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Scene 9: Give It to the One Who Truly Deserves It… Even Your Heart
The heavenly call of the girls (minus Zhuan) rang out just as the irresistible scent of food wafted through the air. It was so inviting, a flock of birds descended, fluttering in excited chaos.
"Do we have something we can give them?" Yue asked cheerfully.
"Like crumbs or something?"
"You mustn't feed them, Yue," Kalisa said gently.
Yue's face fell in disappointment. Seraphina spoke up on her behalf.
"Why not? They look like they'd love it. And it feels like doing something nice."
"You said it yourself, didn't you?" Kalisa replied calmly.
"That we should help those who deserve to be helped. Now ask yourself, dear—do these birds truly need our help?"
Seraphina tilted her head.
"But they look so pitiful…"
"And fluffy!" Yue chimed in.
"So cute!"
Just then, Grandpa Gryp approached and added,
"And do you think they're truly in distress? Or are they just hungry and seeking handouts? Now imagine what happens if we feed them for a while… and then stop."
"They'd have to go find food themselves," Yue said simply.
Kalisa stepped in again.
"And what if one of those birds is still young, still learning to find food on its own?"
"Then it's just starting later than the others," Seraphina answered.
"And what if it fails to learn?" Kalisa continued.
"What if, even when it tries, it can't catch prey because it's slower than the rest? Eventually, that bird might starve to death… and all because of our kindness."
Her tone was soft, but her words pierced deep.
"It's like raising a child—when parents do too much, the child grows up unable to do anything for themselves. And then, when they fail, they cry out, 'My parents ruined me,' even though it all came from love. It's heartbreaking, isn't it?"
"So this is how you raised Keela to be so capable, huh?" Seraphina smiled.
"Alright, I'll take this lesson to heart. Thank you, Auntie. Thank you, Grandpa."
"I just really wanted to do something for these birds," Yue said quietly, eyes cast down.
Just then, Akira approached.
"If you truly want to give, Yue… then give knowledge. Think of it like meeting someone starving by a lake. If you hand them a fish, they'll be full—until tomorrow. But if you teach them to fish, they'll never go hungry again. So now… what can you teach the birds?"
"Me? Teach birds?" Yue tilted her head.
"I'm not a Skyfolk…"
Mirelle placed a gentle hand on Yue's shoulder.
"But you can feel their emotions, can't you? Their expressions?"
As the others finished setting the table, the younger girls gathered near the birds—Yue, Mirelle, Seraphina, and Osiris—brainstorming how to "teach" them. The adults watched from a distance, fond smiles on their faces.
When everything was ready, Kalisa called out,
"So, how did it go?"
The girls all shook their heads. They hadn't quite succeeded, but their faces were lit with the joy of trying something new.
"That's alright," Kalisa said kindly.
"Sometimes, even failure can bring happiness—so long as we had the courage to try, and enjoyed the journey."
"It may not be failure at all," Grandpa Gryp added.
"It might simply be proof that this method doesn't work. That's all."
He gave both Yue and Seraphina a loving pat on the head.
Everyone took their seats for the meal. The girls gathered inside the house—Kalisa, Keela, Noren, Seraphina, Yue, Mirelle, Elina, and Osiris.
The boys stayed outside—Grandpa Gryp, Akira, Draco, Zhuan, Luvian, and Felix.
Inside, the girls chattered with warmth and excitement.
Outside, the men spoke with honesty and openness.
At first, they talked about Noren's business and Akira's travels. But of course, the conversation soon drifted to the favorite universal topic—romance.
Inside, Kalisa started by teasing her daughter.
"Keela, didn't you once say you wanted to find a man as sincere and devoted as your sister Katrea's husband? Have you found him yet?"
Keela blushed instantly, ears turning red.
"Um… not yet…"
She glanced at Mirelle, then thought to herself:
"What's the point in lying? Mirelle probably already knows."
"I just… haven't decided yet. He… might have someone else in his heart."
The girls squealed in curiosity. Who was the lucky guy?! But Keela quickly redirected.
"What about the rest of you? Mirelle?"
Mirelle shrugged playfully.
"So this is how we're doing it, huh?"
"Well, there is someone I've got my eye on… but I think he might already have feelings for someone else. So I'm waiting to see what happens."
The squealing rose again. Mirelle smirked and turned the tables.
"What about you, Noren?"
"I haven't been looking, honestly," Noren said casually.
"Too busy."
"Then just tell us your type!" Mirelle prodded.
Noren looked up at the ceiling, thoughtfully biting her spoon.
"Probably someone who fills what I lack. I lack decisiveness, boldness—the kind my father and brother had. If I had someone like that, we could balance each other out. I'd fill in what he lacked, too. It'd be fair."
"You treat love like a business deal?" Seraphina blinked.
Noren looked at her sideways, spoon still in her mouth.
"And you, Fina? Got your eye on anyone? Or a type?"
Seraphina stared at her plate, dreamy-eyed.
"I like someone older. Polite, calm, gentle… someone who helps others. Strong enough to stand tall even after loss. That's my type."
"Sounds like Lord Kalan, doesn't it?" Noren teased mid-bite.
"Y-Yes—NO! Ugh, you're the worst!"
"Next! Yue, your turn!" Seraphina stammered and covered her face.
Noren and Keela exchanged glances, narrowing their eyes. Looked like the big sisters had just uncovered a juicy secret.
Yue answered without hesitation.
"I like Akira!"
Seraphina blinked.
"No, not a brother! We meant someone you want to spend your life with!"
"But that's Akira," Yue replied simply.
"I want to be with him forever."
"Not quite, Yue," Noren said kindly.
"Siblings are one thing, but we mean someone you'd marry. Someone to be your partner for life."
Yue looked sad.
"Would that mean Akira's going to get married and leave me?"
"No, sweetie," Mirelle rushed to say.
"Getting married doesn't mean he'd leave. You can always be by his side. But someday, Akira will want someone he can trust to look after you—someone who can take care of you if he's not there."
"Then he'd have to be just like Akira," Yue declared.
"Or at least… half like him."
"What kind of person would that be?" Keela smiled.
"What traits would make your heart flutter?"
Yue tilted her head, thinking hard.
"Hmm… Someone kind. Someone who talks gently, worries about me, makes me smile… and most importantly, someone who lets me eat sweets."
Her innocent answer brought a round of chuckles from everyone.
Yue then turned to Osiris with wide eyes.
Osiris replied without a beat.
"Hmph. Do I even need to say it? I like Cain."
The room exploded with squeals.
Elina buried her face in her hands.
"It's okay, sis," Osiris said.
"Cain's not a bad guy. Maybe he has sides you've never seen—just like how you see Draco differently now."
Elina turned red like a split watermelon, speechless.
The girls continued their whirlwind of laughter and teasing while, outside, the boys looked toward the house.
"They sure are giggling a lot in there," one of them murmured.
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Scene 10: The Heart of a Man
While the girls continued squealing inside, Grandpa Gryp decided to stir the pot outside.
"So, Zhuan," he began with a grin.
"Heard you're courting the most beautiful woman in your region. That true?"
"It is, sir," Zhuan admitted.
"I'm doing my best."
"That's the spirit!" Grandpa laughed.
"A man's gotta go for what he wants. What about the rest of you?"
"I don't think I'm ready for a family yet," Luvian replied, shaking his head.
"I carry all the financial responsibility myself—and it's a massive load. Right now, I haven't even saved half of what I'd need. And honestly, a partner is a major variable. If she's someone who pushes me forward, great. But if she drags me down… I wouldn't be able to handle that."
Everyone nodded in solemn understanding. The weight of being a provider was no joke—and choosing the right life partner was no less important.
"As for me," Felix said plainly,
"Who'd be interested in me? I've got a scary face, a gruff voice, and I don't talk like a gentleman. Who'd go for that—besides monsters?"
"I wouldn't say that," Draco chimed in.
"Everyone has good and bad sides. If two people can accept each other's flaws, they can fully enjoy the good in one another."
"You talk like you've got experience, kid," Felix grunted.
"I don't… not yet. But I hope it exists," Draco replied with a small smile.
Zhuan teased,
"That sounded like someone who's got a crush. Come on, who is it? Princess Keela? Or maybe that beautiful mage over there?"
Grandpa Gryp nudged Zhuan with his wing.
"Zhuan, you really have no eye for these things, do you?"
"What'd I do?" Zhuan blinked, confused.
"Your guess was off, that's what," Luvian smirked.
"Let's just hope your romance ends better than your detective work."
"What about you, Akira?" Felix asked bluntly.
"Anyone you've got feelings for?"
Akira went quiet for a moment, realizing there was no way out of this one.
"Honestly… I think I'm doing something wrong," he admitted.
"There's someone I like. But at the same time, I know someone else has feelings for me. I don't know which path I should take—should I pursue the one I like, or respond to the one who likes me?"
Zhuan raised his fork dramatically.
"Ooh! A classic question! Alright, gentlemen, time to vote. Who says: 'Go for the one you like'?"
Draco, Grandpa Gryp, and Zhuan raised their hands.
"And who says: 'Respond to the one who likes you'?"
Only Luvian and Felix raised their hands. Akira raised neither.
"Hey, you!" Zhuan pointed.
"Why didn't you vote, O Hero? Can't decide? Planning on building a harem?"
"Not exactly," Akira said sincerely.
"I didn't raise my hand because… it's not just up to me. It depends on whether the person I like… likes me back. If she does, then everything's fair. I can pursue her freely, and it's equal between all parties."
Akira paused before continuing.
"But if she doesn't like me… then it wouldn't be fair to the one who does. And if the one who likes me can make me fall for her… then we end up with me liking her, which circles back to choosing the one I like."
Draco's eyes were spinning trying to follow the logic. Akira chuckled.
"To sum it up: no matter which way it starts, if two people like each other, it ends the same—mutual love."
"Whoa. That's some deep thinking," one of the guys said, impressed.
Grandpa Gryp laughed.
"Akira, if you're ever in a position where three people like you, and you're free to choose any of them with no guilt… would you still pick just one? Or… all three?"
"That's… even possible?" Akira laughed.
"Most people just want one person to love."
"Oh, it's possible," Grandpa grinned.
"Just look at the king of Skyperion. He has the right to marry all three pillars of stability. Like what you're seeing right now."
"Come on, Grandpa," Akira chuckled.
"That's the king. I'm just a regular guy. Even if I did end up there, it'd be chaos unless those three women loved each other just as much as they loved me. Only then could it be peaceful. Otherwise, it'd be total disaster."
The men all laughed—some agreeing, some disagreeing.
They debated the topic further, discussing how in some places, having multiple wives wasn't even frowned upon. Some saw it as unfair, others accepted it as cultural.
But amidst it all, one thing stood out clearly—
Grandpa Gryp's sly little smile.
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