We all get shocked, frozen in our places after Bella finished her story. No one spoke right away. It was one of those monts where words felt slow to co, like everyone was still catching up to what they had just heard. The room felt quiet but full at the sa ti, and all eyes stayed on Bella as if moving would break sothing fragile.
Kalia was the first to step forward. She reached out and gently tapped Bella on the shoulder, her touch soft and careful, and said, "I’m sorry you had been through this." Her voice was calm, steady, and honest, without trying to fix anything or make it smaller than it was.
Bella smiled at her, a small and tired smile, and said, "It alright, that happened a long ti." She sounded like soone who had already made peace with it, even if the mory still carried weight. She didn’t look away, and there was no anger in her eyes, just acceptance.
Then I spoke up, breaking the silence that had settled around us. I looked at Bella and said, "We can all go to your tribe after finishing the quest." The words ca out simple and direct, but they carried aning. It wasn’t just a suggestion; it was a promise that none of us planned to leave things unfinished.
Elaris clapped his hands together, the sharp sound cutting through the mont, and said with bright energy, "I really want to go in adventure." His face lit up imdiately, and his excitent was clear, like the idea alone gave him new life. That lightness helped shift the mood, pulling us gently out of the heavy feeling.
After that, we finished dinner without much trouble. The food tasted warm and filling, and the quiet talk felt easier now. When the plates were cleared, we went to sleep using the sa way as last ti. There was nothing new about it, no changes or complications, just the comfort of routine. Everyone settled in, and before long, the place grew quiet as sleep took over.
The next morning, I woke up first. At least, I thought I did. The house was still, and the light coming through the windows was soft and pale. Thinking I was the first one awake, I quietly went downstairs, moving carefully so I wouldn’t wake anyone else.
But when I reached the lower floor, I saw Aria already there. She was sharpening her spear, the steady sound of tal against stone filling the space. She looked focused, calm, and fully awake, like she had been up for a while already. I didn’t interrupt her right away. Instead, I walked into the kitchen and grabbed two cups of coffee. The sll was rich and comforting.
I walked back and handed one to her. She paused, looked up, and took it from . She sipped it slowly, and I could see her shoulders relax as the warmth settled in. Then she said, "Thanks, Ragnar." Her voice was quiet but sincere.
I nodded and said, "Welco." We didn’t say much after that. We sat near each other, side by side, looking out at the morning dew resting on the grass outside. The world felt calm, untouched, like it was giving us a small break before the day truly began.
We stayed like that for a full hour, not rushing, not filling the silence with unnecessary words. Then Aria murmured, almost to herself, "This is peaceful, we should try it again." Her tone was thoughtful, like she had just discovered sothing important.
I raised an eyebrow slightly and turned to her, then said, "Try what exactly." I was curious, but also amused by how serious she sounded.
She smiled, a simple and genuine smile, and said, "Try to ditate first thing in morning." As she spoke, she raised her hand to the sky, placing it just enough to block the sunlight from her face. The light slipped between her fingers.
Then she added, "Today sun is optimal for an outgoing." Her words were calm, confident, like she had already planned the day in her head.
I nodded, agreeing without needing to say much. We both stood up and went back inside. As soon as we stepped in, we heard sounds coming from the kitchen. Pots clinked, lids moved, and there was a steady rhythm of work being done.
Kalia was already there. She was cooking a lot of dishes and storing them in food containers. Each container had a different color. The stew was in a blue one, the soup in a yellow one, and many more lined up neatly on the counter, totaling ten containers in all. Each one was big enough to feed a family for a full day. The effort was clear just by looking at them.
Kalia wiped her forehead and looked at us, then said, "You guys awake? Good, co and help ." Her voice had that mix of tired and determined energy, like she wasn’t about to stop anyti soon.
Aria and I shared a mont of looking at each other. There was no need for words. We both knew what to do, so we walked over and started helping Kalia, moving containers, sealing lids, and organizing everything.
By 9:00 am, we finally finished preparing all the food. Kalia slumped lazily on the couch, clearly exhausted but satisfied. Aria and I sat at the table, taking a short break and letting the mont breathe.
At the sa ti, the rest of the group ca down. The first thing Elaris noticed was the rich food aroma. His nose twitched, his mouth watered, and he murmured softly, "Hungry~" The sound made a few of us smile without thinking.
We had our breakfast together, enjoying the al and the company. After that, we prepared the clothes and the swimsuit for the trip. We checked everything carefully, making sure nothing was forgotten. Once the whole carriage was prepared and ready, I called Tiamat.
I reached into my back pocket and took out a pair of black swimsuit. I handed it to her and said, "I knew I said you wouldn’t have a swimsuit, but I changed my mind and brought you one. Consider it as my gift."
Tiamat bowed her head deeply and said, "Thank you master, I will treasure it with my own life."
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