Some minutes later, the soft warmth of the bakery wrapped around Raphael as he leaned against the counter. His ears twitched faintly, catching the distant rustle of settling children. Stubby stood behind the counter, wiping a tray with quiet focus. Elara descended the stairs slowly, one hand on the railing, her voice tired but dry. "Okay… finally. The kids are busy."
Raphael chuckled softly. Stubby glanced up at her, his voice gentle. "You really don't need to be hard on them, my love."
Elara waved a hand, adjusting the shawl on her shoulder. "Sure, sure… but what do you expect when they carry your entire personality?"
Raphael tilted his head. "So it's from him, huh?"
Stubby grinned. "You should see them when they gang up on their mother. It's terrifying."
Elara approached, giving Stubby a glare with narrowed eyes. "Terrifying? And who always encourages them with those stupid grins and sweets?"
Stubby scratched the back of his neck, feigning innocence. "Children should be free spirits… and they were just excited to meet their uncle."
Her expression softened, and she turned to Raphael. "Yeah. It's really good they got to see you, Raphael." Her voice dipped. "What about…"
Raphael lowered his head slightly. "He's dead."
Elara stopped breathing for a moment. Then she whispered, "So he truly is… I wondered, when he stopped writing."
"He'd be happy," Raphael said, his tone even but warm. "With how you and Stubby are living now. He'd really be happy."
She nodded slowly, her eyes glistening as she pressed her lips together. "Yeah. He would."
A pause settled between them, and she wiped the corner of one eye quickly.
"So… how did you survive?" she asked, her voice quieter.
Raphael hesitated, his tone deepening. "It wasn't easy. I almost died… but Grandpa found me and saved me."
Stubby and Elara both blinked. Stubby leaned forward slightly. "Is he related to you?"
Raphael gave a slow shake of the head. "You'd know him as Lord Reaper."
Elara's eyes widened. "Wait… what?"
Stubby nodded with a long breath. "So that's why."
Raphael gave a faint nod. Elara stepped closer, her voice hushed with curiosity. "You lived with him? What's he like? Did he really…"
"Elara," Stubby said softly.
She caught herself, clearing her throat and backing off a step. "Sorry… I was just curious."
Raphael smiled faintly. "Now you're acting like your son, Raphael."
Elara huffed, crossing her arms. "No, I'm not. Raphael acts just like his father."
Stubby clutched his chest in mock pain. "You wound me, woman."
She grinned. "I'm sorry, love." Then she turned to Raphael, mischief flickering in her eyes. "And you… you never asked why we gave him that name."
Raphael tilted his head. "Why would I ask something like that?"
Her eyes narrowed. "You little…" She raised a hand toward his head, but Raphael shifted smoothly aside.
"Elara, I'm not exactly who I used to be," he said, a teasing note in his voice.
Elara stared, thrown off. "Did… did you just dodge me?"
Stubby let out a short laugh. "Oh, you shouldn't have done that, Raphael."
"Why not?" Raphael asked, glancing back.
Before he could move again, Elara launched at him, tackling him to the floor with a thud. He let out a breathless laugh as he hit the ground. "Elara!"
She pinned him with one arm and started smacking his shoulder, not hard but insistent. "How dare you dodge my slap? I bathed you with my hands, boy!"
Raphael laughed harder, squirming under her. "Okay! I'm sorry! This is abuse!"
Stubby laughed so hard he nearly dropped the tray. "Elara, leave the boy alone. You know if he wanted to, he'd be up already."
"I don't care!" Elara shouted, refusing to budge. "Just because he's gotten strong doesn't mean he doesn't need to respect his elder sister!" She gave him another light smack. "You deserve every hit!"
Raphael was breathless with laughter, his arms barely raised in defense. "Stubby! Get her off me!"
Stubby raised his hand and backed away with a grin. "Nope. You walked into this one on your own."
Elara kept at it, huffing. "You deserve every hit!"
The soft thuds of small feet echoed down the stairs. The three children appeared, the eldest daughter carrying the baby in her arms with slow, careful steps. Behind her, young Raphael peeked past her shoulder, eyes wide with curiosity.
All three froze when they saw the scene below, Raphael pinned under Elara, laughing breathlessly while she tickled him without mercy.
Stubby turned as Raphael called out, laughing between gasps, "Help! She's gone mad!"
Stubby smiled at the children, lifting his left hand to calm them. "What's wrong?"
The eldest frowned as she adjusted the baby in her arms. "Dad… did Uncle do something bad?"
Stubby walked over, gently taking the baby from her arms. He cradled her close with ease, his expression soft. "No, no. Nothing bad. Your mother's just reminding your uncle who raised him."
Young Raphael's face lit up. "Can we help her?"
Stubby glanced back at the chaos on the floor. Elara was muttering something under her breath, growing more intense as Raphael tried to squirm free. Stubby smiled faintly. "Yes, you can go help your mom and uncle."
"Thank you, Daddy!" the boy shouted. Without hesitation, he charged forward and leapt onto Raphael's back with a yell. "Yeaaaaaa!"
The impact made Raphael grunt as Elara was shoved slightly to the side. She blinked in surprise, then narrowed her eyes.
"Raphael," she said darkly, "so you betray me? My own son?"
Young Raphael grinned. "No, Mom! I just want to be part of the fun!"
Raphael chuckled, reaching behind to lift the boy high above him. "That's the spirit! You and I, little man…we're the strongest here. Your mom can't stop us both."
Young Raphael beamed with pride, facing his mother. "See, Mom? You can't get us now!"
Elara rose slowly, brushing a few strands of hair from her face. Her tone dipped into something dramatic, almost theatrical. "So now you turn against your own mother. You join hands with your uncle and declare war on me?"
Behind Stubby, the eldest daughter leaned closer. "Dad… are they going to die?"
Stubby chuckled, swaying slightly to soothe the baby in his arm. "Let's give them our prayers."
Elara's eyes locked on the pair. "Seems I've been too kind to both of you."
Young Raphael's smile faltered. "Wait…"
Before he could react, Raphael set him gently on the floor. "Time to stand strong, little warrior."
The boy blinked. "Wait, what?"
Elara lunged and caught his hands with practiced speed. "Now you're finished."
"No, no, Mum, I'm sorry!" he shouted, already giggling as her fingers dug into his sides.
The boy twisted and wriggled, shrieking with laughter. "Please! I surrender! Dad, Uncle…help me!"
Stubby laughed so hard his shoulders shook. The baby in his arm giggled too, little hands waving in the air.
"You like that, my girl?" Stubby cooed, lifting her slightly. "You like watching your brother get destroyed? Who's my little one?"
The eldest daughter laughed. "Serves him right!"
Raphael sat up slowly, his chest still rising with quiet laughter. "Sorry, Mom," the boy cried out again.
Elara gave no mercy, her fingers still dancing. "You should have thought of that before betraying me, little imp."
Time passed. The laughter slowly faded. Outside the bakery, Raphael stood near the doorway. The warmth from inside spilled onto the quiet street. Elara stood nearby, the baby resting calmly against her shoulder. Stubby stood at her side.
Elara looked at him with a small frown. "Why can't you stay a little longer?"
Raphael adjusting himself, head tilted slightly. "I think I'll be needed at home soon."
Elara nodded slowly. "Okay… but don't forget to visit. Ever."
Stubby added with a soft grin, "And keep eating."
Raphael smiled. "Always." He stepped toward Elara and gently reached to touch the baby's cheek. The little girl gurgled, then broke into a giggle, waving her hand toward him.
Stubby chuckled. "Look at that. She likes you already."
Elara's eyes softened. She said nothing, but the look in them lingered as Raphael stepped back.
He gave a short wave. "Bye."
Elara and Stubby called out together, "Bye!" They stepped inside, the door closing gently behind them.
Raphael walked forward, a faint smile still on his lips. His thoughts wandered.
Elara and Stubby are really living life. It's peaceful here. Too peaceful. They shouldn't worry about the past.
The streets were alive with sound. Orc and human children chased one another through puddles, their laughter filling the air. Then a voice called out from ahead. "Hello!"
Raphael turned slightly, ears twitching at the familiar tone. A half-elf approached briskly.
"Hi," he said. "Is something wrong?"
She smiled, her voice low but urgent. "No, nothing like that. You're needed outside the nation. Quickly."
He exhaled slowly. "I'm guessing Grandpa sent you."
She nodded slightly and began walking, her steps quick.
Raphael followed. "If you don't mind me asking…"
She glanced back. "Sorry. My manners. Name's Elowen."
"Nice meeting you, Elowen," he said, falling into pace beside her. "So… this urgent task. Training?"
She let out a soft laugh. "No. Nothing like that."
Raphael fell quiet, his footsteps matching hers, his mind already shifting to what might come next.
Outside Dreadholm
In a wooded clearing where the roads thinned into trees, tension curled through the air like smoke before a storm. The sharp crack of ropes rang out again and again as three elites—one woman, two men—fought to restrain a thrashing ironfur bear. The beast's roar shook the clearing, echoing into the trees, its hulking form bound by thick, mana-infused ropes. Its silver-black hide rippled with rage. Each of its movements sent ripples through the earth.
One elite, a man with streaked black hair and sharp green eyes, planted his boots into the soil, teeth clenched. Beside him, a woman in a slit tunic twisted sideways to brace her grip as the bear lunged. The third, a half-elf, barked a command while adjusting a scanner lens, sweat beading down his temple.
"Granduncle…" Auren's voice was soft, but clear. "Are you sure about using an ironfur bear for this?"
Subaru chuckled, resting one hand on his hip. "Why not? Didn't you say you wanted to see what Rapheal was capable of?"
"I did. But this feels excessive."
Subaru gave a shrug, amused. "If he's to walk with the Order, we can't test him with rabbits.
Besides…" He nodded toward the beast. "We'll be using it for the feast, won't we?"
Auren sighed, glancing toward the deeper woods. "Yes. The others are still tracking the rest. They've been preying too close to the outer settlements."
"Exactly," Subaru replied. "It's the season. No shortage of beasts…and mouths to feed."
Footsteps approached. Raphael entered the clearing, quiet as ever, the lower half of his face unreadable beneath the faint shadow of his blindfold. Elowen walked beside him, but her gaze shifted toward the bear, uneasy.
"I thought you said there wouldn't be training today," Raphael said. His voice was dry, but calm.
Subaru turned toward him, his smile immediate. "Ah! Raphael. There you are. Right on time." He pulled a chainfangs from his side and tossed it toward him. "Here. Catch."
"Now, why don't you prove to Auren here that you're strong?"
Raphael caught the twin-bladed weapon with one hand. The edges shimmered faintly in the mana-heavy air.
He held it loosely, tilting his head. "And why do I have to prove that I'm strong… when I can't beat you?"
Subaru laughed, rich and unbothered. "Who said this is about beating me?"
Auren stepped forward slightly, gentle as always. "It's not about proving your strength… but about knowing whether you can join the order."
Raphael exhaled. "Same thing."
He sighed. "I don't really want to be in the order until I beat grandpa just in one fight."
Subaru's grin returned. "You always say that."
"I'll keep saying it until I beat you," Raphael muttered. "Just once."
Subaru's tone dropped, the humor thinner now. "Boy… if we ever fought for real, it wouldn't end in a second match."
Silence stretched. Even the bear's roars seemed to fade beneath the tension.
Raphael tilted his head slightly. "Fine. What am I supposed to fight?"
Auren opened his mouth. "I was hoping you'd start with something smaller. Perhaps a Kraggor…"
"No, no," Subaru interrupted, raising one hand. He gestured toward the bear, which had resumed thrashing. "You'll fight that."
Raphael turned his head slowly. "Is this a joke... that?""
"Yes," Subaru replied.
Auren's brow creased. "This isn't a joke. That beast could flatten stone. It's not a cub…it's full grown."
"I know what it is," Raphael said. His voice was colder now, touched with something deeper. "Grandpa… are you serious?"
Subaru's expression shifted. The smile faded. What replaced it was calm, but absolute.
"Completely."
Raphael exhaled, adjusted his grip on the chainfangs, then took his first step forward.
Elowen tensed beside Auren. Her eyes flicked to the ropes.
Auren leaned slightly toward Subaru, lowering his voice. "Granduncle… when he asked if this was a joke… what did he mean?"
Subaru didn't look away. "You'll see."
Then, to the elites, he called out, "Let it go."
At once, the mana ropes snapped loose. The bear lunged forward with a roar that cracked through the clearing, its claws shredding earth. Breath steamed from its mouth like mist from a volcano.
Raphael didn't flinch. He walked forward, slow and silent.
"I didn't ask them to tie you down," he murmured. "But now I'm here."
The beast bellowed again, but then—
The shift began.
A pulse unfurled from Raphael. Not explosive. Not loud. But deep. Thick as water pressing from all sides, heavy as stone. The mana around him began to shift, distorting subtly, warping the very air. Light wavered. Leaves quivered. The soil itself seemed to draw back.
Auren's breath caught. "What… is that?"
The ironfur bear stopped mid-charge. It froze.
Elowen stumbled a step back, voice faint. "I don't understand. That pressure…"
From Raphael, the mana grew. Wild. Primal. A presence that didn't just mimic a beast—it overwhelmed one. The kind of weight that came from something older than fear, something untamed. His steps were deliberate. Slow. Each one thudding like a heartbeat into the earth.
The bear backed up.
Auren's eyes widened. "It's… retreating?"
Subaru didn't blink. "That's what happens when the predator realizes it's prey."
The ironfur's breathing changed. Faster. Uneven. Its massive limbs trembled. It whimpered.
Crystals along the elites' sashes flickered.
Elowen's hands trembled.
The pressure kept rising. As if Raphael wasn't walking through the clearing—but claiming it. As if every root, every gust of wind, every instinct in the clearing now recognized him as the apex.
The bear stumbled back again, claws dragging furrows in the dirt.
Raphael said nothing. His blindfold shifted faintly in the breeze. His grip on the chainfangs never tightened. It didn't need to.
The clearing fell into silence.
Even the wind stopped.
Time itself held its breath.