Free Web NovelChapter 118: Ren Changed
Locky was up bright and early, rubbing her tired eyes, ready to grab some breakfast. But as she approached the kitchen, she noticed its lights flickering, and some odd sounds trickling out. Alarm bells rang in her mind: "Is there a thief?"
She was pretty sure Kestrel wouldn’t be the one in the kitchen. Every time Kestrel ventured in there with her tendrills, chaos erupted. Those mischievous tendrills, lacking eyes, were like naughty children: breaking stuff one minute and snatching food the next.
Kaworu? No way. He only ever drank water, never ate, so he never hung around the kitchen.
Back when Locky was alone in the house, before Kestrel’s return, little intruders would sometimes sneak in. But Locky usually scared them off without much fuss.
After Kestrel came back, and especially with Kaworu’s presence, robbers had stayed clear.
"Oh no, an intruder!" Thinking this, Locky’s eyes flashed fiercely. Taking a deep breath for courage, she swung the kitchen door open.
To her shock, there was Ren, right by the stove, wearing an apron and whisking eggs. They both froze, eyes locked in a mutual surprise.
"Uh... hey... you," Locky stammered, her eyes round with surprise, "Were you... um, here last night?"
Yesterday, Ren had seemed super tough. With his sharp knife skills and quick reflexes, he had even managed to tackle Kaworu down with ease. Kaworu was pretty intense himself, so to Locky, Ren seemed like a high-level and ruthless alpha.
She even thought, "He might be like those powerful alphas from the Polluted Zone who nabbed me years ago." That memory made her a bit nervous.
But right now, seeing Ren in her kitchen, in a pink apron no less, with his hair all tousled and a confused look on his face, she couldn’t find him scary at all.
She thought, "Didn’t he leave? When’d he come back?" As she glanced around, she saw Kestrel sleeping cozily on the living room couch. "What were these two up to last night?"
In fact, Ren had planned to leave after the event last evening. But the bone-chilling cold of the Imperial Nexus made him rethink. So, he and Kestrel settled down on separate couches in the living room for a chat.
The living space was roomy, illuminated only by a soft reading light. Its golden glow cut through the shadows, casting a comforting light on the two of them.
Their chat wasn’t about any upcoming risky adventures. They simply shared stories. Ren spoke of his days at the North outpost and the friends he made. Kestrel reminisced about a mishap in her family during her childhood and spoke fondly of her mom. freewebnσvel.cѳm
Wrapped up snugly in their thick blankets, a faint aroma of roses in the air, they found comfort in each other’s stories.
Kestrel, always the stoic type, wasn’t one for chatter, but she listened with intense focus. Under the soft lamp glow, her eyes sparkled, conveying a depth and curiosity, as she rested her head comfortably on the couch’s armrest.
Ren found himself laughing, genuinely and openly. It had been ages since he’d felt this light, especially after taking on the weight of being the alpha team leader.
He recalled how people used to say he looked his best when he laughed. Silently, he hoped that Kestrel thought the same, even though such thoughts seemed silly. Maybe it was the mysterious tune that had played earlier in the night, which still lingered in his mind.
He knew he should’ve left. After all, overstaying wasn’t courteous. But as they spoke, Kestrel gently reached out, her pale hand brushing his hair when he spoke of honoring a dying friend’s wish to gift candies to orphans. The gesture, so spontaneous and warm, seemed to say she understood the deeper sentiment behind his story.
With that, all thoughts of leaving vanished. Their chatter continued until they both grew drowsy. Ren noticed Kestrel’s eyes growing heavy first, and soon after, he too was swept into slumber.
Waking up to the first light of dawn, Ren found Kestrel still asleep beside him, curled up like a child. In the early morning’s hush, with his heightened senses, he could hear the gentle rhythm of her breathing and heartbeat.
Kestrel looked like an ethereal painting. The blanket accentuated the soft glow of her pale skin, and her smoothy hair spilled over its edges.
His eyes followed her exposed arm, tracing it to her delicate fingers, slightly curled. Remembering the tender touch from the previous night, he looked away, feeling a hint of shyness.
Leaving without a word now seemed wrong. Ren decided to whip up a breakfast as a small gesture of gratitude to Kestrel, who’d kept him company and had helped him with psychic grooming.
Feeling refreshed and with his psychic landscape vibrant, Ren entered the kitchen. The place was well-stocked and inviting. He even felt like humming the enchanting tune he couldn’t shake off — a sweet song sung by a lovestruck girl to her beloved moon.
Kestrel, having slept quite late, found it hard to stir when morning came. In her drowsy state, she plopped her head on the dining table.
Placing breakfast before her, Ren presented caramel egg pudding, freshly baked red bean toast, and cute apple slices carved into little rabbit shapes.
The delicious scent immediately grabbed Kestrel’s attention, making her hungry and eager to dive in. The pudding was a delightful blend of creamy milk and smooth egg, soft and melt-in-the-mouth, topped off with a crispy caramel layer that added a perfect crunch. The toast was fluffy inside with a sweet and crisp exterior that, when bitten, oozed with warm red bean paste.
Adding to the breakfast was the taste of fresh, juicy apple slices. For someone who adored sweets, this meal was a dream come true.
Kestrel didn’t waste any time, quickly finishing off her breakfast and even making sure not a drop of syrup was left on her spoon. It took her a moment to remember that it was Ren who had put in the effort to make it.
Ren’s own meal was straightforward - a couple of boiled eggs and some toast. However, when setting the table for Locky, he placed a generous bowl of fresh oysters and those adorable rabbit-shaped apple slices.
Locky, with utensils ready in her hands, looked utterly mesmerized, her cheeks a little puffed and her eyes sparkling, hardly noticing anyone else around her.
Kaworu’s seat was also prepped, marked by his personal golden cup, neatly washed and filled with cool mineral water. freewebnσvel.cøm
Kaworu, entering the room and spotting the cup, stopped for a beat.
"Only been here once, right?" He said, settling into his seat and taking a drink. "You’ve got some sharp eyes. Almost thought you were one of the betas."
Locky felt an urge to speak up. The house was vast; surely they could fit in more folks. They already had staff like maids and gardeners, why not add a chef to the mix? She tried sending silent, pleading glances towards Kestrel.
Unfortunately, neither Kestrel nor Kaworu caught her drift.
After breakfast, both Ren and Kestrel turned to Kaworu for training — specifically, ancient techniques, the forgotten battle strategies between betas and alphas. Their zeal to improve was evident.
