I mirrored Seker’s movements, reaching for a fork and taking a small bite of the tomato on my plate. The bread caught my attention—it looked freshly baked, with small black olives scattered throughout. As I shifted my position to reach it, my foot accidentally brushed against something soft beneath the table. Leaning forward, I glanced down and spotted a cat curled up, sleeping peacefully.

Seker noticed my reaction and grinned. “Hang on,” he said, bending down. He gently scooped up the drowsy feline and placed it on an empty chair beside him. The cat barely stirred, stretching once before settling back into its slumber as if nothing had happened.

“Cute cat.” I said.

“He’s the same age as me,” Seker commented, gesturing toward the cat with a fond smile. “An old fart.”

Helena chuckled softly, shaking her head. “If sixteen counts as an old fart, then I’m ancient.”

The exchange drew a faint smile from Seker, but Helena’s gaze eventually settled on me. Her eyes lingered, studying my expressionless face. It wasn’t the first time someone had been caught off guard by my demeanor. She seemed to catch herself after a moment, clearing her throat as she scooped some cheese onto her plate.

I pretended not to notice her scrutiny, grabbing a slice of olive bread. As I bit into it, the rich, earthy flavor made me pause. I had to admit—it was good.

Swallowing, I glanced at my empty plate before lifting my gaze to meet hers. Socializing wasn’t exactly my strong suit, but I could sense the awkwardness hanging in the air. I needed to say something.

“This is really good,” I said finally. “Thank you.”

“Baked it myself,” Helena replied with a small smile. “Even the olives are from my garden.”

“Hmm,” I murmured in response, taking another bite.

“So,” Seker began with a rhythmic tapping of his fingers on his knee, “how’s the medicine situation, Mom?”

Helena’s expression faltered, her smile fading as she busied herself rearranging the food on her plate. “I’m managing it,” she replied carefully. “Let’s not talk about that in front of your friend.”

Seker ignored her hesitation, his tone sharpening. “You had fifteen gold, right? Did that good-for-nothing boyfriend of yours manage to sell anything? How much do you have now?”

Helena’s posture stiffened, and she raised a hand as if to stop him. “Seker,” she said firmly, “this isn’t—”

“Just tell me,” he interrupted, leaning forward. “Axel doesn’t care. Right, Axel?”

I stayed quiet, glancing between them. This was… awkward.

Helena sighed, brushing a strand of gray hair behind her ear. “It’s… complicated,” she muttered.

“Complicated how?” Seker pressed, his frustration evident. “How much do you have?”

She hesitated, her hands folding tightly in her lap. “Jun… Jun lost the gold,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Seker froze, his jaw tightening. Even the cat perked up, opening one sleepy eye as if sensing the tension.

“Lost it?” Seker repeated, his voice rising slightly. “How? Where did he drop it? How can he just drop fifteen gold? Is he an idiot?”

Helena shifted uncomfortably, leaning back in her chair as she avoided his gaze. “He didn’t drop it,” she corrected reluctantly. “He… gambled it away.”

The words hung in the air like a lead weight. Seker’s eyes widened as he processed what she’d said. Slowly, he exhaled, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them again, now brimming with barely-contained fury.

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

Helena shrank into her chair, her hands clasped tightly together. “I didn’t want to upset you,” she whispered.

Seker’s fists clenched at his sides, his shoulders rising and falling with each breath. He was trying to rein in his anger, but it was clear he was on the verge of losing control.

Sitting there, I couldn’t help but feel out of place. My original plan had been to grab my clothes and head back to my room—not to get caught up in a family argument over breakfast. I shifted uncomfortably, unsure of whether to intervene or stay silent. This was getting weirder by the second… so I just took another bite from the bread, trying to ignore them.

“Gamble.” He leaned forward, his hands pressing against the edge of the table. “I worked so hard for that gold, Mother. Do you have any idea how many quests I picked up for it? And now that bastard just… Pof. Gone. Just like that?”

Helena rubbed her temples, her shoulders slumping. “He was sorry about it,” she explained quietly. “I’m sure he can sell something and—”

“And what?” Seker cut her off, throwing his hands into the air. “So he can gamble again? You know what he’s like! He’s a deadbeat idiot, Mom! He can’t even be a man, let alone your husband!”

Helena’s expression hardened, and she straightened her posture. “What do you expect me to do, Seker?” she asked, her tone defensive. “I’m sick. I can’t work. And you have school. I need him. I need the gold to—”

“If you need gold, kick him out,” Seker snapped, his voice trembling as he tried to calm himself. He drew in a sharp breath, exhaling slowly. “It’s that simple.”

“And who would look after me?” Helena shot back, her voice softening but no less firm. “You? I won’t allow it. I’m your mother, Seker. I’m supposed to take care of you, not the other way around.”

Seker’s hands curled into fists, his nails digging into his palms. “I’ll win that tournament,” he declared, his voice filled with conviction. “Last year, we lost, but this time it’s different. We’ll win, and then you can kick that idiot out. We’ll use the prize to cure you.”

Helena’s head tilted slightly, her eyes full of doubt. “You’re in C-class. Aiden and Leo, too. You know this isn’t something you can just win, honey. It’s not that simple. We need to face reality.” She glanced at me, then back at her son. “Now come on, you’re embarrassing me in front of your friend. Let’s eat and—”

“We’re late to class,” Seker interrupted, rising abruptly from his chair. His voice was tight, masking the obvious lie. “I think we should leave, Axel.”

I pushed my chair back, standing as well. “Everything was perfect, ma’am. Thank you,” I said, trying to smooth over the tension.

Helena opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her gaze followed us as we walked to the door. I grabbed my clothes from the nearby chair, nodding politely before stepping outside.

Seker slammed the door shut behind us, his frustration spilling over as he kicked a tree trunk. The branches rustled, leaves falling softly to the ground. He ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head. I never thought a boy like him would get mad. He seemed calm and calculated on the outside.

“I…” He started but stopped, exhaling deeply. “I’m sorry, Axel. This isn’t how I wanted breakfast to go.”

“It’s okay,” I replied, my tone even. “Just wish there was something I could do.”

“Only the gods can help us now,” he muttered bitterly. “That bastard lost the last bit of gold my mom had. Now how is she supposed to buy her medicine?”

“Can’t you go talk to… what was his name? Jun?”

“I’d rather not see his ugly face.” Seker said. “Ugh… I’ll have to figure something out. I have to.”

“You and your friends could pick up quests from The Guild,” I suggested, watching his tense movements. “Maybe they’ll help? I’d offer you some gold, but I’ve only got two silver coins to my name.”

Of course, that was a lie. I wasn’t some kind-hearted fool, handing out gold to strangers out of a sense of charity. Because back in my world, deep down, I knew the city’s laws all too well. And I wasn’t about to ignore that. I didn’t need to pretend to be a saint. Greed was as much a part of me as the breath I took.

I remember what it felt like back in school—seeing my friends toss around money, buy what they wanted without a second thought. Snacks, school trips, clothes I could only dream of. That’s when I learned the real lesson: Money was everything. Without it, you were nothing.

And when I grew up, the city didn’t just teach me that; it burned it into my soul. Being selfish? It was easy. It was natural. And, more importantly, it worked.

“Let’s just… get out of here,” Seker muttered, rubbing his temples. “You’re heading back to your room to drop your clothes, right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay… see you at the academy?”

“Hmm,” I said. “See you.”

“Oh, and… sorry again.” His shoulders sagged as he avoided my eyes. “I really didn’t think Jun, that bastard, would do something like this. You shouldn’t have had to sit through… all that drama. As if you didn’t have enough problems of your own.”

“It’s fine,” I replied in a dull tone. “I’m used to family drama.”

Seker managed a weak smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah. See you at school.”

“Hmm.”