Arya looked at his uncle, trying to ease the tension that had been simmering in the room."Uncle, we only came here to accompany and help with the death commemoration tomorrow night," he said carefully. His eyes flicked briefly toward Nagini, who stood tall with an aura of authority, and Rika, who seemed small and out of place behind the wooden bench. "As for them, they're just companions. I can guarantee they won't cause any trouble."
His uncle, still brimming with anger and suspicion, finally sat back down on his chair. He picked up the cup of tea that had been prepared for Arya earlier, sipping it slowly. His sharp gaze swept over Nagini and Rika from head to toe, as though determined not to miss a single detail.
"So… who exactly is the woman in red?" he suddenly asked, his voice weighted, pointing at Nagini without the slightest courtesy.
Arya took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm."Nagini is both guardian and guide to Dio. She's an ancestral spirit—one who helps maintain the balance between the human and spirit realms," Arya explained evenly.
His uncle scoffed, turning toward Dio with a half-mocking expression. "And you? Is this your pet?" he sneered.
Dio, who had been standing quietly in the corner, only met the man's eyes with a faint smile. Nagini's brow furrowed at the remark, though she restrained herself from reacting further.
Meanwhile, Rika glanced at Nagini, whispering softly, "Mother Nagini, why did he call us pets?" Her tone was innocent, though her face showed genuine confusion.
Nagini forced a small smile, though it was tight at the edges. "Ignore him. Don't waste your time on lowly men like that," she replied quietly, her sharp tone impossible to conceal. Mother Nagini is terrifying, Rika thought to herself.
Seeing that Dio remained unbothered, Arya's uncle shifted his gaze back to him."So, you brought these two 'guests' into my house? Make sure they don't cause trouble here, Arya," he warned.
Arya gave a thin smile, trying to lighten the mood."Uncle, relax. If anyone's been scolding us the most, it's Dio, not the other way around," he said, shooting a side glance at Dio.
Dio leaned closer, whispering to Arya, "So this is the famous practitioner uncle you told us about?"
Arya gave a subtle nod. "Yeah, one of them," he replied, rolling his eyes slightly as if unimpressed by the man's reputation.
Just then, Arya's mother appeared from the kitchen, carrying a bowl of water and a few clean cloths."Come now, freshen up. Then we'll eat. Put your bags in the bedroom so the house stays tidy," she said warmly, trying to dissolve the tension lingering in the air.
But at the mention of "freshen up," Rika froze in place. Her face turned bright red, her eyes widening in panic. She quickly leaned toward Arya, whispering desperately, "Freshen up? Bath? Like, seriously?!"
Arya turned to her, his expression flat as always. "What's wrong with you now?" he asked, utterly unfazed.
Rika bit her lip, lowering her head in embarrassment. "I… I'm not ready… I don't even know how… uh…" her voice trailed off to a whisper.
Dio chuckled under his breath, but Arya only shook his head slowly."Perverted ghost," he muttered coldly as he walked off, leaving Rika red-faced with shame.
Nagini stifled her laughter, while Arya's uncle simply shook his head, sipping his tea again."What a strange bunch," he muttered before rising to his feet and walking out, still shaking his head.
After taking their bags to the bedroom, Nagini and Rika followed. But Nagini stopped at the doorway when she heard Arya's uncle's deep voice from the living room."Relationships between humans and spirits never end well," he said, his tone cold and absolute.
Nagini turned, her eyes sharp like a drawn blade. She only gave a faint, knowing smile before stepping inside the room, leaving him watching with suspicion.
Inside Arya's bedroom, the atmosphere was lighter. Rika busied herself by observing the space. Her eyes darted around, taking in every corner. Family photos hung on the wall, a bow rested on a rack, and a dusty bookshelf sagged under the weight of old tomes.
Her gaze lingered on one particular photo of young Arya with his family. She exhaled softly. "About two years ago, huh?" she murmured, remembering the night she had first awakened on the campus staircase—a night full of fear and mystery.
Her thoughts were broken by Dio's curt voice."Don't just stand there spacing out—and don't block the way," he snapped while passing by, carrying a change of clothes and toiletries.
"Ah, sorry…" Rika quickly moved aside, her head bowed like a scolded child.
Nagini, who had just closed the door, eyed her with mild disapproval. She walked over and gave Rika's ear a light pinch, enough to make her yelp."Rika, behave," she said with a gentle but firm smile, the way a mother would scold her child.
"Ow! Okay, okay! Sorry, Mother Nagini!" Rika cried, pouting as she sat sulking in the corner, rubbing her ear.
Nagini's smile softened as she turned back to check the room. Rika muttered under her breath, hugging her knees, "Mother Nagini is really scary when she's mad…"
Dio, overhearing from the hallway, chuckled quietly before heading off to bathe. Arya entered soon after, glancing around. He sighed, shaking his head."A perverted ghost, a dragon mother, and a stubborn swordsman… what a perfect combo," he muttered while unpacking his things.
He went over to the dusty bookshelf, searching for something to distract himself. Pulling out a worn brown book, he blew off the dust."Ah, here it is. Haven't looked at this in ages," he murmured to himself.
Rika, curious, tiptoed closer. "What book is that, Arya?" she asked, peeking over his shoulder.
Arya raised it higher, out of her reach. "This? Just some family records. A mix of history and… old stories."
Rika's eyes sparkled. "Old stories? I love stories! Read me one!" she said eagerly, nearly bouncing.
Arya placed his hand on her head, holding her back. "Later. Right now, sit quietly and don't be a nuisance."
Rika pouted, retreating to her corner to hug her knees again. Nagini watched their exchange with a small smile before sitting down, closing her eyes, and savoring the fleeting calm.
The peace didn't last. The bathroom door creaked open, and Dio walked in with wet hair and a towel draped over his shoulders, his face expressionless."You're all so noisy. Is this a room or a marketplace?"
Arya sighed. "This is just the warm-up. Tomorrow will be worse."
Dio shook his head. "I'll need to brace myself."
Nagini opened her eyes, her sharp yet warm gaze sweeping over them."This place might be chaotic," she said softly, "but this is where our journey truly begins. If you're done with your little dramas, let's focus on why we're here."
They all turned to her. Rika nodded eagerly, Arya exhaled, and Dio—reluctantly—gave a nod.
That night, in a cramped bedroom filled with clashing personalities and shared destinies, they prepared themselves for the commemoration ceremony ahead. None of them knew what awaited, but one thing was certain: their paths were now intertwined—for better or worse.
Nagini gazed out the window at the night sky, murmuring under her breath,"Relationships between humans and spirits… doomed to end badly? Let's see about that."
Moonlight bathed her enigmatic face as the night folded itself around secrets yet to be revealed.