That was the only thing registering even as I ate, unable to even hear any voice or other noise around me.
The fork was bending in my hand, the crunching of my teeth echoing in my head.
"Brother...?" I turned to the two worried eyes.
"Huh, Mim what is wrong?" I smiled, eyes narrowed when meeting hers.
"...nothing..."
"It's really good right!?"
"Yes... I really like it..."
Why did she look at me like that... why...
It was a look I had experienced before, it was one I never wanted to see again.
I have made her feel like that... again...
I took the last bite of the quiche, and lifted my head up at Andi who stood next to me.
"It's really go—"
All the gazes were at me, none daring to match my gaze—even Andi's who had been watching over us.
"A-are you alright now?" He asked me.
"Yes..." I responded, unable to lift my head any longer.
"Perfect... that's nice to hear..." I heard him walk away to the kitchen
What should I do...?
I looked over at Mim who was still eating her first meal.
It should be fine... right?
"Mim try to eat a bit quicker... okay?"
"Noo! Wh—" She interrupted herself, when meeting my eyes, leading down to my trembling hands.
"Okay~!" Still able to keep her usual way of speaking.
I finished the meal, able to taste the final bites.
It really is amazing... both of them.
"This is another one on my list, right Mim?" I kept my eyes on either the plate or Mim, making sure not to catch another's gaze.
"I agree!" She said, happily nodding along next to her empty plates.
We stood up, and I left the three seals on the table, having forgotten what the actual price was.
...We have Edward for money now.
We left as quickly as possible, not bothering to say our goodbyes—calmly walking to the door.
The moment I reached outside each step started to come quicker than the last, pulling Mim along, while unable to keep my eyes glued to one place.
"Mim, I think that we should go back..."
She pouted her lips, eyes lowered as she said,
"...Okay..."
We walked down the same way we came—unable to waste time searching for a shortcut—I was able to find the way back quickly after.
It's still strange that no one has tried to enter... Not even specks of blood were inside or anywhere nearby, with the cellar door that was left out in the open.
I had carried Mim all the way here as I lowered her a smile shone again.
This really is the best expression on her...
I let Mim go down the stairs first, with me following behind her.
We passed through the never changing scenery and I opened the exit, climbing the same stairs as before—finally arriving in the basement.
"Mim don't worry we can always go." I ruffled her hair
"Even tomorrow...?" She looked up at me through her ruffled hair.
"...Yes, even tomorrow."
As we walked back up, a voice could be heard by the front door.
It was Edward's, he had finally come back.
"Brother~ wait for me!" She breathed heavily as she tried to keep up.
I turned the corner, and without wasting a second I asked him,
"How did it g—"
The answer was already clear.
The face he wore told it all, with Katherine alongside him, her fists clenched—enough to make all her veins pop out of her normally smooth hands.
"Katherine, Tjer—come and sit down," he said leading the way towards the couch.
I followed behind Katherine, who asked me,
"You are back quite early, did something happen?"
"..."
"Not much, I just thought it was time to go back," I said, looking down towards Mim.
"Ahh I get it, it surely was quite tiring in this heat." Nodding along with the words she said.
"Albert you wanted to make sweets right?"
Matching Katherine's gaze was all he needed to understand his task.
"Yes, Mim do you want to come watch me work?"
She took a look around the room,
"Yes! Can you make cake for me?"
Didn't we just eat some...?
"Hahaha, of course I can—follow me." He walked away with Mim by his side.
All of us waited in silence until we heard the door close.
"So tell me what happened—both of you." Katherine's eyes were varying between Edward and me, before she sat down next to me—Edward already sitting cross armed opposite of us.
"It wasn't that special, but uhm... Arih who killed my parents... he had an accent when he said my name, so that made it even clearer that he wasn't from the north..."
"Continue..." She said, curling her finger around her lip.
"We went to grab something to eat... and the worker there had the same accent."
I could see her eyes widen and mouth open, all in silence.
"So I am sure of it—he is from Kardiotza."
"Don't do anything rash Tjer," Edward said, his opened up arms bouncing on his legs.
"..."
"Why..."
"Because you are too weak. You know that as well, don't you?"
She turned towards Edward with a narrow smile.
"Honey, I don't think—"
"...Tsk..." I said, looking away from them.
"What..." She faced me once again.
"Did you really want to search for him and fight once again!?" She gripped her knee as she said it.
"Maybe..." I held my fingers while staring at the table in front of me.
"Don't be foolish kid," Edward said, holding his forehead.
"I hoped you understood how much stronger he was than you—even without essence."
I kept silent, unable to meet the eyes that spoke truth.
"From what you have told me, even Caleb has no chance against him. So imagine if you challenge him now!"
My fist was trembling—even when I was unable to gauge Caleb's strength, nor Arih's I had suspected as much.
"There is no wa—"
"I KNOW!" I looked up at Edward, unable to sit any longer.
"...But I can't just let him walk free..." My eyes shifted away from him, while my arms held my body up.
He looked at me in silence, his tensed muscles started to visibly relax with the popped veins disappearing from his hand.
"I get how you feel..." Katherine brought her hand to my shoulder.
"But please think about those who care about you... think about Mim... about us..."
The warmth of her words reached me through the hand that touched me, unable to feel any unease with her touch.
"We have done nothing for the both of you yet, so at least let us help you—before you try to throw your life away, Tjer." Both hands opened up to me as he softly spoke.
"..."
"But he deserves it... look at what he has done to me—to us!"
"So please... let me search for him."
"No," They said in unison.
"..."
He looked at me with his eyes narrowed, and said,
"And in all honesty—if we want to keep you here, there will be no way for you to escape."
It was something I'd known from the start. I was merely a pebble to the mountains these two were.
He nodded to Katherine who closed her eyes as she slowly nodded back.
"I wanted to keep this information away from you at all cost..."
"But it's important for you to know... especially now." Edward's voice had tensed up.
He leaned forward, his hands hanging between his knees.
His eyes were piercing mine.
Words left his mouth that would stay with me for who knows how long.
"Give it up—Arih has a spirit's blessing."