded and released her hold on her mother, walking clumsily to the dining room. She pulled out a chair and settled into it, waiting.
Before long, Amoria was ready with the al. She placed it on the table along with three plates, which made Liz look up in confusion as her mother continued to set the table with utensils.
"Is soone joining us?" Liz asked, eyeing the third plate.
"Ah, yes, actually. I forgot to ntion—just one second, I'll call him after I finish setting the table," Amoria replied as she hurried to place a can of water alongside the glasses and eating utensils.
"Call him? Soone's already here?" Liz inquired, her confusion growing.
After finishing setting the table, Amoria walked down the hallway to the room where Van was staying.
"Oh...? Soone so important that mom let him stay in that room...?" Liz mused aloud, her curiosity piqued as she slightly tilted her head.
Amoria opened the door to find Van still asleep. With a mischievous smile, she stepped inside and quietly closed the door behind her.
"Van...? Wake up, it's ti for dinner," she whispered, as if purposely trying not to wake him up.
Seeing no response, her smirk widened. She then approached the bed, leaned down, and gently blew into his ear.
Van shivered and abruptly opened his eyes.
"If you don't wake up now, I'll have to punish you for being late...
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