Aekira sat quietly at the long, elegant dining table, surrounded by her lively family. Plates of exotic food were passed around, laughter and chatter filling the air, but all she could do was sit there, feeling completely out of place. The conversations seemed to flow so easily between everyone else—stories about old times, inside jokes, and even the occasional playful argument.
But for her, it was just noise.
'...ugh...' she thought, forcing herself to smile every now and then so no one would notice how awkward she felt. She glanced around, her eyes darting from one relative to the next. Shenan was laughing softly at something Lucius had said, while Zakis appeared to be deep in conversation with Laura.
Meanwhile, Aekira was struggling just to find a way to join in. 'I don't even know what they're talking about...'
Suddenly, Lucius looked over at her. "You okay, Aekira? You've been awfully quiet."
All eyes turned toward her, and Aekira froze.
"Ah… yeah, just... taking everything in," she said quickly, trying not to let her discomfort show.
Aekira forced a smile, her mind racing. 'Ugh, they're family, but I still feel like a stranger...'
She cleared her throat, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on her. "So... uh... how are you guys doing?" she asked, her voice slightly more timid than she intended.
There was a brief pause before Shenan chuckled softly. "We're doing well, sweetheart. A bit busy lately, but we're managing."
Lucius leaned back in his chair, giving her a small, reassuring nod. "Busy, as always, but you know, that's life in the Dark Plumes."
Laura, seated nearby, smiled brightly. "You get used to the chaos after a while! But what about you, Aekira? How are you settling in? Must be a lot to take in, right?"
Aekira shifted in her seat. "Yeah... it's definitely a lot to take in." She glanced at Zakis, who gave her an encouraging smile but stayed quiet.
'Yeah, a lot more than you all know...'
Lucius leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly as he addressed the table. "So... what will she do now?" His question seemed innocent enough, but Aekira felt her heart skip a beat.
'Wait, what?!' she thought, caught off guard by the sudden shift in the conversation.
Before she could respond, Kryzius, sitting at the end of the table, raised a hand. "Well, since she just woke up, I think for now she'll stay at home. It's important that she takes her time to adjust and get more comfortable before jumping into anything too soon."
Aekira let out a silent breath of relief, though her mind buzzed with questions. 'Stay home...? What am I supposed to do while I "adjust"?' She glanced around the table, wondering how much longer she could keep this act up before more questions came her way.
Lucius closed his eyes, leaning back slightly in his chair. "Hmm… how about she comes with me tomorrow to see the Black Plumes?" he suggested casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Aekira's eyes widened. 'Wait, what?!' The idea of being thrown into an elite division of the kingdom so soon made her heart race. She still barely understood half of what was going on here.
Kryzius looked thoughtful, while Shenan raised an eyebrow, clearly considering the proposal. "Lucius," she began, her voice calm but firm, "she just woke up, remember? Maybe that's a bit too much for now."
Lucius shrugged, his usual nonchalant attitude shining through. "She's going to have to face it sooner or later. Might as well see how the system works firsthand, no? Besides, the Black Plumes aren't as intense as people make them out to be."
Aekira gulped silently, unsure whether to protest or go along with it.
Lucius added with a slight smirk, "Of course, that's only if Aekira is okay with it."
Aekira felt all eyes turn toward her, the pressure weighing down on her shoulders. She looked around the table, feeling the awkwardness creeping in again. Her family was waiting for her answer, and she could sense the mix of curiosity and expectation.
"Uh…" Aekira hesitated. 'Do I even want to see the Black Plumes?' she thought. The idea of jumping into something so serious right after waking up felt overwhelming, but at the same time, a part of her was curious.
"I… guess it could be interesting," she said cautiously, not wanting to seem weak.
'What did I just agree to…?'
Aekira fidgeted in her seat, feeling the pressure of their expectant gazes. "I dunno… it's just… different," she admitted, feeling a bit flustered.
"C'mon! There's gotta be something you love about it," Laura pressed, clearly enjoying Aekira's discomfort. "What's the best part? The food, the view, or maybe the people?"
Aekira shrugged, glancing at her father, who sat nearby with his tail swaying gently behind him. "Well… I really like Dad's tail," she said, surprising herself with the sudden honesty.
The room fell silent for a moment, and everyone looked at Aekira in shock. They exchanged glances, unsure how to react.
Shenan broke the silence first, shaking her head in disbelief. "I can't believe you wanted to cut your tail, Zakis."
Laura nodded enthusiastically, a smirk on her face. "Yes! I told you people liked it!"
Aekira blinked in confusion. "Wait, what?"
Zakis looked taken aback, his tail flicking nervously behind him. "W-well… I didn't know! Nobody told me!"
"Clearly, someone did!" Kaeri chimed in, laughing at the sudden turn of events. The light-hearted teasing brought a sense of warmth back to the table, easing Aekira's earlier tension.
Aekira stared at them in disbelief, her mind racing. What the heck? They aren't mad?!
Instead of the backlash she had expected, the room buzzed with laughter and playful banter. Her family was poking fun at each other, including her dad, who wore a sheepish grin behind his mask.
"Honestly, I think your tail is adorable, Zakis," Laura said, winking at him. "You should embrace it! It's part of your charm!"
"Exactly! If anyone here should be worried about their tail, it's me," Kryzius added with a chuckle, gesturing to his own fluffy tail. "It's more like a distraction than anything else!"
Aekira couldn't help but smile at their easygoing attitudes. For a moment, it felt like a normal family dinner, filled with teasing and laughter. But underneath the playful surface, she still felt the weight of her own confusion.
"Wait… so, nobody's mad at me?" Aekira asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Why would we be mad?" Lucius replied, tilting his head. "You're family now, Aekira. We'll always support you—tails and all!"
"Oh alright...haha..."
"...hah"