Tales of Six

Chapter 28 : First lunch together

Kaen- Right, so at first you want to do whatever the teacher asks of you and participate in class in order to get them to like you. If that works then you can do basically anything you want and they'll let it slide. Also if you like them you can continue participating, getting extra points might help soothe a bad situation in the future. However if it doesn't work, then stop everything and only do the minimum work required. With some luck they'll think you're too bad in class and won't ask you to do extra or special work. Whatever you do, do not get better grades after being punished, it'll make them think torture is right way to go.

Phil absorbs everything Kaen says with wide curious eyes as they both walk towards Ribanur's house and shop. They find Savyna and Ribanur at the table outside, talking.

Kaen is curious how they got along so quickly and sits between the two.

Kaen- So ? What are you guys talking about ?

Savyna- Oh he was just... telling me about his life before Joleyn ... died.

Kaen- ..?? And you...

Savyna- And I ... listened.

Kaen- You... listened ?

Phil, oblivious- Who's Joleyn ?

Ribanur- My wife.

Phil- Oh where is she ? :D

Everyone- ...

Phil- Oh right, sorry... :c

After a moment of awkward silence.

Ribanur- So, how was class ?

Kaen- You know, the usual. Boring. So, what are we eating ?

Ribanur, proudly- Steaks !

Kaen, baffled- You got steaks !? How ? ... why ?

Ribanur- I wanted to treat you girls to something good. To celebrate. To enjoy.

Kaen stumbles over her words and just looks at the other two. They're smiling. Four people under this roof for the first time. Having a nice lunch, together. Everything is going well. Everything is calm.

Kaen feels a pinch in her heart.

Kaen- ... So that's what having a real family feels like.

Phil and Savyna smile and scoff.

Savyna- I mean...

Phil- .. I guess ? x)

Ribanur, small panic- Oh wait, Savyna, do you eat meat without the whole...

Savyna calmly lifts her neck hair and shows her tattoo to Ribanur.

Ribanur, calming down- Oh alright then. I mean I should've guessed, but still.

Kaen, incredulous- ??? You know what that is ? what it means ?

Ribanur- She's not the first sylvan I've met.

Kaen- ????

Ribanur- Actually I remember the first one I saw, and quite on topic I might add. It was when I.. when I was wandering the woods outside Bredon a few days after Joleyn ... passed.

The three girls group up to listen.

Ribanur- The sylvan, she helped me. She gave me advice. She ... showed me another way. Showed me that losing a loved one isn't the end. Convinced me to try again in the capital. And well, it worked ^^". It's thanks to her that I'm here today.

Savyna- And you still remember her, what, 15 years later ?

Ribanur- 16. But yes, I do. And probably will for the rest of my life. Or at least I hope so, she deserves it.