Hours later
The study had transformed.
Where chaos once reigned—scrolls unrolled like ribbons across the floor, ink blotches soaking into the edges of crumpled documents, and books stacked in impossible teetering towers—there was now a quiet, restored order. Shelves carved from darkwood held files in neatly aligned rows, and the glowing runes etched along the edges pulsed gently, content in the calm. Crystal lanterns dangled from the ceiling, their soft amber glow giving the space a warmth that even the cleanest surface could never provide on its own.
Auren sat behind his desk, posture straight, yet his fingers still tapped restlessly against the polished surface—residual energy from earlier chaos not quite gone. His papers were now aligned into careful piles, but a few edges still peeked out unevenly.
Opposite him, Subaru reclined in a chair that looked far too plush for how stiffly he sat in it. The woven fabrics shimmered slightly, subtly enchanted, and made a faint hmm sound whenever someone shifted their weight. Ruin had curled sideways in her seat, legs tucked up beneath her, rabbit ears gently swaying.
Nearby, Raphael stood, silent and composed. He tilted his head slightly now and then—an almost imperceptible movement that somehow conveyed curiosity, calculation, and mild amusement all at once. Baek Dae-won, stationed closer to the side, remained still, his gaze downturned toward a closed folder in his hands, his presence quiet, but solid.
Auren cleared his throat softly and reached for a fresh page, his voice mild. "Now that everything is cleared u—"
"I still can't believe you kids made an old man help clean up your mess," Subaru interjected, his tone laden with mock outrage and just enough theatrical exhaustion to make Ruin cover her mouth to stifle a laugh.
Auren lowered his hand, already sighing. "Granduncle… respectfully… I was the one who made the mess." He gave a small, sheepish smile. "You were only kind enough to help."
"Mm-hmm," Subaru grunted, crossing his arms. "And I still ended up covered in ink."
Ruin giggled outright now, her ears flicking upward. "You did look a bit like an ancient war general, Grandpa… with that black streak across your cheek."
Raphael's lips curved faintly. He didn't speak, but his ears twitched in subtle amusement.
Baek Dae-won's fingers briefly paused on the folder—just enough to register that he was listening—but he neither commented nor looked up.
Auren dipped his head slightly toward Subaru. "We're grateful. Truly. Though, I hope you don't report this to the elders."
Subaru arched an eyebrow. "Elders? You think I need an elder to scold you lot?"
Raphael spoke quietly, head tilted with mild curiosity. "There are… elders?"
Auren raised a hand gently. "Only one here, really. Old man Wǔ Zhìyuàn."
Raphael nodded.
Subaru's voice rumbled with amusement. "Well, jokes on you then. This old man could still smack some sense into you if he wanted."
Auren chuckled, eyes softening. "Yes, Granduncle… and I remain thankful for being spared that lesson."
There was a quiet ease in the room now. The sort that came after shared labor, after familiar teasing, after years of history that needed no long explanation. Even Baek Dae-won let his shoulders ease, if only slightly.
Subaru leaned forward again, his eyes sharper now beneath the warmth. "Still… all jokes aside… tell me. What's this I hear about the dominion cutting off supply to the Dwarfen Kingdom?"
The room's tone shifted like a breath sucked in and held.
The warmth in the room had cooled, ever so slightly.
Ruin's ears lowered. Her posture, relaxed only moments before, turned still. Auren straightened in his seat, the calm in his voice carefully maintained.
"…Yes," he said quietly. "That's true."
Subaru's brow arched, but his tone remained measured. "And who approved this decision?"
"We all did," Auren replied, fingers interlacing neatly on the desk. "It was a unanimous decision from the Order. A precaution… nothing more."
He glanced toward Ruin, who offered a solemn nod, then to Baek Dae-won—who didn't look up, but held the folder between his fingers with slightly too much pressure. He said nothing.
Subaru leaned back, eyes narrowing. "A precaution that cuts off supply lines to an entire kingdom in crisis? That's a bold move for something you've barely explained."
"We didn't make it lightly," Auren said. "But the signs were… concerning."
"What signs?" Subaru pressed.
Auren hesitated, then leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "There's been… a spread. Of curse energy. Through their rune networks. It's not contained."
Subaru's jaw tensed. "Curses?"
"Yes," Auren confirmed. "We detected faint traces on communication relays. Transport runes. Trade sigils. Their resonance was warped, brittle… not just frayed, but darkened."
Ruin spoke softly, eyes not quite meeting Subaru's. "We suspected it was isolated at first. But it wasn't. It was threading itself through their systems."
"And you're saying the Dwarfen Kingdom allowed that?" Subaru's tone sharpened, disbelief creeping in.
"No," Auren said quickly. "We don't believe they knew. At least not at first."
Subaru's fingers drummed once on the armrest. "Then explain it to me. What curse, exactly, are we talking about?"
Auren exhaled. "We believe it's tied to a rare rune… one not seen often. Its presence was subtle at first, almost veiled behind layers of amplification glyphs."
Baek Dae-won finally spoke, his voice low and quiet. "...It wasn't native to their system. Someone inserted it deliberately."
Subaru turned toward him, surprised by the sudden contribution. "Go on."
Baek Dae-won looked up, just barely. "The resonance signatures didn't match Dwarfen forges. Too refined. Too… polished." His voice dropped even softer. "Imported, likely smuggled. Whoever placed it knew what they were doing."
"And what rune was it?" Subaru asked, though his expression hinted that he already had a suspicion.
Auren gave the answer gently. "The Aurum Fortuna."
A silence followed.
Raphael tilted his head slightly, his ears flicking with focus, though he said nothing.
Subaru let out a quiet breath. "You're sure?"
"As sure as we can be without pulling it apart entirely," Auren replied. "Which… would be dangerous. It reacts when threatened."
Subaru leaned forward now, more serious. "That rune—do you know what it does?"
Ruin nodded. "On the surface, it brings wealth. Fortune. It's admired by merchants and nobles. Rare, but not forbidden."
"But that's only half the story," Baek Dae-won murmured.
Subaru turned to him again.
"It corrupts," Baek continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not all at once. Slowly. The more it grants, the more it asks. Greed deepens. People change. Kingdoms… crumble."
Subaru's voice was rough. "And what's it doing in the Dwarfen Kingdom?"
"We don't know," Auren admitted. "Not yet. Yami is already inside, investigating."
At that name, Subaru blinked. "Yami? She's in the Dwarfen Kingdom?"
"Yes," Ruin said. "She's been there for three weeks now. Embedded within the High Circle."
"And the king?" Subaru's voice turned quieter, more personal. "What's his condition?"
Ruin hesitated. "Not stable. The curse has taken root in him… we think through proximity to the Aurum Fortuna."
Subaru looked down at his hands. "And Yami… is she able to heal him?"
Ruin shook her head slowly. "She's trying. But it resists unraveling. All she can do is… keep him alive."
Subaru leaned back again, letting out a long breath. "Then there's still a chance."
"There is," Auren said. "But time is fragile."
Subaru nodded. Then, after a pause, asked, "You do realize… cutting off supplies will leave them exposed. Vulnerable. Other kingdoms won't hesitate to move."
Auren's reply was calm, assured. "Yami's presence is protection enough. No one would dare provoke her."
Subaru's brow furrowed in a mixture of respect and skepticism. He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "Yami… help. And you believe that?"
Auren gave a light chuckle, folding his hands neatly on the desk. "I know what you're thinking, Granduncle… but if it's Yami, she's more than capable. And… this time, it's personal for her."
Subaru raised a brow, interest sharpening. "Personal?"
Auren nodded, his tone calm. "She has her reasons. Let's just say… she's not doing this for diplomatic courtesy."
Subaru gave a quiet laugh, deep and amused. "Fair enough. So the son is handling the kingdom in the meantime?"
"Yes," Auren confirmed. "He's managing state affairs under her guidance."
Subaru gave a low, thoughtful hum. "That's no small feat. Still… they remain vulnerable."
Auren's fingers tapped the table in a thoughtful rhythm. "Yes. But Duke Ryuu is assisting. Discreetly."
Subaru's eyes lifted sharply. "Ryuu?" His voice held a flicker of disbelief. "Helping?"
Baek Dae-won spoke, without looking up. "He has been helping."
Subaru turned to him slowly. "I'll be damned... never imagined my Ryuu would step up for a kingdom he rarely visits."
Ruin grinned, her voice light. "Oh, he does. He just doesn't like showing his face around here."
"And Luna?" Subaru asked, half-suspicious.
"She comes sometimes," Ruin answered with a cheerful nod. "With little Liora."
The name hit like a stone skipping across calm water.
"…Liora?" Subaru repeated, blinking. "Who's Liora?"
Auren stiffened slightly, but Ruin answered without hesitation. "Their daughter."
Silence fell like dust settling.
Subaru sat up, a mix of disbelief and quiet hurt coloring his voice. "Wait… Ryuu and Luna have a daughter? And no one saw fit to inform me of this?"
Auren hesitated. "…We thought it best not to."
Baek Dae-won added quietly, "If we had told you, you would've come back immediately."
Subaru frowned, voice lower now. "And why wouldn't I? We're talking about my granddaughter."
He scanned their faces, but no one met his eyes.
"Who made that call?" he pressed. "Was it Luna? Ryuu?"
Auren shook his head gently. "No. Neither of them."
Subaru's gaze narrowed. "Then who?"
Ruin looked down, her ears flattening. "Ayaka."
The name dropped with weight.
Subaru's jaw tightened. "Ayaka?"
Auren leaned forward slightly, voice soft and cautious. "She thought it would distract you from your mission… put you at risk. Put Liora at risk too."
Subaru scoffed, his voice barely controlled. "No. That's not true. I can handle both."
Auren's voice lowered. "Granduncle… we all know you."
Baek Dae-won spoke, quiet but unwavering. "You go overboard when it comes to family."
Subaru turned toward Raphael, gesturing subtly. "No, I don't… right?"
Raphael remained quiet, ears twitching ever so slightly. His head tilted, but no words followed.
"…Coward," Subaru muttered under his breath.
He sighed, shoulders slumping slightly. "At least Sora wasn't told."
Auren and Ruin exchanged glances. Baek Dae-won looked away. None spoke.
"…You told her?" Subaru asked, incredulous. "You all told her and not me?"
He leaned back, a dry laugh escaping him. "You children really are out to get me. After all the mess I cleaned up for you."
Auren smiled gently, his tone apologetic. "I wasn't fully in support of keeping it from you. But you know how Ayaka is…"
Subaru huffed. "Well, I'll give her a piece of my mind when she returns. When's she due back from the academy?"
Auren spread his hands. "We don't know. Could be tomorrow. Could be next season."
Subaru glanced at Baek Dae-won, then at Ruin. Their expressions offered no further clarity.
He sighed again, slower this time. "Alright. Fine. That's that."
He stood with a small groan, stretching his back. "Think I'll take a quick bath."
Ruin was on her feet immediately. "I'll get it ready."
Subaru raised a hand, waving her off. "That's not necessary—"
"I want to," she insisted, ears perked with purpose. "Don't worry."
Before he could protest again, she was out the door with a flick of her tail and a quiet swish of fabric.
Subaru chuckled, watching it close. "She's fast."
Auren smiled. "You should see her in the kitchen."