Joe cocked an eyebrow, “Good natured teasing is not abuse, especially if both mutually agree to it. So, it must be mutual. There are some who do not enjoy it. It is not appropriate to do that with them. But for those who enjoy it…”

“That… makes sense. I understand such a view.”

Joe smiled as he shrugged and the conversation lagged a bit with that and they fell silent. The two sat in companionable silence until the two boys joined them and soon all were in polite conversation for the morning while they ate. The meal ended and the two boys quickly stood, asking to head out early. Joe felt no need to keep them and let them go, giving them some spending money for the day. They sprinted out the door in excitement and the Matriarch nodded her head as she stood up to head out.

“Enjoy your day, everyone.”

Joe nodded, “Thank you, Toulnaria.”

Gwenvair brightly smiled, “Of course, mother.”

“Thank you, Matriarch,” Kilniara offered with a shallow bow.

Toulnaria smiled and quickly shook her head before responding to Kilniara, “You have no need to bow before me.”

“It is kind of you,” Kilniara said, “I still wish to offer respect, however.”

The Matriarch smiled and offered back a small nod, “Then, if I might suggest, you have no need to offer more than a nod as well.”

Kilniara shook her head, “If you were simply the Matriarch, but you are Gwenvair’s mother.”

“Ah, that is true,” Toulnaria offered with a smile, “You are correct.”

Kilniara didn’t respond to that and the Matriarch also took it as an end of the conversation since she turned and left after that, heading out the door. All three gave her their goodbyes as the Matriarch glided out the door. Joe took a deep breath and turned back to look at the two girls. So… do I get any time with Kilniara, today? Or…

Kilniara bounced up to him, “Are you ready to go?”

Joe smiled, nodding, “Sure.”

Kilniara turned to look at Gwenvair, “Meet you at lunch?”

Gwenvair walked up and nodded, “Yes. Lunch at the guild?”

Kilniara smiled, “The dungeoneer or adventurers?”

The two girls looked up at him and Joe shrugged, “Let’s try the adventurer’s guild today?”

Both nodded, “Sure!”

The two girls then hugged one another, offering their goodbyes. Kilniara then stepped back, giving Gwenvair space and a space directly in front of him. Gwenvair looked away, embarrassed and fidgety as they stood before one another. What… why is she standi… Joe glanced towards Kilniara but she simply smiled at him, bouncing lightly on her toes while she watched. Her smile slowly shifted to humorous and she glanced towards Gwenvair before cocking her head towards Gwenvair, hinting. What am I… oh!

Joe stepped forward, thinking to offer a hand to shake in their local equivalent but when he did so, Gwenvair erupted forward in a rush and leapt into his arms. Joe stood with his arms spread in surprise before letting a soft huff through and awkwardly patting her back in a loose brotherly hug.

She sobbed once then chuckled when his arms wrapped around her. Wow… is … ok, not so much skinship in the clans? Or… well… least I can do is at least give her hugs. Joe glanced towards Kilniara but her soft smile was replaced by a brilliant happiness as she hopped in place in excitement. She then raised her hands, give him a thumbs up and a smile and Joe felt only relieved as he deepened the hug and increased it by enwrapping her more fully. Gwenvair shuddered, taking a deep breath as she buried her head in his chest before sighing deeply and settled into his embrace, tightening her own hug even more firmly. Joe stepped back after a moment, still concerned for Kilnaira and not wishing to push the hug for too long.

Joe stepped back as he let her go and cautiously looked at her, “You OK?”

Gwenvair chuckled and nodded rapidly before raising her head, fighting against her sudden shyness, “Yes. Thank you. I didn’t know… it was… amazing. Thank you.”

Joe smiled, “I think you need a lot of hugs.”

Gwenvair laughed a bit more brightly at that but nodded and looked down and away, “I think so.”

Joe looked over at Kilniara and mouthed, “OK?”

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Kilniara frowned a bit then her face opened up with realization and she nodded, quickly, “Yes!”

Gwenvair glanced back at Kilniara then flushed red in embarrassment, “Kilniara!”

Kilniara giggled and shrugged, “Uh… sorry?”

Joe laughed at that and he shook his head, “Don’t worry, Gwenvair. I think you can get her back later.”

Kilniara jerked in surprise, “Hey!”

Gwenvair laughed and nodded, “I think… that would be a good idea.”

Joe laughed, “I think you’ve met your match, Kilniara.”

Kilniara faked a pout and turned away, “I’m being ganged up on.”

Joe quirked an eyebrow, “I didn’t gang up on anyone.”

Gwenvair shook her head and laughed, “Go. Spend time and have a good morning.”

Kilniara laughed and skipped out of the room. Joe watched her go, laughing, before he turned to look at Gwenvair and shrugged.

“Gotta go,” Joe offered with a smirk.

Gwenvair rolled her eyes and shooed him out the door, “Go! Go.”

Joe laughed and skipped out the door himself. Not a whole day, but still more than enough! It’ll be nice to spend time with her!

The morning didn’t prove any different than the previous two. They left the clan city and wandered the streets of the inner city before inevitably making it to the large square where they watched the epics in the center. The epics proved to be much more entertaining, this time, with longer story arcs involving more than simple fights, but the majority of them still were involved combat scenarios. The epics were now lasting about thirty minutes a piece, and the two watched a couple before Kilniara claimed hunger and they returned to wandering through the city streets enjoying a variety of snacks.

Towards the later morning, Kilniara grew a bit pensive and it took Joe a bit before he finally noticed and turned to look at her, “You seem… lost in thought. What’s up?”

Kilniara looked back up at Joe with surprise but then grew slightly recalcitrant, “Um… I…”

She trailed off and Joe felt his eyebrows furrow, “If you don’t want to talk about it. It’s fine, but I’m willing to listen.”

Kilniara looked back up at him then brushed a hand down his shoulder and arm as she sighed, “It’s not… really anything.”

Joe chuckled softly, “It’s obviously something or you wouldn’t be so bothered by it.”

Kilniara looked back up at him, smiling then shaking her head, “I guess. But it really isn’t anything.”

Joe’s grin grew, “If it’s nothing, then you can tell me, right?”

Kilniara’s eyes widened then she growled in mock anger before huffing, “So sneaky.”

Joe chuckled, “Nah. Just want to help.”

Kilniara fell silent at that, returning to her deep thoughts and this time Joe allowed them. He’d offered and now he could wait until she was ready to reveal her thoughts. They walked for about ten minutes in silence, not really interacting although Joe enjoyed taking a look around as he stared at everything until finally Kilniara sighed deeply and looked up at Joe.

Joe noticed and glanced down at her with a smile, but said nothing. She stared up in turn, searching his eyes before seeming to come to a decision.

“It’s Gwenvair.”

Joe frowned, worry creeping in, “Mmm.”

She sighed again, looking away and sighing, “I’m… just… I always looked up to her… she’s a clanner… the next in line for Matriarch, even! Yet… she does not know of boiling water?”

Joe felt like his thoughts whiplashed. He blinked a few times, then remembered the moment where learned of the different states of matter and Joe frowned himself but also sighed. Focus on her first.

“Well, do you think Gwenvair cooks?”

Kilniara paused at that, thoughtful but then quickly shook her head, “No. She has no need to.”

Joe nodded, “And going into a kitchen.”

Kilniara huffed, “Same. Why would she with maids and meals brought to wherever she needs.”

Joe nodded, “So it’s not something she’s likely to see… unless maybe she’s traveled across the world or anything. Guess campfire… well… no. She’d have cooks and if they cooked it all magic like… yeah... never mind. Magic’s going to…” Joe trailed off with a sigh and refocused.

“Look. A lack of knowledge is no big thing. A willful one… yeah, I could understand. But Gwenvair has no need to learn or think of such things. But you would see your parents cooking every day, so would likely see it done daily. She… would only see it as magic done by the … magic chef doing whatever it is they’re doing.

“Man… if they really wanted to… if their control is good enough, the chef would probably not want it to boil, now that I think about it. Don’t want to waste any water. The cook would just get it exactly hot enough to cook and then not lose any water from the evaporation, so… yeah.

Kilniara thought on it for a time before slowly beginning to nod, “I could see that.”

Joe nodded, “Still seems amazing, though, right?”

Kilniara giggled, nodding, “Very much so.”

Joe shrugged, “But remember, there are many things she knows you do not. She will likely be surprised by some of the things you do not know. And I can guarantee there are things I will not know that will surprise you!”

Kilniara was nodding and grinning by then but quickly turned to curiosity and tried to figure out what Joe didn’t know. That took a bit of discussion, attempting to explain that Joe couldn’t possibly know what he didn’t know since he didn’t know it. The two fell into simple conversation at that.

Just a bit before lunch, Kilniara led them to the outer city on a meandering journey that led them to the guilds where Gwenvair joined them for lunch. Kilniara immediately ran to Gwenvair and wrapped her in a massive hug, which Gwenvair returned with just as much enthusiasm as the two enjoyed one another.

“I missed you. So much!” Kilniara called.

Gwenvair smiled, “I as well. It wasn’t… horrible, but it wasn’t fun.”

“Are you OK?”

Gwenvair chuckled, “I’m fine. It was good?”

“Very. Joe was right! It … it is good.”

Joe smiled at that and breathed a soft sigh of relief. So… worked out. Glad they’re still friends.

Kilniara bounced back up to him and took his arm while Gwenvair walked back up to him, a bit more subdued before taking his arm in hers. Kilniara saw Gwenvair’s move and sighed in exasperation before stepping back from his arm and slipped his hand in hers instead, fingers intertwined. Joe was able to stifle his sigh and was much more comfortable today, although the soft brush of her fingers slipping in between his still jolted him for a bit before he could calm himself. Focus! Another person here now.

The three walked towards the private dining areas offered in the back and enjoyed the lunch, Kilniara once again focused on both of them, which Joe did not begrudge her as she was gregarious. Joe actually found it nice since Gwenvair really was excellent and he truly was a bit of an introvert so not big on social interactions. Having another help with things like this was a pleasure that Joe found himself growing to really enjoy. He was able to join in the conversation as he wanted while also having someone else keep the conversation going when he grew too exhausted to continue.