Kaelen didn't hesitate.
he stepped forward.
The man holding the sign turned lazily toward him, chewing on a stick of dried meat like he had all the time in the world. "You interested?" he asked, raising the chain slightly. "Three gold. Or two, if you're fast."
Kaelen's voice came low, quiet, and dangerous.
"She's your daughter."
The man blinked. "So what if she is? You want her or not?"
There was a long silence.
With a sudden surge of energy, Kaelen stepped forward and flicked two fingers upward. A faint shimmer danced across his skin, and in the blink of an eye, the iron chain flew from the man's grasp, yanked by an invisible force. It clattered across the stones with a sharp metallic rattle.
The seller stumbled backward in shock. "What the—?"
Kaelen was already beside the girl, crouching low. The rope slipped free from her wrist, severed by a flick of his hand and a crackle of golden light. The child didn't scream—she simply looked up at him, wide-eyed and silent.
He picked her up carefully, cradling her like something fragile that had already been broken too many times.
Gasps rose around him. A few onlookers backed away, but others stepped closer, frowning.
Someone shouted from the crowd—one of the rougher-looking men who had been leaning on the wall earlier.
"Hey! You can't just take her like that!"
Another chimed in, voice edged with warning.
"That's theft. You didn't pay the man—he has rights, you know. Walk away like that and there'll be consequences."
Kaelen turned his head slowly, his eyes sharp as frost.
Without a word, he reached into his pocket, pulled out three gold coins, and hurled them toward the slave-seller with enough force that they struck the man in the chest. He stumbled again, fumbling to catch them as they bounced off his filthy coat and scattered into the dust.
Kaelen's voice rang clear and cold.
"There's your price."
He didn't even look back at the man.
"Don't speak to me of consequences. You've no idea who you're talking to."
The magic around him shimmered faintly, like heat rising from stone—but colder. Tighter. A whisper of power that warned anyone who got too close: Don't.
Pearline stayed close behind him, holding the hourglass earring in one hand and the soft wrapping cloth in the other. She stepped forward and gently offered the cloth, and Kaelen tucked it around the girl he now carried. The child nestled into his shoulder, finally letting her eyes close.
He then turned and walked away.
No one dared stop him.
Kaelen didn't say much—he just held the little girl against his chest like she might disappear if he let go. She wasn't crying, or talking. Just breathing. Soft and shallow. Almost like she didn't quite believe she was safe yet.
Beside him, Pearline walked silently, her small fingers brushing against the hem of her father's cloak now and then. Normally she'd be full of questions, especially after a scene like that, but not right now. She kept looking at the girl in his arms, her expression unreadable, somewhere between curiosity and concern.
The forest gave way to the clearing, and their little home stood just ahead, lit faintly by the last light of the day. Smoke drifted lazily from the chimney. Everything looked calm. Normal.
Out front, Aeris was folding dry clothes into a basket. She was halfway through folding the last one when something made her look up—maybe the sound of footsteps, maybe just instinct.
Her eyes landed on Kaelen.
And then on the child in his arms.
She froze.
Kaelen didn't stop walking. He met her eyes and gave the smallest nod. Pearline stuck close to his side.
Aeris stepped away from the laundry slowly, her hands still holding a half-folded shirt.
"Kaelen?" she called, unsure. "What...?"
"She's alright," Kaelen said softly. His voice was low, careful. "Pearline's fine."
Aeris looked down at her daughter, then back up at the sleeping girl in her husband's arms.
"Who is she?"
Kaelen stopped at the bottom step. He shifted the girl slightly, tucking the cloth tighter around her small shoulders.
"She doesn't have a name I guess," he said.
Aeris blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
He looked up at her, something in his eyes hard and quiet. "She was being sold. In the square. By her father."
Aeris stared. Her hands slowly lowered the shirt to the basket without looking.
"He called her 'the kid,'" Kaelen added. "Didn't even bother with a name."
Aeris took a few steps forward. Her eyes moved over the girl—her tangled hair, the smudges on her cheeks, the way she clung to Kaelen's shirt even in her sleep.
And then she understood. All of it.
"Bring her inside," she said gently. "She needs a bath. Something warm to eat."
Kaelen nodded and walked past her, into the house.
Pearline stayed behind a moment, tugging softly on her mother's sleeve.
Pearline stayed behind for a second, holding her mother's hand tightly. Aeris looked down, gave her a soft smile, and brushed a thumb over her knuckles.
"Come on," she whispered, voice warm and steady. "Let's go inside."
They stepped in together.
Inside, the warmth of the hearth greeted them. Kaelen carried the girl with care, placing her gently on the spare cot near the fire. She didn't say anything—her eyes stayed low, her fingers still clutching the cloth around her like armor. She was alert but quiet, like someone waiting to wake up from something.
Aeris walked over and knelt down, not too close. She offered a soft smile—not a question, not a push. Just kindness.
"Well," she murmured gently, "first thing's first. You need to clean up."
The girl didn't answer, but she didn't flinch when Aeris lifted her either—just rested her head lightly on the woman's shoulder.
"Kaelen," Aeris said, already moving toward the washroom, "set the table, will you? Dinner's ready."
Kaelen gave a small nod and rolled up his sleeves, heading to the kitchen. Pearline followed him, already fetching the bowls and wooden spoons from the shelf.
The house was quiet—soft, like it was holding its breath around something new.
Then came the sound of the front door swinging open.
"We're ho—oooh!" Evan's voice bounced into the house like a ball. "Do I smell meat?!"
Liam darted in right behind him, carrying a stick like it was a sword. "I told you it was dinner time!"
They stopped short when they saw Kaelen setting five places.
"Five?" Evan asked, blinking. "Why five?"
Kaelen looked over at them, calm. "We have someone staying with us now."
The twins exchanged a look.
"Who?" Liam asked.
"She's your sister," Kaelen said simply, not waiting for a flood of questions.
The boys stared at him, wide-eyed, silent for once.
Pearline placed the last cup on the table.
Aeris had finished bathing Aria, gently scrubbing the dirt and grime from the little girl's skin, taking care to be as delicate as possible. The child had remained still throughout, too tired to resist but not quite relaxed enough to fully trust the warmth of the water.
Aeris brushing the child's damp hair from her face with a tender hand. "Let's get you dressed, sweetheart," she said gently, pulling out a soft, clean dress from the chest. It was one of Pearline's—small and simple, but it would fit Aria just fine for now.
The scent of warm stew filled the air as the family gathered around.
Aeris knelt beside her, lifting a small spoonful of food to her lips. "Here, sweetheart," she said softly, breaking the silence. "Just a little at a time."
Aria's wide, brown eyes met hers, and for a moment, there was a flicker of uncertainty. She didn't reach for the spoon, but she didn't pull away either.
Slowly, she opened her mouth, taking the food with cautious care, as if savoring each bite, unsure whether it would disappear. Aeris smiled, feeding her in small, easy pieces. She made sure the food was soft enough to avoid any difficulty, her hands never rushing.