"You've forgotten that I needed sleep? I just came back a mission? I told you two hours ago?!" exclaimed Z, with an aggressive tone under his tongue.
"Sorry, my bad... You're always doing the morning shift, so I'm still not used to seeing you at the nightwork. So you can go and rest if you want to, I will have to stay back," explained Gillian apologetically.
"You don't have to. Tomoe and I have finished our training for the day, and I am itching to see some Elements. I can stay to supervise these kids. Your wife would enjoy your company instead of being alone for the whole day," offered Bryan.
"Well, seeing that you are alright with it. You have my thanks, Bryan," said Gillian, bowing to the Slayer.
"No worries. Go and ask Clement if he's done with that herbal chicken soup yet. I asked him to prepare it since Ysabeau couldn't eat the normal lunch he'd made. The soup, if done right, should be easy on her stomach and relieve some stiff joints," instructed Bryan, taking a bite of the scallop.
Gillian nodded and rushed off to the Old Chapel. Z yawned and headed back to the house for a long-awaited sleep. Tomoe turned to look at Bryan while shaking his head in fascination.
"What? Why are you staring at me like that? It isn't good manners to stare at someone while they are eating. It means that you want to pick a fight," asked Bryan, irritated that Tomoe was looking at him.
"I had no idea that you knew how to take care of pregnant women... Was it from experience? One of your wives?" asked Tomoe, sneaking a sly grin.
"Who do you think I am, man?! My adopted mother was pregnant for a bit during my time with the Five Kings, so I had to find ways to take care of her. She was nauseous most of the time. It was quite the pain to handle since she was a Mage."
"The child was from her ex-husband that ran away years before. One of the home remedies that was shown to me was cooking soup by a mother and daughter duo in the Campania. Besides, I haven't had a girlfriend yet, much less a wife," replied Bryan, furious at Tomoe.
"Oh, I had no clue... Sorry about that. Does that mean you've got a younger sibling? Where's the kid then?" asked Tomoe, with ears drooping.
"The kid died after half a year. It was for natural reasons," replied Bryan.
"My condolences..." mumbled Tomoe, glancing away.
A moment of silence blanketed the group as they ate before Tomoe and Ashley resumed their conflict.
"You haven't answered my question yet! Why are you here, and how did you come back?!" yelled Tomoe, pointing at Ashley.
"I should say the same thing! You left the Arks all those years ago, so why are you back here?!" shouted Ashley, copying the Kitsune.
"I came back because I felt like it, and I missed Mavislin. And she needed help to take care of all the victims rescued from the Albion region. What's your story? I saw you die in front of me, and now you're walking around as if nothing had happened?!" replied Tomoe.
"It was more like I've summoned him to the Old Chapel since we were short of hands. But I was surprised that summoning him worked since Tomoe is the only Familiar that can't be called upon by force. So it would be only if he wanted to accept the request, then he'd appear."
"A real pain in the neck. Until now, I still don't understand why you'd bother to come home. You could have just met Mavislin during her missions instead of returning to the Old Chapel," added a voice.
The group turned around to see Mavislin and Raiyen walking towards them. All of the kids rushed to embrace Mavislin while Raiyen looked on with a smile. Ashley stood up to pry the kids away from the poor Valkyrie. Luckily for the kids, Mavislin didn't seem all too troubled.
"Have you both finished with the spell?" asked Tomoe as the couple sat down at the blanket.
"Nope, we're taking a break. We planned to have lunch back in the Old Chapel, but we saw you guys sitting here with food. So we wanted to join you lot instead. That's when Raiyen decided to chime into the conversation," explained Mavislin.
"I see... Well, there is plenty of food to go around. So do help yourselves," said Bryan, offering some food to the Valkyrie.
"Mavislin, I've come to help out the training session as you've requested. So far, nothing serious has happened, other than the altercation during the last round. It was prolonged because Midori and Rina had grudged on each other," reported Ashley.