68 Chapter 68

A/N: a bit of 'slice of life' stuff. Hope it looks ok.

Later that day, the Astraea familia paid us a visit, or more specifically, Ryuu, Lyra, and Kaguya.

It was a pleasant surprise; apparently, they had heard about Clair's passing from Ardee and came to offer their condolences. It warmed my heart to see them here, their presence offering comfort amidst the grief.

As the Captain of my familia, I felt responsible for entertaining our guests. While most of my familia members were engaging in conversation, Nikolaos and Eleni were both occupied with their work and couldn't join us.

"Draco," Ryuu said, her voice gentle as to not upset me. "You're strong enough to get past this, and we'll support you every step of the way."

I smiled in gratitude and decided to prepare a feast worthy of their kindness. "Thank you, Ryuu. I appreciate your words, and to show my appreciation, I have an idea. How about I cook some interesting dishes for all of us? I believe a little cheering up is in order, after all."

Ryuu nodded enthusiastically, "That sounds lovely, Draco. We'd be delighted."

As I began to gather ingredients, my dear familia members continued to chat with their friends. By the time the smell of simmering spices began to fill the air, it was clear that everyone was beginning to relax and enjoy themselves.

Throughout the evening, I diligently cooked for our guests. It was a therapeutic ritual for everyone, as I tinkered with recipes and improvised with ingredients. Laughter, stories, and a shared love for good food brought us all closer together.

The most significant creation of the evening was a dish I whipped up on a whim. Its aroma was intoxicating, a blend of spices that seemed to sing when they came into contact with flame. The base was a rich sauce cut through with tender, succulent meat that I had marinated for hours.

Lyra, who was watching intently as I cooked, leaned in and asked with a twinkle in her eyes, "Draco, what secrets do you have hidden in this dish? I've never come across anything quite like it."

I chuckled as I added the final touches to the dish. "You'll just have to taste it and find out, won't you?"

As the evening progressed, the conversations around the table grew louder and more animated. The grief of Clair's passing seemed to weigh less heavily on our shoulders.

At one point, Ryuu and Kaguya decided to share their families' traditional stories with the company. captivated, they all listened intently as the tales of heroism and love unfolded.

But amongst the joy, I felt a twinge of sadness as I realized that it was these kinds of moments that Clair had been denied in her life, and we were, in a way, honoring her memory by creating new ones.

As the night wore on, it became clear that Vasileios had taken a particular shine to Kaguya. The usually stoic Dimitra couldn't stop sneaking glances at her, Vasileios seemed to have met his match. We all couldn't help but smirk at his poorly-veiled flirtations.

Later, as Ryuu, Lyra, Kaguya and I sat together, we spoke about my plans after this.

As the clinking of mugs and the laughter of our guests slowly faded, I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth enveloping our little gathering. The dinner had been a success, and now, with most of my familia gone to do their business, Ryuu, Lyra, and Kaguya were seated with me in the lounge as we talked.

"So, Draco," Ryuu said, leaning back in her chair and playing with her fingers, "Now that the Evilus incident is behind us, what comes next for your familia?"

I looked around the room, stalling for a moment before I answered. Soft candlelight flickered across the faces of those still present, painting an intimate scene of camaraderie and understanding.

Eleni and Nikolaos were noticeably absent, tinkering away in their respective workshops – something that I was forced to cover up as them being "busy," even though I knew better. Though I did leave some food for them in the kitchen counter.

Meanwhile, Bahamut, our goddess, slept peacefully in her room. I had sent Vasiliki to deliver her meal earlier.

"Well," I began, "I've been thinking about it for a while now, and I think it's time we took a significant step forward and planned something big – like a month-long expedition into the dungeon."

The room suddenly went quiet. Even the fire crackling in the hearth seemed to lose its voice. Eyes widened, and for a moment, I felt like I had been cast in a play where everyone else had forgotten their lines.

"A month-long expedition?" Lyra echoed, her eyes searching my face for any sign that I was joking. "Are you serious?"

I nodded.

"Yes, I am. I know it's a daunting task, but we've come so far already. Our familia has grown stronger because of the trials we've faced together. It's about time we tackled something of this magnitude."

Kaguya shifted her weight nervously in her chair. "I-I think it's a great idea, Draco. Really, it is," she stammered. "I just… I guess I'm just worried about what the others might think. I mean most of your familia members are still level 1."

Instinctively, I reached out and placed my hand on hers. "I understand your concern, Kaguya. But if anyone can handle something like this, it's us. We're more than just a familia; we're a team. And the stronger we become, the better we can protect those around us."

Ryuu raised an eyebrow at the bold declaration, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I can see why you're the leader, Draco. You certainly have a way with words."

The weight of the decisions we had to make hung heavy in the air; the joy from the festivities threatened to dissipate like wisps of smoke.

But it was then that Lyra, one to find the silver lining in any situation, clapped her hands together with a sparkle in her eyes.

"Well then!" she declared, her enthusiasm infectious. "If we're going to plan an expedition, we're going to need supplies, a strategy, and—most importantly—each other. Let's make this the adventure of a lifetime!"

"We ??" I asked in confusion.

"We planned to go on an expedition after our recent level ups so might as well take you all along with us" Kaguya replied. I was a bit surprised and let out a smile.

"Thank you" I said.

"No worries, you helped us out a lot in the dungeon during our fight against Alfia" Ryuu chimed in.

We talked about it in more detail before it was time for them to leave. I bid them goodbye at the door.

Soon I returned inside to clean up and went to my room. Sitting on the bed as I gazed out the window, looking at the moon while lost in thoughts.

'Perhaps it was time to make some progress in my romantic life with both Bahamut and Hephaestus now that the evilus were dealt with for a while'.

A/N: Thanks for reading see ya all Monday. Feel free to read ahead in my pat3on and donate. Have a great weekend.