After Arvin's departure, the dining room grew quiet again. Alrain and Yonna were still sitting in their places, staring intently at the remaining bottles of Elixir of Archmage filled with the dark purple liquid on the table.
The siblings stared at those bottles with a lingering sense of disbelief. It was no longer a disbelief in the efficacy or the truth of the potion, but rather a disbelief in the reality that all this time, behind his calm demeanor, Arvin had been hiding so many terrifying objects beyond human logic. And what was even more surprising, only Allen knew about that great secret.
Alrain finally shifted his gaze from the potion bottles, turning to look at Allen who sat calmly across from him.
"Allen..." Alrain called out suddenly, his voice breaking through the thick silence between them. "Why did you never say anything to us about all those potions? You knew from the beginning, didn't you?"
Allen looked at Alrain, a small and knowing smile playing on his lips. He did not seem at all offended or guilty about the somewhat demanding question.
"I did not dare to overstep my authority as a spouse, Alrain." Allen answered with blunt and honest tones. "If our husband chooses to keep it to himself and does not yet wish to speak to you all about it, then I have no right to reveal his secrets, do I? His secrets are his secrets, not mine to be shared with others without his permission."
That very sensible, logical, and respectful answer silenced Alrain completely. The green-haired teenager fell silent. Not a single word could escape his lips to refute Allen's answer. What Allen had done was the highest form of loyalty from a spouse.
"Then..." Alrain started again after a brief pause, his curiosity truly piqued. "What other things is our husband still hiding in his dimensional storage? Are there weapons of mass destruction or something like that?"
Allen chuckled softly hearing Alrain's somewhat wild guess. However, his principle remained unchanged.
"Regarding that matter, it is better if you ask him yourself later." Allen answered, consistently refusing to overstep his boundaries as a spouse. "I am sure he will answer you if you ask him nicely. After all, you all are a married couple now. He surely won't hide anything from you."
"You're right!" Alrain agreed, nodding enthusiastically. "But..."
Suddenly, Alrain's voice hung in the air. He stopped talking and looked away, as if just remembering a lingering disappointment.
"But why?" Allen asked, his brow furrowing as he felt very curious about the continuation of Alrain's cut-off words.
Alrain let out a long sigh, pointing toward the empty chair where Ordion had been sitting earlier. "But, Ordion just had to faint at such an inconvenient time!" Alrain grumbled, his face pouting like a child who had lost a toy. "Even though I really wanted to know the story about his past."
Hearing that the reason Alrain had fallen silent with a frustrated face was merely due to delayed curiosity about Ordion's past story, Allen was stunned for a moment. But in the next second, that teenager could not hold back his laughter.
"Pfft... Hahaha!" Allen laughed freely, the sound of his crisp laughter filling the dining room that was previously thick with tension.
Seeing Allen laughing uproariously after hearing his complaint, Alrain became bewildered and a bit embarrassed. "Why are you laughing like that? Is something funny?" Alrain protested.
"I thought you were going to say something serious that made you hesitate. Hahaha." Allen answered while clutching his stomach, trying to stop his remaining laughter. He wiped a small tear from the corner of his eye. "Don't worry, Alrain. You're not the only one who is curious. I have also been looking forward to that story. But it seems we really have to wait until that boy wakes up."
In the middle of their light chatter, Yonna, who had been silent until now, suddenly stood up from her seat. Her sudden movement immediately caught the attention of Allen and Alrain.
"Where are you going, Sister?" Alrain asked, looking at his sister who was now standing with a firm posture.
"I want to go back to my room!" Yonna answered in a calm but determined voice. Her right hand reached out, taking a bottle of Elixir of Archmage remaining on the table. "I will drink this elixir tonight. I want to become strong quickly so I won't be a burden to you anymore, Alrain."
Hearing his sister's reason, Alrain's heart felt touched. "Sister... I have never felt burdened in the slightest while protecting you." Alrain said with a very honest and sincere tone. He looked deep into his sister's eyes. "I will certainly continue to protect you with my entire life. Because you are my only blood family left in this world."
Yonna smiled. The smile was so sincere and warm. She could truly feel her brother's love in every word he spoke.
"I know that, Alrain." Yonna replied softly. "Even so, I still want to become stronger. It is not possible for me to always hide and take cover behind your back every time there is danger, is it? I want to be able to stand beside you, not just hide behind you."
Hearing his sister's answer spoken with such conviction, Alrain could no longer argue. He saw the spirit of a warrior that had just ignited in his sister's eyes. And inevitably, he accepted that decision.
"Alright, if you are indeed very certain about your decision." Alrain replied finally, his tone resigned yet carrying a hint of pride. "But remember what I said earlier, I will still train you hard every day until you truly become strong, Sister!"
"Yes, Alrain!" Yonna answered enthusiastically. She turned and began to walk away from the dining room toward her room, gripping the bottle of potion that would determine her fate. "I will look forward to becoming strong under your guidance!"
"Of course, Sister! Goodnight!" Alrain called out from his seat.
Alrain watched his sister's back as she gradually moved away and finally disappeared behind the hallway separating the dining room and the family room.