The evening at Aiden's home was filled with warmth and laughter as everyone gathered for a hearty dinner. Ayleen had prepared a delicious spread of traditional village dishes that left everyone feeling both full and content. The meal was lively with conversations, as Aiden shared stories of his time in the mansion, and Chloe and Clara asked Ayleen for recipes, clearly intrigued by the homely cooking. Greta, ever-diligent, assisted Ayleen in serving everyone, earning fond smiles from Aiden's parents. After dinner, Ayleen showed them to their rooms, as their home was spacious enough to accommodate everyone comfortably. Chloe and Clara shared a room, while Greta was given a separate one close to Aiden's.
Later that night, Aiden lay on his bed, a sense of contentment washing over him. It felt surreal to be back home after so long, surrounded by the people he cared about. Just as he was about to drift into sleep, a familiar mental connection stirred. Seven and Eight's voices echoed in his mind, bringing news. "Master Aiden, Three has followed you to the village. One is planning to intercept your group on the way back to Dermon City."
Aiden smiled faintly to himself, appreciating their vigilance. "Good work," he replied. "Keep me updated on the situation. Let me know immediately if anything changes." With that, he closed the connection, his thoughts turning contemplative. He briefly considered dealing with the situation right away but decided against it. He was too tired from the journey and the long day of catching up with his parents. "Tomorrow," he thought to himself. "I'll handle everything tomorrow." With that, he allowed himself to relax and soon drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Aiden woke up feeling refreshed and energized. As he made his way downstairs, he was pleasantly surprised to see Ayleen and Greta in the kitchen, preparing breakfast together. Greta was diligently listening to Ayleen's instructions, mimicking her actions with a level of focus that made Aiden chuckle softly. It was heartwarming to see how quickly Greta had adapted to his home and how his mother had taken her under her wing.
When the two women noticed Aiden, they greeted him with warm smiles. "Good morning, Aiden," Greta said cheerfully.
"Good morning, Mom. Greta," Aiden replied, returning their smiles. "Have Chloe and Clara woken up yet?"
Ayleen shook her head. "No, I let them sleep in a little. They must still be tired from yesterday's journey."
Aiden nodded thoughtfully. "I'll go wake them up, then."
Climbing the stairs, he approached the room Chloe and Clara were sharing and knocked lightly on the door. After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing Chloe, still half-asleep and dressed in her nightgown. Her eyes widened in shock as she fully registered who was at the door, and her cheeks turned a deep shade of pink. Without a word, she slammed the door shut in Aiden's face.
Standing there, Aiden's mouth twitched in a mix of amusement and disbelief. "Well, I just came to tell you that breakfast is ready," he called through the door. "You and Clara should come down soon." Shaking his head, he turned and walked away, muttering under his breath about how strange girls could be.
Inside the room, Chloe leaned against the door, her face still flushed. "What was I thinking?" she muttered, annoyed at herself. "How could I just slam the door on him like that?" Her frustration boiled over, and she turned to Clara, who was still sound asleep. Marching over to her sister's bed, Chloe yanked the blanket off her and yelled, "Wake up! We're not at home, Clara. Have some manners!"
Clara groaned groggily, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "What's going on?" she mumbled, confused by her sister's outburst. Seeing Chloe's flustered expression, Clara decided it was best not to ask and began getting ready for the day.
A short while later, Chloe and Clara came downstairs, dressed in simple yet elegant long skirts and tops. Chloe greeted everyone with an awkward smile, clearly still embarrassed about her earlier interaction with Aiden. "Good morning," she said softly, her eyes briefly meeting Aiden's before darting away.
Aiden smirked slightly but said nothing, deciding to spare her any further embarrassment. Breakfast was a lively affair, with Ayleen's delicious cooking bringing smiles to everyone's faces. As they finished eating, Ayleen turned to Aiden. "Why don't you take the girls to see the village today?" she suggested. "I'm sure they'd love to see where you grew up."
Aiden nodded, thinking it was a good idea. He also saw it as an opportunity to investigate the presence of Thirteen, who he suspected had arrived in the village. "Alright," he said. "I'll show them around."
The group set out shortly after, walking through the village as Aiden pointed out various landmarks and shared stories from his childhood. Chloe and Clara listened intently, occasionally asking questions and laughing at his anecdotes. Greta remained quiet, taking in the sights with a serene expression. The villagers greeted Aiden warmly, clearly happy to see him back.
As they continued their tour, Aiden noticed Ciara, perched on his shoulder, suddenly twitch. Her gaze shifted toward the forest on the outskirts of the village, and she seemed to focus intently for a moment before looking away as if nothing had happened. Aiden's eyes narrowed slightly. He knew Ciara well enough to understand that her behavior wasn't random. She had sensed something—or someone—in the forest.
"Thirteen," Aiden thought to himself. It was the only logical explanation. Ciara wouldn't react that way unless there was a reason, and her brief focus on the forest confirmed his suspicions. Deciding not to alarm the others, he continued the tour as if nothing had happened, but his mind was already planning his next move. He would return to the forest later that night to confirm his suspicions.
The day passed pleasantly, with the group visiting the marketplace, the village square, and even the village's old school. By the time they returned home, everyone was in high spirits, eager to share their experiences with Ayleen and Orin. However, Aiden's thoughts remained focused on the forest and the potential encounter awaiting him under the cover of darkness.