Holy shit, 2 uploads in two days? Maybe, it might just be tomorrow morning when you read this... (Morning for me at least, which is around 7:30 pm.) oh well I tried, I think I have an idea of how I want to schedule my writing and uploading, I just have to get some time to get it underway. Anyway, this is chapter 3 of SD & FP. BTW if you are any of the followers from The Void, I haven't stopped writing it, I just have a couple of changes I want to make to the original chapter, after a review of it, I'm not exactly happy with how it was written, so I'm simply going to start over. Whatever, hope you enjoy. And thank you Writer-San for your continuous reviews, it's good to know that people actually want to interact. Cheers to you fam.

As we took our leave of Ravel's mother, Ravel made well certain that I saw the angry glare she directed towards me. I turned to her, she used no words but her point was well made. Are you seriously going to tease me the entirety of your time here. She seemed genuinely upset. "Look, I'm sorry for teasing you, but would you prefer my first interaction with your family to be awkward?" I asked. She huffed at me, obviously unwilling to let it go so easily. She huffed, apparently conceding that my point made sense. "Okay, I suppose a good first impression is important." She sighed then smiled. "Do you really see me in that way? She asked. I looked at her. "I'm... not exactly sure that I follow your line of thinking?" I replied. "Do you see me in a perverted way?" She asked. I turned and pushed my face close to hers. This caused her to blush heavily. I backed away, grinning, and turned around. "Would you prefer it if I didn't?" She scoffed. "I don't see why interest from you would make anything any different for me." I laughed. "Is that so? Then I suppose I'm free to fantasize about you as I wish?" I asked. She blushed even more intensely. "Dinner will be starting soon, we should get ready. Also, please don't embarrass me while we're eating, if you could be so kind." She said. I bowed deeply, this time being completely serious. "You have my word milady." She seemed satisfied with that, and we walked inside.

The house was incredibly ornate, Victorian style, and the amount of space was even greater than it seemed from outside. "Wow, your home is wonderful." I said. She seemed to appreciate the deviation from our earlier topic. "Despite living here for my entire life, I've always found my home very interesting." I looked to the large stairs, there seemed to be branching paths all over this manor. "Which way is our room?" I asked. Our... it feels... odd to say that, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. "It's up the stairs the left. Then it's the third door on the left." She said after some thought. I bowed to her. "Once again, I'm appreciative of the assistance you've provided me with." I said. "Once again, it's my pleasure, it's not like we're wanting for space in this home." She said with a bright smile. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to prepare for dinner." She told me. "Until dinner then." I said.

We parted ways and I took the stairs up and then the left path. This way seemed a lot less complex. 5 rooms in all, 2 on the right and 3 on the left. I'm going to work off of the assumption that her parents marriage is amicable. So, she must have 3 siblings. I did as Ravel had instructed and took the 3rd door to the left. Yeah, this seems like Ravel's room. There wasn't anything extraordinary about her room... but it definitely had her scent. I felt my mind dull. "Yuri? Are you really going to go Primal here?" Yuki asked me. "That's um, my mind reacting to Ravel's perfume. I said. I couldn't help but blush considering the exchange that Ravel and I had not 5 minutes ago. I regained myself after a moment. "Eden, Baphomet. Come on out." They complied, Eden emerged first, wearing a frilly gray dress that stopped just short of her ankles. I had to admit, she looked adorable. She raised her arms up towards me. "Papa, ready." She said. I lifted the small girl over my shoulders where she always seemed to want to be. Baphomet came second, I looked as the tall shadow man manifested in front of me. He stood at an enormous 8 feet. "Master, if it's not a bother, I would prefer to be absent from the dinner." He asked. "As you wish." I answered. "Yuki, I think it would be better for everyone if we wait until we are in the dining hall for you to manifest." I told her. Yuki agreed silently.

I stopped and wonder for a moment. What would be the ideal manner of dress for this occasion. "Yuki, could you get me something more... suitable?" I asked. Already knowing what I had in mind, she prepared the change for me. "Here, I hope you like it." I felt the fabrics on my skin as the twisted and shaped themselves into a different form, then I watched as a dark suit manifested itself onto my skin. I looked at myself in Ravel's mirror. Huh, I never thought black would look any good on me. "Well, I guess you were wrong, eh?" Yuki giggled. I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to make it look presentable. I kept at it for about 3 minutes until I heard a knock at the door. "Yuri, are you decent?" I heard Ravel's voice, I put Eden down. "Yeah, you can come in." I replied. The door opened. "Sorry for the interruption, but I thought that I should inform you on who will be at dinner." She said. "Ahh, I see, that would be nice." She turned and closed the door behind her.

"Alright, you've already met my mother, so she's aware that you're here. My father is aware as well, but my 3 brothers are completely oblivious to your presence as far as I know." She said. I looked at her, she had changed her pink dress for a light blue one in the same style. She seemed to notice that I was staring. "What, is there a problem with the way I look?" She seemed offended. I looked at her surprised. "On the contrary, you look gorgeous." I told her. Her face reddened with a blush. But her eyes gave me a stern glare. "Are you going to do this at dinner. Make me look like a fool?" I smiled. "Only if you continue to look this beautiful." The blush on her face deepened, but her gaze softened slightly. She sighed "I'll put up with your constant teasing when we're alone, but promise you won't do it when we're in my family's presence." I looked at her. She really didn't want to show this side of her to her family. Although I felt as though teasing her like I did my sister would be fun, I was unfamiliar with her family, and unsure of how they would react to my antics. It would be best if I do as she says. I thought to myself. I took a deep breath. "Alright, you have my word." I said to her. "Then we should go, they're likely to be waiting for us." I nodded, and with that we were off.

We arrived at the dining hall door shortly after. Ravel stopped. "I need to go in first so I can introduce you." I nodded to her. She opened the door. I she then turned and motioned for me to step in which I did. I did a quick head count. There were 5 people at the table as Ravel had said previously. One man of age, he wasn't old by any measure, but he was undeniably the oldest of the men at the table. The other men were situated across from the parents, they looked to be relatively close in age, the tallest seemed around 25, the middle seemed about 23, and the youngest about 20. The father stood up and smiled at. "And here is my daughter, bringing with her our esteemed guest." He gestured towards me. I bowed my head. "Well, Mr. Kallen, you've met my wife, no?" He asked. I nodded towards her with a smile. "I've had the pleasure, yes." He smiled again, turning towards his sons. "These are my sons, from left to right: First is Reyes, second is Ruval, and third is Riser. I nodded towards them, and all except Riser returned the gesture in kind.

Lord Phenex returned his gaze to me. "Well, now, Yuri here is from the 30 Clans, where they train to be warriors and nothing more. So, I'd have you tell me and Riser just exactly what you think of defeat, in order to settle an argument we've been having." He said. I looked at him for a moment. "Defeat, huh? I know that as a warrior many would think that I find defeat to be unacceptable." I smiled. "But, in fact my proudest moment was the only time I was ever defeated." I laughed. Lord Phenex smiled. "Elaborate please." I nodded.

"I had been teaching my sister to fight since she had turned 8, we trained for 3 years, and in between training I would judge her progress by sparring with her. The last time we sparred she was 11 years old, and she absolutely floored me with her progress." I laughed. "It was the handy defeat she served me that made me realize three things." I said. "Which were?" Lord Phenex asked, interested. "That one: I'm not invincible. Two: A teacher loves to see their student surpass them. And three: The only way to really become as strong as you can, is to train yourself." I said. "Three weeks after that defeat, I left the village and entered the Siberian wasteland where I trained and survived for 2 years before returning to my home. Then, 2 months after I returned, I fought my sister one last time and, then I left the village, permanently." I said.

"How did the last fight with your sister go?" The oldest son, Reyes asked. I smiled. "She had improved even more than I expected in the time I had left. But when we fought, my training had made me so much stronger than I had anticipated, it felt as though she were an ant." I said. "Is that so... well then, Yuri, would you grant my son Riser the honor of being your opponent in a sparring session?" Lord Phenex asked. I looked at him, considering the request for a moment. I sighed, a wistful smile on my face. It had been a while since I had last sparred, I had missed it in truth. "Certainly, how about this Wednesday?" I asked. "That suits me fine." Riser said with a scoff. "Wonderful!" Lord Phenex beamed. "Well then, a toast to the newest member of our house, Yuri Kallen!" Lord Phenex raised his glass, as did the others. They drank from their glasses happily. The rest of the dinner went quietly as we enjoyed our food. I couldn't but feel a pair of eyes on me the entire meal, but looking around at the others I found nothing occasional glances. I put my at ease and finished my meal.

After the meal was done, we all decided to retire for the night. As we walked back to our room, I couldn't help but notice the change in Ravel's mood. Before we ascended the stairs she spoke up. "That went much better than I had hoped." She said. "Really, did you have that little faith in me?" I asked with a smile. "Well, considering how you act towards me..." She started. "Alright, alright I get it, I already promised you about the teasing." I reminded her. "That you did, thank for refraining while at dinner." She added. "Of course, it's not like I'd so freely break a promise." I said. "Well I certainly hope not." She laughed. "So... have you given any consideration to how I'm to repay you for this kindness?" I asked. "Well... I have "something" I mind, but you'll need to wait until Thursday for me to decide if I wish to offer it or not." She told me. "Very well, I hope it's nothing too indecent." I teased. She smiled. "You would just love that, wouldn't you?" She teased back. "Oh my, is that... banter? From Miss Ravel?" I laughed. "I'm getting used to your games." She said with a grin.

By this time we had reached the room. "If you'd like I'll wait out here while you change Miss Ravel, unless you'd prefer my company." I said. Despite her claims to being used to my games, she blushed rather heavily. "No thank you, Yuri." She said. "I'll be fine on my own." She added. "If you say so. Just don't take too long, I'd like to get some sleep." I told her. "Very well, I'll be just a moment." She said, closing the door. "Yuki, could you get me something to sleep in?" I asked with a small yawn. "You aren't usually tired at this hour, everything okay?" She asked with obvious concern. "Of course, I'm fine Yuki, it's just been quite a day." I smiled. "Here." I felt the suit on my skin shift as the fabrics gave way to energy. A moment later, a silk shirt and bottoms had replaced the suit. I marveled for a moment at the soft clothes. "You're a damn miracle worker, Yuki." I said. She snorted, obviously pleased with my praise. "I do try my very best for you." She said. "Alright Yuri! I'm ready." I turned at hearing Ravel's voice, and opened the door.

I looked around the room for the second time, not much had changed, if you didn't count the large bed that had been moved opposite Ravel's. It was large, likely a king size. It was covered with a pattern-less white sheet and a deep black blanket. "That's the bed from the guest bedroom, it's never been used so it's very clean." Ravel informed me. Well that's... wait, guest bedroom? Why would they put me in a room alone with a girl if there was a guest bedroom? I thought for a moment, and after banishing a few perverted thoughts from my head, decided it was best not to question the ones who were allowing me to stay in their home.

Eden manifested next to me and leapt onto the bed, Yuki manifested moments later, she was definitely small for a dragon, head to tail she was only 6 feet, she sauntered over to the corner nearest my bed and curled up. "Night." She said, before instantly falling asleep. I sat on the bed's edge. Soft, so soft that just sitting on it made it hard to resist drifting off right then and there. I looked to Ravel. "Be honest with me here, are you sure you're comfortable sleeping in the same room as me?" I asked. She smiled. "Being honest? I think I'll be okay with you here... In fact, I think I may feel safer. She blushed at her own comment. I smiled, laying my head against the pillows on the bed. Ravel had already turned off the lamp on her side of the room. "Well, if it helps you to slumber, then know that I'm right here." I told her. She laughed quietly. "Goodnight, Yuri." She said. I pulled the covers over Eden as she lay down beside me, before sliding myself underneath the blanket, then reached over to turn out the light. "Goodnight, Miss Ravel." I replied. I spent the next few minutes stroking Eden's hair, as she always slept soundly when I did so. She looked up at me in the darkness. "Papa...home?" She asked. I thought for a moment. It's been quite a while since we had a definitive living arrangement. I leaned down and kissed Eden on the forehead. "Yes sweetheart... we're home."

And that's chapter 3, roughly 2500 words, apologies for it being so late, my brother's graduation party was today, and there were far too many people to write, let alone have a clear head. I hope you enjoyed this one, if you did be sure to follow if you don't already.

Cheers.