The Veinwalker Academy courtyard was unusually peaceful that morning. The sun shone warmly, birds chirped lazily, and the faint scent of freshly baked bread wafted from the kitchens. The group of young Veinwalkers scarred, tired, and still a little traumatized from recent battles had gathered again. But today, for once, there were no enemies, no looming disasters, just… life.

Khael Corzedar leaned against a tree, arms crossed, eyes scanning the courtyard with the faintest furrow in his brow. "Another peaceful morning…" he muttered, though his expression betrayed the tension he still carried. (I can't let myself relax too much, not yet.)

Kaen Suro, predictably, bounced on the balls of his feet, flames faintly flickering along his jacket's embroidery as if reflecting his impatience. "Relax? Relax?! Are you kidding me? Relaxing is for losers! The moment we relax, something bad happens!"

Juno Arkai rolled his eyes, adjusting the bandages around his wrists. "You say that every morning, Kaen. Yet somehow we're still alive. You'd think you'd learn by now."

Kaen huffed, chest puffed, and muttered something about being the guardian of fire or something, but no one was really listening.

Across the grass, Ceyla Nox and Saya Kurenai sat quietly, sharing a small basket of pastries they had "borrowed" from the kitchen. Ceyla poked at a chocolate tart. "Hmph… I still don't get why people like pastries so much. They're just sugar."

Saya rolled her eyes. "Ceyla… pastries are life. Are you okay now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you remember after the Heliana incident? I didn't think I'd see you smile for a month."

Ceyla's cheeks tinged pink. (I did smile… but don't tell anyone.)

Meanwhile, at a nearby stone bench, Matthew Lomwel and Andromeda Ban were engaged in a more… animated discussion.

Andromeda leaned back, hands behind his head, hair looking like it had been styled by a minor tornado. "I still can't believe you almost… you know… went full Void two months ago. That was… insane."

Matthew sighed but smiled faintly. "Yeah… that was bad. But I'm fine now. In fact… I'm grateful to all of you. It's been two months since that day, and I feel… free. Lighter somehow."

Andromeda snorted. "Grateful? You sound like one of those motivational posters. C'mon, kid, lighten up. Let's talk about real things—like which is better: chicken or pork?"

Matthew blinked. "Chicken or… pork?"

Andromeda flopped dramatically onto the grass. "Exactly. Life's too complicated otherwise. Forget Shinrei, forget battles, forget all that heavy stuff. Chicken—juicy, tender, versatile. Pork—rich, flavorful, comforting. The ultimate debate."

Khael, watching them, let out a long, tired sigh. (Of course… some things never change.) He muttered under his breath, "I just don't have the energy for this."

Juno, overhearing, smirked. "You mean you don't have the energy for fun? Khael, lighten up. Life isn't all about planning every move for the next battle. Sometimes… it's about choosing whether you want chicken or pork."

Kaen snorted, flames flickering along his sleeves. "Pork all the way! Chicken's for amateurs. And don't you dare try to give me tofu or fish. That's blasphemy."

Ceyla tilted her head, observing the scene. (Am I supposed to be impressed that they're arguing about food? I survived the Sins, and now I'm debating meat preferences?)

Saya laughed softly. "Trust me, this is… normal."

Across the courtyard, Shigeo Motome—the infamous lazy genius, always with a motto for every situation—slouched under a tree, arms behind his head, staring at the sky. "What a complicated world," he murmured, as if that statement explained everything.

Andromeda groaned dramatically. "Shigeo, you've said that literally a hundred times today."

Shigeo shrugged lazily. "It still applies."

Matthew raised an eyebrow. "Do you ever say anything else?"

Shigeo yawned. "What's the point? Complications are everywhere. Battles, politics, friendships, pork vs. chicken… it's all connected. The simplest answer is… nothing's simple."

Kaen stomped his foot, flames flickering. "Ugh, I hate complicated things. Can someone just tell me what to eat without all this philosophy nonsense?!"

Juno chuckled, shaking his head. "You love it, Kaen. Admit it."

Kaen glared, but his glare was softened by the faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Khael sighed again, the sound barely audible, but he felt some relief watching everyone interact normally. (This… this is what peace feels like. Even if it's just arguing over food.)

Ceyla, still poking at her tart, glanced at Khael. "Do you even care about what we're talking about?"

Khael shook his head. "Not really… but… it's nice to see everyone alive. Arguing, laughing. I'll take that over Shinrei fights any day."

Saya smiled. "See? Even Khael can lighten up."

Lira Valenne appeared, gliding gracefully across the courtyard, her long silver-pink hair shimmering in the sunlight, lavender eyes bright with curiosity.

"What you guyz doing?" she asked, tilting her head like a cat inspecting a particularly questionable toy.

Kaen immediately jumped up and said "Lira! You're here!! Come, come! We're… uh… deciding which meat is superior!" He gestured wildly, flames flickering along his embroidered sleeves for extra emphasis.

Lira raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You're still arguing about meat? Seriously?"

Kaen puffed out his chest. "Yes! Because meat is serious business! Don't you understand the stakes here?"

In the distance, Rael watched, leaning casually against a stone pillar with his arms crossed. His platinum hair glinted in the sunlight, and his emerald eyes narrowed slightly as he observed the chaos.

(What a loser…), he thought, smirking faintly. (Somehow, this is the same group that almost got wiped out by Wrath…)

Khael walked up to Rael, exhaling softly. "Join us," he said, gesturing toward the chaotic scene where Kaen was flailing wildly and Matthew and Andromeda were debating seasoning techniques like philosophers of pork.

Rael narrowed his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched into a small smile. "You really want me to witness… that?"

Khael shrugged. "It's better than sitting alone thinking about… everything else."

Rael groaned, but he moved closer anyway. "Fine. But I'm not commenting on their meat philosophies."

Kaen nearly exploded with excitement. "Yes!! Finally, another witness to my wisdom!! Rael, you'll understand soon—the path of pork is sacred!!"

Lira rolled her eyes, floating a few steps closer. "Sacred? Really? You're thirteen. Sacred pork?"

Kaen leaned in, whispering conspiratorially, "Only thirteen, but I've been through battlefields, massacres… and still survived to tell the tale. You don't get sacred unless you've survived hell… and pork."

Lira blinked. (I don't even know whether to laugh or cry.)

Meanwhile, Matthew and Andromeda had moved to a nearby bench, comparing the precise crunch of fried chicken to the succulence of roasted pork.

"I'm telling you, Andromeda, it's all about texture. Pork's fat content… it's perfect," Matthew said, gesturing with his fork.

Andromeda nodded solemnly, as if they were discussing a philosophy dissertation instead of lunch. "True… but chicken's versatility cannot be ignored. Steamed, grilled, fried… it adapts. You see, it mirrors life itself."

Matthew groaned. "Why do you always have to make things so complicated?"

Andromeda shrugged, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Because… what a complicated world."

Shigeo, slouched against a tree with his eyes half-closed, muttered, "You two are living embodiments of that motto. What a complicated world."

Kaen threw up his hands. "Seriously! Why can't we just eat and be happy without analyzing everything?"

Ceyla from across the courtyard snorted. "Some things never change, huh? You'd think surviving a Voidborn attack would… I don't know… mature you guys. But no. Pork is still the pinnacle of debate."

Khael sighed deeply, shaking his head. (And here I thought I'd finally have a moment of peace…)

Rael finally spoke, crossing his arms. "Fine. Pork wins. Happy now?"

Kaen threw his arms around Rael, nearly knocking him over in excitement. "YES! Finally, another soul enlightened by my wisdom!!"

Rael struggled under Kaen's grip, muttering, "You're insane…"

Lira giggled softly, watching the ridiculous scene unfold. (Even Rael isn't immune to Kaen's chaos… maybe this really is normal.)

Khael glanced at Matthew. "Hey… are you still influenced by the Void?" His tone was casual, but there was an undercurrent of genuine concern.

Matthew shook his head firmly. "No… I'm fine now. In fact, I'm grateful to all of you. It's been two months since that day, and… I feel stronger. Mentally, physically… emotionally. I don't take any of this for granted."

Khael exhaled, nodding slowly. (Good… he's finally free from that darkness.)

Meanwhile, Andromeda elbowed Matthew playfully. "See? Even the Void can't stop a good debate over meat. That's life."

Matthew laughed softly. "You two are ridiculous."

Andromeda grinned, twirling a strand of his wild hair. "Ridiculous… but memorable. I think I like this."

Shigeo muttered again from his tree, "Ridiculous… what a complicated world."

Kaen stomped his foot, flames flickering. "Shigeo! Stop quoting yourself! It ruins my victory!"

Shigeo didn't even open his eyes. "It explains everything, Kaen. Everything. Life, food arguments, friendships… what a complicated world."

Ceyla sighed, shaking her head, but couldn't suppress a grin. "I suppose some things never change. And that's… kind of comforting."

Khael, still watching the chaos, muttered softly, (It's strange. Even with all the danger we've faced, all the battles, all the… darkness… this is the part I've missed. The calm, the ordinary moments. Maybe this is what makes it all worth it.)

Rael, still catching his breath from Kaen's enthusiastic hug, muttered under his breath, "What a loser," though there was no real malice in his tone.

Kaen waved his arms dramatically. "Hey! Don't talk about my friends like that!"

Lira giggled, leaning on Ceyla's shoulder. "You're all ridiculous. But I kind of like it."

Ceyla smirked, but her eyes softened. (Yeah… maybe normal isn't so bad after all.)

As the group continued to bicker over chicken, pork, and the philosophical depths of meat, the sun climbed higher, warming the courtyard. Shadows danced lazily across the stone paths, and laughter echoed off the walls of the Veinwalker Academy.

Even in a world full of danger, Voidborn, and Sins, moments like this messy, chaotic, hilarious moments were worth holding onto.

Because sometimes… the world might be complicated, battles might be life-threatening, and Shinrei might be terrifying…

But friendship, laughter, and pork?

Friendship, laughter, and pork were simple enough.

And with that thought, Kaen threw another imaginary victory salute to the sky, Juno muttered about bandages, Shigeo muttered his motto for the hundredth time, Matthew and Andromeda debated seasoning like philosophers, Lira and Ceyla laughed softly, and Khael just… sighed, content in the midst of this chaos.

To be continue