While Sapphire busied herself in the kitchen, the three men began talking among themselves.
"Sir, the people staying at your former residence said you and Jauna are no longer there," Khafa began carefully.
Sapphire, though focused on cooking, caught the name Jauna and quietly listened.
"It's a long story," Dayesh replied shortly.
"We know you're not one for storytelling, sir. We won't force you if you don't wish to share," Ghoth added, sensing the weight behind the topic. Both he and Khafa already had an idea of what might have happened between the two.
"Where's Lzith?" Khafa suddenly asked, deliberately shifting the conversation.
"Probably in her room. They're not outside," Dayesh answered.
Neither of them dared to ask about Jauna further. They feared reopening wounds that had yet to fully heal.
"Sir… we're planning to resign from our positions in Caelumn," Khafa continued after a brief pause. "If possible, we would like to stay under your care for a while and join you in your missions."
Dayesh leaned back slightly, thinking.
"That can be arranged. But why leave Caelumn? Did something unpleasant happen?"
"We can no longer tolerate the behavior of some people there," Ghoth answered. "Many of us left months after you resigned. Khafa and I stayed, hoping things would settle after your departure. But it only got worse."
"Please, Sir Dayesh… take us in. We promise we won't be a burden," Khafa added earnestly.
Dayesh remained silent for a long moment, weighing their request.
"…Very well. I accept. But I have conditions."
The two exchanged glances. They knew how strict Dayesh could be. His conditions often sounded as though failure meant something far worse than mere punishment.
"What are your conditions?" Khafa asked, slightly nervous.
"It's simple," Dayesh began.
He laid out his rules one after another: order within the house, assigned responsibilities, proper conduct, boundaries they must never cross, and discipline in both action and speech. His tone remained calm, but every word carried weight.
"You understand the penalty if you disobey?" he finished.
"We won't disobey you, sir! We promise!" the two said in unison, instinctively raising their hands to salute before Dayesh stopped them.
"And one more thing. Call me big brother or by my name from now on. We're no longer in Caelumn. There's no need for formalities."
They hesitated.
"It still feels strange, sir… but we'll try to get used to it."
At that moment, Sapphire approached them.
"The food is ready."
Ghoth glanced at her and whispered under his breath, "Who is that beautiful lady…"
Dayesh shot him a sharp look.
"My apologies," Ghoth quickly corrected himself.
"I'll find out who she is soon enough anyway," he thought silently.
As they ate, Khafa and Ghoth repeatedly praised Sapphire's cooking, careful not to say anything that might offend Dayesh.
Once they finished, Khafa stood.
"We'll return in Caelumn for now sir. We just need to inform them and gather our belongings."
"Alright. I'll wait for you."
Before leaving, Khafa turned to Sapphire.
"Thank you for the meal. It was excellent."
"Thank you again. We'll be on our way," Ghoth added.
Later that night…
Sapphire prepared herself a cup of coffee while talking to herself. Lzith was already asleep, giving her rare freedom.
"This is so boring… no phone, nothing to do. Is this how I'll live from now on?" she muttered, half laughing, half sighing. "And there's not even a place to buy cigarettes here. I miss taking a puff…"
She shook her head lightly.
"Well, coffee it is."
She sat on the sofa, the dim glow of a single lamp casting soft shadows across the room.
"When I finally get paid, I'm definitely buying some. I'll just take a bath right after so I won't smell."
"You're talking to yourself again."
She flinched slightly and turned. Dayesh had already taken a seat across from her.
"Sorry, Master. Do I look crazy to you? I'm not a bad person, I swear."
"I didn't say anything," he replied calmly. "What was that you mentioned… 'cigarette'? And bathing so you wouldn't smell?"
"He has no idea what cigarettes are," Sapphire thought.
"When I get my salary, I'll look for one in the market. I'll show you how it works."
"Hm. Alright. Perhaps you can also make me a cup of coffee. I used to think coffee was only for mornings. But I've noticed you drink it often at night. That's probably why you stay awake so late."
"I can still sleep even after drinking a lot of coffee. It's basically like water to me now. Wait, I'll make you one."
She stood and prepared his drink.
"Thank you," Dayesh said as he accepted the cup. "Good thing you're still awake. We can talk for a while."
"If he wasn't my boss, I'd probably be dancing in front of him right now," Sapphire thought, amused.
"You can't sleep either, Master?"
"No. I wasn't like this before. Only after my child and I moved here."
Sapphire hesitated for a moment.
"Master… I've been meaning to ask. Where is your wife?"
Dayesh paused briefly.
"Her? She left us. Went back to her first love. I let her go. Perhaps what she showed me back then wasn't real after all."
Sapphire's expression softened.
"I was wondering… since it's only you and Lzith here. I thought your partner had passed away."
"No. She wouldn't die that easily," he replied with a faint, almost hollow laugh.
"In your case, Master… someone left you?" Sapphire nearly slipped. "Back where I come from… that wouldn't happen."
"What do you mean, 'where you come from'?"
"I mean… in our place, if a man is handsome, he's not easily left behind."
Dayesh gave a small, tired smile.
"That's a shallow way of looking at things. Appearance alone isn't enough."
Sapphire finished her coffee and stood.
"I'll head to sleep now, Master. Goodnight."
Dayesh simply nodded.
He stared into his cup. His reflection rippled on the surface, but what he felt was far deeper than what he saw. Whether it was loneliness or longing, he could not tell.
Of all the hours in a day, the night had become the most difficult since Jauna left.
After finishing his drink, he went to his room. He took a deep breath. At first, the sound was faint… then it grew.
His form shifted into that of a wolf.
A long, echoing howl broke through the silence of the night, carrying with it all the sorrow and emptiness he had kept inside.
Two days later…
"This is the being I told you about. The body she desires is that of a five-year-old child."
The Laur couple exchanged glances.
"That will not be a problem. Come, there is a room we must go to."
Dayesh followed them. The room they entered was dark, but after a few seconds, the lights embedded in the walls flickered to life.
"This is where we will perform the ritual," Mrs. Laur said. "A five-year-old child… what gender?"
"Male."
Mr. Laur guided Dayesh and the shadow toward a box-shaped marking at the center of the room. Only the shadow was placed inside.
"Sir, please close your eyes. No matter what happens, do not open them."
Dayesh obeyed, though unease stirred within him. Still, he chose to trust them.
In the distance, the metronome rested on a table. It began to move on its own.
Tick… tick… tick…
A radiant figure appeared before the Laur couple. It resembled an angel, glowing, with wings spread behind it and a flowing robe. They communicated through telepathy.
"Please grant this being's wish, our lord."
"What is your request?"
"Bestow upon this entity the body of a five-year-old child."
As the request was spoken, a figure began forming in midair. Slowly, piece by piece, a child's body took shape. First the feet, then the legs, the torso, the shoulders, and finally the head.
The boy was given a refined, striking face.
"You may enter the body now," Mr. Laur said mentally to the shadow.
Without hesitation, the shadow merged into the form.
Moments passed.
"You may open your eyes now, sir," Mrs. Laur said.
Dayesh did.
Before him stood a child.
The ritual had succeeded.
They thanked the couple sincerely for the smooth transaction.
"If you ever require my services again, do not hesitate to seek me out. Thank you once more."
"Thank you as well, Dayesh. Until next time."