As the group continues walking, Valen breaks the silence. "I guess that's what you get when you're raised by Oblea," he remarks with a faint smirk.
Eska glances up at him, fidgeting slightly before responding, "I'm honestly not sure what happened. Mom's never gone easy on me when we trained. Even Ma—"
She stops abruptly, her breath catching as though an unseen hand grips her throat. A single word resonates in her head: "No."
"Even Ma?" Ciel echoes, tilting her head curiously, her soft tone coaxing Eska to continue.
Eska straightens up, forcing a smile that feels a little too big. "Even maaai—instincts! Yeah, even my instincts were warning me he'd give me a tough time..."
She glances down, pausing to think before looking back at Valen. "Wait, what do you mean by 'that's what you get'?"
Valen turns to her, his brow furrowed in mild confusion. "Your mom was one of the strongest wardens in the city. You didn't know that?" His tone softens slightly. "She never told you?"
Eska blinks, her expression twisting into bewilderment. "N-no… What's a warden?"
Ciel and Valen exchange a glance before Valen steps in to explain. "A warden is a Hunter rank that lets someone lead or form a guild. They're incredibly skilled—strong enough to rival a paladin. Most guilds only have a handful of them, at most."
Eska's eyes light up, her curiosity bubbling to the surface. "Oh! So you're as strong as Mom?" she asks, her fingers tapping together in excitement.
Valen chuckles softly, shaking his head. "I doubt it." Seeing her blinking in confusion, he adds, "If I fought her in her prime as I am now, it'd probably look like your fight with Kaz. Her documented hunts are unbeliev—""
He cuts himself off when he catches Eska's expression: wide-eyed wonder, like a child hearing tales of a parent's heroics for the first time. Valen's lips twitch into a faint smile, which doesn't go unnoticed by Ciel.
She frowns, clearly unimpressed.
"That fight was so not part of the deal!" Ciel exclaims, walking ahead to confront them. She plants herself in front of the group, arms crossed and leaning forward in frustration.
"I— I think she handled it pretty we—"
"No!" Ciel interrupts Valen, cutting him off before he can defend himself.
"She's still recovering, Valen. Letting her spar like that was completely out of line!" Her glare sharpens, daring him to argue.
Eska chuckles softly, her bubbling laughter directed at Valen's predicament. Ciel notices immediately and spins around, her sharp gaze locking onto Eska. Realizing she's now in trouble, Eska quickly covers her mouth with both hands, her eyes widening.
"Sorry," she mumbles, uncovering her mouth for just a second before covering it again, bracing herself.
"You have to be more careful, Eska! Much more careful!" Ciel scolds her. "Your stitches could still break—or worse, something from your MANY surgeries could come undone." Her furrowed brows drive home the seriousness of her words.
Eska nods rapidly, not daring to look away from Ciel's intense gaze.
Ciel lets out a sigh, her expression softening slightly. "I'm glad you're okay, but you have to take better care of yourself. BOTH of you!" She spins to face Valen, jabbing a finger in his direction for emphasis.
Ciel takes a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing as she rubs her temples.
"Let's just get moving before I lose my mind completely," she mutters, though her tone carries a touch of warmth now. She glances at Eska and Valen, her usual gentle smile creeping back onto her face. "Come on, both of you. We're almost there."
With that, the trio resumes their walk, the tension lifting as they make their way toward Ciel's living quarters.
They walk for a few minutes, making a few turns around the streets where other members of the church walk and finally Ciel approaches one of the buildings.
Ciel stops in front and gestures for Eska to follow. "This is where we'll be staying," she says with a warm smile.
They climb to the second floor and Ciel opens the door, ushering everyone inside.
Eska steps in, her eyes immediately drawn to the plush carpet underfoot and the flawless, smooth walls. Every piece of furniture—sofas, counters and tables—is crafted with exceptional precision.
They step further into the living room, which feels far more spacious than its exterior suggested. Natural light pours in from a pair of double glass doors at the far end. The doors open to a small balcony, framed by flowing curtains that sway gently in the faint breeze.
The room is warmly lit by sunlight, highlighting the soft carpet across the floor and the plush, inviting furniture arranged in a cozy seating area. An open archway leads into a connected kitchen.
Eska takes in the space, marveling at how welcoming it feels. Ciel places her staff neatly on a rack by the entrance, while Valen follows suit, resting the massive sword he carries behind his back
"Feel free to take a seat, don't be shy. I'll get some drinks!" Ciel says with a smile before heading into the kitchen. She opens a large box, retrieving a green, transparent liquid stored inside.
Eska hesitates before finally settling into the plush sofa. The comfort is immediate and she sinks into it, relaxing for the first time in a while. Valen takes a seat across from her on a smaller sofa.
"You'll be staying with Ciel for the time being," Valen says. "This unit has three rooms, so there's plenty of space for both of you."
"There are more rooms?" Eska asks, glancing toward the hallway with a few doors behind him. Her voice carries a note of concern. "Is it really okay for me to stay here…? After everything?" Memories of Kaz's reaction flicker in her mind.
"You have the Speaker's blessing. That's all the permission you need," Valen assures her. "And if I'm not mistaken, Miriel supports you as well."
Eska shifts her gaze toward him, her expression unsure. "I appreciate it," she begins hesitantly, "but doesn't it feel… strange? Like people are being forced to accept me?"
Valen leans back into the couch, stretching his arms across the top. "Those who follow Nakisk and the Speaker understand. It's not about forced acceptance; it's about survival. Without them, none of us would last long."
Before Eska can reply, Ciel returns, carrying a tray of drinks. She places them on the tea table between them, her ever-present warmth lightening the mood.
"I think we should start today," Ciel says, her voice calm as she takes a sip of her drink, her eyes closing with practiced elegance.
Valen raises an eyebrow, puzzled. "I thought you wanted her to recover first?"
Ciel sets her cup down gently, her gaze shifting to Valen with a sudden iciness that makes the room feel colder. "Well, after today, I think it'd be best if I could see her more often," she replies, sending an unmistakable message.
Valen shifts uncomfortably under her glare, his hand trembling slightly as he picks up his cup. Forcing a nervous laugh, he gulps down the entire drink in one go. "Lovely lemonade!" he declares with an awkward grin. "But I must go. I'll take care of her discharge papers so she doesn't have to go back to the infirmary."
Without waiting for a response, Valen places the empty cup back on the table and swiftly exits the room. The sound of the door closing echoes down the hallway.
Eska shifts in her seat, her nervous gaze darting to Ciel. "S-Start what exactly?" she asks, her voice hesitant. Ciel's serene expression softens slightly, though a hint of determination lingers.
"Start getting you settled, of course!" Ciel exclaims, her voice bubbling with excitement.
"Oh!" Eska breathes a sigh of relief, followed by a soft laugh. "I thought you meant something scary for a second."
Ciel says warmly. "You're going to find your footing and I'll be here to help every step of the way." She gestures toward the hallway that had been behind Valen's seat earlier. "Come on, let me show you your room."
Eska follows Ciel down the hall, "This one is my room." She points towards the first room on the left.
Passing her door, Ciel then gestures towards the next.
She opens it to reveal a cozy space with a neatly made bed, a small wooden desk by the window and a chest at the foot of the bed. Soft moonlight filters in, illuminating the simple yet welcoming room.
"This will be your space," Ciel says, stepping aside to let Eska take it in. "It's not much, but it's yours to make comfortable however you like."
Eska walks in hesitantly, her hand brushing the smooth surface of the desk. "It's perfect," she says softly, her gaze lingering on the bed. "It's such a big room."
Ciel leans on the doorframe, watching her with a gentle expression. "Take your time settling in. If you need anything, just let me know."
After a few moments, the two return to the living room, the hours slipping away as they talk. Eska shares stories about her life in the forest, her hunts and her adventures with Oblea.
Ciel listens intently, occasionally offering pieces of her own life in the city.