Morning arrived slowly inside the west wing of Benton Villa.
Soft gold sunlight spilled through the enormous windows overlooking the estate gardens while distant mountain mist rolled lazily across the lower grounds beneath the first light of dawn.
The suite remained warm.
Quiet.
Comfortable.
Blankets tangled across half the room.
Dessert casualties remained scattered around the table near the balcony.
Evidence of important overnight operations.
Kael sat cross-legged in one of the chairs near the window holding a pastry while staring toward the distant mountain.
Ryven emerged from the bedroom several minutes later.
Freshly awake.
Mostly.
Kael immediately pointed.
"There."
Ryven followed his finger.
The mountain remained a mountain.
"...what."
"The Valley."
"It is still there."
Kael nodded seriously.
"Good."
Ryven stared.
Then sat down beside him.
Because honestly?
There was no point fighting whatever conversation this was becoming.
Outside, lanterns still glowed faintly throughout portions of the Hidden Valley despite the approaching sunrise. Dragon Lake reflected early morning light while drifting mist moved between waterfalls, pavilions, bridges, and cherry blossom trees hidden far below.
The Valley looked peaceful.
Deceptively peaceful.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"The adults are still awake."
"Yes."
"That's concerning."
"No."
Kael looked offended.
"No?"
"The mountain adopted them."
Reasonable answer.
Unfortunately.
Kael sighed dramatically.
"Poor fools."
"You warned them."
"I did."
A pause.
"They ignored me."
"Yes."
Kael pointed at the mountain.
"Now look at them."
The mountain remained unhelpfully majestic.
Ryven reached for tea.
Kael reached for another pastry.
Both actions happened automatically.
Neither acknowledged it.
Normal.
Then slowly—
very slowly—
a grin appeared across Kael's face.
Dangerous grin.
The exact grin responsible for approximately eighty percent of the problems in his life.
Ryven noticed immediately.
"No."
"I haven't said anything."
"No."
"You don't even know what it is."
"Yes."
Kael looked personally attacked.
"This relationship lacks trust."
Ryven drank tea.
The silence answered for him.
Kael gasped.
"WOW."
Still no answer.
Which somehow made it worse.
Kael stood abruptly.
Decision made.
"We should go."
Ryven blinked once.
"It's early."
"Exactly."
Another dangerous grin.
"We can watch the disaster before everyone else wakes up."
Ryven paused.
Considered.
Then unfortunately realized that sounded extremely entertaining.
Kael saw the hesitation instantly.
Victory.
"You want to."
"No."
"You absolutely do."
"No."
"You're curious."
Ryven looked toward the mountain.
Then toward Kael.
Then toward the mountain again.
"...a little."
Kael pointed dramatically.
"See?"
Ryven sighed softly.
Which meant yes.
Kael immediately looked victorious.
Then physically grabbed Ryven's wrist and started dragging him toward the bathroom.
Ryven blinked.
"...what are you doing."
"We need to shower."
"We can shower separately."
Kael stopped.
Looked offended.
Actually offended.
"And waste time?"
Reasonable silence followed.
Then Kael resumed dragging him.
Steam filled the bathroom quickly while soft morning light filtered through frosted windows overlooking the estate grounds below.
The entire space felt warm.
Comfortable.
Safe.
The kind of safety both of them still occasionally forgot they were allowed to have.
Ryven adjusted the water temperature.
Kael immediately leaned against the counter watching him.
Then smiled again.
Dangerous.
Ryven immediately became suspicious.
"What."
Kael stepped closer.
"You know..."
Dangerous tone.
"...technically you still owe me."
Ryven blinked.
"For what."
Kael looked horrified.
Actual horror.
"WOW."
Then dramatically:
"We had plans last night."
Ryven visibly blushed.
Instantly.
Kael looked delighted.
"Oh my God."
Ryven looked away.
"There is nothing."
"There absolutely is."
"No."
"YES."
Kael stepped directly into his space.
Sleep shirt.
Messy hair.
Dangerous levels of confidence.
The complete absence of self-preservation.
Normal Kael behavior.
Ryven's expression immediately shifted in return.
Not flustered anymore.
Dangerous.
Which honestly felt fair.
Kael smiled.
Then softer:
"You really went looking for desserts at two in the morning."
"You were hungry."
"That isn't normal boyfriend behavior."
Ryven's hands settled automatically around his waist.
"You ate all of them."
"That is unrelated."
"It was six pastries."
"It was survival."
Ryven finally lost the fight against smiling.
Tiny smile.
Small.
Real.
Kael immediately looked victorious.
Then shoved him backward beneath the shower water before he could recover.
Ryven blinked against the spray.
"...seriously."
"We're late."
"For what."
Kael pointed toward the mountain.
"Witnessing history."
Outside, Benton Villa slowly woke beneath the sunrise.
Staff families moved through the estate.
Gardens caught the morning light.
Waterfalls echoed softly through the valley.
And far beyond the estate grounds—
the Hidden Valley Dojo waited.
Filled with:
• admirals,
• commanders,
• Great House elders,
• engineers,
• strategists,
• doctors,
• and one Supreme Commander currently dressed like a historical warlord.
Kael could not wait.
Neither could Ryven.
Though only one of them was willing to admit it.
The mountain had already claimed the adults.
Now they were going to see just how bad the damage really was.