As the three siblings were walking, Severus noticed Evreux. After the library scene, this was the first time he saw him again.
"Hi Mr. Pretty Handsome, where are you going? Mind if I come with you?" Severus asked while smirking.
Evreux just stared at him expressionless and continued walking, but Severus stopped him by gripping his clothes. He eyed him coldly.
"Get lost," Evreux said before turning his back and continuing to walk.
"For the first time, someone told you to get lost! HAHAHA!" Severus didn't realize that Sixten and Seiren were already beside him.
"Ate! Did you see how that boy treated me? I'm so hurt," Severus exclaimed like a baby, then pouted.
"Aww, my cute little brother is pouting. Come here, I'll give you a hug," said Seiren. Severus didn't hesitate and walked towards his sister to hug her.
"How about me, Ate? He's an impostor! I'm your original little brother!" Sixten glared at them while pouting too, but Severus just mocked him.
"You're just the original, but I'm her favorite little brother. Bleh!" Severus said, sticking his tongue out.
"You—"
"Fine, fine. Come here too, my other little brother. Give your sister a hug as well."
After the hugging scene, Sixten asked, "I wonder how Mom and Dad are doing? Are they okay?"
Seiren answered, "Always think positive, little brother. They'll be fine," then patted his shoulder.
'What is he going to do there?' Severus wondered to himself when he saw Evreux heading towards the forest.
Severus made an excuse, "Just a minute, I need to pee," and ran towards Evreux's direction.
Severus shouted, "Evreux! Wait for me!"
Suddenly, Evreux stopped walking and turned to him with his expressionless face.
Severus asked, "Where are you going?" Evreux ignored him and continued walking. "Hey, I'm talking to you," but Evreux still didn't respond.
"If you're still mad about what happened yesterday, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to; it's your fault for ignoring me."
"Shut up."
Severus noticed they were getting farther from Eleonorin Palace. Trees were all he could see as they walked. He couldn't hold it in anymore and asked, "Where are we going? My feet are hurting," Severus complained.
Evreux glared at him. "I didn't tell you to come with me."
"Why? Is it forbidden to join you? You should be glad I'm keeping you company so you won't be scared, and that's what you say to me? You're hurting my feelings. Hmmph," Severus said, rolling his eyes.
"Pathetic."
As they walked, a heavy downpour suddenly started. Severus grabbed the umbrella he was holding and ran towards Evreux, who was already drenched.
"Let's find some shelter first. The rain is getting stronger, and you're soaking wet; you might get sick," but Evreux still didn't listen and kept walking.
Severus whispered, "So stubborn."
When he saw a cave, he immediately pulled Evreux inside.
He made Evreux sit and went to find some wood to start a fire.
"It's getting dark," Severus remarked as he noticed the sky growing dim outside, though the rain continued.
He looked at Evreux, who was still staring into space. Severus approached him and sat beside him. He lifted his hand to check if Evreux had a fever, but by the grace of God, he didn't. Severus breathed a sigh of relief.
Severus asked, "Are you hungry?" Evreux just ignored him.
Severus asked again, "Do you want something to drink? Just say so, and I'll fetch you some rainwater to drink, HAHAHA!" Evreux glared at him.
As Severus finished laughing, he asked again, "Where were we supposed to go earlier?"
Evreux simply answered, "Hunting dragons."
Severus was shocked. So, dragons are real? I thought they were just stories told by old folks.
Severus asked, "So they're real?" Evreux hummed in response.
Silence reigned again between them.
"How did you know?"
Evreux answered, "I saw one when I was 10."
"Wow, lucky you. I wish I could see a dragon too. How do you know one is here?"
"I just feel it."
"When I see a dragon, I'll roast it, and we'll eat it with Ate. Or I'll sell it so we can get rich and build our own kingdom," Severus said, smiling.
Evreux just glared at him. "Ridiculous."
"I'm getting sleepy, Evreux. Can I lean on your shoulder?"
"No."
"You're so selfish," Severus said, and then he suddenly fell asleep.
"Please eat first, Ate," Sixten said. She hadn't eaten since Severus disappeared. 'Severus, where are you?' Sixten whispered.
"What if something bad happened to Severus? I'll never forgive myself if that happens," their sister said tearfully.
"Ate, didn't you say earlier to think positive? And besides, you know Severus, he's strong and brave. Nothing bad will happen to him."
"Let's go find him," Seiren suggested.
"Ate, don't you see how strong the rain is? But I promise, once the rain stops, I'll go find him and bring him home so you can scold him for being stubborn," his sister nodded and held his hand.
Seiren smiled. "Let's eat. I know you haven't had lunch, just like me."
Sixten guided his sister to the dining area. "Alright, Ate."
While they were eating, Sixten couldn't help but feel happy seeing his sister putting food on his plate. Since they were kids, their sister always did that for him and Severus.
"Ate, that's enough. You should eat," Sixten urged his sister, but she just smiled.
"Eat up, little brother. I know you're starving. And look at you, you're getting thin. So, let me do this, okay? Just sit, relax, and eat."
Sixten smiled. "Thank you, Ate."
Seiren patted his head. "You're welcome."
As the rain poured heavily outside the cave, Severus woke up to the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance. He blinked, still feeling a bit drowsy, and looked at Evreux, who remained seated, staring into the dark cave with his usual expressionless face.
"Hey," Severus called, rubbing his eyes, "the rain still hasn't stopped, huh?" He stretched his arms, then slumped back down beside Evreux. "Guess we'll be stuck here for a while. What a pain."
Evreux didn't respond, his gaze still fixed ahead. Severus, now fully awake, glanced at him curiously. "You're really serious about this dragon-hunting thing, aren't you?"
Evreux gave a small nod, barely noticeable in the dim light of the cave. "I told you already."
Severus sighed, scratching his head. "Well, what's your plan? Wait here until it stops raining, then go on your little adventure?" He yawned, the cold seeping into his bones. "Honestly, I'm not sure what you're thinking, Evreux. You could've just stayed at the palace, you know? But nope, you have to go hunting dragons in the middle of nowhere."
He glanced at Evreux's soaked clothes. "You'll catch a cold if you keep this up," Severus muttered. "Look, I'll build the fire up again. Don't just sit there, it's freezing."
Severus rummaged around for more dry wood, stoking the small fire to life. It crackled, casting flickering shadows on the walls of the cave. As the flames grew brighter, Severus sat back down, wrapping his arms around his knees.
"Hey, I've got a question," he started, his voice more serious this time. "Why are you doing this? I mean, going after dragons and all. What's the point?"
Evreux's eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained silent for a long moment. Finally, he spoke, his voice low. "It's none of your business."
Severus sighed, leaning back against the wall of the cave. "You're so stubborn, you know that? Fine, don't tell me. I was just trying to understand you better." He glanced at Evreux with a faint smile. "We're not that different, you and I. You're always so serious, and I'm always… well, me."
Evreux remained silent, and Severus, sensing that he wouldn't get more out of him, turned his attention back to the fire.
Meanwhile, back at the palace, Seiren paced restlessly by the window, watching the rain pour down relentlessly. Sixten sat nearby, his worry evident on his face.
"Severus will be fine, Ate," Sixten tried to reassure her again. "He's tough. You know him."
"I know, but I can't help it, Sixten," Seiren replied softly. "He's always getting into trouble, and I should've stopped him. He shouldn't be out there, not in this weather…"
Sixten placed a hand on her shoulder. "Ate, we'll find him once the rain stops. Don't worry, okay? He'll come back safe, just like always."
Seiren nodded, though her eyes were still filled with concern. She smiled weakly at her brother, appreciating his effort to comfort her. "You're right. We just have to wait for the rain to stop."
As the fire crackled softly, Severus shifted closer to the warmth, sneaking a glance at Evreux, who remained silent, his expression as unreadable as ever. A mischievous smile crept onto Severus's face as he decided to break the heavy silence between them.
"You know," Severus began, leaning back against the cave wall, "for someone who's always serious, you're kinda fun to tease."
Evreux's eyes flickered in his direction, narrowing ever so slightly, but he said nothing.
Severus grinned wider, undeterred. "Come on, admit it. You secretly like having me around, right? Makes things more interesting for you." He nudged Evreux's arm playfully. "Imagine how boring it would be hunting dragons by yourself. You'd probably just brood all day."
Evreux let out a sharp breath, clearly annoyed, but he still didn't respond.
"Oh, I see how it is," Severus said, smirking. "You're one of those 'silent type' guys. Mysterious, too cool to show emotions, huh?" He made a mockingly serious face, imitating Evreux's stoic expression. "Must be hard, though, holding in all those feelings."
Evreux finally glanced at him, his icy gaze sharp enough to make most people shrink back, but Severus just laughed.
"See? I knew I'd get a reaction out of you sooner or later." Severus chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "You're just pretending to be all serious. Deep down, you're probably just as fun as me!"
"Shut up," Evreux muttered through clenched teeth, clearly trying to keep his patience.
Severus ignored the warning, leaning in closer. "You know, for a dragon hunter, you really don't act like a hero. Heroes are supposed to be charming and brave! You? You're just grumpy all the time."
Evreux's eye twitched, but he remained silent. The corners of his mouth tightened, however, and Severus knew he was pushing his limits.
"You're not even going to smile a little? Not even when I'm giving you all my best material? Come on, Evreux, loosen up. We're stuck here for who knows how long. Might as well have some fun."
Evreux shot him a withering look. "If you don't stop talking, I will throw you out into the rain."
Severus gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. "So cruel! After everything I've done to keep you company? This is how you repay me?" He wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. "I'm wounded, truly."
"I'll give you one more chance," Evreux said, his voice dangerously low, "before I lose my patience."
Severus shrugged, clearly unbothered by the threat. "You act tough, but deep down, I bet you like having me around. You'd probably be lonely without me."
"Keep talking, Severus. See what happens."
"I'm not scared of you, you know," Severus replied, smirking even wider. "You're just a big grump who doesn't know how to have fun. Maybe I should teach you! First lesson: smiling." Severus leaned in, grinning. "Come on, just a little grin. I know you can do it."
Before Severus could react, Evreux suddenly reached out and flicked him on the forehead, hard enough to sting but not enough to hurt.
"Ow!" Severus yelped, rubbing his forehead. "What was that for?"
"For being an idiot," Evreux replied flatly.
Severus burst out laughing, clearly amused by the sudden flick. "See? You can have fun. You just need a little push!"
Evreux sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're insufferable."
Severus leaned back, still chuckling. "I'll take that as a compliment." He paused for a moment, then added, "But seriously, Evreux, you should try smiling more. It wouldn't kill you."
"Maybe it wouldn't," Evreux muttered, "but you might."
Severus laughed again, clearly pleased with himself. "Well, at least you're honest. I'll take that as progress!"
Severus stretched out beside the fire, still grinning as he stole another glance at Evreux. The sound of rain continued to drum against the cave's entrance, but the warmth of the fire was comforting. He could see that, despite his stone-faced demeanor, Evreux was at least somewhat engaged by their back-and-forth, even if he pretended not to be.
"You know, I think I'm growing on you," Severus said with a smug grin, leaning closer as if to inspect Evreux's face. "Admit it, you'd miss me if I wasn't around."
Evreux gave him a cold, sidelong glare. "I'd probably sleep better."
Severus laughed again. "Oh, please! You'd be so bored without me here to keep you on your toes. You'd be sitting alone in this cave, staring into the dark, brooding. Maybe that's your idea of a good time, but trust me, I'm doing you a favor."
Evreux crossed his arms, clearly trying to ignore him, but Severus wasn't about to let him off the hook.
"Besides," Severus continued, shifting his position to face him more directly, "I bet you're not used to someone like me, are you? Most people probably stay far away from you. I mean, look at you." He made a grand gesture toward Evreux. "All dark, mysterious, and brooding. People are probably scared of you."
"Good," Evreux replied, his tone icy.
"Yeah, well, I'm not. In fact, I think it's kinda funny." Severus smirked, his teasing reaching new heights. "It's like you're trying so hard to be scary, but I see through it. Deep down, you're just… misunderstood."
Evreux rolled his eyes, clearly done with the conversation, but Severus was on a roll.
"You know what your problem is?" Severus continued, leaning in conspiratorially. "You don't let people in. You keep everyone at arm's length, and for what? To protect yourself? Or maybe, just maybe, you're scared."
Evreux's eyes flashed dangerously, but Severus held his ground.
"Don't look at me like that," Severus said with a playful smirk. "I'm right, aren't I? You're scared that if you let people in, they might actually—gasp—like you."
"Enough." Evreux's voice was low and firm, a clear warning.
But Severus, being Severus, couldn't help himself. "I get it, you know. I really do. But here's the thing: I'm already in, whether you like it or not." He jabbed a thumb at his chest. "So, you might as well get used to having me around."
Evreux let out a long, frustrated sigh, his patience clearly wearing thin. "If I throw you out of this cave, will you stop talking?"
Severus laughed. "Not a chance. I'd just come right back in. And besides, you're not heartless enough to leave me out in the cold. Admit it—you care."
Evreux pinched the bridge of his nose, a clear sign that Severus was getting to him. "Why do you insist on being so obnoxious?"
"Because it's fun," Severus said, shrugging. "And let's be real—you need someone like me to shake things up."
For the first time, Evreux gave him a long, searching look, as if he were finally trying to figure out what made Severus tick. After a moment, he spoke, his tone low and measured. "You talk too much."
"Better than saying nothing at all," Severus shot back. He leaned forward, the firelight casting playful shadows across his face. "Look, I know you've got your whole 'lone wolf' thing going on, but you don't have to be like that all the time. It's okay to let people in, even if it's just a little bit."
Evreux narrowed his eyes. "What makes you think I want to?"
Severus paused, then gave him a small, sincere smile. "Because deep down, everyone does. Even you."
The cave fell silent for a moment, the crackling of the fire and the steady rhythm of the rain filling the space between them. Severus let his words hang in the air, watching Evreux's face for any sign of reaction.
After what felt like an eternity, Evreux finally spoke, his voice softer than before. "You're annoying."
Severus grinned, his eyes lighting up. "Yeah, but you like it."