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『 House, Suuran — 27 Everi, 7:27 p.m. 』
“So, do you see this model made from Voulot wood? I made it ten years ago,” said the grandfather, showing Uyan a model depicting some sort of beast.
“Wow, that’s old! You’ll have to show me how to make one someday,” said Uyan with a smile.
“Yes, of course, my boy,” the grandfather replied.
“Uyan! Can you help me set the table?” Kaelle asked.
“Here, help her. Give her a hand.”
The boy nodded.
“Yes, I’m coming!”
Young Uyan began running from the living room to the kitchen.
“Are you worried about Vars and Itoî?” Kaelle asked as she watched her little brother set the plates on the table.
“No, not at all. I know they’ll be fine.”
Kaelle was surprised by her brother’s answer. Then she smiled and stroked his head.
“You’ve grown, haven’t you?”
Uyan began to smile, but his expression soon faded as he said:
“I need to become strong enough to protect you all, and that starts with my state of mind.”
Kaelle smiled.
“As usual: a mature and intelligent answer.”
The children finished setting the table and sat down.
“Grandpa, it’s time to eat!” Uyan shouted.
Ding-dong.
“Did someone ring the doorbell?” Uyan asked.
Kaelle briefly nodded, then called out:
“I’m coming!”
She glanced through the peephole, then turned toward the living room.
Their grandfather had also risen from his armchair. He placed a hand on Kaelle’s shoulder.
“You can open it, Kaelle,” he said with a sigh.
She opened the door.
A man in his thirties stood before her. He was dressed in a long black coat and wore a matching hat. His piercing green gaze resembled that of a snake. His long silver hair added even more coldness to this already chilly night.
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The man slightly raised his hat in greeting.
“Good evening. I expected to find Mr. Erwin here. Am I mistaken?” he asked, fixing his gaze on Kaelle.
She took a step back. She was rather intimidated, even more so after her grandfather had explained to her that three protective barriers made it impossible to detect their presence within a radius of three hundred meters.
The grandfather sighed and stepped forward.
“I’m here, I’m here. You’ve grown a lot since Holite. Come in, please. We were just about to eat.”
Holite—that was his name—entered the house before removing his shoes at the entrance.
The old man gestured for him to come into the kitchen.
Kaelle, somewhat flustered at first, regained her composure. She pulled out a chair for the man and placed another plate on the table.
“Thank you. However, I won’t be staying very long,” he said in a calm and elegant tone.
“Please, my boy. Stay and share this meal with us. Then tell me what brings you to this place in the middle of nowhere,” said the grandfather.
“Very well. In that case, I won’t insist.”
Kaelle stood to his right and waited for the man to remove his coat and hat.
“Ah, my apologies. Here you are. Thank you for your kindness, miss. Are you Mr. Erwin’s granddaughter?”
A Yeshu cross appeared around his neck.
Kaelle thought:
A clergyman? Or a believer in Yoreism?
The old man nodded timidly with a smile.
“My grandchildren must have come here.”
Holite lowered his eyes.
“I imagine this is related to the incident that occurred in the country of Nothran?”
“Yes.”
Kaelle returned after hanging his coat on the coat rack, then served the guest first.
Holite looked up.
“Please serve me only two ladlefuls.”
“I imagine your visit is related to that incident? Do you have information about what happened there?”
He nodded slightly.
“Grandpa, where’s Uyan?” Kaelle asked.
“He’s probably still in the bathroom, my girl.”
Uyan was in his grandfather’s bedroom. From there, he could hear everything that was happening in the kitchen perfectly. He was surprised to learn that someone had information about the incident. He soon went to join them in the kitchen.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Grandpa, Kaelle… and sir?” said the boy.
“You can call me Holite, young man,” he replied with a slight smile.
“All right. Let’s eat, and then we’ll discuss all this in private, if that’s all right with you, Holite.”
The man nodded, and they began eating their beef stew.
After the meal, Erwin stood up.
“Come, please. Let’s go outside. There’s a table and two chairs out there.”
Holite nodded.
Kaelle took out a bottle of alcohol and two glasses, then handed them to her grandfather.
“Thank you, my girl.”
The old man then went outside.
Uyan immediately thought:
Damn it! I wanted more information…
Kaelle leaned toward her brother’s ear and whispered:
“So? Do you really want to know what Grandpa and that man are going to talk about?” she asked with a chuckle.
Uyan was startled and stumbled.
“H-How did you figure me out?”
Kaelle began to laugh.
“You’re my little brother, after all. Of course I know you.”
She then helped him get back to his feet.
“Wouldn’t you want to know either?” Uyan asked.
Kaelle lowered her eyes for a few moments before looking at her little brother.
“A little. But, honestly, not that much. In any case, I’m not in a position to do anything. And Grandpa will tell us whatever information might be useful to us.”
Uyan began to think.
Actually, she’s not wrong. Deep down, if I snoop around too much, I could make a mistake that might put the entire family in danger…
Uyan nodded.
“You’re right. Given the current situation, there isn’t much we can do.”
Kaelle smiled, then stroked his head.
“Go get a book from Grandpa’s bedroom. It’ll keep you occupied!”
In a flash, Uyan ran to his grandfather’s bedroom.
『 House garden, Suuran — 27 Everi, 8:44 p.m. 』
The two men were seated. The bottle was on the table. The old man was about to pour the drinks, but Holite stood up and poured one for Erwin first.
“Please, Mr. Erwin. Allow me to serve you first.”
Erwin smiled.
“You haven’t changed since the last time. That was fifteen years ago already, wasn’t it?”
Holite nodded.
“Why didn’t your captain, Ovoso, come?”
“He is currently busy with the very matter I am about to discuss with you,” he replied in a slightly sad voice.
Erwin’s expression grew much more serious.
“All right. What happened in Nothran? And, above all, why?”