The scent of freshly made toast, sweet syrup, and sizzling eggs drifted through the halls of Ryuu’s castle, floating out from the grand kitchen nestled near the heart of the estate. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, casting golden rays across the stone floors and warming the air in an otherwise cool morning. It was a rare, peaceful start—a lull before the storm.

The long wooden table in the center of the kitchen was gradually being surrounded by familiar faces. Ryuu stood by the stove, flipping pancakes with surprising finesse, while Calli was helping herself to a bowl of berries, popping them in her mouth one by one.

Jayce strolled in, running a hand through his mess of black hair, still in his sleep shirt. “Smells good in here. Please tell me that’s not Calli cooking.”

Calli rolled her eyes. “You wound me. I made the berries.”

“You poured the berries into a bowl,” Ryuu corrected as he plated the last pancake stack.

Stephen followed close behind Jayce, noticeably more refreshed than he'd been days before. He still wore that guarded look, but his posture had changed—shoulders more relaxed, a little life returning to his expression.

“Morning,” he muttered, grabbing a seat beside Jayce.

Jayce grinned, nudging his knee under the table. “You’re learning. You beat Ryuu to the table.”

“I’m never letting that happen again,” Ryuu grunted as he turned off the burner and brought over the food. “Last time he stole the best stack.”

As everyone began reaching for food and laughing over half-hearted bickering, soft footsteps padded into the room—Claudia Rose.

“Smells like heaven in here,” Rose said brightly, her snowy white hair catching the morning light. She wore a relaxed expression and even sported a loosely tied robe over her training clothes. There was no divine air about her today—just Rose, the one who grew up laughing with them. “Girl where did you even come from-”

Jayce gestured toward the open seat beside him. “Sit before Ryuu hoards all the pancakes.”

She chuckled and took her seat gracefully. “Wouldn’t dare. Ryuu’s plate is already stacked like a tower.”

Calli offered her a small jar of honey. “We saved you the best syrup.”

“That’s a lie,” Tsukina mumbled from across the table, head resting lazily on her arms as she blinked slowly at her plate. “You totally gave her the fake one with fruit bits in it…”

“Oh?” Rose raised a brow, amused. “Looks like someone’s sleepy today.”

“I’m awake,” Tsukina muttered half-heartedly, making no attempt to sit up straighter. “Barely.”

Jayce smirked, nudging her foot under the table. “That’s what happens when you stay up entertaining ryuu behind closed doors”

“boy what-” she grumbled.

Calli leaned toward Rose with a sly grin. “She’s like this every time she knows she’s training.”