Ryu was lounging in his quarters, half-distracted by the book he hadn't really been reading, when a knock came at the door. He swung it open and nearly groaned aloud. Standing there were three small figures—his siblings. The triplets.
"Brother Ryu!" they chorused, voices high and sweet but already carrying that stormy energy he knew too well.
One of them, Alec, grinned mischievously and shoved a sealed letter into Ryu's chest. "Papa said to give you this."
Ryu ripped it open, his brow furrowing as he scanned the familiar handwriting.
Ryu,
Your siblings have been restless at home and constantly demand to see you. I've decided it best for them to spend some time with you at Skylar. Consider it a chance for bonding. They admire you deeply. Take care of them well.
— Father
Ryu crumpled the paper in his fist and muttered through clenched teeth, "Father…" Then louder, "Dad!" The exasperated shout rang through the chamber, startling the triplets—though only for a second.
Immediately, chaos erupted. Alec began bouncing on the chair like it was a personal trampoline, chanting, "Skylar! Skylar!" His twin, Alex, was already fiddling with Ryu's fire-gloved hand, tugging at it as though to see what lay underneath.
And then there was Alexis. Sweet, innocent-looking Alexis, who vanished for a moment only to reappear triumphantly from Arya's room with something dangling on her head.
Ryu froze. His jaw dropped.
"Arya's…?"
"Why doesn't the headband fit?" Alexis asked brightly, twirling in circles with Arya's bra sitting proudly over her head like a crown.
Ryu's ears turned scarlet. He lunged forward, gently snatching it away before anyone else could see. "It's not—! That's not—!" He stammered, shoving it back into Arya's drawer like it might explode if left exposed.
Of course, that was the exact moment Arya herself walked in. She stopped at the door, blinking as she took in the scene: two children practically destroying Ryu's furniture, one giggling uncontrollably on the bed, and Ryu himself looking like he'd rather fight ten wind beasts than handle his siblings.
"Oh," Arya breathed, her surprise melting almost instantly into laughter. "Your siblings are here. They're adorable."
"Adorable?" Ryu echoed, looking utterly betrayed. "They're demons."
Arya crouched down to Alexis's level and smoothed her hair. "They're just children. Let them stay, Ryu. They came all this way to see you."
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Arya, if they stay, I'll never know peace again."
"Then you'll just have to make peace with them," she said softly, giving him that warm, stubborn smile he could never quite refuse.
Minutes later, the triplets were already cheering when Arya suggested they all go out. Somehow—because fate enjoyed laughing at him—Ryu found himself marching through the academy gates with three hyperactive children clinging to his arms and legs. Arya walked beside him with the patience of a saint, while Xavier and Daven who Ryu had called earlier to join them trailed behind, thoroughly amused.
"This is going to be fun," Xavier announced, grinning ear to ear. "An amusement park trip with royalty and triplets. What could possibly go wrong?"
Ryu shot him a look so sharp it could slice fire itself. "Don't. Tempt. Fate."
The triplets only cheered louder, already chanting, "Amusement park! Amusement park!"
And so, the day of chaos had only just begun.
The amusement park turned out to be a battlefield in its own right.
Ryu spent most of his energy chasing after the triplets, scolding, correcting, and flat-out dragging them away from trouble.
"Don't eat that—it's not food!" he barked, yanking a glowing stick out of Alec's mouth.
Two steps later, he caught Alexis chewing on a game ticket. "For the love of—! Spit that out!"
Arya laughed as she passed him a clean handkerchief. "You sound like a tired nanny."
"A nanny?" Ryu repeated, scandalized.
"You sure do," Daven added dryly, tearing off a piece of his cotton candy. "More like a nagging mother."
Ryu shot him a glare sharp enough to cut steel. "Say that again."
But Arya's laughter drowned out his threat. She knelt on the ground, surrounded by the children, offering them snacks one by one. They adored her already—hanging off her sleeves, giggling at her jokes, and nibbling happily as she patted their heads. For once, they were calm.
Ryu, utterly drained, collapsed on a nearby bench. He rubbed his temples and muttered, "This is torture."
That was when Xavier clapped his hands together with way too much enthusiasm. "Alright, enough sulking! Who wants to ride the Willy Wonder boats?"
"The what?" Ryu deadpanned.
"The boat ride," Xavier explained, grinning like a child himself. "The one with rainbow lights and music. Perfect for the kids."
Ryu snorted. "Childish."
"You're not the one we're taking, Ryu," Xavier said cheerfully. "It's for them."
Ryu opened his mouth to argue, but Arya tilted her head, lips curved in a soft smile, and the triplets were already cheering. He sighed in defeat. "Fine. But only because it's for them."
He stood, brushing himself off, and walked up to the children with all the forced authority he could muster. "Alright, listen. We're going for the boat ride."
The triplets erupted into cheers, tugging at his hands and practically dragging him toward the line. Xavier skipped along happily behind, smug in his victory.
Daven, however, didn't move right away. His gaze had shifted across the park, narrowing on a strange sight.
A Weasel mascot stood a few meters away, half-hidden by a popcorn stall. Its painted smile didn't move, but Daven's instincts prickled—something about it was wrong. It wasn't just watching the kids. It was watching them.
He didn't like it.
Calmly, he tore off the last piece of his cotton candy and flicked the stick toward the mascot. With the barest twist of his fingers, he charged it with elemental energy. The flimsy stick shot through the air like a spear, slicing the mascot's fabric in a neat tear.
The creature inside flinched.
"What are you staring at, weirdo?" Daven muttered, his voice low and laced with threat.
The mascot stumbled back, scurrying away in fear, its oversized head wobbling awkwardly as it vanished into the crowd.
Daven's eyes narrowed, but he didn't follow. Not yet. Instead, he turned and walked toward the line where Ryu, Arya, Xavier, and the triplets were waiting. His face was calm, but his thoughts weren't.
Something wasn't right.
And whoever was watching them wouldn't stay hidden forever.