As the night dragged on while Kayn was at Ada's house, his boredom was eating away at him. He went outside to get some fresh air, finding a spot on the pavement that was clear of snow. It was a calm night with gentle winds and clear skies.

*"A nice night for some stargazing to relax the mind."*

The bitter cold seeped into his skin and bones, causing him to shiver, but it was still better than not being able to sleep. For some reason, he was restless; he couldn't tell whether it was because he was worried about the punishment from his parents or something else.

He thought back on how, throughout the day he spent there, Sara's situation started to weigh on him. He couldn't imagine how terrified she must be, knowing that her life would be coming to a close so soon and there was nothing she could do about it.

All she could do was read books and wilt away slowly as she deteriorated.

After a few bone-chilling minutes, he heard the door he had just come from creak open, but he was too lazy to get up from his position and check who had opened it. The stars he was watching were soon covered up by a falling blanket that soon rested on his head.

"You'll catch a cold sitting out here."

He moved the blanket from his eyes, revealing Sara standing over him. Her face, partially hidden in the shadows, still bore the blue blotches he had noticed earlier. Despite her condition, she offered him a small, reassuring smile.

"Thanks," Kayn muttered, adjusting the blanket around his shoulders. "What are you doing out here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," she replied, settling down next to him. "But I needed some air, and I saw you out here, looking like you were freezing."

Kayn chuckled softly. "Yeah, you're right about that. Couldn't sleep."

Sara nodded, her eyes reflecting the faint starlight. "Me neither. Sometimes, it's hard to shut off my mind from it all."

They sat in silence for a moment, the cold night air wrapping around them. Kayn looked back up at the stars. Despite everything, she had a strength that he couldn't quite understand.

"How bad is it?" he asked quietly.

"Pretty bad, but don't start with the pity parade. I already get enough of that from everyone else."

"Alright, it's not contagious, right?" he asked jokingly, trying to break the awkward topic.

Sara dug her hand into his side, causing him to sit up and cough a little bit. She dragged her knees into her chest as she shivered from the freezing winter's night.

Kayn really wanted to tell her that it would all be okay, but that's the last thing she would want to hear from a kid three years younger, giving her his uninformed opinion.

They spent the next hour or so talking about how his sister and family were doing and how his first day at school was, besides the being kicked out part, of course. The hour felt like minutes to Kayn, and before he knew it, they were both heading back inside due to the cold making Sara's coughing fits.

This was the most restless night he had been through since he came from his previous world.

Kayn awoke to the smell of breakfast wafting throughout the spare bedroom. He slid out of the warm embrace of the bed and shivered a little as his feet touched the wooden floor cooled by the morning winter's chill.

He sluggishly left the room, yawning as he took the trek to the oddly shaped dining table. A bowl of thick soup and some bread had been laid out for him, which he started to scarf down in unison with his uncle. Ada and Sara watched as Harald and Kayn crammed the food in their mouths like starving beasts.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"So how was your little romantic adventure in the night, you two?" Ada asked, a cheeky grin spreading on her face.

Kayn was forced to stop, choking on a piece of bread that he had forcefully swallowed upon hearing these words. Nothing could stop Harald from his feasting.

"It wasn't like that!" Sara shouted with a beet-red face, springing out of her chair and making it fall over backwards.

"There's always space in the family for one more. But at least wait until you're old enough."

Harald, who had finally finished his breakfast, chuckled in approval while reaching around the table to ruffle both of their hair. Kayn held his tongue as he had no idea how to get out of this situation without disrespecting either Sara or her bear of a father.

"You can finish your food on the road. I'll take you home before I go to work. I want to see your old man anyway."

During the journey back to Kayn's home, they had back-and-forth jokes about his and Sara's relationship. Kayn was also reminded of the monstrous size of the man; for each step of Harald's, Kayn had to match it with three of his own.

Upon reaching his house, completely out of breath from hurrying to keep up in speed with his monster of an escort, there were two guards stationed outside his house on either side of the door. They wore full steel-plated armor decorated with the crescent moon, with spears in their hands.

As they reached the door, the soldiers crossed their spears, blocking their path.

"Only the child. You are prohibited from entering this house."

Harald's cheerful demeanor changed instantly upon hearing these words. He met their scowls with a far more terrifying gaze.

"That so. I hope you've got someone far bigger than yourselves to stop me."

Visible fear entered the eyes of the guards. Before they could even reply, Harald's hands had already grabbed the sides of their heads and smashed them into one another with enough force to cave in their steel helmets.

Harald motioned his head to Kayn to go in front of him and open the door as he had his hands full with carrying the soldiers.

As Kayn entered, the house he once knew had a completely different aura. His siblings and mother were confined to a corner of the room like prisoners, and his father and a man he assumed was the Earl sat in the center next to the fire.

Elric's head was hung, and there was a mixture of anger and embarrassment in the air. The chubby child that Kayn had insulted in school was also seated next to the Earl with a vile, smug look on his face.

The mood completely shifted as Harald followed him into the house. Elric's eyes widened in surprise, and the Earl snarled at the sight of his proud guards being disgracefully dragged in. The other guards scattered around the room suddenly straightened up and lifted their mixture of swords and spears towards Harald, who stood unfazed.

"Why are you here, Harald? This has nothing to do with you."

"Of course it does. You threaten my future son-in-law, Earl Greyard."

Everyone in the room became completely baffled. Kayn decided to keep his mouth shut, as this could work in his favor. Having a beast like Harald on his side could come in handy.

"Do you wish to get involved in my business, Harald? You should know this is unwise."

"Need I remind you, little Earl, that my blood is not of the Egrassia kingdom? I follow no laws nor rules that you make, neither do I respect you."

The room became heavy with tension.

"I'll say this once. I am Harald Torston, blood brother of Ragnar Torston. Raise your hand against me, Earl, and my clan will raise your little domain to the ground."

"These words alone could cause war between Egrassia and Fjord. Are you sure you wish to risk this for a child?"

Harald placed his hand on Kayn's head while keeping eye contact with the Earl.

"Are you sure you want to find out, Earl?"

The tension in the room was palpable as Earl Greyard rose to his feet, his face contorted with a mixture of anger and resignation. He adjusted his fine navy blue cloak, glaring at Harald and then at Kayn, before turning his attention to the chubby child beside him.

"Come, Alfred," the Earl commanded, his voice dripping with disdain. "This matter is beneath us."

Alfred's smug expression faltered as he looked between the towering Harald and his father. He hesitated, clearly shaken by the confrontation, but quickly followed the Earl out of the house without another word.

As soon as they were gone, the room exhaled collectively. Harald released the unconscious guards, letting them slump to the floor with a thud, and turned to Elric.

"You've become soft, my old friend. You shouldn't let that waste of space push you around, Elric."

Elric stood and exhaled deeply. "That's the consequence of becoming a father. You know all too well, oh great 'Berserker of Thain.' In the old days, you would have torn the Earl's head clean off his shoulders."

Harald let out his signature belching laugh, nearly bursting Kayn's eardrums, who was still standing next to the giant.

"Yes, I can agree with you on that. Sometimes I miss the war and the craziness, but then I remember my little spark of joy at home and it fades."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Anyway, thank you for your help. The last thing we need is the Earl making my life any harder than he already does."

"Think nothing of it. We are family."