"Does any of them catch your eye?"
The voice could not have belonged to Oswin. It was too soft, too young… and far too amused to come from an old man.
I froze.
If it wasn't the old man… then it had to be—
"How rude of you," the voice continued, now closer. "You walk into my house, rummage through someone else's shed, and you don't even bother to look at me."
There was irritation in her tone, yes—but also a playful spark.
I swallowed and slowly turned around.
And there she was.
The girl from the photograph… but far more alive than any image could capture.
She wore a white dress with navy-blue edges, tall black boots, and a green ribbon holding back her light blond hair as it fell softly over her shoulders.Her green eyes shone like freshly polished emeralds, and her half-smile held something dangerous… and beautiful.
"HEY! ARE YOU GOING TO ANSWER ME OR WHAT!?" she suddenly snapped, crossing her arms in indignation.
(…This can't be real. Even when she's angry, she's cute.)
I shook my head to drive away those traitorous thoughts and let out a small sigh.
"My apologies for snooping around," I said, bowing my head seriously."And to answer your question… that katana over there caught my attention."
The green-eyed girl dropped her tantrum—though not entirely. She fixed me with a cold, unreadable stare, as if deciding whether I was worth staying angry at… or simply ignoring.
Before she could say anything, Oswin appeared, leaning against the doorframe with that calm presence that always seemed to surround him.
"I'm glad to see you two are getting along already," he said with a smile that betrayed his amusement at our awkward exchange.
"If you're done with that, come have breakfast," he added, already turning back toward the kitchen with unhurried steps.
As the girl passed by me to follow the old man, she shot me a glare sharp enough to bring down the beasts I'd heard in the forest.
"Don't think I'm letting your rudeness slide," she hissed under her breath, each word sharp as a blade.
(…What a first impression.)
I thought to myself, holding back a laugh as I followed them.
.
.
The kitchen was spacious and warm, bathed in morning light pouring through a window near the hearth. A sturdy oak table stood at the center, surrounded by three chairs—one already occupied by the jade-eyed girl.
Ceramic plates with buttered bread and glasses filled with fresh milk rested on the table. The scent of food lingered in the air, comforting amid the chaos in my mind.
I sat down on the right side… right next to the girl with jade eyes. Wonderful.
Lyaris—though I didn't yet know her name—kept shooting me furtive glances, each one quicker and more intense than the last, as if she were deciding whether it was worth saying something to me… or simply pretending I didn't exist.
I took a piece of bread, tasted it, and—
(Incredible… this is delicious.)
I tried to keep my composure, but a spark of excitement slipped through as I savored something so simple. Jade eyes miss nothing, and of course, I immediately felt like an idiot.
"You could eat more slowly. You look like someone who hasn't had food in days," she said disdainfully, without even looking at me.
I rolled my eyes, knowing I'd gain nothing by arguing, and focused back on my breakfast.
Oswin arrived with his plate and dropped into his chair with a tired sigh.
"Eat slowly, Lyaris," he said casually. "You know what happened last time."
Lyaris stiffened instantly, a faint shadow of discomfort crossing her face before she quickly tried to hide it.
"That was years ago! You don't have to say it in front of a stranger…" she huffed, crossing her arms.
Oswin let out a laugh that echoed through the room, filled with that calm that seemed to be his only constant.
"You were younger back then, but you're still just as stubborn," he said, affection coloring his words.
Lyaris frowned even more deeply, but before she could add anything, she shot me another murderous glare.
(So her name is Lyaris…)
A beautiful name. And it suited her perfectly.
For a moment, my thoughts drifted back to the shed and the weapons. I still couldn't understand why there were so many. The place, so warm and peaceful on the surface, hid something that didn't match the image of that kind old man.
"Hey… Oswin, can I ask you something?" I murmured, trying to sound discreet.
"Hm. Go ahead," he replied without even looking at me.
Clearing my throat, I tried to appear thoughtful, though inside my curiosity had already won.
"On the way to the backyard, I found a shed and… boldly opened it," I said, nodding as if it were all part of a master plan."And inside there was an arsenal. Why do you have so many weapons?"
Oswin paused mid-bite, chewed, swallowed slowly, and only then lifted his gaze toward me.
"First of all, safety," he joked casually. "But seriously, it's normal to have weapons, isn't it?"
My expression must have answered for me, because his smile quickly faded.
"Alright, I get it. But honestly, I can't think of a single reason that would justify that much variety," I replied, frustrated at my inability to connect the dots.
Then, like a bolt of lightning, an idea struck me.
"Unless you're a mercenary… Are you one!? I mean, you might feel young at heart, but your body wouldn't survive even half a contract."
I nodded several times, confident that my deduction was absolutely flawless.
Oswin looked at me patiently, then burst into laughter, the sound making the air tremble.
"If I were a mercenary, the only contract I'd accept would be one that lets me sleep in," he said, adjusting his plate with a calm smile.
Lyaris snorted, as if she couldn't believe what she'd just heard.
"What an… interesting imagination," she said, making air quotes with her fingers. "I can't tell if you're brave or just stupid."
(…She's provoking me again.)
"It was a reasonable deduction!" I protested, though I knew I hadn't won that exchange at all.
"Yes, yes. 'Reasonable,'" she repeated, taking a sip of milk without taking her eyes off me.
Oswin stood up calmly.
"I'll explain the weapons later. It's something we need to see outside."
Lyaris stood as well, not even sparing me a glance.
"Don't get your hopes up," she murmured as she passed by.
(And yet… even her contempt is cute. Damn it.)