After a few moments of emotional silence, Trinav decided to take control of the situation. He cleared his throat and said, "Everyone, I understand your feelings, but let's sit down and talk this through calmly. Ranav, bring a chair from your room so we can all sit comfortably."
Naveena and Vivita returned to their seats while Ranav quickly fetched a chair from his room. Once everyone was seated, Trinav began.
"Ranav made a decision, and as a family, we will support him," Trinav said, his voice firm yet warm. "I admire that he wanted to help someone in need. We may be a small farming family, but we've always tried to lend a hand to those less fortunate. That's something I'm proud of."
He paused, glancing around the room. "However, I need to be honest about our situation. We're not wealthy. While we're better off than some because we own our farmland and have a few serfs working for us, we still struggle. Meat isn't a daily occurrence on our table, which is something Vivita and Ranav need as they're growing. We manage to afford rice or bread for every meal, even in winter, but luxuries are beyond our reach. We save for festivals to buy new clothes, and even that takes effort."
His tone grew serious as he continued, "I'm sharing this so you understand what life here will be like. Ranav didn't eat his fill many times to ensure others have enough to eat, and I've seen Vivita secretly giving him extra portions of meat. As their father, I should be able to provide for everyone, but there are still gaps. Camilla, if you choose to stay with us, you'll need to embrace our way of life, hardships and all. That said, we are ready to welcome you into our family. But first, I'd like to hear your story."
All eyes turned to Camilla, who hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"My name is Camilla," she began softly. "I'm originally from Kosala City, to the northeast. My family lived happily there until a beast horde attacked. The city was destroyed, and countless people died that day. The place is now in ruins, abandoned by everyone."
"The man I called Grandpa wasn't my real grandfather. He was the chief guard of our family. During the attack, my parents… both were mages… fought to protect us. They told Grandpa to take me and escape. We fled on horseback while my parents stayed behind to defend the city."
"We eventually reached Khohdwar County and settled in the city. Grandpa went back to Kosala to gather information about my parents, but he found out that no one from my family had survived. I was only five years old. After that, Grandpa worked as a guard at the healing center, while I stayed home, cooking and maintaining the house. I didn't go to school, but Grandpa taught me to read and write with books he bought."
Camilla's voice wavered as she recounted the recent past. "A few days ago, I tried to sell Grandpa's sword… the only valuable thing we had… to pay for his treatment. That's when I met Ranav. Grandpa passed away that night, and the rest you already know."
She took a deep breath before continuing. "I trusted Ranav. I saw kindness in him, and I believed his parents must be the same. That's why I came here, to escape the city and start anew. I still have some money left. I can do housework, cook, and help on the farm. But it's your decision. Whatever you decide, I'll accept."
Trinav leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "I'm not trying to send you away, Camilla," he said gently. "I just want you to understand what life here is like so you can make an informed decision. If you choose to stay, you'll be treated as one of us, but you'll also share in our struggles."
Naveena reached across the table, placing a comforting hand on Camilla's. "You don't need to worry," she said. "You're here now, and we won't send you away. You can stay with us as long as you like."
Trinav turned to Ranav. "Son, you must have thought this through before bringing her here. What's your plan?"
Ranav looked at his family, his voice calm but determined. "I think we should adopt Camilla as our elder sister. I've already told my master and the village chief that she's our maternal cousin. Her parents died suddenly, and she's here to visit us."
"Adopting her is straightforward… we just need to give her our family name in the village records. She doesn't have any school certificates, so we can admit her to the village school. If she attends this year's exams with our family name, it'll formalize everything. This is just my suggestion, though. The final decision is yours, Dad and Mom."
He turned to Vivita. "And, Sis, you're the best sister I could ask for. I'm not trying to replace you, just to make room for someone who needs it."
Vivita smiled slightly, touched by his words.
Trinav nodded. "You've thought this through, as I expected. Tomorrow, we'll take Camilla to the village school to start the process."
He turned to Camilla. "How much education have you had?"
"I'm ready for the primary school final exams," Camilla replied. "I've also studied the general education books for four years of magic school, but since I haven't awakened any magic, I never read beyond that."
"Good," Trinav said. "You'll take this year's primary school final exam. Next year, you'll take the general education final exam alongside Vivita. You'll be treated the same as my children. We don't need a maid in this house, but as a family member, you can help with chores like everyone else."
He paused, then added, "The only problem is space. We don't have an extra room for you. For now, you'll share a room with Vivita. Vivita, do you mind?"
Vivita blinked, caught off guard, but quickly composed herself. "No, but my bed is only big enough for one person."
"I'll sleep on the floor," Camilla offered. "Just provide me with an extra set of bedding."
"That won't be necessary," Trinav said. "I'll call a carpenter to expand the bed and add a wardrobe for Camilla's things. Is there anything else you need?"
Vivita shook her head. "That should be fine."
"Good. Then it's settled," Trinav said with finality. "Now, I think we're all hungry. Ranav, go take a bath. Camilla, you can freshen up too. Vivita, show Camilla around the house. Your mom and I will set the table for lunch."