Chapter 70: A Warm Family
Then the future might be far worse than he had imagined.
Amon slowly exhaled.
The thought lingered in his mind like a shadow that refused to leave.
If Mira truly possessed the ability to peer through countless timelines, then there was a chance she knew far more than she had revealed.
The question was whether she was hiding it intentionally.
Or whether she simply couldn’t speak about it.
Perhaps speaking about certain events carried consequences.
His gaze drifted toward the guest room, where the door remained closed.
Silence filled the hallway, and for a brief moment, he considered knocking on the door and asking her directly.
However, he quickly dismissed the idea.
There was no urgency to obtain the information, at least not tonight.
If Mira truly knew something, then forcing answers out of her would accomplish nothing.
Besides, she looked exhausted.
Whatever burden she carried, it was clearly not a light one.
Amon tightened his arm slightly around Kayla.
He could feel her warmth through his clothes.
The steady rise and fall of her breathing and the simple comfort of her presence.
Compared to the countless dangers waiting beyond these walls, moments like this felt strangely precious.
"You’ve been quiet," Kayla suddenly said.
Amon lowered his gaze and looked at her, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Then he smiled faintly.
"I’m just thinking."
Kayla hummed softly but didn’t press further.
Instead, she leaned back against him and allowed the silence to settle once more.
Amon glanced toward the window.
Beyond the glass, the city lights flickered in the distance. Night had already settled completely.
His gaze lingered there for a few moments before slowly returning to Kayla.
The future would come regardless.
Worrying about it tonight would change nothing.
Perhaps tomorrow he could speak with Mira properly.
For now, he simply wanted to enjoy the peace he had fought so hard to obtain.
Amon buried his face lightly against her hair and inhaled her familiar, warm, comforting scent.
Eventually, Kayla let out a small exhausted yawn.
She had been waiting for Amon for some time, so she was already tired.
Amon understood this, and without saying anything further, he lifted her up in a bridal carry and led her toward the bedroom.
The room was dimly lit, carrying a quiet warmth.
The moment they climbed beneath the blankets, Kayla instinctively moved closer.
Amon wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace.
She rested her head against his chest as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
The steady rhythm of her breathing gradually filled the room as Amon gently stroked her hair.
Slowly, absentmindedly, his gaze softened.
For a brief moment, thoughts of calamities, timelines, gods, and responsibilities all faded into the background.
There was only this.
His wife, her warmth, and the comforting weight of her body against his.
The room gradually fell silent.
Slowly, the couple drifted off to sleep in each other’s embrace...
...
The next morning...
Warm sunlight streamed through the curtains.
Amon slowly opened his eyes after a long night’s rest.
For several moments, he simply lay there, listening quietly.
The distant sounds of dishes clinking together and the faint aroma of food drifting through the house, including the occasional murmur of voices.
It was a very peaceful morning.
Amon turned his head slightly and noticed that Kayla’s side of the bed was already empty.
It seemed she had woken up before him and gone to prepare breakfast.
Amon thought for a bit.
He wasn’t in a haste to sign in, so he decided to take his time.
After freshening up, he made his way downstairs.
The smell of breakfast grew stronger with every step.
However, the moment he entered the kitchen, the sight before him caused him to pause.
Kayla stood near the stove wearing an apron.
Meanwhile, Mira stood beside her.
The little girl was carefully arranging plates onto a tray.
Seeing him arrive, Kayla looked over her shoulder.
"Good morning, dear."
"Morning."
Amon replied subconsciously, and his gaze moved toward Mira.
The little girl was carrying a stack of plates almost half her size.
"You’re helping?" he asked with a smile, seeing this behavior.
Mira nodded with a serious expression and replied,
"Auntie has been teaching me how to prepare breakfast."
Kayla immediately smiled and added,
"She’s been a huge help."
Mira puffed out her chest proudly, and Amon found the sight somewhat amusing.
The breakfast itself looked surprisingly abundant.
There were fluffy scrambled eggs, toasted bread coated with melted butter, crispy strips of bacon, sausage links, and freshly sliced fruits arranged neatly on a plate.
A pot of hot tea rested near the center of the counter, while another tray held freshly squeezed orange juice.
The entire kitchen carried a warm, homely atmosphere.
Mira carefully placed the last plate onto the tray.
Then she grabbed the tray with both hands.
Amon raised an eyebrow and quickly asked,
"Need help?"
"No, it’s alright, Uncle. I can do it."
The little girl’s expression was unusually determined.
Amon wisely chose not to push any further and watched the little girl go to the sitting room.
Together, Mira and his wife carried the food into the sitting room.
The television was already running.
Kayla placed the drinks on the table while Mira helped distribute the plates.
Soon, the three of them settled down.
The morning news played quietly in the background.
Amon picked up a piece of toast while Kayla poured tea into everyone’s cups.
Mira sat quietly beside them.
For a few moments, nobody paid much attention to the television.
Until the news anchor suddenly spoke.
"Crime rates throughout the city have continued to decline significantly over the past several days to the extent that they’re almost nonexistent!"
The anchor smiled professionally.
"Authorities report that violent criminal activity has reached its lowest recorded levels in recent years."
Footage of clean streets appeared on the screen.
Pedestrians walked freely while children played in parks and businesses operated normally.
The anchor continued.
"Many citizens have attributed the sudden change to the appearance of the mysterious vigilante known as the Butcher."
A picture appeared on the screen.
A dark figure wearing a mask.
A figure every citizen in the city had become familiar with.
"The Butcher’s infamous declaration appears to have had a lasting effect on criminal organizations."
The broadcast shifted to several interviews.
One shop owner laughed lightly, revealing rows of teeth as he spoke enthusiastically.
"I don’t care who he is. Ever since he showed up, nobody has tried robbing my store."
A mother holding her child smiled.
"I can actually let my son play outside without worrying as much."
Another citizen nodded happily.
"The city feels safer now."
The report continued.
"While authorities have yet to officially endorse the vigilante’s actions, public support remains surprisingly high."
Amon calmly continued eating.
At least, he tried to.
Across from him, Mira slowly turned her head away from the television.
Then she looked directly at him, and their eyes met.
Mira’s expression remained completely innocent.
The little girl glanced toward the television.
Then back toward Amon.
Then toward the television again, and a tiny smile began forming on her face.
Amon noticed the gesture and glanced up to see the little girl trying to stifle her laughter.
"Cough, cough," he tried to clear his throat, feeling her skeptical and scrutinizing gaze on him.
Thinking it was something serious, Kayla quickly handed him a glass of water.
"Are you okay?"
Amon grabbed the glass and drank, trying not to look directly at Kayla.
The little girl was truly unique for someone of her age.
"I’m fine," he replied to Kayla while placing the glass down and trying to act as though everything was normal.
Meanwhile, across the table, Mira had lowered her head.
Her shoulders trembled slightly.
The little girl was clearly trying not to laugh.
Amon stared at her, and Mira innocently raised her head.
Her expression was completely pure, as though she had done absolutely nothing.
Suddenly, Amon felt a headache coming.
This little troublemaker definitely knew.
And judging by that look in her eyes...
She was enjoying this far more than she should have.
...
Author’s Note:
What are your thoughts on this Chapter?
If you feel the story has slowed down too much, please let me know, and I’ll try to improve the pacing.
Both this Chapter and the previous one were intended to deepen the relationship between the main character and the little girl, as she has a vital role to play toward the end of the first volume.
Thank you for reading.
