We gather in the dining room—André, Arthur, Celine, and me. An air of solemnity hangs over us as the conversation unavoidably turns to the events earlier.

"So, Dominic, where did you get those guns?"

Celine's voice breaks the silence, her fingers gesturing toward the two firearms now lying conspicuously on the table.

After our outdoor spar, Celine dragged André and me into the dining room with a maternal authority that was not to be contested. She demanded I place the guns on the table, leading to this inevitable inquiry.

I gulp, having anticipated this moment. Thankfully, I have a plausible explanation ready in my mind.

"Mum, I—"

"You know what, stop."

Her interruption comes swiftly, leaving me momentarily confused and anxious about her following words.

Celine's gaze shifts toward Arthur. "Arthur, what do you know about those guns?"

Arthur, caught slightly off guard, gulps noticeably. He glances at me, and in that brief moment, our eyes meet—I subtly shake my head, hoping he'll understand the silent plea to corroborate my story.

Arthur, catching my drift, turns back to Celine with a resolved expression.

"Auntie, my family has spare Aether-powered guns, and I decided to give them to him as a gift."

A wave of relief washes over me as Arthur seamlessly plays along, understanding the message behind my gesture. Yet, this act of deception also means Arthur is now aware the guns weren't a gift from André as initially implied. He's going to ask me more about this later.

"Is that so, Arthur?" Celine probes further, her scrutiny unwavering.

Arthur nods confidently. "Yes, Auntie."

"I see, but why?"

Her inquiry, simple yet concerning and curious, seeks to uncover the rationale behind such a significant gift.

"Doms said he wants to become a Stargate Raider. Since he's Manaless, I gave him those guns for training."

The room falls into a thoughtful silence as Celine digests Arthur's explanation.

"I see..."

Celine softly smiles, her demeanor shifting from concern to gentle understanding. Her smile lifts the tension in the room.

"Well, if Arthur has provided them for your training, Dominic, then I suppose it's for a good reason. But please, be careful. I don't want any of you getting hurt."

Internally, I heave a sigh of relief, marveling at how the fabricated story held up under Celine's scrutiny. I greatly owe Arthur for his quick thinking and willingness to support the ruse. His lie, delivered with enough conviction to sway Celine, undoubtedly saved us from a more complicated discussion.

André leans forward to pick up one of the guns, inspecting it.

"These guns are high quality." He rotates the weapon, analyzing it further. "The magical energy flowing from this weapon is high. I guess they're [D-] ranked weapons?"

Arthur, momentarily caught off guard, quickly recovers. "Uhm…yeah!"

"Interesting…"

André's voice trails into a thoughtful murmur before his actions take a sudden, unpredictable turn. Without warning, he throws the gun directly at me.

!!!

My reflexes kick in just in time, allowing me to catch the gun, though barely. What's with his habit of throwing things at me? First thing in the morning and now again?

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"Heh, you have good reaction speeds, Dominic."

"Uhh, thanks, Dad?"

I'm confused, not just by the unexpected test but also by my ability to meet it. Why can I react so swiftly? Could it be the high instinct stat that I—or Dominic—possess? With an Instinct stat of 747 [A+], it's exceptionally high, almost anomalously high.

-DING!

The sound of the oven timer interrupts my train of thought, pulling our attention back to the more domestic aspect of our gathering.

"Oh, looks like the other blueberry pie is done!"

Celine announces with a smile. She excuses herself and heads towards the kitchen.

Did she make another pie? The idea sticks in my head as I try to digest the change from mystical encounters to the straightforward yet significant act of baking.

As Celine disappears into the kitchen, I notice Arthur looking at André.

"Uhm, Uncle André, would it be okay if I stayed a little longer?"

Arthur's voice sounds vulnerable, a softness uncharacteristic of his usual demeanor.

"Sure."

"Thanks, Uncle."

Arthur's face lights up with a gentle smile, relief washing over him.

Seeing his reaction, I realize Arthur might be dealing with family issues. Arthur might fit the archetype of a character born into affluence but starved of emotional nourishment, attention, or love within a family setting. This scenario would explain his preference for our household's comforting atmosphere over his own grandeur.

Even though Arthur is a character that never appeared in the web novel, it's clear every character, leading player or extra, carries their own set of personal trials and tribulations. Their backstories, often untold, paint a complex picture of their lives beyond the roles they play within the story.

Perhaps I'm reading too much into the situation, letting my imagination run wild with speculation. However, I resolve to stand by Arthur if my suspicions are true.

In the short time we've known each other, Arthur has proven invaluable to me—or Dominic. His indifference to my Manaless status speaks volumes about his character. It's enough reason to support him, regardless of the uncertainties ahead.

"Here's the pie!"

Celine's voice pulls me back to the present. Instead of simply seeing a pie, Celine approaches with a tray laden with an array of dishes—a veritable feast for the eyes.

The tray is a testament to Celine's prowess in the kitchen, featuring tender chicken with crispy skin, a rich seafood stew, a savory grilled sandwich with melted cheese and ham, and a creamy egg tart. In the center, a beautifully baked blueberry pie sits proudly.

The array is so enticing that it momentarily diverts my attention from the earlier tension.

Cool, we now have two blueberry pies—one from earlier and now this. The thought barely settles in my mind before I instinctively move the remaining gun off the table, making space for the culinary spread Celine presents.

"Cool, we now have two blueberry pies!"

Arthur's voice echoes my thoughts, his excitement palpable.

"Well, someone said my cooking tastes great TODAY. Am I right, Dominic?"

Celine's question, laden with a hint of playfulness, draws the room's attention towards me. Her smile, though warm, carries an undercurrent of something more—a slightly menacing tease I can't quite place.

I find myself momentarily caught off guard by the weight of her gaze and the implied reminder of last morning.

"Y-Yes!" I manage, my agreement shaky but sincere. “A-anyways, Bon Appetit!"

Eager to dive into the feast, I reach for my fork and stab it into one of the dishes without thinking.

"Dominic, what did I tell you about table manners?" Celine's voice rings out.

Oops, I forgot about that. But once again, good food is good food, and this is the second time I've eaten French food.

"Sorry, Mum."

-Munch!

With that, I dive into the meal, the earlier tension dissolving into the background as we savor the flavors Celine has so lovingly prepared.

As I glance over, Arthur's gaze catches mine; a smile plays on his lips, curious and somewhat knowing. Weird, why is he looking at me like that?

Sus.

Our eyes lock briefly before he abruptly shifts his attention away, seemingly embarrassed to have been caught staring. He then turns towards André and Celine, clearing his throat.

"Uhm, Uncle, Auntie, I changed my mind. Can I have a sleepover here?"

The room fills with silence as Celine and André exchange knowing looks, a silent communication passing between them before they respond with smiles.

"Sure, but won't Uther be worried?" André inquires.

Arthur shakes his head. "Don't worry. He won't, as they know I would stay here."

The casual dismissal of any potential worry from his father, Uther, strikes a chord, reinforcing the nagging thought that Arthur's family life might lack the warmth and attention he seeks.

The underlying message in Arthur's words echoes my earlier suspicions. Does he lack the attention he needs from his family? Yet, as I mull over this possibility, I must remind myself that I might be reading too much into the situation. Overthinking is a habit of mine, after all.

But then again, who knows? Currently, delicious food is in front of me, demanding my attention.

-Munch!

I take another bite, savoring the flavors Celine has masterfully crafted.

"Doms, when did you develop a big appetite for food?"

Arthur's question catches me off guard. He probably hasn't seen Dominic indulge like this before.

"Well, I'm just hungry, and you know, being a teenager and all."

I hope my explanation will suffice. After all, an insatiable hunger often accompanies adolescence.

-Munch!

"Dominic, eat quietly," Celine gently chides.

As the evening progresses, Arthur's unexpected sleepover request is granted, and the dinner table is filled with conversation and culinary delights. I find myself caught between the complexities of our intertwined lives and the simple joys of shared meals.