Chapter 30 - 29: Brick by Brick
A few days passed quietly since Ethan and Lili had agreed to work together. The church, once abandoned and crumbling, had slowly begun to look like a place someone could call home.
Boards had been patched, cracks sealed, and new cloth curtains now hung over the once-bare windows. It wasn’t luxurious—but it was theirs.
The morning sun crept through the dusty glass panes, catching the dust in the air as Ethan hauled a wooden beam to the back wall. He wore a worn black shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, hands covered in dirt and sweat.
"Hold it there!" Lili called out, standing on a small ladder, hammer in hand.
"I got it," Ethan said, steadying the beam with ease.
She hammered quickly, tongue slightly sticking out in focus. "Almost... and done."
The beam locked into place with a satisfying knock. Lili hopped off the ladder, giving Ethan a small satisfied grin. "Nice teamwork."
Ethan smirked. "You’re pretty good with a hammer."
"I used to help with repairs at home," she said simply, brushing off her dress. "Kind of had to. No one else would."
He gave her a glance, sensing the weight behind those words, but didn’t pry. He knew better than to ask about scars people weren’t ready to show.
Meanwhile, from across the room, Hestia watched the two of them.