The celebration had wound down, and the town square was now cloaked in the quiet stillness of the night.
The remnants of the festivities—empty food stalls, and the faint scent of roasted nuts—lingered in the air as Gaela and Jenny made their way home.
The stars above shone brightly, their light casting a silvery glow over the cobblestone streets.
"I still can't believe Eleanor named the town Lentwells after her family," Jenny said, her tone a mix of amusement and disbelief.
"It's like she's claiming it as her own."
Gaela chuckled softly, her golden eyes glinting behind her veil.
"Well, she did fund most of the town's expansion. I suppose she feels entitled to leave her mark."
"True," Jenny admitted, though her expression turned thoughtful.
"But did you hear her announcement about her brother will send a hundred knights to 'protect' the town? It feels more like a show of power than anything else."
Gaela nodded, her gaze distant.
"It's certainly suspicious, but reassuring in another way. I mean, at least our streets will be safer with them around."
"Yes but I also think it could be linked with the beast raids." Jenny commented.
"Most probably." Gaela replied as she gazed at her back briefly before continuing walking forward…
As they walked, the conversation shifted to the evening's more personal events.
"By the way," Jenny said, a teasing smile appearing on her lips, "did you notice how many men couldn't take their eyes off you during the bonfire? Even with the veil, you were practically glowing."
Gaela rolled her eyes, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. "I noticed. A few of them even tried to approach me. Thankfully, they took the hint when I turned them down."
Jenny laughed, her voice light and carefree. "I don't blame them. You're like a mystery wrapped in an enigma. Who wouldn't be curious?"
Gaela shook her head, her tone wry. "Curiosity is one thing. Staring like a pack of hungry wolves is another."
Their laughter echoed softly in the empty streets, but it was cut short as they turned a corner.
Six men stepped out of the shadows, blocking their path. Their expressions were hard, their intentions unmistakable.
"Well, well," one of the men said, his voice dripping with charm.
"What do we have here? Two lovely ladies out for a midnight stroll?"
Jenny's breath hitched, her earlier mood replaced by unease. Gaela, however, remained calm, her golden eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation.
"Can we help you?" Gaela asked, her voice calm and composed.
The man smirked, taking a step closer.
"Oh, I think you can. We've been watching you all evening, and we couldn't help but notice how… interesting you are. How about you take off that veil and show us what you're hiding?"
Gaela's expression didn't change, but her posture shifted subtly.
"I suggest you step aside," she said, her tone unwavering.
The man laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Or what? You'll call for help? There's no one around to hear you."
Jenny glanced at Gaela, her irritation evident. "Gaela…"
"Stay behind me," Gaela said quietly, her voice steady. She took a step forward, her movements deliberate and calm.
"Last warning. Leave now, or you'll regret it."
The men exchanged amused glances, clearly underestimating the veiled woman before them.
"Boys, I think we have a feisty one." the leader said, his smirk widening.
"That makes breaking you so much more satisfying …" He added as he approached Gaela, his ogling gaze fixed on her.
Before he could take another step, Gaela's eyes glowed faintly behind her veil, her golden irises shining like molten metal.
The men froze, their bravado faltering as an invisible wave of bloodlust washed over them. It was as if the air itself had turned heavy, suffocating them with an overwhelming sense of dread.
This was Gaela's aura…
"An Elementalist?" one of the men muttered, his voice trembling. But his shock only deepened as her killing intent intensified.
He felt as though he were standing in front of a powerful predator rather than a woman. His limbs grew weak, his knees buckling under the pressure.
"What the heck…" he stammered, collapsing to the ground.
"Please… don't kill me," he begged in a last-ditch effort, before his world descended into darkness.
One by one, the other men followed, crumpling to the ground like puppets with their strings cut. Within moments, all six lay unconscious, their faces pale and their bodies limp.
"Huh?" Jenny gasped, her eyes wide with amazement.
"What did you do to them?" she asked, staring at the fallen men.
"Knocked them unconscious," Gaela replied simply, her voice calm as if she had done nothing more than swat a fly.
Jenny blinked, her astonishment giving way to admiration.
"You didn't even move a muscle, yet they're all down! You'll never cease to amaze me."
Gaela chuckled softly, the glow in her eyes fading as she turned to Jenny. "Come on, let's get going. I think it's best if you stay at my place tonight."
Jenny raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "What about Ray?"
"He can sleep on the couch," Gaela said with a shrug, her tone light.
Jenny laughed, shaking her head. "You sure enjoy bullying him."
"It's one of life's little pleasures," Gaela replied, her golden eyes glinting with mischief as they continued their walk home.
'Besides… he is the one who always enjoy bullying me in bed. What a pervert!' Gaela said inwardly, her cheeks flushing rosy pink at the thought of Ray's cloth-less body over hers…
~~
Gaela and Jenny stepped into the house, their footsteps soft against the wooden floor.
The living room was bathed in the warm glow of a single lantern, its light casting long shadows across the room.
What greeted them, however, was a scene so unexpected that both women stopped in their tracks.
There, on the couch, lay Ray, fast asleep with Davin and Eric sprawled on top of him like a pair of oversized blankets. Davin's head rested on Ray's chest, his small hand clutching the fabric of his father's shirt.
Eric was curled up on Ray's other side, his face peaceful as he snored softly. But the most amusing detail was the horse mask—still perched on Ray's head, its leather ears drooping to one side.
Jenny stifled a laugh, her hand flying to her mouth to muffle the sound.
"Well, I guess Ray didn't make it to Jotham's shop after all," she whispered, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Gaela shook her head, a fond smile tugging at her lips.
"Looks like our babysitter got overwhelmed," she said, her voice low to avoid waking the trio.
"The horse mask must have been too much for him to handle," Jenny said in a teasing tone.
"Or maybe he just couldn't resist joining in the fun."
Gaela chuckled softly, her golden eyes softening as she gazed at her family. "He's always been a big baby. I'm just surprised he didn't wake up when we came in."
Jenny nodded, her expression turning thoughtful. "It's moments like these that make life here worth it, don't you think?"
Gaela didn't reply immediately, but the warmth in her eyes said everything. She stepped closer, carefully adjusting the blanket that had slipped off Ray's shoulder.
"Let's leave them be," she said quietly.
"They've earned their rest."
Jenny nodded, her smile softening as she followed Gaela to the kitchen. "I'll make some tea. It's been quite the night."
As the two women settled at the table, the soft sounds of sleep filled the house—a gentle reminder of the love and laughter that bound them all together.
Outside, the stars continued to shine, their light a silent promise of brighter days ahead.