The morning came with sunlight spilling lazily through the curtains, far too bright for how heavy Kiana's eyelids felt. She shuffled out of her room in a sleepy daze — only to nearly bump into Kallen, who looked just as drowsy.
They stared at each other for a heartbeat before both breaking into soft, groggy smiles.
"Good morning…" they murmured in unison, arms wrapping around each other in a slow, cozy hug.
A faint sigh cut through the warmth.
"I told you," Otto's voice came from behind, clipped but not unkind, "you could have afforded to sleep longer."
Kallen just giggled, stepping back and brushing her hair from her eyes. "I have things to do today, silly."
Kiana, still clinging to the edge of consciousness, blinked at Otto. "…Like a completely different person," she mumbled to herself, thinking of the Otto outside the simulation.
She flinched immediately when he glanced at her — a pointed, sharp stare that made her straighten like a soldier caught slacking.
The trio set out, walking through the clean, sun-washed streets.
Kallen was in her element. She stopped every few steps to greet people by name, crouched to tousle a child's hair, spun a laughing little boy in a quick twirl, and hugged every child who ran to her. Her laughter blended with the chatter of the market, and the air seemed lighter wherever she passed.
Kiana trailed just behind, grinning at the sight. She's… amazing. Actually amazing.
Her smile faltered when her eyes flicked to Otto. He kept a deliberate distance, always just a few paces behind or ahead, speaking in low tones to guards stationed along the street. Orders, inspections… things that didn't interest her in the slightest. He didn't so much as glance toward the laughing children.
The walk continued.
At one corner, they passed a group of men sharing drinks from a large wooden tankard, their cheeks flushed red with cheer. Kallen laughed as they offered her a cup, and without hesitation, she took a sip — then another — then passed it back to them. The men cheered her on, and she simply giggled, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
Otto pinched the bridge of his nose in quiet exasperation. "You're impossible…"
Kiana opened her mouth. "Hey, I wanna try—"
"Too young."
The deep voice came from directly behind her, and Kiana jolted as she turned to find Chris towering over her like a wall.
He folded his arms, his gaze sharp but not entirely unkind. "Go find something else to enjoy. Alcohol isn't for you."
Kiana pouted. "Aw, c'mon, just a sip—"
"No."
Chris let out a long, tired sigh — but instead of lecturing further, he reached for the half-full bottle in the men's hands. Without ceremony, he tipped it back and drained the rest in one long pull.
"Oi—!" one of the drinkers began, but stopped short as Chris wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and smirked.
"Leave the alcohol for the night, men," he said, his voice carrying that mix of authority and ease that made people listen. The men exchanged glances, then chuckled sheepishly and nodded, starting to pack up their cups and jugs.
Kallen blew out a soft sigh, a faint pout tugging her lips. "We were just having fun…"
"There were kids around," Chris replied flatly.
And that was when Kallen's eyes lit up, as if a thought had just burst into her mind. "Speaking of kids—!" she said suddenly, turning to the group.
Before Kiana could even ask what she meant, the four of them were making their way toward a wide, open courtyard in the middle of the district. The air was alive with laughter, music, and the bright flutter of streamers.
It was a children's parade.
Dozens of little ones marched in colorful costumes — tiny knights with wooden swords, miniature princesses with makeshift crowns, boys and girls holding painted wooden animals on sticks. Musicians played cheerful tunes from the edges, filling the air with a lively beat.
Chris stood near the edge of the square, his massive frame and crossed arms making him look like a sentry even here, but his gaze was sharp — scanning the crowd with the same precision he might on a battlefield.
Kiana barely noticed him.
Her attention was locked on Kallen.
Gone was the dignified, composed smile Kiana had seen when she addressed guards or spoke to townsfolk earlier. Here, Kallen's entire face transformed — pure, unrestrained joy as she crouched to meet the children's eyes, laughing and joining their games without the slightest hesitation.
A boy in a paper crown toddled up and handed her a wooden scepter; she accepted it with a mock bow and declared him the "true ruler of the parade," earning squeals of delight from the other kids.
Kiana's heart swelled at the sight. This Kallen was… warm, almost radiant.
She didn't even think about it before she ran forward and joined the line of kids holding hands in a circle, laughing as they spun around in dizzy loops. She nearly toppled over when one girl dressed as a knight "challenged" her to a duel, tapping Kiana's arm with a wooden sword.
"Unhand me, villain!" Kiana cried dramatically, lunging forward and earning a chorus of giggles.
Kallen glanced over, her expression softening even more, and for a while the two of them were just part of the chaos — no roles, no titles, no weight of the world.
Chris, for his part, never stopped watching. His eyes swept over the rooftops, the alleys, the gathering of parents, measuring risks that no one else seemed aware of. Otto, too, stood apart, speaking briefly to a pair of uniformed guards before returning to stand in the shade, his gaze occasionally flicking toward Kallen — a faint, unreadable shadow in his expression.
But for Kiana, the world at that moment was just music, children's laughter, and Kallen's bright smile as they marched in the parade together.
When the music finally slowed and the last of the children wandered off with their parents, Kallen knelt beside Kiana. "You looked like you were having fun," she said warmly.
Kiana grinned. "I was. You're… amazing, y'know?"
Kallen tilted her head slightly, her smile never fading. "So are you."
Chris glanced over, saying nothing — but Kiana caught the faintest twitch of a smirk before he turned his eyes back to the crowd dispersing.