Soon, others woke up and some joined him at the table. While the women were busy making breakfast, the men were busy cleaning their hunting gear or sharpening their weapons.
When breakfast was ready, everyone gathered at the table. The meal, made of goat meat and wild vegetables, was enjoyed in a rare moment of quiet.
Then, Neil heard his mother, Maya, recount the event that had happened that morning. She teased him about getting kicked while he was sleeping by his big sister, Lyra.
Others joined in, teasing Lyra for her bad sleeping habits. She, in turn, glared at Neil for telling everyone about it. All in all, it was a fun breakfast.
Everyone was enjoying each other's company as laughter and conversation filled the lobby.
Seeing Neil occasionally laughing like a silly boy, everyone looked at each other, trying to find the reason, but shook their heads, not knowing why.
Lyra couldn't wait anymore. "Hey, Neil," she said, "why are you laughing like a big fool?"
Hearing his sister's words, he retorted, "I'm not a fool, and I'm not smiling at all."
Everyone rolled their eyes at him. It turned out, even as he denied it, he still had a smile at the corner of his lips.
Seeing Neil refuse to say anything, Lyra decided to take action herself. "Hey, Neil, now tell us quickly or you'll really regret it later!" she said, twisting her fist threateningly.
Hearing her threatening words, Neil's response shocked everyone. "Oh, Sister, it's not good to always resort to violence. But if you want to try, I'm ready whenever you are."
Hearing his words, they all had looks of shock on their faces, while Caspian looked at Neil with sparkling eyes of admiration.
Listening to Neil, for once, she couldn't believe her ears. "What did he just say?" Then, like a volcanic explosion, she said angrily, "Okay, okay, you have grown up. It seems I have to put someone in his place again!" Saying that, she moved toward Neil with angry steps.
Seeing his sister coming toward him, he thought to himself, *Oh, sister, I'm not that weak anymore. Now I have armor to protect my whole body. No matter how you punch or hurt me, it won't work.* He had a smile tugged at his lips as he thought so.
Seeing that he was smiling instead of being afraid, she felt something was wrong, but she still moved toward him. Reaching him, she said, "Brother Orion and Caspian, come and help me."
Seeing her calling their brothers as well, Neil wasn't worried. He knew he had armor, so no matter how they tried to hit him, it wouldn't do anything to him.
Then, both brothers and Lyra gathered around Neil. But seeing his worry-free face that seemed to not take them seriously, they were also a little angry.
Seeing Neil like this even after all his cousins surrounded him, the adults exchanged glances. "What happened to him? What gave him so much confidence?" By now, he should have already used his puppy eyes on use to ask for help, but there he was, standing with a smile on his face.
Seeing Neil so carefree, Lyra, Caspian, and Orion gathered around, seemingly planning something. After a while, they seemed to have made a decision.
Caspian and Orion came near him and each grabbed one of his arms. Seeing them like this, he scoffed at them, saying, "Oh, why even bother? It's not like it will do anything."
Hearing his words, they didn't say anything but just quietly grabbed him tightly. Then, he saw his sister walking toward him. He prepared himself to laugh after their failure.
But seeing that she didn't even raise her hand to knock his head as usual, he felt that something was wrong. Still, the armor gave him confidence, so he ignored it.
Seeing her near him, he just smiled, not taking her seriously at all. Seeing Neil like that, she decided to teach him a good lesson this time.
Then, she raised her hand to tickle him. Caught off guard, Neil burst out laughing.
But wait, he thought in his mind, *wasn't I wearing the armor? How can she still attack him?* He angrily cursed his armor in his mind. *You ungrateful armor, why are you taking her side? Shouldn't you protect me?*
But nothing happened. Then suddenly, it came to his mind: Could it be that only things that hurt him or affect his health bar are considered an attack, and not other things like tickling?
Before he could think further, Lyra increased her tickling, making him come out of his thoughts, and he couldn't stop laughing.
Seeing Neil like that, the adults were smiling.
While Neil, after figuring it out, started pleading, "Oh, Sister, please stop! No more! Haha ha, no no please stop! I'm sorry, really sorry."
Hearing his pleading, she said with a smirk on her face, "Hey, weren't you very confident just now? What happened suddenly?"
Hearing her words, he knew she wouldn't forgive him easily, so he looked at the adults with puppy eyes, pleading for help.
Seeing Neil like that, they all thought to themselves, *Now that's what our Neil looks like.*
But they decided to wait for a while to let him learn a profound lesson—to remember that he is the smallest in their family. Seeing that they ignored his plea as well, Neil felt like crying.
But Lyra didn't give him the chance. She started tickling again. After a while, she asked, "Okay, now will you tell us why you were smiling earlier, or do you want to continue?"
Hearing her words, Neil felt like a ray of dawn in the dark clouds. He hurriedly nodded his head like a chicken pecking at its food while saying, "I'll tell you, I promise! But please let me go. I can't laugh anymore."
Seeing Neil like that, the adults felt a little guilty for not helping him. His grandma spoke, "Okay, Lyra, you both release Neil. That's enough tickling. Look what you've made of my little grandson."
Hearing their grandma's words, Lyra stopped tickling Neil, and Orion and Caspian also released his hand.
Having no support, Neil slid onto his seat like a jelly. Seeing Neil with watery eyes from laughing, he looked like a pitiful puppy with watery eyes.
Everyone felt guilty, while Lyra's mother, Seraphina, scolded her, "Hey, you girl, can't you treat your younger brother with a little care? See how he looks now." While saying that, she gave her a knock on the head.
Lyra, clutching her head, ignored her words with a pout. Meanwhile, Neil's mother tried to comfort him, but he ignored her.
He was still angry at everyone for not helping him earlier. He decided to tell them because of Lyra, but that didn't mean he forgave the adults as well.
Seeing Neil like that, before someone else could say something more, Lyra spoke, "Now, Neil, shouldn't you start telling us why you were laughing earlier?"
Hearing her words, Neil said, "Well, even if you hadn't asked, I would have told everyone after breakfast."
Saying that, he opened his personal interface and turned on the scroll button.
Just as he did,The metallic armor materialized seamlessly over his clothes, forming a complete set that covered him from head to toe.
Seen an armor made of iron appeared on Neil, shining under the lantern light. Everyone had an astonished look on their face .