The silence that followed my brother's exit was really heavy. I had lost my appetite completely. The pancake on my plate was cold. It reminded me of the peace I had lost. I pushed the plate away. The sound of the china scraping against the wood was like a sad signal.
Plasma began anticipating my thoughts once again, bartering inside of my mind once again.
"Roxy and Cassuis sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G."
"Oh, shut up, will you?"
"Hahahahahaah… There goes my little Roxy again, a few more of those insults will make it serious. I've seen a premonition in you Roxy, you will be fucking a royal blood tonight."
"Oh my days… Isn't there a feature that can temporarily shut you up?"
"Hahahahahah… you're too naive, Roxy, too naive."
Ignoring Plasma's mockery, Cassius however seemed okay. He leaned back in his chair. Had a lazy smile on his face as he looked at me.
"You say you are really independent but you get upset easily when people point out the obvious," he said.
I gave him an angry look. "If you are saying what I think you are saying, Cassius just stops. I am not in the mood for your games."
He. His eyes were shining with amusement.
"Games? Come on Roxy. You were. You and my brother were sitting there like a couple. If it is true it is not a crime to have some romance in the middle of a war." he said.
I felt my face getting hot again. I controlled my emotions and changed the subject.
"That is enough. If you want to stay in my house you will have to be useful. Tell me what is happening in Caria. Why are the borders falling quickly?"
The smile on Cassius's face disappeared and he looked serious. He leaned forward. Put his elbows on the table.
"It is the Immoral Knights, Roxy. A bad group we thought was gone years ago. They appeared out of nowhere. Attacked the capital. They have also controlled the monsters of the waste. Are using them to fight. The capital is a bad place now."
My heart skipped a beat.
"And the front lines?"
"They have fallen, " he said. "My brothers and I were told to go to Town Allure when the defense lines fell. It is really chaotic. Even your brother, Elias, has joined the fight."
I took a breath. Elias. My brother is a shooter and he uses dark magic with his gun. His mastery from dark magic was out of this world. Even better than mine... He is really strong. Even he can be hurt.
"Elias? He is being foolish. He thinks he can stop the people with just his gun and some magic..."
I stopped talking and felt a knot of fear in my stomach. "I hope he is safe". I thought to myself, scared that the war might have already taken him.
The heavy doors opened again. Calix and Constantine walked back into the hall. They looked at us with amusement in their eyes.
Calix. Raised an eyebrow.
"You two are still here? Still talking?" he said with a laugh. Then continued
"You are really close aren't you? You are acting like a married couple. You should take a walk. Do something else instead of just sitting and looking at each other."
Then Plasma a.k.a my annoying AI assistant through my head interrupted and heard his manly voice once again.
"Hahahaaha… Roxy, did you hear that correctly?. You two are couples."
"Oh… shut up will you?"
"Roxy, take the chance, I know you're a loud moaner, use that pussy of yours for your own good. Take your virginity to the royal blood, I promise you will make your life worth it."
"Shut the fuck up! You pervert."
I had had enough. I stood up. My chair made a loud noise. I turned to them, my face red with anger and embarrassment.
"THAT IS ENOUGH! IF ONE MORE PERSON CALLS US A COUPLE I WILL THROW YOU ALL OUT INTO THE WASTELAND TO FACE THE IMMORAL KNIGHTS!" I shouted
Instead of being mean, Calix laughed happily. He walked up to me smiling.
"Oh, Roxy! You hurt my feelings! We are not being mean. We just like to see some happiness in this world. A little love in the middle of a war is nice."
Constantine, who is usually serious, also smiled. He stood up. Winked at me.
"Admit it, you look good when you blush. It is rare to see you so soft. It is nice."
I stood there with my mouth open, my finger still shaking. They were not trying to be mean. They just wanted to be happy.. For some reason they thought Cassius and I were their favorite story.
Then Cassius stood up. Put his hands on my shoulders. He leaned down. His chin touched my shoulder. He looked at me with a loving face.
"Leave her alone, you two. Can't you see? She is just overwhelmed by my charm. It is hard being this loved, Roxy. I know you are trying to be tough but your heart belongs to me doesn't it my blushing rose?" he said
I looked up at him. My face turned really red.
"Cassius, you absolute -"
Calix laughed.
"See? She is already planning the wedding! 'You absolute -'... What comes next, Roxy? 'My beloved knight'?"
I said I would kill him. I was not really angry. I could even see how silly the moment was.
Cassius squeezed my shoulders. His voice was warm and gentle.
"You say that. You are still letting me stay aren't you? After all this teasing you have not kicked me out. That is love."
He looked at his brothers with a smile.
"You are just jealous. You do not have a girl who can hold a sword and my heart at the time."
I let out a groan. Sat back in my chair. I buried my face in my hands. The room was filled with their laughter. It was a sound that had not been heard in the house for a time. For a moment I did not feel like an adventurer or a broken person. I just felt human.
"Fine, laugh all you want.. If you call me a "blushing rose" again Cassius I will put a curse on your tea." I said, laughing.
He teased me saying. Then, he pulled up a chair. Sat close to me.
"A curse of love I hope?"
I looked at them, my roommates, the three brothers who had turned my life into a play. I realized that maybe, in the middle of a world a little bit of silly and happy teasing was exactly what we needed to stay sane.