Draven continued holding Elenya.
He glanced toward Pythia.
"How's the blood we got?"
Pythia immediately turned toward him.
"It's been prepared, my lord."
She paused.
"We have enough to last for now. I'll make sure the supply is properly stored."
Draven nodded.
"Good."
Pythia lowered her head slightly.
"Would you like me to bring some over?"
"Not yet."
Draven glanced down at Elenya.
"Let's wait until they're ready to eat."
"Understood, my lord."
---
Meanwhile—
Kaelira was still standing beside Vaelith.
Her attention remained fixed on Lucifer.
"Lucifero."
She gently reached toward him.
"Lady Vaelith is going to prepare your food soon."
She smiled.
"So, before then, why don't you come and play with me?"
Lucifer remained perched on Vaelith's head.
Kaelira tilted her head.
"Come on."
She raised both hands.
"I'll play with you."
Vaelith watched them for a moment.
Then—
she slowly stood up.
Lucifer immediately moved.
His tiny body shifted as he spread his wings.
**FLAP! FLAP!**
He lifted off Vaelith's head.
Kaelira's eyes brightened.
"Ah!"
But—
instead of flying toward her—
Lucifer flew straight toward Draven.
He landed comfortably on top of his head.
Kaelira froze.
"...Huh?"
She stared at him.
Then—
her expression changed.
"That's not fair!"
She pointed toward Lucifer.
"You were supposed to play with me!"
Lucifer simply settled down on Draven's head.
Kaelira puffed out her cheeks.
"Bad Lucifero!"
She shook her finger at him.
"Bad baby!"
Draven glanced at her.
Then—
he looked up slightly, trying to see the little bat sitting on his head.
"...How are you, Luci?"
Kaelira immediately looked toward Elenya.
But Elenya was already moving.
She stretched both tiny hands toward Lucifer.
Her attention was fixed entirely on her brother.
Draven glanced at her.
"What's wrong?"
Elenya continued reaching.
Lucifer remained on his head.
Kaelira watched the two babies.
"..."
She slowly lowered her hands.
"Even Elenya wants to play with him."
She sighed.
"Nobody wants to play with me."
---
On the other side of the room—
Aldric approached the couch.
Lyriana was sitting there, watching the television.
He stopped beside her.
Then—
he reached into his belongings and pulled out a necklace and an earring.
"Here."
Lyriana turned her head.
Her eyes settled on the two pieces of jewelry.
"...What are these?"
Aldric held them out.
"I bought them."
Lyriana stared at him.
Aldric continued.
"The earring is for communication."
He pointed toward the earring he was wearing.
"It's connected to this one."
Lyriana's gaze shifted toward his ear.
Then—
she looked back at the jewelry in his hand.
"...What's this about?"
Her expression remained calm.
"What's your plan?"
Aldric frowned slightly.
"Just put it on."
He shrugged.
"There's no plan."
He glanced at her.
"I just want to stay in contact."
Lyriana remained silent for a moment.
Then—
she accepted the necklace and earring.
Aldric turned away.
He raised his arm.
A ring around his wrist glimmered.
**FLASH!**
A large assortment of food and drinks suddenly appeared.
Several packages, containers, and bottles materialized on the table in front of the couch.
Aldric picked up one of the packages.
He opened it.
Then—
he began eating.
Without asking—
he reached over and took the television remote from Lyriana.
He changed the channel.
Lyriana glanced at the food.
Then—
she picked up one of the packages and opened it as well.
She looked toward Aldric.
"It seems like you have quite a lot of money."
Aldric continued eating.
"Yeah."
He swallowed.
"One thousand four hundred plus gold coins."
Lyriana glanced at him.
Aldric casually leaned back against the couch.
"I got it from that dead weight."
He picked up another piece of food.
"I've spent a few already, though."
He glanced at the remaining packages.
"So it's less than a thousand now."
Lyriana looked at him for a moment.
Then—
her gaze dropped toward the food in her hands.
"...I see."
Aldric continued watching the television.
He seemed perfectly satisfied with himself.
For several moments—
the room remained quiet.
The only sounds were the television playing in the background and Aldric casually eating.
Lyriana continued watching the screen.
Then—
she glanced toward the earring in her hand.
She examined it carefully.
"So..."
She lifted it slightly.
"This is really a communication artifact?"
Aldric didn't look away from the television.
"Yeah."
"That's what it is."
Lyriana studied it.
"How far does it work?"
"Pretty far."
Aldric took another bite.
"Far enough that we don't have to worry about normal distance."
Lyriana's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And you bought this specifically for me?"
Aldric finally looked toward her.
"Yeah."
He shrugged.
"What's so strange about that?"
Lyriana remained silent.
Then—
she put the earring on.
A faint glow passed through it.
**FZZZT!**
The magic settled almost immediately.
Lyriana touched it.
"It works."
Aldric nodded.
"Obviously."
He leaned back.
"I wouldn't give you something useless."
Lyriana glanced at him.
"That's surprisingly considerate."
Aldric's expression twitched.
"Don't make it weird."
Lyriana's lips curved slightly.
"I didn't say anything."
Aldric looked back at the television.
"Good."
---
Across the room—
Draven was still standing with Elenya in his arms.
Lucifer remained comfortably perched on his head.
Elenya continued reaching toward her brother.
Draven looked at her.
"You want Lucifer?"
He raised her slightly.
She immediately stretched both hands toward Lucifer.
Lucifer looked down at her.
For several seconds—
nothing happened.
Then—
he spread his wings.
Kaelira's eyes widened.
"He's going to fly!"
Lucifer lifted off Draven's head.
**FLAP!**
He flew toward Elenya.
Elenya immediately grabbed him.
She hugged her brother against herself.
Kaelira stared.
"..."
Her cheeks puffed up again.
"That's cheating."
Pythia glanced toward her.
"What's cheating?"
Kaelira pointed at the two babies.
"They're playing with each other."
She folded her arms.
"I was supposed to play with Lucifero."
Pythia smiled.
"You'll get another chance."
Kaelira narrowed her eyes.
"When?"
Pythia thought for a moment.
"...Later."
Kaelira stared at her.
"That's not a real answer."
Pythia shrugged.
"It's the answer you're getting."
Kaelira crossed her arms tighter.
"And I don't like it."
---
Vaelith watched the two babies for a moment.
Then—
she looked toward Pythia.
"I'll prepare their food."
Pythia nodded.
"Alright."
Vaelith walked toward the nearby table.
She began preparing everything they would need.
Kaelira followed her with her eyes.
Then—
she looked back toward Draven.
"Master."
Draven glanced at her.
"Huh?"
Kaelira pointed toward Lucifer and Elenya.
"They're going to eat soon, right?"
"So then, after they eat..."
She paused.
Her eyes brightened.
"I get to play with them."
Draven looked at her.
"Maybe."
Kaelira's face immediately fell.
"Maybe?"
She frowned.
"Why does everyone keep saying maybe?"
Draven simply walked toward the couch.
Kaelira followed behind him.
---
Meanwhile—
Aldric was still watching television.
Lyriana sat beside him, quietly eating.
After a few moments—
Aldric suddenly reached toward the table.
He picked up another drink.
Then—
he looked at Lyriana.
"You know..."
Lyriana glanced toward him.
"What?"
Aldric pointed toward the necklace he had given her.
"That necklace isn't just decoration."
Lyriana's eyes narrowed.
"What does it do?"
Aldric smiled.
"Nothing."
Lyriana stared at him.
"...Nothing?"
"Yeah."
He took a drink.
"It just looked nice."
Lyriana remained silent.
Then—
she looked down at the necklace.
Aldric continued watching the television.
"You seemed like you'd wear it."
Lyriana glanced toward him.
For a moment—
she didn't say anything.
Then she quietly said—
"I see."
Aldric nodded.
"Yeah."
The two returned their attention to the television.
For once—
the room was strangely peaceful.
No fighting.
No explosions.
No enemies.
Just food—
a television—
and everyone waiting for the next problem to arrive.