"Actually... if you don't mind me asking. You look pretty tired. Long day?"
Nayeon's fingers paused on her teacup and glanced at Claire for a moment "It's just that I couldn't get good sleep."
Claire's gaze lowered in sympathy "That sounds rough. Have you tried-"
"Everything," Nayeon cut in gently, "Potions, artifacts, healers from the capital. Nothing sticks."
Klein's gaze condensed 'Obviously, because it's not a normal insomnia.'
In the game's hidden lore, Nayeon's condition wasn't medical or magical in the conventional sense.
It was a residual curse from a Rift exposure when she was young.
A fragment of "Rift Whisper" had latched onto her mana core, feeding on her sleep cycles.
Standard potions and healers couldn't touch it because it wasn't a debuff; it was a parasitic echo that adapted to every countermeasure.
The only permanent fix was a late-game artifact, the Somnus Crown, forged from a rare Rift boss drop + a custom alchemical stabilizer keyed to her exact mana signature.
That was Act 5 stuff.
Sipping his tea, Klein spoke "You know, sometimes the fancy stuff misses the simple tricks. Adding a couple of common herbs to whatever you're already trying can change things."
"Moonshade leaf and crimson dreamberry: steep three berries with five leaves for seven minutes. And drink that three days before sleep. Nothing crazy, but… it's a good cure for sleeplessness."
Nayeon looked at him for a moment, as she knew what those herbs are 'Combining them both?'
She frowned suspiciously, but then she sighed in her heart 'They are not harmful herbs, I guess it's not a bad idea to try it.'
"Thank you, Mr..."
As she trailed off, Klein replied "My name is Klein Herrsen, you can just call me Klein."
With a nod, she replied "Thank you, Mr. Klein, I will try it later."
Claire looked at him in surprise 'How does he know that?'
But she stayed silent, and they continued the meal.
Whatever was going on with her brother since yesterday... the sudden training, dungeon dives... she had decided to trust the new rhythm of him.
So she stayed silent, picking up her teacup and taking a slow sip to hide the curiosity burning behind her eyes.
The three of them finished the rest of their meal in silence that wasn't quite awkward but wasn't entirely comfortable either.
Outside, the snow continued to fall in thick, lazy flakes, blanketing the narrow street in muffled white.
When Klein and Claire's bowls were empty, both of them stood up and walked to the old owner to pay.
"Two beef bowls and two cold teas," Klein said, sliding enough credits across to cover both their meals and a generous tip.
He hesitated for a second, then added a few more coins, enough to cover a third bowl.
The owner raised an eyebrow but didn't comment, simply nodding and ringing it up.
Claire watched the extra credits disappear into the till, then glanced sideways at Klein.
Another silent question. He just gave her the tiniest shake of his head... later.
"Thank you for the company," Claire said politely to Nayeon as they passed her side of the booth.
Nayeon looked up and offered a faint, tired smile. "Likewise."
The bell chimed softly as Klein pushed the door open, letting in a swirl of cold air and snow. He held the door for Claire, then followed her out into the night.
The street was nearly deserted now, the mana-lamps casting pools of warm gold on the fresh snow.
Their footsteps left crisp prints side by side as they walked.
---
Back at Old Oak Bowl, Nayeon finished the last of her tea.
She set it down carefully, then gathered her things and approached the counter.
The owner was wiping down the till and looked up as she arrived.
"All set, miss?"
"Yes, thank you." She reached for her credit pouch and pulled out more than enough to cover the meal and a substantial tip.
The owner waved it off with a gruff smile.
"No need. The young man who was just here, he paid for three bowls. Said the third was for 'the beautiful lady with the ponytail.' "
Nayeon froze in surprise and stared at the owner for a long moment.
"…I see," she said quietly.
The owner shrugged, already turning back to his closing routine. "Kids these days. Strange, but polite."
Nayeon slipped the credits back into her pouch and a small smile appeared on her lips.
She pulled her coat tighter around herself and stepped out into the snow.
'Klein Herssen,' she thought. 'I won't forget.'
---
Looking up at the night sky, Klein smiled in his heart 'First impressions are always important.'
Claire glanced up at him "Kay, you paid for her meal too..."
"Yeah." He muttered, his breath fogging in the air.
"And you also gave her some remedy, will it even work?"
With a chuckle, he replied "It will work, don't worry."
It is a temporary cure, but for someone like her who barely gets sleep, it will feel like heaven.
---
Klein is back in his room, lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling 'Today went well.'
He pulled the thin blanket higher up to his chin, curling his toes against the chill 'Fuck, why is it so cold tonight?'
The old heater in the hallway had been wheezing all evening, barely pushing out lukewarm air.
Just then he heard a soft knock on the door "Klein?"
"Big Sis?"
The door creaked open and Claire stood there in her oversized sweater and thick socks, with a thick quilted blanket in her hand.
She stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind her.
"It's freezing tonight," she murmured. "The heater gave up an hour ago. I could hear it rattling from my room."
Klein sat up a little, propping himself on his elbows "Yeah. One blanket's definitely not cutting it."
"That's why I brought mine too." She unfolded the quilt with a soft rustle and laid it over his legs. "If we layer them both, you'll actually stay warm."
Klein blinked, then raised an eyebrow. "But then you-"
He didn't finish. Claire was already kicking off her slippers and climbing onto the space beside him, pulling the edge of the quilt up as she settled in.
"We can sleep together. We're not kids anymore, but the bed's big enough. And we did it all the time when we were little and the power went out."
Klein opened his mouth to protest... but the words died when he saw her face in the dim light.
He let out a quiet breath and shifted over to make room.
"…Yeah," he said softly. "Okay."
Claire smiled and pulled the quilt up over both of them.
She arranged the two blankets carefully, with his thin one on the bottom and her thick quilt on top, tucking the edges around his shoulders like she used to when he was small and afraid of thunderstorms.
For a moment they just lay there, side by side, staring at the ceiling.
The mattress dipped slightly in the middle, naturally pulling them closer until Claire's shoulder brushed his.
Klein could feel the warmth radiating from her, chasing away the chill that had settled in his joints.
Her hair smelled faintly of the lavender soap they both used, and the steady rhythm of her breathing was the most comforting sound he had heard all day.
Claire broke the silence first "Remember when we were kids and the heat went out for a whole week in winter?" she murmured.
"We dragged both mattresses into the living room and made a fort with all the blankets. Mom called it our 'survival camp.'"
Klein laughed quietly "You insisted on telling ghost stories until I hid under the covers. Then you felt bad and let me hold your hand all night."
"I was a terrible big sister."
"You were the best."
She looked at his face for a moment, then scooted a little closer, resting her head on his chest.
"Now go to sleep, little brother."
"Mhm, good night, sister."