-nothing can pass this abs of mine-

The Bamboo house

The flock of crows flies past the house at their own pace. Seeing those black wings from my point of view down here, I see that they fly over me so fast, but they take their good time slowly up there. As time has run past me at its own pace for two weeks, we are now on pause and just let time have its own plays.

Kaiza and I visited the Bamboo House with Jodai and Jay. We haven't seen him since the fire. Grandpa welcomed us with a warm welcome like he did at his house. We're catching up, having tea, and talking about stuff other than business in the Gather zone area.

"You know what they are talking about you?"

Grandpa.

"Who's they?"

Kaiza.

"Around, outside, and them."

Grandpa answers us and finishes by pointing around the Takaki men in the training yard.

"Talking about Kaiza?"

I ask and hold the cup up.

"Two of you."

He says to us with a smiley face.

"..."

Kaiza swipes my front hair to the back and touches my ear softly.

"Good or bad?"

Kaiza.

"I hope it's both."

Me.

"Bad for them, good for you, heh…But I can see now what they meant."

Grandpa talks to us while observing.

"..."

I tilt my head.

"So, when are you going to have a baby?"

Grandpa.

"Cough, Cough."

I scoff.

"..."

Kaiza takes out his handkerchief and uses it to touch my mouth.

"I'll...do it. Thank you, Kaiza."

Then I take it from him, but I notice that his eyes are lively and excited after hearing the question.

"I would like to hold one of them soon. I'm kind of lonely."

"One of them?"

I repeat.

"I want a girl. She will bring much light to our family, just like you, young lady."

"..."

"I agree. I want a girl, too. She must be cute…like you."

Kaiza supports his grandpa.

"..."

My face is turning red.

"But not right now, I know."

Kaiza speaks up and pats my head gently. I glance at him, and I see his smile. 

He looks so happy. His red hair isn't as dark as I used to see. 

"...Is he fine now?"

Grandpa asks me while looking at Jodai outside with Jay and others. I notice the white hair, Craius. He's back.

"Yes, grandpa. He's a tough man."

I answer him.

"Yes, he is."

"Do you mind if I go outside a bit?"

I ask.

"Of course not. Go have fun."

"..."

Kaiza's holding my hand while I'm getting up.

"I'll be right back."

I tell him.

"..."

He's pouting his lips to me.

"Kai, I'll keep you company…you are free, young lady. Hehe."

Grandpa tells his grandson and gives the signal to me.

"I'll be right back."

I tell Kaiza again with a smile.

Then, I leave them and head to the training yard.

"I haven't seen you react like that before, even when you were a kid."

"...Well,"

He pushes his bangs away from his face, picks up the cup of tea, and drinks it.

"Hm. She's still good at making tea… I miss spending time with her…both of you." 

The grandfather sips his tea.

"We miss you too, grandfather."

Kaiza talks to him while his eyes are still gazing at his wife outside.

"Hmm."

"Kai, you're over-processive."

"Am I?"

"She chooses you. You need to realize that by now."

"I know, but I can't be at ease…when she's not with me...I don't want to lose her out of my sight again."

"Hmm."

"She was after you, wasn't it? Into the fire…to be honest, you both are over-possessive of each other."

"..."

"Jay can't stop praising Zephyra to Kyo and the situation with Slaven. You're working together makes him in awe… not just him but everyone."

"Heh."

Kaiza chuckles.

"I'm amazed that Aka still stayed calm after his son got into the fire."

The grandfather talks about another person while looking Jodai and Zephyra.

"Zephyra… I guess."

Kaiza.

"Aka helped her in Keithland himself…hmm."

The grandfather doesn't doubt Zephya. He can't help thinking about what his old friend, Ryushi, had told him about the relationship between the Yamazaki family and her.

"Who wouldn't have thought that the young, ordinary girl could be the most influential person in this cruel society."

The Training Yard

"Good afternoon, Lady Zephyra."

Craius greets me after noticing behind Jodai's back.

"Hi."

I greet him with a smile.

"I'm not interrupting three of you, right?"

"No, not at all, Lady Zephyra."

Jay answers.

"I haven't seen the three of you catching up or chit-chat like this...ever. Hehe."

"Me too, lady Zephyra, especially with this grumpy man."

Jay talks to me and shifts his sight to Jodai.

"I did it for Zephyra's sake."

Jodai.

"Come on, I know you are having fun with me."

Craius.

"No."

"Cruel."

Craius.

"Hehe."

I chuckle.

"He's just acting tough. Actually, he's so soft like cupcakes."

Jay teases Jodai.

"Hahaha."

I laugh a little louder.

"Do you want me to help with anything, Zephyra?"

Jodai asks.

"Actually, I want to talk with Craius."

"Yes, I miss you too, Lady, Zephyra."

"Hmpt."

Jodai glares at him immediately. 

"Hahahaha."

Craius laughs energetically.

"Can we talk over there?"

I ask him.

"Yes, please."

Craius responds to me with a smile and a smirk on his face, teasing Jodai.

"Jay, please play with him."

"Of course, trust in me, Lady Zephyra."

Jay.

We walk to the bench beside the training yard, which is surrounded by big trees and bushes. We face the Takaki men training in front of us.

"Let's sit and get the cool breeze here. You don't mind, do you?... It's getting colder."

I tell Craius.

"Not at all. We're from the Mountain, so we can bear the cold breeze easily. But it's probably going to snow soon... I am going to come to you before you leave, Lady Zephyra."

He tells me while sitting near me.

"I can't wait...I see you are perfectly fine. There are no bruises or scars,...right?"

"Hehe. I was hit a few times, but...nothing can pass this abs of mine."

He's talking with a bit of jokes.

"You're just like your brother...but I'm glad you're not loud like him."

"Hahaha. I'm just able to hold it in, Lady Zephyra...He gave me to tell you that he misses you and also grandma."

"I miss them as well...wait...you went to the North Mountain?"

"Er...Yes. Since I was in Hwaland, I thought I should visit my hometown a bit...and..."

"Is it alright? What is it?"

"Hwaland is free from the Hungers, Lady Zephyra...no more of them."

"Heh...That's.. great...Thank you, Craius."

"It's my honor and my pleasure to serve you...."

Craius's smile fades away a little.

"...What is it?"

I can see it on his face. There's something more.

"You didn't assign anybody to the North Mountain, right?"

"..."

"After Hwaland, I thought I should take a look around the North Mountain and the village, search for the Hungers...and I met someone...actually, he was the one who led me to the Hungers. I thought he was one of them, but no... He tried to get rid of them as well. He handled them, and I rescued the kids..."

"...And they..."

"They're all fine and saved, Lady Zephyra... Everyone is free from them...the village as well."

If we can deal with Gerardo, only Sovereign is left.

"*Sigh.."

He sighs out.

"I'm so relieved."

He tells me.

"...yes...I'm glad that our hometown is free from them...Why is he meddling with...my...I don't understand."

I talk to myself.

"You didn't order him to do that?"

"No...He's just meddling...helping me...but why?...Is he bored?"

"..."

"But it seems grandma knows him too."

Craius.

"!!"

"What?"

I ask.

"I saw them having a conversation together a lot and talking about you..."

"About me!?"

"Er... yes, but I didn't want to eavesdrop, so..."

"..."

"Is there something about him, Lady Zephyra..?...you seem."

"Yes, it's gotta be something. Then he wouldn't do all the big stuff like that…and this is not about him at all."

He is very annoying and weird. He's very picky when it comes to choosing to do something. During the sword-making process with him, I could see another side of his personality. He's genuine and authentic with himself. That's why he's weird and the most genius, talented person ever. He's also preserved and has a tiny circle of connections. The place where I went with him and Jodai is hidden; it looks like a small village, with tiny houses lining up on the layer of the hill, but all of that is his house, his place. No one was particularly there, only his staff, which was not many. He calls it home even though he's the only one living there.

I'm not surprised if he did it out of the blue, but once he acknowledged another person's objectives, he didn't need a reason to do something; he needed something worthy of his time. 

So I guess it's worth his time, but I didn't ask him to help...

Did he do it because of me?