Shadows of a second life

The carriage ride home from the lord’s mansion was quiet. No one spoke much. Elara sat with her head slightly lowered, still processing the night. Elias stared out the window, his expression calm but distant.

Elaric stole glances at Elias as the carriage moved through the bushy roads,the sound of crickets creating a rhythmic backdrop.

Elaric thought to himself:Elias, what really are you,so fearless in front of the lord,no one could beat up a noble and escape punishment even a fellow noble can not escape punishment for insulting a higher noble,I know you probably know about it but decided to do what you did anyways.

Not that I blame you, that boy was obviously playing dirty.

Eventually they reached Willowbrook's edge and hopped out of the carriage.

Lira glanced at her son as he walked ahead of everyone with an unreadable expression,she then spoke up: Sweetie are you alright, you shouldn't have...

She paused as maria held her shoulder from behind, turning back,she looked at maria who immediately shook her head telling her: it's alright, just let him be.

When they finally stepped inside their house, the familiar warmth of home wrapped around them like a blanket.

Maria was the first to speak as they gathered in the living area.

“Elias… thank you,” she said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. “For stepping in for Elara tonight. Even if she’s not your sister by blood—”

Elias immediately cut her off, his voice firm and surprisingly mature for a ten-year-old.

“She is my sister. My only sister. So please stop saying that. Blood doesn’t matter here.”

Maria blinked, then smiled warmly. Elara looked up, eyes glistening again — this time with gratitude instead of pain.

Lira soon called them to the dinner table. She had prepared a simple but hearty meal despite the late hour: warm stew, fresh bread, and roasted vegetables. As they ate, she sighed softly.

“I’m sorry, Elara,” she said gently. “The way things turned out at your coming-of-age ceremony… it might have given you a bad start as an adult. And it may have caused some rifts with the upper classes of nobility. I wish I could have done more to protect you tonight.”

Elara shook her head. “It’s not your fault, Mother.”

Elaric, ever the one to lighten heavy moods, cleared his throat with a mischievous grin. “Alright, enough of the sad talk! Let me tell you kids how I met your mothers. That’ll cheer everyone up!”

He started with Lira, leaning back in his chair with dramatic flair.

“I met this one when she was just sixteen — a sweet little virgin with the sharpest mouth I’d ever heard. She kept pushing away my advances no matter what I did!”

Lira’s face turned bright red. “Elaric, stop it right now—”

But he continued cheerfully. “I was doing great as an adventurer back then, leading my party toward S-rank status. One rainy day, the others went out on a separate errand. We took shelter at an inn, and I asked the receptionist for a couple of rooms…”

Lira pleaded again, “Please, dear, the children—”

“Only one room left!” Elaric announced triumphantly. “She had one choice: share the room with me or sleep under the rain!”

Both Elias and Elara leaned forward eagerly, eyes sparkling. “What happened next?” Elara asked innocently.

Before Elaric could continue, Lira had enough. She shoved a piece of particularly bitter vegetable into his mouth while Maria stomped hard on his foot under the table. The impact resonated through the dining area with a loud thud.

Maria smiled sweetly at Lira. “How about we teach this guy a lesson tonight? We’ll make him beg for his life.”

Lira immediately stood up, cheeks still flushed. “Children, get up. You should probably get to bed now.”

Elara tilted her head innocently. “Will Dad be alright?”

Maria’s smile widened. “Oh, don’t worry, dear. It won’t hurt too much.”

Elias, however, understood perfectly. He glanced at his father, who was suddenly looking much less confident, and thought with quiet amusement, Poor Dad… he’s in for one hell of a night.

"Lucky him."

"I wonder what that felt like back in the days,I really enjoyed times like that,a few spicy moments but it all ended up in despair,hate, heartbreak... death."

"Maybe the safest path would be to never commit to a relationship whatsoever."

"If I do I'll save myself the heartache that comes with a potential breakup."

"It's settled then,my focus should be on my own growth and protecting my family."

"I really don't have much friends in this life,my previous life was probably better in that regard, however I..."

"He paused:no need to overthink it."

As the kids headed upstairs, the warmth of the house wrapped around them once more. Despite the earlier chaos, the Voss family felt whole.

And for Elias, that was more than enough.