My eyebrow raised.
"Does that have to do with the instability you were talking about?"
"Exactly—as expected, you are quite sharp." He held his chin with a grin on his face.
"Simply told—humans are waging wars against monsters that came from outside."
"Outside?"
"Yes, outside humankind's borders. We don't know where they came from, but they are invading. But we as the center have not been attacked yet—the surrounding lands are acting as our shields."
"So if Kardiotza gets defeated, humanity would lose—and that's why it's called the heart?" My eyes narrowed with each word I said.
"Along with our negotiating power—they cannot afford to focus their powers on opposite sides after all. That is the reason we need enough power to threaten those governing the surrounding lands." He pressed his finger against the table between us,
"It's the ultimate defense, there is not a soul who doesn't want that protection."
"But why do beasts appear only in those countries?"
"When we go to the manor, we will do what we can about that lack of knowledge of yours."
My body hunched forward, straightened by the next words that came.
"And we will fix the hole inside of your swordsmanship. I will teach you the final pieces—" I shook my head, shooing glances at Mim.
"But I'll explain it another time." That same moment steps sounded from the door behind us.
The moment I turned my head, a glimpse of straight, pitch black hair passed by—waving in the air behind her.
It was a woman who carried the same soft features as my mom, alongside her pale skin, that contrasted the warm colored skin carried by Edward.
But overarching all of it, was the pressure she brought with her.
One of the same magnitude as Edward—one enough to cloud all my senses.
I turned to Albert who she passed by,
Even he far surpasses me—and even Caleb in strength.
This was a foolish mistake, damn. I had waltzed into the middle of a beast's den of my own accord.
"Honey please calm down, he is quite sensitive," Edward said, scratching the back of his head.
I hadn't noticed it, but a drop of sweat scattered upon meeting my hand.
My hands had gripped the couch we sat on, even Mim looked at me—feeling me trembling.
I looked around me, passing by all their glances.
"Sorry Tjer, if she feels anxious enough, she forgets to control herself—" He grinned, glancing at her,
"It's quite amateurish."
A black shadow appeared behind him.
It was his wife, hitting him on his head—hard enough for the hollow sound to echo through the room.
A silence took over this entire room.
But not even a second after that, it broke.
"pfft..." Albert straightened his expression,
"This kid is in utter shock."
I looked at Mim, who didn't pay any attention to it—already indulging into the cookies in front of her.
I caught both Edward, and his wife smiling at each other.
This isn't a beasts den.
It was just a normal home.
"Pf-pf-pfft..." Sounds escaped my mouth, sounds I didn't mean to make.
Even Mim turned her face away from the plate in front of her, making me bury my face into my palms.
Varying laughter broke the silence, from the soft, high pitched of Mim, to the thunderlike laughter of Edward, all three of them laughed with Albert simply closing his eyes.
A soft—a kind voice carried through the room, I saw her, holding the edges of her dress, bending down,
"Nice to meet you kids. I am Katherine, I'll try to be your m-mother for as long as I can." It seemed like she had practiced for a while, failing just a single part.
"Hahaha, nice to meet you Katherine..." I showed her the biggest smile I had.
No one responded, silence took the room over again.
"Brother why are you crying?" Mim had cookie crumbs around her mouth, being the only one who dared to break the silence—she was the only one who could.
I brought my hand to my face, and felt the drops flow past my hand, each tear came faster than the last.
"I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to sound presumptuous... I'm so sorry..."
"I will never replace your real mother... I know that as well... I'm really sorry"
Her face was blown red, with tears starting to form in her eyes—fighting to find the right words to say.
I truly appreciated her gesture—even when I couldn't say it.
This silence that no one could break, was once again broken.
"Katherine, these cookies are really amazing!" Mim spoke with her mouth full of cookies, leaving our plate glistening.
"Wait did you eat it all? You didn't leave anything for me!?" I pointed at the plate.
"Hihi, I forgot... sorry!" She said, licking all the crumbs off her face.
"I really wanted to try it! They smelled so nice..."
"It didn't just smell nice, it also tasted amazin—"
She saw my hand approach, and tried to pull her face away, but it was too late—I had taken a hold of her cheeks, and pulled them towards myself.
"Sowry, sowry."
Katherine who still stood waved her hand around,
"Wait, wait—if you want I can make more for yo—" She held her hands against her mouth.
"If you can, I'd love it." I said, letting go of Mim.
She walked down the same path, and reached for the door,
"But you don't have to make now, we're going to be living with you—right?"
"It's exactly as he says. So come and sit down with us!" Edward said, tapping the spot next to him.
Her face relaxed as she sighed, sitting down next to Edward.
There was a silence, no one knew what to talk about, it wasn't just new for me.
Even Mim who broke the silence before couldn't find anything to say, there was nothing that could distract her.
"Ahem... Do you guys want something to drink?" Albert looked at Mim and me.
"Uh... Mim what do you want?" I asked her.
"I don't know..." She whispered back, holding the sleeves of my clothes.
"Uh..." I tapped my finger against my lip.
"Have you ever tried juice before?" Albert asked.
"Juice? Sorry... I don't know what that is."
"It's no problem, it's a sweet drink made from fruits. You would like it—" He glanced at the emptied plate,
"Rather I believe so."
"In that case we'd love to try it—please..."
He turned towards the other couch,
"What about you my lord, my lady?"
"Can I have tea?" Edward asked for tea.
"The same for me." Katherine followed.
"Please wait for a bit then. I'll get it soon."
"Sorry, but what is tea?"
His eyes narrowed,
"I would have expected you to at least know of tea—he loved it after all."
"I wonder where you were born?"
I couldn't hide it from them, knowing that we were going to live together,
"...We are both from Kage."