[Scene: Ashen's Household – Almost Afternoon]
The breeze outside was soft, rustling through the mango trees.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Lira wiped her hands on her apron and walked to the front door. She expected a merchant. Maybe the neighbor's kid again. She did not expect what she saw.
Her eyes widened the moment the door opened—Katrina stood there, bruised and bandaged, her arm in a sling like a wounded soldier.
Lira (gasping, but warm):
> "Katrina?! My god—why are you like this?"
Her voice wasn't judgmental. Just worried. That sweet, kind of chiding tone only a mother could pull off without sounding critical.
Katrina froze.
She wasn't used to this. Not the softness. Not the worry—from anyone except the guild members of Whisper's Light.
Her mouth opened—and the lie came out clumsy.
Katrina (rushed):
> "I-I fell from the stairs."
Lira:
> "So you should've rested, silly girl. Why are you here walking around in this heat?"
Katrina (softer now):
> "Yesterday… I was kind of in a hurry. So I just wanted to talk to Ashen."
Lira tilted her head with a tiny sigh.
Lira:
> "He's in his room. I went to wake him up but he was sleeping like a log. So I let him be. But—"
She smiled.
"It's been a while, huh? You can go up."
---
[Scene: Ashen's Room – First Floor]
The door creaked open.
Katrina didn't knock.
Ashen lay there like a crime scene—arms spread in a zero shape, legs kicked out wide, mouth slightly open. A thin line of drool sparkled in the sunlight.
She walked up quietly.
Then grabbed him by the ankle.
And lifted.
Shake-shake-shake.
Like trying to un-jam a rusty machine.
Ashen (groggy, eyes barely open):
> "Hey, mo—"
He blinked.
A familiar figure.
He smiled, still dangling upside down.
Ashen (grinning):
> "Teacher! It's youuu!"
She let go.
Thud.
Face-first into the mattress.
He bounced once before scrambling upright.
Ashen (snapping awake):
> "So you're here to train me, right? That's why you came!"
"I am a prodigy, right?"
Katrina squinted.
Katrina (deadpan):
> "I wouldn't go that far."
She smirked faintly.
Katrina:
> "But you're interesting."
---
Lira (from downstairs):
> "Hey! You two wanna have lunch?"
Katrina and Ashen made eye contact. No words.
Just that universal "yes" face.
---
[Scene: Kitchen Table – A While Later]
Katrina sat at the table. A simple spread—steamed rice, fried roots, and hot soup—was already placed.
Lira poured water into their cups, then sat across Katrina with a curious smile.
Lira:
> "So… what do you like?"
Katrina tilted her head.
Like the question didn't quite compute.
Katrina (honest, quiet):
> "I eat whatever I get."
She blinked, trying to soften her answer.
Katrina:
> "No particular… likings."
Lira just smiled more warmly.
Lira:
> "Well. Let's change that, shall we?"
Ashen plopped into his seat, still drying his face.
Ashen (with his mouth half full):
> "I like anything Mom makes. Except that weird pickled thing from last week."
He chewed slower after saying it, a quiet warmth blooming in his chest.
Anything you eat together with the people you care about is tasty… The very thing that I lacked in my past life.
Lira:
> "It's called sunroot. And it's good for your stomach."
Ashen (grumbling):
> "I think it burned my soul."
Katrina giggled.