The morning sun peeked gently through the wooden shutters of their rented home in the peaceful village of Ravellon, nestled far beyond the Empire's reach. Eight months had passed since Aizen, Lyra, and the three children arrived here, and the house—though modest—had become a warm sanctuary. It was their world now, a quiet place of laughter, training, and healing.
Outside, birds chirped among tall pines, their feathers glimmering like gemstones in the golden light. The air was fresh, tinged with the scent of firewood and the herbs Lyra often dried by the kitchen window.
Inside, life had changed in ways none of them had imagined.
---
Lina's Voice
A small voice broke the morning silence.
"M-Morning… Mama Lywa…"
Lyra, who had just finished tying up her long silver hair in a ribbon, turned with surprise.
Lina, the once-silent cat girl with yellow fur and emerald eyes, stood shyly near the doorway in her oversized nightgown. Her feline ears twitched as she tried again, clearer this time.
"Good morning, Mama Lyra."
A smile burst across Lyra's face, and she rushed over, wrapping the little girl in a tight hug. "You spoke! Lina, you finally spoke so clearly!"
The girl nodded bashfully. "I… practiced every night… I want to make Mama proud."
From the living room, Aizen looked over his shoulder while sharpening his sword, his black hair falling over his golden eyes. He smirked quietly. "Took you long enough, kitten."
Lina pouted. "I'm not a kitten!"
Everyone chuckled.
---
The Family They Built
Over the months, something unspoken had grown between them all. The children had begun calling Lyra Mama and Aizen Papa without being told to. It just… happened.
Even Aizen, whose heart was forged in war and vengeance, found himself softening. When Theodore had fallen ill for a day, Aizen stayed by his side all night. When Mikaela got a scratch while climbing a tree, he bandaged it with trembling hands. And Lina? She followed him like a shadow wherever he went—watching how he chopped wood, how he trained, how he stood proud with the storm in his blood.
To the villagers, they were simply a quiet but mysterious family who kept to themselves. But among the children who played with the twins in the fields, their home became a legend of its own—"the house of the mighty lion and the beautiful dragon lady."
---
A Child's Honest Question
That afternoon, Lyra sat beneath the tree outside, braiding Lina's hair while the twins practiced magic nearby.
Mikaela suddenly scooted beside Lyra, lowering her voice to a whisper and cupping her hand over her mouth.
"Hey, Mom…" she grinned mischievously. "Didn't Papa say he hates dragons because they destroyed his home?"
Lyra blinked, confused. "Yes, why?"
"Well…" Mikaela leaned in closer, smirking. "Isn't it funny how Papa has a dragon wife now?"
Lyra turned bright red. "W-What!?"
"Just saying~" Mikaela hummed and skipped away, leaving Lyra stammering.
Aizen, who was pretending not to hear while chopping firewood nearby, cracked a log in half with one clean strike, muttering, "I heard that…"
---
Magic, Misfires, and Hope
In the wide open field behind the house, Aizen and Lyra began training the twins in the basics of magic.
Theodore, now more confident, stood with hands clenched, trying to summon a basic wind spell. A small breeze stirred around him, barely lifting a leaf off the ground. "D-Did it work!?"
"Almost!" Lyra encouraged him. "Feel the mana around you like breathing. Don't force it."
Mikaela, meanwhile, snapped her fingers and conjured a tiny flame—only for it to fizzle and shoot sparks into her hair. "Ow ow ow!! I got fire in my face again!"
Aizen laughed. "At least it didn't hit Theodore this time."
Meanwhile, Lina sat under the tree, trying to copy what she saw. She closed her eyes, whispered a spell Lyra had been teaching her… but nothing happened. Not even a spark. She opened her eyes and lowered her ears sadly.
"…Why can't I do it?"
Lyra walked over, kneeling beside her. "Magic isn't something you learn overnight, Lina. You didn't have anyone to teach you until now. But that doesn't mean you can't. You're strong in other ways too."
Aizen called from across the field, "Even I couldn't control my storm when I started. You'll get there, kitten."
"I'm not a kitten!" she shouted, tail puffed in defiance.
They all laughed together.
---
Evening Peace
As the sun set, the family gathered around the fire for dinner—roasted vegetables and stew, laughter echoing through the wooden walls. Afterward, Lyra tucked Lina in beside the twins, gently brushing her hair.
From the doorway, Aizen watched them quietly.
They weren't just training anymore.
They were becoming a real family.
And though Aizen still carried the scars of the past, and Lyra still had the weight of her race's sins in her blood… somehow, those pieces fit together in this little house with these little hearts.
---
End of Chapter 12