"Are you heading straight back to your village, Rey?" Parcival asked, placing his cup gently on the table.
"Of course, Parcival. I want to go home as soon as possible and see my mother," I replied seriously, looking him straight in the eyes.
My gaze then shifted to Elfea, who was still busy devouring her food with gusto. Seeing her like that, I was sure she'd come with me. Besides, I didn't want to leave her here alone.
"Elfea, you're coming with me, right? Back to the village?" I asked her gently.
Elfea glanced at me briefly, then gave a small nod. Of course, she agreed.
"By the way, Rey… where exactly is your village?" Lusi suddenly asked, tilting her head with curiosity.
"Oh, right. I never got the chance to tell you, huh?" I said with a small smile. "I'm from Hago Village."
When I first introduced myself, only Parcival had been around. Lusi hadn't heard it until now.
"Hago Village?" Lusi repeated, her eyes widening slightly. "Isn't that the kingdom's biggest wheat-producing village?"
"Haha, that's right," I replied with a light laugh. "We're known for our vast wheat fields. You should visit sometime."
"I can't wait to see Hago Village!" Lusi exclaimed, her eyes sparkling like a child who'd just been given a gift. "They say you can eat as much bread as you want there, right?!"
That comment immediately made Elfea—who had been focused solely on her food—snap her head toward me. A chicken bone was still dangling from the corner of her mouth, making her expression look... unique, yet somehow still adorable.
"Is that true, Rey?" she asked suddenly, her eyes wide and serious, as if this were a matter of life and death.
I let out a soft sigh, unable to hide my smile. Of course she'd be interested when it comes to food.
"Yes, it's true. In our village, we bake a large amount of bread almost every day. If you come with me, you can eat all the bread you want."
"Fufufu…" Elfea chuckled softly, her cheerful expression returning. She was probably imagining a bread-filled paradise in her head.
Parcival, who had been watching us with a faint smile, finally spoke again.
"If you come back here someday, Rey," he said, "bring me some bread from your village, will you? I'd love to try it."
"Haha, of course. I'll bring you the warmest, softest one I can find," I said, already picturing a loaf I'd baked myself—crispy on the outside, fluffy inside, with that comforting wheat aroma that always made me feel alive again.
Lusi clapped her hands with joy. "Wow, now I really want to go there! Bread, wheat fields, and a peaceful village… it sounds like paradise."
I just smiled at their enthusiasm. Honestly, I couldn't wait to go back myself. There's always been something pulling me home—not just my mother and our house, but also the memories. Hago isn't just where I was born… it's where everything began.
"Will you be leaving tomorrow morning?" Parcival asked as he leaned back in his chair. "The road to Hago is quite long, isn't it?"
I nodded. "Actually, we're leaving today. It takes about two days. We'll pass through the Alvarian Forest and the Orland Valley."
"With me around, everything will be fine," Elfea chimed in confidently, carefully stacking her leftover bones on her plate.
"Impressive!" Lusi giggled, then looked at Elfea with admiration. "But if the forest path is too dangerous, I could lend you a couple of horses from the city stables. For you and Elfea."
I looked at Lusi, a bit surprised by the offer. "I don't think we'll need horses, Lusi. We'll go on foot."
"Oh… I see," Lusi replied, her voice slightly lower. Her cheerful expression dimmed a little.
I understood. But from the start, I'd always preferred to travel on foot. There's peace in every step taken on the ground, in the rustling of leaves, and in the wind that guides you. It just… feels more real.
"I just prefer walking. It lets me truly experience the journey," I added, offering a bit of an explanation.
Lusi smiled again, though a bit awkwardly. "In that case… be careful, okay?"
"Wait a minute…" Parcival, who had been quiet for a while, suddenly cut in. His face turned serious. "Did you say you'll be going through the Alvarian Forest? What did you encounter there, Rey?"
I turned to him, raising an eyebrow.
"Heh, curious now, are you, Parcival?"
"I'm serious, Rey." He leaned forward, eyes locked onto mine. "What did you find there?"
It was the second time he asked—and this time, there was no mistaking the weight in his tone.
I gave a small smirk. "Elfea, tell him," I said, nodding toward the silver-haired girl beside me, still chewing.
"Why me?" Elfea shot back, not even turning my way, her mouth still full.
I didn't answer—just crossed my arms and stared at her. Time for her to stop munching and do a little work. After all, who told her to keep eating when things were getting serious?
With a heavy sigh, Elfea finally placed the last chicken bone on her plate and sat upright. "Alright… listen up, Parcival."
She began to speak in a calm, serious tone. "In that forest, Rey and I fought a Wargwood—a giant forest bear with wooden claws and teeth like spears."
Parcival swallowed hard. But before he could say anything, I added, "And I also found a Floralis Nocturne."
"What!?" Parcival slammed the table, making the cups rattle. "That plant!? The one that only grows in Alvarian Forest!?"
Elfea went on unfazed.
"And that's not all. In Orland Valley, we encountered a Scorvath—a giant scorpion monster that spits boiling acid."
Parcival froze in place.
"Y-You two… you actually fought monsters like that!?"
"Then… how did you survive?" Lusi asked, wide-eyed, one hand over her chest.
I raised a hand and pointed at Elfea silently.
Elfea instantly understood my signal. With a confident motion, she stood from her seat and smiled with pride. "Fufufu, of course it's because I'm strong. Rey? He just ran around the hills screaming for help."
"Hey!" I shouted, pouting. "In that case, I won't cook when we get to the village."
I turned away, feigning indignation.
Before I could dwell too long in my mock disappointment, Elfea quickly patted my shoulder and looked at me with pleading eyes. "Sorry, Rey. You're not a burden… you're the true hero!"
I gave her a sideways glance. "Say it again."
"You're amazing… strong… resilient…" she said dramatically, then paused her hand and asked innocently, "Wait, can you really cook?"
"Hmph."
I turned my head again, refusing to give her a straight answer.
Laughter erupted from Parcival and Lusi. They clutched their sides, laughing until tears welled in their eyes. The mood at the table lightened—warm, full of laughter, and far from the dangers we had just faced.
Even though the world outside is harsh and full of monsters, moments like this remind me that as long as we're together… everything will be alright.