Chapter 31: Goals
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
During this time, the Versalon family helped Ryu far more than he expected. He didn’t have a single coin to his name, yet somehow, they treated him like a long-lost relative who had returned from a heroic quest.
It couldn’t possibly be just because he was polite and pitiful. There had to be some deeper logic behind their kindness. Or maybe they were just that nice. Either way, he wasn’t complaining.
Today, John and Maki arrived at the house to visit him.
The Versalon family welcomed them in with warm smiles and open arms. Laughter echoed through the modest home as they swapped stories from the past. John was their nephew by distant blood, apparently the kind of relation you only remember when they bring good liquor or awkward guests. Their bond had survived since the days of the First Wave, and it still was.
Amid the cheerful chatter, Ryu came inside through the main door, descending from the upper floor, his steps quiet but confident.
Venus walked beside him, her face twisted in an expression that hovered somewhere between annoyance and regret.
"Good morning everyone," Ryu greeted with a friendly nod, completely unaware that his bedhead made him look like a startled hedgehog.
"Whoa, you’re a mess, Ryu! Did Venus not even give you time to prepare?" Maki said with a chuckle.
"Exactly. She barged into the room while I was just starting to get dressed. Then she dragged me all the way here..." Ryu grumbled, taking a seat beside them.
"While changing clothes?"