Dinner with family

The grand dining hall of the House of Moonlight glowed with the soft light of a thousand floating crystals, casting gentle illumination across the polished silver table. Eren sat in an ornate high chair, specially crafted to accommodate his still-small frame. At nearly eighteen months old, he was increasingly frustrated by the physical limitations of his body, but tonight presented a rare opportunity—the first family dinner he'd been deemed old enough to attend.

'Finally,' he thought, watching the elaborate preparations. 'A chance to observe them all together, to understand the dynamics at play.'

Elysia entered first, her flowing robes of midnight blue catching the light as she moved. Since their private conversation about his speech development, she had been even more protective, limiting his exposure to those outside the immediate family.

"Are you ready, my little star?" she asked, adjusting his formal attire—a miniature version of traditional elven formal wear, though tailored for a "princess" with delicate silver embroidery that made his skin crawl with discomfort.

"Yes, Mother," he replied simply, his voice growing stronger with daily practice.

Elysia smiled, though concern lingered in her eyes. "Remember what we discussed. Simple words only, when others are present. Your sisters know of your... advanced abilities, but the servants need not be informed."

'Because the servants report to the Council,' Eren thought, having pieced together the political structure of the palace through careful observation. 'And the Council fears anything they don't understand.'

The doors opened again, and Lyra strode in, her warrior's posture unmistakable despite her elegant attire. As the oldest sister and commander of the Moonlight Guard, she carried herself with disciplined grace, her silver eyes scanning the room automatically for threats.

"Mother," she nodded respectfully to Elysia before turning to Eren. "And little sister. I hear you've been making quite the impression with your speech."

"Lyra," Eren replied, deliberately keeping his vocabulary limited.

Lyra's eyebrows rose slightly. "Impressive. Clear pronunciation already." She settled into her seat, laying her ceremonial dagger beside her plate—a warrior never completely unarmed, even at the dinner table.

Naia arrived next, bringing with her the scent of forest blooms and the sound of tinkling laughter. Since their encounter with the starstone, she had made it her mission to visit Eren daily, often smuggling in small treasures from the forest.

"There's my favorite little starlight!" she exclaimed, rushing to plant a kiss on Eren's forehead. "Look at you in your formal clothes! Adorable!"

Eren suppressed a grimace at both the terminology and the affection. 'She means well,' he reminded himself. 'She has no idea who I really am.'

"Naia," he said, offering a small smile. "Pretty."

She beamed at the compliment, twirling to show off her flowing gown of pale blue. "Thank you! I wore it especially for your first dinner. The color reminds me of the afternoon sky over our kingdom."

The doors opened a final time, admitting Sorrel, who entered with a distracted air, a small book still clutched in one hand. Of all the sisters, she remained the most enigmatic to Eren—scholarly and observant, she seemed to notice things others missed.

"Forgive my tardiness," she said, taking her place across from Eren. "I was researching some... historical anomalies."

Her gaze met Eren's, and he felt a familiar unease. While the others saw only a precocious child, Sorrel seemed to look deeper, as if sensing the consciousness trapped within his infant form.

"Sorrel," he acknowledged carefully.

"Eren," she replied with equal care. "Your speech becomes more refined each day. Most impressive."

Elysia cleared her throat. "Let us begin our meal. It has been too long since we gathered as a family."

At her signal, servants glided into the hall, bearing platters of exotic foods that Eren had never encountered in his previous life. Fruits that glowed with inner light, delicate pastries dusted with what appeared to be crushed gemstones, and meats prepared in ways that defied his understanding of cooking.

"A traditional feast," Elysia explained, noting Eren's wide-eyed observation. "To celebrate your development."

As the meal progressed, Eren observed the sisters' interactions closely. Lyra, authoritative and protective, often redirected conversation away from sensitive political matters. Naia, bubbly and carefree on the surface, revealed flashes of sharp insight that suggested her frivolous demeanor might be partially an act. And Sorrel, quiet and watchful, seemed to absorb everything while revealing little.

"Tell me, Mother," Lyra said as they finished the main course, "what news from the Council regarding the Thornvale situation?"

Elysia's expression remained neutral. "The negotiations continue. The Thornvale Tribe remains... resistant to our terms."

"They're stubborn," Naia interjected, popping a glowing berry into her mouth. "Always have been. But their forest crafts are unparalleled."

"Their craftsmanship doesn't excuse their reluctance to honor ancient treaties," Lyra countered. "The southeastern territories are rightfully ours according to the Seven Tribes Accord."

Sorrel looked up from her plate. "The Accord is open to interpretation. Their scholars make compelling arguments about the original intent."

"Scholars always find ways to justify what benefits them," Lyra dismissed. "The border disputes must be resolved before the Grand Summit of the Seven Tribes."

Elysia raised a hand, silencing the brewing debate. "Not tonight. Tonight we celebrate Eren's progress, not discuss political matters." Though her face remained serene, her thoughts were troubled. 'Tomorrow will determine if we and Thornvale agree on common ground or march to war.'

'Interesting,' Eren thought, filing away the information. 'Territory disputes, ancient treaties, and a Summit of Seven Tribes. Political tension even in paradise.'

"Speaking of progress," Sorrel said, turning her attention to Eren, "I've been researching historic cases of accelerated development in our bloodline. The records are... fascinating."

Elysia's posture stiffened slightly. "As I mentioned, such matters are not for dinner conversation."

"On the contrary," Sorrel replied mildly, "family history seems entirely appropriate for a family dinner. Especially given the prophecies associated with the unification of the Seven Tribes."

A heavy silence fell over the table. Eren looked from face to face, noting the sudden tension. 'Prophecies again,' he thought. 'Something connected to my existence here.'

"What prophecies?" he asked, deliberately breaking his pattern of simple responses.

Lyra's silverware clattered against her plate. "The child speaks in questions now?" Her gaze shifted to Elysia. "Mother, just how advanced is her development?"

Elysia's eyes flashed a warning at Sorrel before addressing Lyra. "Eren is progressing rapidly, as I've mentioned. Her speech development is extraordinary."

"Extraordinary doesn't begin to cover it," Sorrel murmured. "But then, the prophecies did speak of a child who would bring change."

"The prophecies are ancient texts, open to endless interpretation," Elysia said firmly. "They have been misused for political gain too many times to be taken literally."

"What do they say?" Eren pressed, sensing crucial information just beyond his reach.