Chapter 8
Nick and Miguel sat across from Elara, completely focused on the food in front of them.
For several minutes, the only sounds at the table were the clinking of utensils and the occasional satisfied sigh.
Elara rested her cheek against one hand and watched them.
She had seen hungry adventurers before.
But these two looked like they had discovered food for the first time in their lives.
Elara smiled.
"So, where are your parents?"
Nick's hand stopped halfway to his mouth.
Miguel slowly looked at him.
Nick looked back.
Neither of them said anything.
They already knew what they were going to do.
Miguel lowered his head.
His eyes became watery.
"We..."
He sniffed.
"We don't have parents."
Nick followed immediately.
"Snff..."
Elara's smile disappeared.
"Oh..."
She looked at the two boys more carefully.
"I'm sorry."
Miguel wiped his eyes.
"It's okay."
Elara hesitated before asking,
"So... where do you live?"
The boys looked at each other again.
Miguel shook his head.
"We don't have anywhere."
Elara's expression softened.
"You mean you don't have a home?"
Both boys shook their heads.
"No."
Elara leaned back slightly.
"Then what are you planning to do?"
Nick looked down at his plate.
"We don't know."
Elara thought for a moment.
Then she spoke casually.
"You can stay at my house."
Nick immediately looked up.
"Your house?"
Elara nodded.
"Yes."
Nick tilted his head.
"Adventurers have houses too?"
Elara stared at him for a second.
Then she burst out laughing.
"Hahaha!"
Nick blinked.
Miguel looked confused.
Elara wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
"What?"
Nick asked.
Elara shook her head, still smiling.
"So what do you think we do?"
She pointed toward herself.
"Sleep in alleys?"
Nick's eyes widened.
"...I thought adventurers just traveled around."
Elara laughed again.
"Some do. But we're not homeless wanderers."
She crossed her arms.
"Adventurers earn money. A-rank adventurers especially."
Nick nodded slowly.
"That makes sense."
Elara smiled.
"So?"
She looked between the two boys.
"Do you want to live with me?"
Miguel immediately shook his head.
"Sorry, but we don't want to cause you trouble."
Elara frowned.
"Who said you're trouble?"
Miguel looked at her.
"We've already caused enough problems."
Elara shook her head.
"You haven't caused me any trouble."
She smiled.
"Besides, I live alone. There's plenty of space."
Nick looked at Miguel.
Miguel looked back.
Then Nick put on his most innocent expression.
"So you'll really let us live with you?"
Elara nodded.
"Yes."
Nick's eyes became slightly teary again.
"Really?"
Elara smiled.
"Really."
Miguel slowly reached into his pocket.
"There's just one problem."
Elara looked at him.
"What?"
Miguel pulled out several gold coins and placed them on the table.
"We don't have much money."
He pushed the coins toward her.
"But the adventurer who helped us escape gave us these. We can pay you for staying there."
Elara stared at the coins.
Her eyebrows rose.
"Gold coins?"
Miguel nodded.
Elara picked one up and examined it.
"That traveler must have been quite wealthy."
Nick nodded.
"Probably."
Elara placed the coin back on the table.
"But you don't need to give me these."
Miguel blinked.
"Why?"
Elara pushed the coins back toward him.
"Because you're not going to be my tenants."
Nick looked confused.
"Then what are we?"
Elara smiled warmly.
"My little brothers."
Both boys went silent.
Elara leaned back in her chair.
"I don't have parents either."
Her expression became slightly sad.
"I've been living alone for a long time."
For a moment, she looked away.
Then she quickly smiled again.
"But I don't mind having some company."
She looked at the two boys.
"So..."
Elara opened her arms slightly.
"Do you two want to become my little brothers?"
Nick stared at her.
Miguel stared at her.
Neither of them expected that.
They had spent days running through a forest.
They had slept wherever they could.
They had been afraid of every stranger they encountered.
And now someone was offering them a home.
Not because they could pay.
Not because she wanted something from them.
Simply because she wanted to help.
Miguel smiled.
Nick's expression softened.
They exchanged one final glance.
Then both nodded.
"Yes."
Elara's face immediately brightened.
"Really?"
Nick smiled.
"Yeah."
Miguel nodded.
"We'd like that."
Elara smiled warmly.
"Then it's settled."
She stood from the table.
"From today onward, you're my little brothers."
Nick looked at Miguel.
Miguel looked back.
Neither of them said anything.
But both of them were smiling.
For the first time since arriving in this strange world, they weren't completely alone.
To be continued...