In the blink of an eye, another week had passed since Draco reawakened.
As the first rays of dawn crested the city's skyline, the streets hummed with a fragile yet determined energy.
Contractors and workers busily toiled to rebuild the once-ravaged districts, their tools clattering and hammering echoing like a heartbeat through the air.
Amidst the flurry of activity, merchants and peddlers set up makeshift stalls, offering goods that ranged from the humblest wares to the rarest luxuries.
For the residents of Orario, it was an era of resilience; they had learned to endure.
Yet, the scars of war lingered…both on the crumbling walls of the city and in the weary faces of its people.
Despite the progress visible in the streets, it was clear that the city's recovery was far from complete.
Economic instability loomed over the populace like a dark cloud, with inflation and resource scarcity casting a shadow over their hopeful efforts.
People struggled to rebuild their lives while facing the haunting memories of what they had lost…..loved ones, livelihoods, and even their sense of security.
The city's dark underbelly, though muted by the war's aftermath, was beginning to stir again, as petty crimes and conflicts between new and old residents marked the uneasy balance of this rebuilding era.
Orario, however, remained the center of the world, both a beacon for power and a magnet for opportunity.
It was not uncommon to see new residents arriving, lured by tales of prosperity and the city's promise of a fresh start.
Yet, many were unaware of the city's darker truths….the presence of dark forces that, though subdued by the war, were not entirely eradicated.
It was in this delicate equilibrium of hope and danger that Alise and Kaguya, former members of the Astraea familia, now found themselves making their way through the bustling southwestern main road.
Their faces were etched with exhaustion, their expressions a mix of resolve and fatigue.
To aid the weak, Alise had created teams to patrol the streets, of course, she got her new goddess, Bahamut's permission before performing these actions as Draco was unconscious at the time.
She was aware that she was no longer the captain of the Astraea familia, but now a member of the Bahamut familia.
This not only served as a distraction for her and the other former members of the Astraea familia, but it also elevated the reputation of the Bahamut familia.
The residents of Orario had a deep-rooted fear of the capabilities of the Bahamut familia, especially Draco, its captain.
Anyone who had taken a step into the factory district and seen the huge, deep crater from the attack he used to annihilate the entire central part of the district would get chills down their spine.
These workers, in turn, would go to taverns, drink a lot, and then begin exaggerating things in discussions between themselves.
This, in turn, reached the ears of other tavern patrons, many of whom were new to the city, and rumours spread, turning into a new nighttime scary story.
It was a consequence the familia unfortunately couldn't avoid.
However, on the flip side, these tales kept troublemakers away, with many troublesome factions, especially dark ones, not directly messing with its members. .........…
Alise and Kaguya moved deliberately through the main road, their steps heavy with exhaustion as the morning sun cast long shadows across the paved streets of Orario.
The bustling city swarmed with activity….vendors hawked their wares with raucous enthusiasm, workers shouted orders as they coordinated the rebuilding efforts, and citizens moved with a sense of cautious optimism.
The air was thick with the aroma of freshly brewed tea and baked goods, mixing with the faint scent of smoke from distant construction sites.
Despite the vibrancy of the urban scene, the two women could not shake the lingering weight of their duties.
Their night had been filled with tense encounters, from breaking up brawls instigated by newly arrived residents to deterring thieves emboldened by the city's instability.
The war had not only reshaped Orario's skyline but also its people, and now the streets bore the scars of an uncertain post-war landscape.
As they passed a small market where a fruit vendor was arranging crates of apples and pears, Kaguya let out a tired sigh.
"This city never gives us a break," she muttered, rubbing the back of her neck.
The vendor, noticing her expression, gave her a knowing nod.
"We all do our part, miss," he said in a gruff but friendly tone.
"This city is all about picking up the pieces and moving forward, right? Otherwise, where would we be?"
His words carried an unspoken truth: Orario was a city of opportunity, but one where progress came at a high cost.
Further down the road, Alise paused to engage with a young barista who was setting up his stall under the shade of a canopy.
"How's business?" she asked, her tone laced with genuine concern.
The barista, barely older than a teenager, gave her a weary smile.
"It's hard to compete with the old ones, but I'm holding my ground" Alise nodded in understanding, bringing up other topics of interest.
Talking to the city residents was a habit Alise had.
It not only gave her information, but it fostered a sense of closeness with those she wished to protect.
.........
The back entrance of Stardust Garden stood slightly ajar, the warm morning light spilling into the garden where Draco had been in the middle of a set of push-ups.
His muscles tensed with each motion, a sign of his recovery from the gruelling stress it had undergone a few weeks prior.
He had been confined to bed for so long that even the slightest movement had once been a struggle, but now, strength had begun to return to his body.
Though minor aches still lingered in his joints, he was no longer bound to the bed and could move freely once more.
As the two women approached, Draco barely broke his rhythm.
"Reporting to the captain," Alise announced with a tired but playful grin, glancing at Kaguya beside her.
"Report Comrade," Draco replied, his voice steady as his hands pressed into the ground.
His tail flicked lazily behind him, an unconscious gesture of amusement.
Alise cleared her throat and gave a concise report.
"I and comrade Kaguya have returned from our patrol. We stopped thirteen brawls, ten counts of theft, and caught the perpetrator of a murder."
She leaned on the short game frame, exhaustion evident in her posture.
Draco completed his final push-up before rising to a standing position, brushing the dust from his hands.
"Hmm, great job, comrade Alise, Kaguya," he said, turning to face them fully.
It was hard keeping a straight face while speaking like this.
"You will be rewarded with one extra serving during lunch, and allowed one serving of a snack of your choice."
Kaguya groaned dramatically, her arms folding over her chest.
"Ugh, don't you two get tired of doing this every day? You know what? I can't deal with this today. I'm going to take a bath and sleep."
She turned on her heel, her foot already in motion when Draco's voice followed with a dramatic tone.
"Eh, what's wrong with our daughter? When did she become so grumpy?" he whispered playfully, nudging Alise.
Alise chuckled, shaking her head but holding back laughter.
"I honestly don't know my dear," she said, feigning exasperation.
"Maybe she might be… you know, on that time of the month"
"You don't mean…." Draco didn't get to complete his sentence as a rock came flying directly at his face, but Draco easily deflected it with a flick of his tail.
"Tsk, I missed," Kaguya muttered, her tone laced with annoyance.
"By the gods, our daughter just tried to kill me!" Draco exclaimed, feigning shock as Alise played along with an equally exaggerated look of dismay.
"Dear, do something. She's finally rebelling," Alise stage-whispered, her laughter barely contained as Kaguya stormed off, fuming, into the house.
Draco let out a low chuckle.
"Well, there goes our fun."
"Yeah, but she could use the outlet," Alise said.
"Hmm," Draco hummed in agreement.
He and Alise had been doing their best over the past week to help the Astraea girls and Chloe fuse with the Bahamut familia.
The integration of the former Astraea members into the Bahamut familia had been a necessary and challenging process.
It was going well for the most part.
Eleni, Clair, Dimitra, and Vasiliki adapted relatively smoothly, getting along well with their new sisters in the familia.
However, things were not as seamless for Nikolaos, Michalis, and Vasileios.
Their sudden immersion into a predominantly female household had presented unique challenges….both social and personal.
The familia had gone from a balanced group of four girls and boys to a large, chaotic unit of twelve girls and four boys, and the adjustment was still ongoing.
The gender ratio had shifted so dramatically that it was difficult for the male members to find common ground with so many new additions.
Their shared interests and social circles in the original Bahamut familia, felt somewhat strained. The sudden influx of new members also brought with it an environment that was at times overwhelming…..particularly due to some of the habits the former Astraea members carried with them.
For instance, some of the girls still believed that running around the house in only a towel or a loose robe was perfectly normal.
To them, it had been a part of their previous lifestyle, but for Nikolaos and the others, it was a source of internal struggle.
Though they were all gentlemen, the sheer number of times they had to remind themselves to avert their eyes or excuse themselves to the another room spoke volumes about the difficulties of their new situation.
Draco himself had tried to remain neutral, but even he had found himself unintentionally staring more than once.
'Sigh… we really need a bigger place. This one is too small for sixteen people, eighteen with Bahamut and Aasterinian included' he mused.
The thought lingered in his mind, not just about space, but about the growing challenges of maintaining a familia with such an imbalance.
The dynamics of the new familia were still evolving, and navigating them would require more than just strength and discipline….it would take patience, understanding, and a willingness to adapt.