The hours slip by, and the evening gives way to night within the palace. Kaiden is in his room, engrossed in reading the assortment of scrolls, occasionally looking up from the parchment. Loden is nearby, standing against the wall, having been there since they returned, his position practically unchanged. Wulfric had taken his leave shortly after they arrived at Kaiden's room, mentioning his intention to speak with the Emperor and Empress on an urgent matter. He assured them that he would return to Kaiden's room later.

Kaiden sneaks a glance at the half-empty tray of food sitting on the table beside him. Loden, having barely touched the majority of the offerings except for some fruit and a biscuit, still appears to be less interested in the treats than Kaiden. Kaiden, on the other hand, had relished his fill of the delicacies before him, appreciating the flavors of this world once more. Having read through the parchment scroll for the seventh time, Kaiden sets it aside and turns his attention to the other scrolls. Determined to better commit the information to memory, he takes a moment to review each scroll, silently quizzing himself, preparing to draw upon any tidbit of knowledge as needed.

Kaiden looks over at Loden again, conflicted thoughts running through his mind. He finds himself engaged in an internal struggle, warring with the decision whether to ask Loden the question that had been on his mind earlier. Kaiden exhales softly, gathering his composure. With a gentle motion, he rolls up the scrolls, setting the parchments aside, freeing the space before him on the table. Preparing himself mentally, he readies himself to speak to Loden.

Kaiden's voice breaks the silence, inquiring of Loden, "Do you want to sit down? You don't have to keep your distance." He gestures towards the empty chair in front of him, inviting Loden to sit closer.

Loden meets Kaiden's gaze, respectfully declining the offer. He responds, "I'm fine standing. I'm not distancing myself; I'm just giving you space."

Kaiden repeats, his tone gentle but firm. "Loden, there's ample space here next to me. Come sit down and share the table in my room. I can see you're upset about something, and I think we should talk about it."

Loden, his mood noticeably affected, chooses to ignore Kaiden's words. He shakes his head in dissent, murmuring a soft but resolute "no" in response.

Kaiden retorts in a calm but stern tone, "I'm starting to get the impression that something's going on that you're not communicating with me." He observes Loden, awaiting an answer.

Loden, once more, opts to disregard Kaiden's words, averting his gaze from Kaiden and towards the door. Kaiden's heart clenches, affected by Loden's distant behavior towards him.

Kaiden pleads, his tone sincere and earnest. "Please, Loden, come and have a seat with me. We're friends, aren't we? I can tell something is bothering you, and I just want to help." He offers a warm, gentle smile.

Loden's eyes briefly lower, a hint of a frown marring his expression. His response holds a subtle hint of frustration: "Fine..."

Loden crosses the room and settles into the chair, its weight causing it to creak softly.

Kaiden, still taken aback by Loden's words and actions, contemplates his friend's response. He wonders, “Fine”, I asked if we are friends and that I want to help. Doesn't he feel the same way?

Kaiden pushes further, his voice filled with concern, "Loden, what's truly going on? I can sense something is off with you lately. Can you please just open up and talk to me? Your behavior is worrying me, and I want to help you through whatever it is you're struggling with."

Loden becomes defensive, his words laced with frustration. "Kaiden, just back off. You have no idea what I'm going through, and honestly, I don't think you could ever understand. You always think you can just swoop in and fix everything, but it's not so simple this time." Though his words are sharp, there is a hint of sadness and pain behind them.

Kaiden's voice trembles with a mixture of frustration and anger, tears threatening to fall but he holds them back. "I'm just trying to help. Geez, why are you behaving so cruelly? I don't just swoop in and try to fix everything. I want us to return to the way we were before we came to the palace. That's the Loden I knew and could talk to, not the one standing in front of me now."

"That Loden you knew is gone," he retorts. "I can't always be your babysitter. I'm not your brother or boyfriend who's going to constantly coddle you." Loden's words cut deep, his voice now laced with a hint of maliciousness.

Tears cascade down Kaiden's face as Loden's hurtful words reach him deeply. His heart seems to break as he struggles to understand why Loden would say something so cold and cruel. He thinks to himself, ‘Why would Loden say that? It hurts so much, and I just wanted to help him...’

Loden's gaze falls upon Kaiden, noticing the tears streaming down his face. Kaiden tries to hide them by wiping them away with his arm, but his face is red and puffy from the emotional pain.

Loden clenches his fists, his self-hatred driving his words. He says, his voice sharp with maliciousness, "You're supposed to be a Priestess, a role typically associated with women. It's more understandable for them to cry over words and be coddled. But you're a guy. Guys don't cry and shouldn't need someone to carry them around."

Kaiden struggles to regain control, wiping away his tears, his breaths coming in short, ragged pants. "I didn't ask to be the Priestess," he protests. "No one asks to be snatched from their world and dropped down into another." Kaiden's voice gains strength as he argues, his frustration evident. "And I particularly dislike being called a Priestess," he asserts. "I know I'm a guy, and this is a position for girls. But this is the only way I can return to my family."

Kaiden's thoughts flutter to his younger sister, fresh tears streaming down his face. "I wouldn't want anything like this to happen to my younger sister," he murmurs, his voice quivering with anguish. "I wish I wasn't here either. I thought I at least had one friend since the beginning, but apparently, I was mistaken."

Kaiden rises from his seat, moving away from the table and making his way to the bed. He chooses to sit on the bed, creating distance between himself and Loden, his body yearning for space and solitude.

Loden makes a move to stand up but is interrupted by a knock at the door. Wulfric peers into the room, his head appearing through the doorway. He asks with a concerned tone, "Is everything alright in here?"

Loden swiftly collects himself, replying in a composed tone, "Everything's fine." However, Wulfric, his eyes sweeping across the room, takes a moment to analyze the scene before him. He observes Kaiden's tear-stained face and Loden's attempt at nonchalance, sensing the weighted and clearly not-fine ambience of the room.

Wulfric steps further into the room, closing the door behind him before proceeding. As he moves, he speaks up, acknowledging his relatively recent arrival with the group. "I am aware that it is not my place, being new to this group," he begins. "However, I firmly believe that communication is an essential element to functioning effectively as a team."

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Kaiden turns his gaze toward Wulfric, attempting to wipe away the streaks from his face. Loden abruptly rises from his seat and moves directly toward Wulfric's face, his tone laced with aggression. "What do you know about working together?" Loden accuses. "You stabbed Kaiden the moment we first met."

Despite Loden's aggressive approach, Wulfric keeps his composure and responds calmly. "That was an accident, and I deeply apologize for my impulsive behavior at the time," he admits, making eye contact. "I am still learning, but being with the two of you, I am gradually understanding how to treat people more appropriately."

Loden scoffs, not buying Wulfric's statement. "That's a bunch of rubbish," he retorts, his voice filled with skepticism. "Apologizing doesn't simply erase what you did. Just because you say you're sorry, doesn't mean I'm going to forgive you." Loden responds, giving Wulfric a light shove with his hand.

Wulfric shakes his head and turns his attention to Kaiden, his expression softening. "I am not sorry to you," he confesses, referring to Loden. "But I am sorry to Kaiden," Wulfric continues, moving over to stand beside the bed where Kaiden sits. "We are here to support the Priestess, not cause him to cry. " Wulfric gracefully pulls a linen cloth from his pocket and offers it to Kaiden, who gratefully uses it to wipe away the tears from his face.

Loden's features shift rapidly between a mix of confusion and frustration, clearly conflicted as he witnesses the exchange unfolding before him. Loden still bristling from Wulfric's presence and the situation, goes to throw a punch at Wulfric quickly crossing the room toward the other warrior. However, Kaiden quickly steps in the way, putting himself between the two and placing a restraining hand on Loden's shoulder.

"Loden, please, stop!" Kaiden pleads, his voice shaky but firm. "Fighting won't solve anything. We need to find a way to communicate and work through this without resorting to violence."

Loden roughly pushes Kaiden's hand away from his shoulder, his tone stubborn. "Fighting is the solution to everything," he responds, his voice firm. "That's why you're here, to fight the dangers ahead." Loden turns away from Kaiden and Wulfric, moving toward the door, his intention clear that he wants to leave the room.

Wulfric speaks up quickly, trying to reach out to Loden with his words. "Loden, if something's bothering you, you can talk to us," he says, his voice calm but concerned. "We're a team, and we need to work together. Can you tell us why you're so angry about everything?"

Kaiden glances at Wulfric, then turns his gaze back to Loden. He tightly clenches the linen in his hands, his expression reflecting a mixture of worry and hope for his friend.

Loden halts at the door, his back facing Kaiden and Wulfric. He speaks in a loud voice, revealing his frustration. "Maybe the issue in question is Kaiden himself," he states. "Astryaln should have summoned a girl, not a boy. Why do I have to disclose any personal matters about myself or share my thoughts with the two of you?"

Loden swiftly opens the door and tosses out a final comment before walking out. "Just leave me alone," he snaps, his voice filled with anger. "And stay off my back." With that, he storms out of the room, leaving Kaiden and Wulfric behind, stunned and hurt by his words.

Kaiden's arms fall limply to his sides, drained of energy. In the process, he accidentally lets go of the linen, which drops to the floor. The room is left in silence, the weight of Loden's words and his departure hanging heavily in the air. Kaiden moves back to the bed and pulls his legs up close to his chest, hugging himself. Wulfric witnesses this action, watching as Kaiden seeks comfort in his curled-up position. There is a moment of silence before Wulfric cautiously approaches the bed.

Wulfric quietly takes a seat on the edge of the bed, his sword propped slightly at an angle while touching the floor. His voice is soft and reassuring as he speaks, "He'll come around," he reassures Kaiden. "He might just have a lot on his mind right now."

Kaiden's head snaps up as he speaks, his voice tinged with sadness and confusion. "He could talk to us about it," he says with a hint of frustration. "If it's about his family, his duties, or anything else, why is he acting like this? We're supposed to be a team. How can we find everyone if he's going to act like this?" Kaiden's tears begin streaming down his face once more, his words coming out between ragged breaths. "It feels like Loden hates me now for some reason," he says, his voice filled with a mix of hurt and confusion. "He would rather have a girl here instead. He said he doesn't want to babysit me and coddle me."

Wulfric pulls out another cloth from his pocket and offers it to Kaiden. "We don't babysit you," he reassures him. "We're here to keep you safe and accompany you. Don't let Loden's words get to you. Ignore him for now."

Kaiden takes the cloth and gently dabs his eyes, finding some solace in Wulfric's presence. Wulfric then offers a suggestion, "I learned a saying a while back that helped me disregard others' words. You might find it helpful too."

A glimmer of hope sparkles in Kaiden's eyes as a connection forms between him and Wulfric.

"What is it?" he asks, eager to learn the saying.

Wulfric smiles knowingly as he looks at Kaiden, his tone lighthearted. "In life, we're all born as warriors, fighting battles against the odds. But true strength lies not in our victories, but in our ability to keep going, even when we've lost our swords, and are left wielding nothing but our bare butts!"

Kaiden can't help but let out a genuine laugh, caught off guard by the unexpected punchline. Wulfric, realizing he's not quite gotten it right, rubs his head and mutters to himself, "Wait, that's not it... Bare, bare... what was it again?" Wulfric suddenly recalls the phrase, realizing what he had forgotten. "Bare hands! That's it," he says, looking embarrassed. "It's been a long time since I repeated that saying."

Kaiden's mood noticeably lifts as he settles down, a warm smile spreading across his face. The laughter he shared seems to have boosted his spirits, providing a momentary reprieve from the earlier tension.

Wulfric speaks with a hopeful smile, offering another comforting thought. "Loden might be facing a battle inside that we cannot see, nor can we assist him with. He will find his way back to us once he has either successfully conquered that battle or has regained his spirit to keep trying," he explains. "For now, it might be best to give him some time and space to sort things out on his own."

Kaiden nods in agreement, appreciating Wulfric's reassuring words and advice. Just then, Wulfric reaches out and lightly tousles Kaiden's hair. In response, Kaiden exclaims, "Hey, don't mess up my hair!" Wulfric lets out a slight chuckle, amused by Kaiden's protests.

Wulfric leans back, a sly grin on his face. "Margaretta asked me to be nicer and more supportive, you know. I think my niece has a bit of a soft spot for you." He chuckles again, clearly enjoying teasing Kaiden.

Kaiden responds with a genuine smile, feeling grateful for Margaretta's kindness. "Yes, it was nice of her," he says. "She's pleasant to be around. She reminds me of my younger sister in some ways since I don't usually spend much time with girls."

Wulfric lifts his eyebrows in surprise at Kaiden's remark. "A handsome young man like you? Surely you must be a lady charmer back in your world," he suggests with a hint of playful humor.

Kaiden shakes his head in response, clearly experiencing a mixture of embarrassment and self-consciousness about his own social skills with girls. "Not really," he admits, "I don't spend much time interacting with girls, and sometimes they can be a bit overwhelming for me."

Wulfric nods understandingly. "That makes sense," he nods. "One of the reasons I'm still single, I suppose." Wulfric then grins and nudges Kaiden's knee with his elbow. "Don't worry, you'll find someone special someday."

Kaiden nods sluggishly, his exhaustion from the emotional upheaval showing in his weary expression. The intense fight with Loden and the subsequent crying have clearly taken their toll, making him feel drained and increasingly sleepy.

Wulfric notices Kaiden's tired state and a small smile forms on his lips. "You look exhausted," he observes gently. "You should get some rest for now. We can talk more another time."

Kaiden attempts to stretch and let out a yawn, but his exhaustion is evident in his weary voice. "I'm not tired," he insists unconvincingly, barely able to keep his eyelids open.

Wulfric stands up and starts extinguishing the candles scattered around the room, casting the space in a gradual dusky darkness. He glances over at Kaiden, noticing his fatigued state. "You need to sleep, Kaiden," he says softly. "Get some rest. I'll come by in the morning."

Kaiden tries to resist the urge, but eventually gives in to his exhaustion. He stretches out on the bed, drawing the blanket over himself and making himself comfortable. The soft bedding and the gradual darkness of the room soon lull him into a drowsy state, and he drifts off to sleep. Wulfric quietly slips out of the room, pausing for a moment as he witnesses Kaiden's eyes close and remain shut. He then proceeds to extinguish the final source of light by the door, leaving the room in complete darkness, allowing Kaiden to rest undisturbed throughout the night.