The following morning, Talulah was the first to rise. Intending to rouse Jeanne from her slumber, she stepped quietly into her companion's room, only to freeze at the threshold.
There, fast asleep, Fafnir had thoroughly entangled herself with Jeanne. The two of them were snuggled so closely together, looking completely peaceful and unbelievably cozy.
For reasons entirely unknown to her, Talulah felt a sharp, phantom ache in her chest just looking at the scene. Even with a full night to process the reality of the situation, fully digesting this new domestic dynamic was clearly going to require a significant interval of time.
Standing by the doorway, Talulah considered the situation for a few moments before quietly retreating. She decided against waking the duo who had just arrived from their travels yesterday. Without any urgent matters demanding their immediate attention, it seemed best to let the weary travelers enjoy a thorough rest.
"What is the situation? Are those two still slumbering?"
Stepping out of the corridor, Talulah crossed paths with Alina, who had already finished preparing the morning meal. Having heard zero movement from the inner rooms, the Elafia gently inquired about their status.
"Still fast asleep. Let them rest a while longer. Treking all the way back from Kazdel is certainly not a brief or leisurely journey," Talulah replied, her expression completely wooden. It was glaringly obvious that she had not yet recovered from the monumental shock of Fafnir's existence. Adjusting to the reality of having this child dwelling alongside them was going to require a steady effort.
"What is on your mind? Are you feeling troubled over the little one's arrival?" Alina caught the subtle weight in Talulah's demeanor and offered a gentle, sympathetic smile, noting the Draco's entirely stoic features.
"Ah, no, I am definitely not harboring any genuine anger over the matter. It is merely the sheer suddenness of the situation. Having a child spring up like this... it requires a brief interval for me to mentally prepare and properly absorb the reality."
Talulah waved her hand dismissively, attempting to project a casual air. Her wooden expression softened slightly, gradually returning to her usual composure.
Alina understood perfectly well that her companion wasn't holding onto any resentment. The sheer impact of yesterday's revelation had simply been massively overwhelming, and Talulah genuinely needed a quiet moment to process the change.
The issue ran far deeper than the simple puzzle of Fafnir possessing Talulah's exact physical features. The true complication was that beholding the young child inevitably forced Talulah to confront memories of her own childhood.
As anyone familiar with her history knew, Talulah's early years were largely devoid of warmth or joy. While not entirely horrific at first, her existence had been strained from the very moment she could form memories.
And seeing a child who mirrored that exact stage of her youth undoubtedly resurrected memories of her younger sister. Alina silently guessed that Talulah was missing Ch'en deeply right now, and would likely retreat to her quarters shortly to draft yet another letter to her sister.
Ultimately, however, Alina knew the letter would never reach its destination. It would inevitably find its way into an obscure corner of Talulah's room, adding to a hidden pile. The sheer volume of unsent letters Alina had quietly organized for her over the years could likely form a hefty book!
Crunch—crunch—crunch!
When Jeanne finally stirred from her deep slumber, the first sound that met her ears was a crisp, rhythmic chewing. Blinking away the lingering haze of sleep, she opened her eyes to find Fafnir perched on the edge of the mattress, happily munching on a fresh apple.
"Jeanne, you are awake!"
Seeing her companion stir, Fafnir tossed the remaining half of the fruit into her mouth and enthusiastically pounced onto the bed. The youngster was clearly in high spirits this morning, thoroughly delighted with her new surroundings.
While the ambient temperature of the settlement was undeniably harsh for an ordinary individual, for Fafnir, the freezing tundra felt entirely refreshing. The child genuinely seemed to thrive in this chilly environment.
It seemed entirely fitting for a dragon originating from northern folklore. In Jeanne's previous understanding, draconic entities favored intense heat and volcanic landscapes, yet this youngster found pure joy in the freezing cold!
"Yawn~ You wish to go outside and explore, do you not?"
Pushing herself upright, Jeanne accurately deciphered the source of Fafnir's excitement. She gently patted the child's head, stifling another wide yawn.
This long, uninterrupted rest had successfully washed away the majority of her physical exhaustion. Though a faint, lingering weariness remained in her bones, she rallied her strength and broke free from the powerful seal of her warm blankets!
Watching Fafnir nod enthusiastically, her tail swaying happily behind her, Jeanne chuckled and gave the child's head another affectionate pat. She decided it was time to lead the youngster on a proper tour of the settlement, allowing everyone to formally meet the new arrival.
Naturally, this was also the perfect opportunity to clarify Fafnir's origins to the community. Though she had playfully claimed she would leave the explanations to Talulah, it was ultimately her responsibility to provide a clear account to the villagers.
She wasn't overly concerned about wild rumors taking root. Patriot's steady presence ensured any outlandish tales would be swiftly crushed in their infancy.
If anyone doubted that reality, they were welcome to try whispering a baseless rumor into the old Wendigo's ear and see exactly how he responded.
It certainly wouldn't be a pleasant experience. Even the notoriously rowdy Yeti Squadron lacked the sheer nerve to orchestrate such nonsense in front of Patriot; their rebellious streak was ultimately governed by a healthy sense of self-preservation!
Even with thorough mental preparation, leading Fafnir through the village paths proved entirely eventful. The head-turning rate among the villagers they passed was a solid one hundred percent! Everyone wore identical expressions of pure astonishment upon beholding the miraculous duo.
It wasn't solely due to Jeanne strolling around with a miniature Talulah by her side—though the crowd did find the physical duplication incredibly fascinating, marveling at the sheer impossibility of two individuals looking so identical.
The true source of the community's surprise was Jeanne herself. They had gone without seeing her for so long that many had nearly forgotten the daily sight of her, with a few even failing to recognize her at first glance.
The villagers eagerly flocked toward them, offering warm, enthusiastic greetings. Jeanne stood gracefully in the center of the path, returning their welcoming remarks with a gentle, appreciative smile.
"Ah, Lord Patriot, you are here!"
As she reached the outskirts of the settlement, Jeanne spotted Patriot and his honor guard returning from an unknown task. The group looked equally surprised to see her wandering the paths.
"A minor disturbance occurred nearby. We went out to handle it," Patriot replied simply. His gaze lingered on Jeanne for an extra moment. Catching the unspoken cue, the squad leader smoothly directed the rest of the guard to move ahead, quietly vacating the area.
Patriot maintained a heavy silence for a moment. He glanced down at the small child beside Jeanne, then lifted his eyes back to the maiden, his voice carrying a deep, somber weight as he asked:
"The situation... over there. How does it fare?"
His tone was heavy and laced with clear hesitation, as though he was profoundly conflicted about even raising the question.
"It is proceeding well enough, I suppose. Theresis has fled with his loyalists, though their exact destination is currently unknown. Theresa believes he is most likely seeking refuge in Victoria. As for the Royal Court..."
Jeanne stood by the path, offering Patriot a detailed account of the current political landscape in Kazdel. The old Wendigo stood perfectly still, listening intently without offering a single interruption or remark.
Yet, as she unspooled the narrative, Jeanne sensed a subtle shift in his demeanor. His breathing seemed to grow slightly heavier, as though the news of his homeland's transformation brought him a profound, quiet relief.
Given the rigid structure of his armored face, Jeanne couldn't decipher his true emotions. Is this a strict cultural tradition among the Sarkaz? she wondered silently. Why does every prominent figure seem to possess an unbreakable habit of wearing masks?
When her account concluded, Patriot slowly raised his gaze to the sky, complex emotions swirling within him. He stood in complete silence for a long interval, offering no further commentary, though Jeanne felt entirely certain the old warrior was suppressing a powerful urge to unleash a long, resonant roar toward the heavens.
Jeanne and Fafnir chose not to interrupt his quiet moment, allowing the venerable fighter to privately process the monumental changes sweeping through his distant home.
Jeanne had noticed this pattern previously. Whenever Patriot gleaned news of Kazdel from Mudrock and her squad, his emotional state always grew incredibly complicated.
It was glaringly obvious that he still harbored a deep care for the nation of Kazdel, even if he firmly refused to return or entangle himself in its ongoing strife.
His distance did not equate to apathy. In his private moments, he quietly mourned the fractured state of his homeland, often sitting alone in the freezing wind, his gaze fixed steadily in the direction of Kazdel.
Now that his homeland was finally steering toward a brighter dawn, his heavy heart had surely found a measure of peace. He no longer needed to carry the agonizing burden of worrying over its ruin.
Slowly returning his focus to the present, Patriot's gaze shifted to the tiny figure standing beside Jeanne. Sensing the weight of his attention, Fafnir tilted her head, locking eyes with the imposing Wendigo.
"It seems... this young one contributed significantly to the conflict in Kazdel," Patriot remarked.
Though phrased as a question, his deep voice carried the unshakable certainty of a proven fact.