Hello there, ur author here. I know we are not consistent to upload our chapters and u know the reason as I have texted it on discord but to all of my readers who dont know the reason as they have not joined my server are already unemployed, reads yuri everynight and don't have a gf but still can't join??!! Bruh just join, lunks below, we talk fun and I have 3 members, make it 10. Thanks, now let's go on without any further ado
Within the Same Walls
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"Man… this place is too quiet."
Rei's voice echoed lightly through the mansion hall.
He walked in like he didn't belong there.
Relaxed. Hands in his pockets. Looking around at everything without care.
Elina followed beside him.
"It's not quiet," she said. "You're just loud."
Rei glanced at her.
"…That's the same thing."
"It's not."
He reached toward a decorative object placed on a table.
Elina immediately smacked his hand away.
"Don't touch that."
Rei blinked.
"…You people got too many rules."
"You'll break something."
"I won't."
"You will."
Rei clicked his tongue and moved on.
Servants passed by quietly, pretending not to notice him.
Elina walked ahead slightly now, used to the place.
Rei followed, still looking around like he was inspecting a battlefield.
Footsteps approached from behind.
Softer.
Aera.
She walked up beside them.
"You're going to get in trouble," she said quietly.
Rei shrugged.
"Relax. I didn't break anything."
"Yet."
He smirked.
"See? You understand me."
Aera didn't respond.
Her gaze moved ahead.
---
Cain stepped into the hall.
Fresh from training.
No announcement.
No presence shift.
He just walked in.
Elina noticed first.
Her expression lit up slightly.
She moved without thinking—
closing the distance between them.
Standing just a little closer.
Rei caught that.
Raised an eyebrow.
Didn't say anything this time.
---
They moved into a seating area.
A low table.
Simple arrangement.
Cain sat.
Picked up food.
Started eating.
No hesitation.
No manners forced for display.
Just normal.
Rei dropped into the seat across from him.
Watched him for a second.
Then—
"So what do you even do here all day?"
Cain didn't look up.
"Wake."
"Train."
"Eat."
"Rest."
A pause.
Rei stared at him.
"…That's it?"
Cain took another bite.
"That's enough."
Silence.
Rei leaned back.
"…You're boring."
Elina laughed.
Aera didn't.
She was watching Cain.
Carefully.
Too carefully.
---
She sat down beside the table.
Hands resting lightly in her lap.
She hesitated.
Then—
"Did you… sleep properly?"
Cain nodded once.
"Yes."
Aera held his gaze for a moment longer.
Then looked away.
She didn't believe it.
But she didn't push.
---
Footsteps approached.
Measured.
Calm.
Liora entered the room.
Everything didn't stop—
But it shifted.
Rei straightened slightly.
Not formal.
Just aware.
Elina turned toward her immediately.
"Sister."
Liora nodded once.
Her gaze moved across the room.
Rei.
Aera.
Then—
Cain.
She didn't speak.
She just watched.
---
Cain continued eating.
Unbothered.
Unaware.
Or maybe—
just not reacting.
No attempt to greet.
No attempt to impress.
No discomfort.
Nothing.
Just… normal.
---
Rei leaned forward again.
Still not done.
"You seriously don't do anything else?"
Cain looked at him this time.
"Do I need to?"
Rei paused.
Then smirked.
"…Fair."
---
Liora stepped closer.
Not interrupting.
Just observing.
She noticed:
How Cain sat.
How he moved.
How he spoke.
Nothing excessive.
Nothing lacking.
Balanced.
---
Her voice came out calmly.
"You're disciplined."
Not a question.
A statement.
Cain didn't respond.
He simply continued eating.
---
Rei stood up suddenly.
"Alright, I'm done here."
He stretched.
"This place is suffocating."
Elina stood up quickly.
"I'll come too."
Rei grinned.
"Of course you will."
They started walking out.
Elina turned once.
Looked at Cain.
Then followed.
---
Aera remained seated for a moment longer.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
She looked at Cain.
Wanted to say something.
Again.
Didn't.
"…Don't overdo it."
That was all.
She stood.
And left.
---
Silence returned.
Only two remained.
Cain.
And Liora.
---
He finished his meal.
Stood up.
No words.
No pause.
He walked past her.
Back toward the garden.
---
Liora didn't move immediately.
Her gaze followed him.
Not from above.
Not from a distance.
From the same space.
---
"…He doesn't try to stand out."
A quiet thought.
---
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Yet everyone notices him."
---
Outside—
Cain stepped back onto the stone circle.
The wooden blade lifted.
Step.
Turn.
The motion flowed—
Almost perfect.
Then broke.
---
"…Again."
---