While Aida wrestled with the pain of losing one from her pack, Adenos watched her silently. Finally, they returned to home. They hadn't even managed to find Matt's body. This devastated Aida the most. But there, witnessing their surroundings shift abruptly from rocky terrains to forests confirmed her suspicions. There was magic involved here.
Adenos tried to console her, "Aida, you know as well as I do that we couldn't stay there any longer. I wouldn't have wanted to return without finding Matt's body either but staying would've jeopardized us all. Sometimes, we have to make tough calls, whether we like it or not."
Aida shook her head, deciding not to dwell on it any further. But this didn't mean she wasn't going to try to find out what happened to Matt. "Alright, I know you're right. But coming back without him still doesn't sit right with me," she said, voicing her grief.
"Ever since we returned, I've been pondering what this magic has to do with Matt. But I'm puzzled," Adenos confessed.
With a knowing look, Aida replied, "Consider this: Who were these witches? What ties them to Matt?"
"Ugh! I'm so tired of thinking. Let's go whip something up in the kitchen," Adenos suggested.
Aida was dragged after him. Adenos would typically mull things over while cooking. "You're actually going to cook, right?" she asked playfully.
"Yes, aren't we starving? Plus, I get a chance to clear my head. We need some energy." Leading the way, Adenos headed to the kitchen with Aida trailing behind. "Let's see what's in the fridge... Ah! Look at that, Miss Alpha, we have steaks. How does that sound?"
"I'd say it sounds delicious!" Aida exclaimed, clearly delighted.
She sat down at the kitchen table, watching Adenos. She always enjoyed watching him cook. They have been together since childhood, and often words were not needed to understand each other. Adenos looked at her, measuring her reactions to decide what to add next. And soon a mouthwatering steak with mushroom sauce awaited them.
"What do you think?" Adenos asked, anticipation evident in his eyes.
"Absolutely D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S!" was Aida's response, causing Adenos to beam.
For a while, they savored their meal in silence.
"I forgot how out-of-this-world your cooking is," Aida remarked.
Adenos's face reddened at the compliment. To escape her noticing, he decided to put his empty plate in the sink, muttering, "Enjoy your meal!"
Aida teased, "Hey, I saw that blush! Don't worry, I won't tell anyone that Mr. Grouchy Beta turns as red as a schoolgirl."
"Why don't you stop poking fun and let's get some rest? It's late. Tomorrow's going to be challenging. You might have escaped a confrontation with grandpa today, but trust me, tomorrow morning, he'll be grilling you about today's events," Adenos warned.
Morning came quickly. The sun's rays gently filtered through the curtains. Adenos was right. The moment Aida stepped downstairs, she found her grandfather, with his piercing eyes and stern expression, waiting for her in the living room.
"Sit down, Aida," he commanded, pointing to a chair opposite him. Aida gulped, the friendly, warm atmosphere of last night with Adenos felt worlds away.
"So, tell me about yesterday," Grandpa began his voice firm, leaving no room for deviation.
Aida took a deep breath, trying to organize her thoughts, preparing herself for what would surely be a long interrogation.
'We lost Matt, one of our guards, yesterday night. I could not find his body to bring back,' she said softly and sadly.
'HOW?.....' and silence followed his question.