Everyone gathered in the living room for breakfast. Elion and Stella had prepared some buttered cookies and a pot of tea. Everyone ate gratefully in a warm atmosphere, accompanied by light conversation and shared smiles.
When they finished eating, Delma got up first. She went to get her backpack without saying much. Elion did the same, carefully checking his gear, while Ethan took the last sip of tea with a calm smile.
Reize approached him without saying a word. She was holding a couple of pieces of cardboard, carefully cut out and folded. Ethan watched her curiously, but didn't move. She stood beside him and began wrapping the cardboard around his forearms, securing it with tape
—In case you run into one of those —she murmured, focused on her task—. It's not as strong as armor… but it'll stop a bite.
Ethan looked at her silently for a moment, his expression gentle.
—Thanks, Reize.
She nodded without looking at him, murmuring that he should come back safely. When she was done, she stood up, but Ethan wasn't going to let her get away that easily.
—Hey… —he said, his tone mischievous—. If I come back without a scratch… will you give me an answer about what we talked about yesterday?
Reize froze for a second. Then she lowered her head, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks.
—Don't be silly… —she murmured, turning away—. I'm just worried about the team. If anything happens to you, it'll be a problem for everyone.
Ethan smiled, amused. But just as she was walking away, Reize stopped in the kitchen doorway. She didn't look at him; she just spoke into the air, her voice trembling.
—But if you do it… if you come back safe… maybe I'll tell you something.
And without waiting for a reply, she left the room. Ethan watched her go, still smiling, but there was something else in his eyes. A mixture of hope and tendernes.
—Are you ready? —Elion asked, approaching him.
Ethan nodded.
At that moment, Delma came down the stairs with a steady stride. Her jacket was zipped up to her neck, and she had a backpack slung over her shoulder. She didn't say anything, but her presence said it all: she was ready.
When the three of them were ready, they headed for the back door of the house. The sun was already high in the sky, though it barely peeked through the gray clouds. Outside, the world remained uncertain, dangerous.
Koen was waiting for them there. He crossed his arms, looking at them one by one. Then, without saying another word, he stepped forward and placed a hand on Ethan's shoulder.
—Take care. All three of you.
—We'll be back before sunset —Ethan replied.
Arika, standing beside him, added with a barely perceptible smile:
—We'll be waiting for you.
Stella approached at that moment, holding a small folded piece of paper in her hand. She handed it to Delma.
—It's a sketch —she explained—. Hopefully you won't need it, but if you get lost, this can guide you back.
Delma took it, nodding silently.
Then, a small figure approached from the hallway, holding a furry puppy tightly in her arms. It was Althea, with Max pressed against her chest. She walked with small steps toward Delma, looked up, and spoke in a soft voice:
—Come back safely… okay?
Delma crouched down immediately, until she was at the child's height. She stroked her hair tenderly and smiled gently.
—I'll come back. I promise. We won't be separated again.
Althea nodded, still holding the puppy tightly.
Behind her, half-hidden, stood Hael. His serious gaze never left Elion. He didn't say anything right away, but when Elion turned to look at him, Hael took a deep breath and said firmly:
—Come back in one piece.
Elion smiled, touched. He took a step toward him and tried to raise a hand to ruffle his hair, as he always did.
—Of course, little brother.
But before he could touch him, Hael took a step back, frowning.
—Don't do that —he said, his tone dry—. I'm not like Althea… I don't need that kind of thing.
Althea, who was still standing next to Delma, snorted at the sound of this.
—Hey! What's that supposed to mean?
—You heard me —Hael replied, folding his arms.
—Sometimes you're such a grumpy old man!
—And you're such a baby!
The tension from the game suddenly dissolved, replaced by stifled laughter. Everyone present, including Delma and Koen, smiled as they watched the children bicker. Max barked softly in Althea's arms, as if he wanted to weigh in too.
For just a moment longer, the atmosphere felt like home again.
And finally, after one last round of glances and silent promises, Delma, Elion, and Ethan walked out the door.
The world awaited them.
And the house, once again, was left behind.
The silence after the group's departure was brief. Soon, the house regained some of its peaceful rhythm.
Hael and Althea, with little to do and visibly bored, began looking for something to entertain themselves with. Max was with them, in Althea's arms, clinging calmly as they wandered through the house. They checked drawers, shelves, and forgotten corners until they finally found what they were looking for in the room Delma and Althea shared: a small pile of colored paper and a pair of scissors tucked away in a drawer.
The door had been left open.
Koen, who was walking down the hallway, saw them from outside.
—What are you doing? —he asked, leaning against the doorframe.
Althea held up the sheets of paper excitedly, cradling Max in her arms.
—We're going to make shapes!
Before Koen could answer, Hael grabbed his arm, and between the two of them, he and Althea practically dragged him into the room.
—Come on, come on —they insisted.
Koen let out a small laugh, though he was still hesitant.
—I'm not very good at that…
—It doesn't matter —said Althea—. Just do it with us.
Koen sighed, but eventually gave in.
—All right…
Minutes later, they were settled in. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, softly illuminating the vivid colors of the paper.
Koen was sitting on the floor, cross-legged, surrounded by clumsy cutouts and crumpled scraps. He was trying to fold the paper into animals, but none of them turned out right. A rabbit looked like a bat, a fox had ended up looking like a shoe, and his attempt at a bird fell apart at the slightest movement.
—You're terrible at this —Hael remarked bluntly, sitting beside him as he effortlessly shaped a flawless figure between his fingers.
Koen let out a low laugh, scratching the back of his neck.
—It's my first time. Have a little compassion.
—First time? —Hael repeated, incredulously—. Even my brother knows how to do this. We used to do it at school when it rained. Haven't you ever done anything like this?
Koen hesitated for just a second.
—No… not really. At my house, things like that were considered a waste of time. It was all about studying, training… living up to expectations.
Hael stopped folding paper. He glanced at him curiously.
—That reminds me of a kid I knew in elementary school. He hardly ever talked to anyone; he was always so serious. When we tried to invite him to play, he'd say he couldn't waste time, that he had to study… and one day he just stopped coming. Later they said it was because of family problems, but there was also a rumor that he was from a very rich family and would continue studying at home.
Koen let out a small laug.
—Yeah… that sounds pretty familiar.
Hael raised his eyebrows.
—Wait… are you one of those, too?
Koen nodded bluntl.
—Yeah. My last name is Howard.
The effect was immediate.
Althea, who until then had been calm, rocking Max in her arms while he slept, looked up suddenly.
—Howard? Like the company Zenthera?
Koen nodded calmly.
—Yes. It's my family's business. Eventually… I'll have to take it over.
Hael jumped to his feet.
—¡¿Hablas en serio?! ¡Zenthera es gigantesca!
—That's incredible! —Althea added, surprised.
Koen smiled, but without real enthusiasm.
—From the outside, maybe. From the inside… not so much.
He looked down for a moment.
—It was… demanding. I hardly ever saw my mother. And my grandfather was only interested in results. Nothing else.
Hael watched him in silence, deep in thought. Then he looked down at the figure he was holding in his hands.
—I see… It must have been tough —he murmured—. But hey… I'm sure you did some amazing things, right?
Koen nodded calmly.
—I suppose. But I always wondered what it would be like to do normal things… like this —he said, lifting his clumsy, crumpled paper figure with an amused smile.
—Well, you're doing a terrible job —Hael joked.
—¡Hael —Althea protested—. Don't be rude!
—It's okay —Koen replied, laughing genuinely this time—. Although, to be fair, I have better memories of doing something else.
—Like what? —Althea asked, curious.
—When I was a kid, my mom and I used to make clay figures. Just once in a while… but I liked it.
—Then you must be good with your hands! —Althea said, excitedly—. I'm sure you can get better!
Koen looked at them, a little surprised by their enthusiasm.
—Maybe…
—Of course you can —she added—. We'll teach you.
Koen looked at both of them warmly.
—Thanks… I'd love to.
—But first —said Hael, pointing—. Take off your gloves. You won't be able to bend anything properly like that.
Koen looked down at his gloved hands. He hesitated for a moment.
—It's fine like this —he replied—. I feel more comfortable with them on.
—Why? —asked Althea, tilting her head.
Koen took a deep breath, feigning calm.
—I have mysophobia. It makes me uncomfortable to touch things that might be dirty or contaminated. I feel more at ease this way.
The children fell silent. They weren't sure what to say. They didn't judge him; they just nodded.
The children exchanged a brief glance.
—Oh… —said Hael—. Okay, then.
But he frowned.
—Although you weren't wearing them yesterday.
It took Koen barely a second to answer.
—I'd lost them. I found these later…
He lied calmly. They couldn't know the truth. They couldn't see the wound he was hiding beneath his right glove.
Hael watched him for a moment longer, but didn't press the issue. He simply took another sheet of paper and handed it to him.
—Here. Try drawing a fox this time.
Koen smiled, relieved.
—I'll do my best.
And so, without further questions, the three of them continued playing. Max breathed calmly in Althea's arms, soft laughter filled the room, and for a while, the war out there seemed far away.