The hours passed and the village slowly came to life as the afternoon sun arched across the sky.
Villagers gather in the central square— the one surrounding the blazing eternal flame.
Rukiyo settled herself next to one of the houses, which was right across the flame, content to watch the activity from a slight distance with a mix of fascination and awkwardness.
All the adults were cooking food, chatting, and quietly loitering about to look for what they can do, while the children ran around, playing.
Despite their earlier cheerful gratitude, the villagers seemed hesitant and respectfully wary to approach, casting curious, but cautious glances her way.
A few of the little ones are bolder than the adults, sneaking glances at her from behind their parents' and guardians' legs before they quickly scurry away from them to play with others when she catched their eye.
She felt like an outsider in this tight-knit community, like a stray animal observing from the sidelines.
But the scent of roasting meat and simmering vegetables filled the air, rich and mouthwatering, the villagers chatting cheerfully as they tended to the meal preparation— yet Rukiyo felt no gnawing hunger, no pull toward the food.
She sighed, frowning.
Maybe it's because of Ryukiyo's draconic nature, making her indifferent to human meals? Or maybe she just isn't used to being around people eating like this? Either way, she sat silently, watching as the villagers distributed bowls to the children first, their laughter and chatter blending with the crackle of the fire.
It's.. Peaceful. Oddly so.
The villagers are clearly used to this routine of theirs, working together like a well-oiled machine.
Rukiyo pulled her knees up to her chest, resting her chin on them as she observed the villagers' lively interactions, the warmth of the bonfire casting flickering shadows across the area.
Then, a shadow falls over her.
She glanced up to see Blank standing there, holding a wooden tray with a steaming bowl of stew, its rich aroma wafting toward her.
He doesn't meet her eyes, his bangs still shielding most of his face, but the gesture is clear.
".. Y-You should eat." He muttered, making Rukiyo stare at the food, then back at him, eyebrows furrowing slightly.
"I don't.. Really feel hungry." She admitted slowly, afraid to make him upset. "But thank you."
Blank froze and he shifted on his feet as he hesitated, but he pursed his lips and still nudged the tray towards her. "Still.. Try it."
She stared at him, deadpanning, but after a beat and seeing that he wouldn't back off, just letting his arms hold out the tray, Rukiyo finally reached for the tray— curious despite what she just said.
Rukiyo uncrossed her legs just enough and placed the tray on her lap, balancing it, accepting it with cautious fingers.
The stew from the two bowls were piping hot and she could see the steam curling upward, but when she brought the spoon to her lips and took a tentative sip, the heat didn't burn her tongue at all.
Instead, the rich, savory flavor spreads across her senses, surprisingly delicious.
She blinked, momentarily stunned. "Huh."
She took another spoonful, more confidently this time, savoring the taste and humming approvingly. "This is actually really good."
Blank shifted awkwardly on his feet, not looking directly at her, but there's the faintest hint of something in his posture. Relief? Pride? Happiness? Excitement? She's not quite sure.
"Yeah, w-well, Orion's the one who made it." He murmured, pausing for a bit. "..He would be pissed if you didn't finish it."
Rukiyo snorted, but didn't argue, already digging in with more enthusiasm than she expected to have.
She methodically ate her stew, her gaze fixed on the bowl in her lap, but she's keenly aware of Blank shifting awkwardly beside her, standing and looking like he wanted to say something.
She can practically feel his tension, the way he's carefully keeping his distance yet constantly fidgeting and somehow getting closer.
After several spoonfuls of her food, she finally addressed him without looking up.
"Sit down." She instructed, her tone matter-of-fact, as she raised the bowl to her lips. "I'm not going to bite, so just take a seat and it's not like I own the grass I'm sitting on."
For a moment, he just stood there, still as a statue, and she thought he might refuse.
Then, he slowly sank to the spot beside her with a muted thud, his legs crossing under him as he brought his own bowl up to his face.
Rukiyo glances sideways— only to realize he had been carrying three bowls earlier, but he gave her the tray with two still on it.
Her eyebrows shoot up.
Blank was completely oblivious to her confusion, slurping his stew loudly before pausing mid-bite when he catches her staring.
"...What?" He asked, pulling his bowl away from his lips. "Do you n-not like the taste?"
Rukiyo opened her mouth to ask him why he gave her two bowls, but decided to just shut it, deciding not to question it and just be grateful that someone thought of her.
"Nothing." She grumbled, taking another sip. "I like the taste. It's good. Tell your brother that he's a good cook."
Blank felt his heart flutter at her words, the corner of his lips twitching, but he caught himself and quickly shook his head before quickly slurping his own soup.
The two eat in comfortable silence, their attention drifting toward the villagers gathered around the roaring bonfire.
The crackling flames casted flickering shadows across their faces as the lively chatter of the villagers fills the air and as a few minutes pass— surprisingly, it was Blank who broke the silence.
"Uhm.. About your q-question earlier..." He started, his voice hesitant, almost stumbling over the words. "W-What do you mean by companion?"
Rukiyo paused in the middle of shoving a spoonful and glanced sideways at him.
His bangs still shielded most of his face, but there's an undeniable tension in his shoulders— like he's forcing himself to ask, but doesn't quite know what answer he's expecting, which is pretty much the gist of his situation.
She lowered her bowl slightly, considering her response.
"Exactly what it sounds like." She stated, tilting her head back as she looked at the sky. "Someone who sticks around because they want to, but if you don't wanna, then that's fine, too."
Blank stiffened, his grip tightening around his bowl. "..Oh."
Rukiyo watched him carefully, waiting, but he didn't elaborate further and just like that, the silence settled between them again— heavier this time, for some reason.
Guess that's that. She thought and went back to her stew, resigned.
"..D-Does that mean you a-asked me to marry you?" Blank asked once more, voice barely above a whisper, his tone sounding like he was hopeful and excited.
Rukiyo's breath hitches and suddenly, she's coughing violently, her face flushing red as the broth goes down the wrong pipe.
She doubled over, wheezing, her free hand clutching at her chest and pounding her fist into it while the other nearly dropped the bowl back onto the tray.
Blank jolted in alarm, his entire body stiffening as his hands hover uselessly in the air, unsure whether to pat her back, take the bowl, or bolt entirely.
"I— uh— I'm s-sorry..?!" He squeaked out, his voice cracking in the middle of panicking as he scrambles for something, for anything, to help.
A few villagers heard Blank's panic and glanced over at their direction in concern, but before anyone can intervene, Rukiyo manages to gasp out between coughs.
"Wh— WHAT KIND OF— hack— LOGIC IS THAT?!" She wheezed out, pushing the tray away from her lap, so she could lean forward.
Blank flinched and his face immediately became scarlet under his bangs, his hands gesturing wildly in the air. "I— I just— Y-You said companion and— and in stories I read, that usually means p-partners!"
Rukiyo finally regained her breath, glaring at him with watery eyes. "It doesn't mean marriage!"
Blank visibly deflated, his shoulders slumping in embarrassed relief— or is that disappointment? She's not sure, but he turned away from her.
"..Oh." He murmured, voice shaking. "I.. I thought.. N-Nevermind.. That's good.. I guess."
Rukiyo exhaled sharply, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand as she leaned her head back and coughed a couple more times for good measure.