Kairos sat on the edge of his bed in the new mid-spire apartment, elbows resting on his knees, staring at the floor. The room was quiet except for the soft hum of the aether-heater and the distant city sounds filtering through the balcony door. Moonlight mixed with the soft glow of Nexus's night lights spilled across the clean wooden floor.
He was thinking hard.
Lumen was only ten. Ivan and Mei were old, but they still had years left if they got proper care. Now that he had real credits — not just scraps from scavenging — things could change. School. Real school. Not the broken holotapes and street lessons he grew up with. Lumen deserved books, friends his age, a chance to learn about the world beyond survival.
Kairos ran a hand through his dark hair and smiled faintly.
"Time to do this properly," he muttered to himself.
He stood up, grabbed his coat, and stepped into the living area.
Lumen was sprawled on the floor playing with the one-eyed cat, while Mei sat knitting and Ivan dozed in the corner chair with a half-smoked tobacco roll in his hand.
"Everyone," Kairos announced, voice warm but firm. "We're going shopping. Right now."
Lumen's head shot up like a rocket. "Shopping? For what?"
"Clothes, bags, water bottles, shoes… everything you need for school."
Lumen's eyes went wide. "School?! Real school?!"
Mei's knitting needles paused. Ivan cracked one eye open.
Kairos nodded. "Yes. Real school. Starting next week. No more just surviving. You're all going to learn properly."
Lumen jumped up so fast the cat yowled in protest. "Big brother, you're the best!"
Ivan chuckled deeply. "Finally using those credits like a proper man."
Mei smiled softly, arthritic hands folding the half-finished scarf. "Bless you, boy."
The mid-spire shopping district was bright and bustling even at night — holographic signs floating above stores, clean sidewalks, and vendors who actually smiled instead of glaring.
Kairos led the group like a general on a mission.
First stop: Kids' clothing section.
Lumen ran wild between the racks, pulling out the most ridiculous outfits.
"Big brother, look at this!" He held up a bright orange shirt with glowing rocket patterns. "I'll look like a flying crystal!"
Kairos laughed. "You'll look like a traffic signal. Try this instead." He picked a simple navy blue uniform-style set with reinforced elbows — practical for school but still cool enough for a ten-year-old.
Lumen tried it on and came out posing dramatically. "How do I look?"
"Like a future scholar," Kairos said, ruffling his hair. "Now pick shoes that won't fall apart in two days."
Lumen ended up with sturdy black shoes, a backpack with secret pockets ("For snacks!"), a water bottle that purified aether-tainted water, notebooks, pens that wrote in three colors, and — after much begging — one glowing rocket shirt for weekends.
Ivan watched with amusement, occasionally grumbling, "In my days we wrote on walls with charcoal."
Mei picked a warm woolen shawl for herself and a new scarf for Ivan.
Then came the funny part.
Lumen dragged Kairos to the "Adventure Gear" section and tried on a fake crystal-bearer helmet.
"Look! I'm a Crysto now!" He struck a pose, helmet too big and sliding over his eyes.
Kairos burst out laughing. "You look like a mushroom with legs."
Lumen spun around. "Mushroom power activate!" and bumped straight into a mannequin, knocking it over.
The store attendant came running. Kairos quickly paid for the damage while trying not to laugh harder.
Mei shook her head, smiling. "You two are children."
Ivan just grunted, "At least the boy has energy."
Next, they hit the adult section. Kairos made sure Mei got two new comfortable dresses, warm socks, and a beautiful silver hair comb she kept admiring but refused to ask for. For Ivan, he bought a sturdy new coat, thick boots, and a tobacco pouch that kept the leaves fresh longer.
Lumen kept running back and forth bringing things for approval.
"Big brother, this for Mei grandma?" He held up a bright pink scarf.
Mei laughed. "Too bright for an old woman like me."
"But you'll look pretty!" Lumen insisted.
Kairos ended up buying it anyway. "She deserves to look pretty."
By the time they left the store, everyone was carrying bags, laughing, and Lumen was already wearing his new shoes and backpack, marching like a soldier.
Back at the apartment, Kairos refused to let anyone help with dinner.
"Tonight I cook," he declared, rolling up his sleeves.
Ivan raised an eyebrow. "You sure, kid? Last time you almost burned the hut down."
"That was years ago!" Kairos protested. "I've improved."
Lumen bounced on his toes. "Today is going to be fun! Big bro Kairos is cooking!"
Mei smiled from her chair. "I'll supervise… from a safe distance."
Kairos worked in the small kitchen with surprising focus. He made a simple but hearty meal — stir-fried vegetables with aether-seasoned rice, grilled protein strips (real meat, not synthetic), and a light soup with fresh herbs he'd bought earlier. The apartment filled with warm, delicious smells.
Ivan leaned back in his chair, sniffing the air.
"Smells good. Today we're going to enjoy ourselves."
Lumen peeked over the counter. "Big bro's food is always delicious! Even when he burns it a little, it still tastes amazing."
Kairos laughed. "No burning tonight, I promise."
When everything was ready, they sat together at the small dining table — the first proper family meal in their new home.
Lumen took the first bite and made an exaggerated happy face.
"Mmm! See? I told you! Big brother's cooking is the best in all of Nexus!"
Mei tasted it and nodded approvingly. "Very good, boy. You've learned well."
Ivan ate slowly, savoring every spoonful. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all. Tastes like home… the good kind."
They talked and laughed throughout dinner.
Lumen told exaggerated stories about his "training" with the cat.
Mei shared old Korean folktales.
Ivan grumbled about "kids these days" but smiled the whole time.
Kairos sat back, watching them, a quiet warmth in his chest.
This was what family felt like.
After dinner, while clearing the table, Lumen hugged Kairos tightly.
"Thank you, big brother. For the clothes… for school… for everything."
Kairos ruffled his hair gently.
"You deserve it, kid. All of you do."
As the night grew late, everyone settled in — Lumen curled up with his new backpack beside the bed, Mei knitting peacefully, Ivan dozing with a content smile.
Kairos stood on the balcony for a moment, looking out at the glowing spires.
One week until the hunt with Aria.
But right now, this — this little apartment filled with laughter and full bellies — felt like the real victory.
To be continued...