With summer coming to a close and autumn slowly approaching to take its place, Enri Emmot was looking forward to another months-long period of spending long evenings gathered around her fireplace with family and dear friends. Currently, however, the mayor sat on an exquisite, fluffy carpet that she could easily imagine herself resting on for hours, or even falling asleep on. Yes, it was about as comfortable as even her fancy bed, to be quite honest. Illuminated by the morning sun, the same scene unfolded repeatedly before her.

"Eat!"

Ayame had recently become one and a half years old, though she was far closer in development of both mind and body to a two-year-old. The adorable princess was currently playing with Enri's own daughter, Stella, who had her first birthday just a few days ago. It seemed the former was now serving the latter, who was sitting on a tiny chair at the head of a tiny table, just perfect in size for the tiny girl. Ayame had all sorts of toys, including some wooden miniatures of various food items. With every new toy brought in front of her, Stella would briefly examine it with her hands and eyes before switching over to the tongue and her few young teeth, at which point...

"Good job! Good eat."

… at which point a satisfied Ayame would say something like that before going to look for another toy representing something edible.

Enri snuck a glance at the black-haired woman kneeling quite still a bit further away, on the other side of the tiny table. Emma Valeria was incredibly hard to read, at least to the mayor of Carne. The head maid seemed a great caretaker to children and a very polite person, but that was all Enri could manage to glean of the woman's character on her own. The rest was from how Neia would mention the maid on occasion, which was always in an exceedingly positive light. Well, not that Neia was the type to ever say bad things about her friends behind their backs. Regardless, trying to read Emma's expression was akin to squeezing blood out of stone. Unless it came to Ayame, of course, at which point the head maid was all smiles.

Speaking of Neia, it was quite unfortunate the High Priestess couldn't really interact with Stella much. Enri really felt she needed to think of a way to teach her daughter not to fear the High Priestess' gaze...

"Eat hos!"

The mayor looked back down at the toy table, only to see Ayame serve a miniature horse.

... ...

'Like you're pushing yourself... Right leg, left leg, right leg...'

Inhaling the frigid air and feeling its bite in her lungs, Neia Baraja recounted the words Satoru would use while teaching her to ice skate. Not that the angel needed to remind herself of them at all by now. Exhaling, the priestess released an arrow, hitting the stationary target quite close to the centre. With a nod to nobody in particular, Neia decided her next loop around it would be another large ellipse.

The stunningly beautiful cave proved to be a near-unrivalled environment for the purposes of rumination, only aided further by the option to occupy one's body with such relaxing activities as ice skating, archery, or their combination. Neia did not have much to reflect on as of late, but that did not mean she would not take ample time to do so. Life moving slowly enough for the High Priestess to properly process and think on its every moment was a blessing, and definitely not always the case in her past.

'I hope Enri and Emma are taking good care of the girls... and having fun doing it...'

Thoughts of her dear friends brought a warm smile to Neia's face and a joyous rhythm to her wings, even though they were folded up inside her coat's enormously spacious back. All the wonderful moments… the sweet encouragement, the mutual support during difficult times, the humorous jests, the shared understanding of each other's hearts, the ability to speak one's mind without fear of judgement... Neia was incredibly thankful she was able to make true friends.

'How are Adren and Linda doing, anyway? I hope their trip is going well, and that they're both safe...'

The spouses were taking that joint vacation to the Abelion Hills, something Neia was eager to hear about, though she also seemed to have some unshakeable worries about their safety. Likely unfounded ones, considering they were both elite Paladins who lived through Jaldabaoth's invasion of Roble, though they fought on opposing sides back then.

'Paladins... I suppose the Order's still doing well under Gustav, even if they don't have much to do. Gustav… he'll be at that ball with his girlfriend today, right? I wonder if he'll marry Lishka anytime soon.'

The High Priestess noticed herself nearing the target again, and so she reached for another arrow.

'I wonder if darling's big meeting is going alright... I wish I was there to support him. I wish I was with him. I wish he could hold me close… Run his hand down my butt and along my thigh...'

With a blush, Neia realised she was already right in front of the target and scrambled to aim in time.

... ...

Joining the small crowd that had gathered around a particular street stall, the Paladin saw what she believed was called a spidan at the centre of everyone's attention. The spider-like street cook was carefully using all four of his arms to make several of the same meal, simultaneously.

In a cauldron, there was some sort of seemingly cheese-based sauce with all sorts of herbs, possibly spicy peppers, and minced garlic. From a cutting board, red meat was being cut into tiny bits before being moved straight onto a large pan containing crispy onions and a yellow cabbage-like vegetable that seemed to leak a great deal of juices. On a grill next to this pan, some sort of very soft, flat, and thin baked good in the shape of a large circle was being shaped from balls of dough. On another cutting board, large amounts of regular cabbage were being cut without much concern for keeping all final pieces a consistent size.

Eventually, it was time to assemble all the ingredients into a single edible whole, something handled by a second, smaller spidan, who also handled accepting money. The shape of the finished product was quite impressive, as it seemed quite perfectly prepared to not let any contents leak out as one ate and carried around the food item.

"... I think I have to try that. Would you like one as well, my treasure?"

Linda responded with a smile.

"Oh, definitely!"

Adren nodded before addressing the shopkeeper and reaching for a pouch of coin.

"Two, please."

... Once both spouses got their food, it was time to continue exploring the recently built town hand in hand. Adren seemed to simply be looking ahead, while Linda was more eager to take in the surroundings, enchanted by all those species bringing in all sorts of things from their own cultures, sharing them with others and creating new, wonderful things... How those cultures always changed and evolved alongside each other, formerly almost always clashing as enemies... But now, they lived in peace for quite possibly the first time ever. Most still kept to their own for now, but this town was one of the exceptions with no overwhelming species majority.

Apparently the snakemen celebrated some sort of holiday this time of year, one tradition of which was wearing articles of clothing dyed by hand in shades of vibrant blues and greens. The Paladins were currently on their way to a late-afternoon celebration of this holiday, intending to find out more about it, and probably get some nice souvenirs. Maybe those wooden carvings the snakemen were famous for.

"Enjoying the food, love?"

"Hm? Ah, yes, very much so! What about you?"

"It's a bit hard not to get the fur around my mouth dirty while eating this, but it does taste quite delicious."

"Hehe. Cute."

Adren sighed playfully before also chuckling.

... ...

Neia and Tuareninya walked side by side through the gilded hallways of the 9th Floor of the Tomb of Nazarick, the pace of their steps as relaxed as their expressions. The two had just concluded a decently long talk regarding how they spent the past few weeks, something that eventually transformed into gushing about their respective partners, about all the ways they were both so chivalrous and sweet, and some of the differences in the approaches of each. The angel was a bit jealous of how often Sebas apparently kissed Tuare's hand, to be honest. Still, Neia was exceedingly happy for her friend, who deserved only the most gentle and loving of treatment after what she had gone through. The existence of such horrible things and such horrible people in this world tore at the High Priestess's heart.

"To the left here, Lady Neia."

The angel felt her mind return to the present in reaction to Tuare's words, ones delivered in a friendly yet deeply respectful tone.

"We're almost there now."

... That rapid, irregular stomping was something Neia's keen hearing could already make out from the other end of the hallway, but as the door in question was opened by her friend, the noise's volume grew tremendously. But it was not the only sound emanating from the room. There was also a man's irritated shouting and a child's joyous laughter.

"Cocytus! I told you to slow down! Ugh!"

Tuare hesitated for a moment before entering. As Neia followed, she could feel a minor drop in temperature, the doing of a thin cloud of cold air that had gathered at knee height, mimicking an ocean's waves whenever disturbed by the movements of the large room's occupants. After taking in the scene before her, the angel chuckled and moved with haste in the direction of her husband, who was staring straight ahead unflinchingly, clutching his forehead with his right hand. Once very close behind him, Neia spoke with a playful, carefree tone.

"Hey darling! I see Ayame is having fun?"

Currently riding on top of the large insect's shoulders while all four of his arms held her up for additional safety, their daughter was laughing without pause, seemingly having a great time. Cocytus himself was constantly exhaling that incredibly cold air, causing it to slowly build up in the room.

"Your. Laughter. Honours. Me. Lady. Ayame! Ha. ha! Finally. Uncle. Cocytus!"

Satoru sighed, seemingly in disbelief and defeat.

"I keep telling him to slow down... and then it's not even ten seconds before he's sprinting around like he's trying to win a race again!"

Neia chuckled.

"Isn't Cocytus very strong? I'm sure he knows what he's doing, isn't he?"

"He better be... You hear that, Cocytus?! You better be!"

The light-blue giant did not react much, if at all.

Following yet another sigh from her beloved, Neia decided to hug him from the right, feeling up the bones underneath his robe with joy, as well as a mildly vulgar satisfaction. As if soothed by the angel's attitude, Satoru took the hand from his forearm and used it to embrace Neia, sliding it down from the side of her chest to her thin, soft waist. A few seconds later, the great king's eyes met those of his wife, whose smile would widen if only it did not already stretch fully from cheek to cheek. With a few flaps of her wings, Neia's breathing grew irregular, more hasty and shallow. The rest of the world may as well have not existed as the two leaned in for a kiss and subsequent rubbing of cheeks, causing both the High Priestess' wings and heart to speed up even more.

The exchange of affection communicated an incredible love and mutual adoration that came from the bottom of each spouse's heart, or perhaps filled their hearts entirely. Still, it was rather brief. Satoru was simply rather worried, sighing as he turned his head back in the direction of Cocytus and Ayame.

... ... ...

Months later, underground…

The well-built man dressed in a simple yet warm woollen shirt and pants looked back into his home one more time. Elian, his daughter, his everything, was still diligently studying, not letting the need to eat distract her as she bit into a fresh, plump apple. The sight made the dwarven father smile under his beard as he closed their front door, the countless magical lights of the capital's lamp posts illuminating his view.

Putting his hands in his pockets, the miner fidgeted with the house key that rested in one of them as he strode through the busy streets with an accompanying whistle, something that did not indicate cheer, but was rather a way to calm himself. Perhaps it was just due to how well Horki knew this part of the city, but he found it rather easy to gauge his quarter's current mood. Something strange was going on, but the time to get some talking and asking around done was probably later, probably in the pub. Right now, Horki had those handouts to fetch.

... The miner's worries only strengthened in intensity as he neared his destination. There was some sort of commotion. Horki's fears were confirmed when it became obvious that his destination and the source of the commotion were one and the same. But the father couldn't get too close, as the surrounding streets were filled with clamouring people whose collective voices sang a single grand tune of discontent.

Soon enough, someone shouted at him from somewhere behind, though it took some time for his mind to register it among all the other rowdy noise.

"... Horki! Horki!"

The dwarf finally identified that specific shouting's source, this being two good acquaintances standing a bit further back, next to a wall. Heading over, a thousand questions plagued his mind.

"Hey, what's going on? What the hell?"

Tenni, an upbeat woman with orange hair who always wore something very colourful, brought her upper body closer before responding.

"You don't know? Just happened an hour ago, news should be spreading just about now, but I guess most people who know are just gathering here."

It was quite hard to hear, requiring the acquaintances to almost shout, even at such a close distance.

"Huh? Yeah, but news of what?"

Beller, a man whose well-maintained muscles and wrinkle-absent skin did not match his aged voice and ashen hair, spoke matter-of-factly and with a look that was uneasy, yet very certain of something.

"Sorcerer Kingdom said they won't be handing out rations anymore, at least for now..."

The news hit him like a hammer to the head. It was downright disorienting. But Beller continued.

"... It's got to do with tariffs or something similar, I believe? They didn't tell us, said it was between us dwarves and the Regency Council."

Horki's stomach dropped, but only briefly. Rage took over soon after.

"What?! What the hell?! What the fuck is a tariff, an what do those assholes have to do with it?!"

Tenni chimed in.

"I dunno, but that shapely woman with the horns and the black wings said something about it, and it sounded mighty serious! The Regency Council banned them from handing out food!.. Hey, how do you think she got such a figure, by the way?"

The aged dwarf sighed, as he often did.

"The Regency Council didn't do that, they probably just-"

Horki had enough, and interrupted his drinking buddy to interrogate the housewife a bit more.

"What?! Banned them from doing charity?! That's mad!"

"I mean, that's just what I heard. I mean..."

In reaction to the woman's self-admitted uncertainty, Beller sighed before joining in again.

"Come on Tenni, old Bardin's kitchen is a failing business now because of the harvests being bad even for a winter, and with the handouts that give people less of a reason to buy... It's hard for them, and it's not just about-"

The proud father had heard enough, storming off to join the crowds without delay. With his wife's sudden death, it was him who had the sole responsibility of providing for his sweetheart, his whole world, his sweet and hard-working daughter. If only the mines didn't dry up and his clique of miners still had jobs... If only those morons on the Council weren't doing Gods know what and just selected a good king...

A king, yeah. Maybe that Sorcerer King fellow would be better at managing this damn country. The whole quagoa catastrophe wouldn't have happened with a military like that, and his kingdom has more than enough food all year round because they're smart enough to not build everything underground or in the mountains. Clearly he can't be that bad, even if he's a skeleton. Horki could respect any man who took good care of his wife and daughter.