Inside the hut, the warmth from the fire wrapped around the small space in a steady, comforting way, but it was nothing compared to the quiet intensity surrounding her as she worked, seated on the floor with pieces of cloth spread neatly around her, each one sorted and placed with purpose. Her hands moved without hesitation, cutting, folding, and stitching with a rhythm that felt almost effortless, as though even in this unfamiliar world, she had already claimed mastery over yet another skill. The scraps that once looked useless were slowly turning into small garments, each stitch placed with care, each line straight, each edge clean, and though no one had said it out loud yet, it was clear that what she was making would be far better than anything they had before.
Outside, the children had been whispering.
Inside—
Peace lasted exactly three seconds.
The door creaked open.
Kael stepped in first.
Behind him, Riven followed, quieter but no less deliberate, and both of them paused just inside the hut like they had walked into something they didn't fully understand but were too curious to ignore.
Kael squinted slightly at the fabric in her hands. "…you already made one?"
"Yes," she replied without looking up.
"That fast?"
"Yes."
"…that's suspicious."
"It's skill."
Riven crouched slightly beside her, observing more closely. "…your stitching is precise."
Kael immediately frowned. "Why do you sound impressed?"
"I am observing."
"You sound impressed."
"It is a neutral statement."
"It is not neutral."
She exhaled quietly.
"…leave if you're going to argue," she said.
"We're not arguing," Kael said quickly.
"We're discussing," Riven added calmly.
"You're distracting," she replied.
Silence.
Then—
Kael cleared his throat. "…we can help."
"No."
Immediate.
Sharp.
Final.
Kael blinked. "You didn't even think about it."
"I did."
"And?"
"No."
Riven tilted his head slightly. "…we are capable of learning."
She finally looked up.
"…you are capable of ruining it," she said.
Kael put a hand over his chest. "…that hurt."
"It was accurate."
Riven nodded. "…acceptable."
Kael pointed at him. "Stop agreeing with her every time."
"I am agreeing with correctness."
"That's worse."
From the doorway—
Theo leaned in. "Let them try, Mother."
Leon added, "This will be interesting."
And then—
Noella stepped forward, hugging the doorframe slightly as she peeked in with bright eyes and a soft smile.
"Father Kael will fail," she said sweetly.
A beat.
Then—
"…what?" Kael turned slowly.
Noella smiled innocently. "But it will be cute."
Silence.
Theo immediately looked away.
Leon coughed.
Riven turned his head slightly, as if hiding something.
Kael stared at her. "…you called me Father Kael."
Noella nodded happily. "Yes."
Then she turned. "Father Riven too."
Riven paused.
"…acceptable," he said calmly.
Kael blinked. "…why do you accept it so easily?"
Riven replied, "It is correct."
Kael muttered, "…I don't like how that sounded."
Noella tilted her head. "Do you not like being father?"
Kael froze.
"…I didn't say that."
She smiled softly. "Then it's fine."
Silence.
Then—
Theo whispered, "She wins."
Leon nodded. "Always."
Kael sighed deeply. "…I am being emotionally attacked by a child."
Noella giggled.
She, however, had already resumed sewing.
Unbothered.
Or pretending to be.
After a moment, she picked up a small strip of cloth and tossed it toward Kael without looking.
He caught it.
Paused.
Then smiled slowly. "…you trust me."
"No," she said.
"…then why—"
"To prove my point."
Silence.
Theo whispered loudly, "He's going to fail."
Leon nodded. "Very fast."
Noella clasped her hands. "I believe in you, Father Kael."
Kael froze again.
"…I don't know if that helps."
Riven stepped forward. "I will assist."
Kael frowned. "You don't know how either."
"I understand structure."
"That is not sewing."
"It is related."
"It is not related."
The children were now fully seated inside, watching like it was a show.
Theo leaned forward. "Begin."
Leon added, "Yes."
Noella smiled. "Do your best."
Kael picked up the needle.
Paused.
"…this is too small."
"It is normal," she said.
"No, it's not."
"It is."
"…it's tiny."
"You are large."
Silence.
Then—
Leon burst out laughing.
Theo turned away.
Noella covered her mouth, giggling softly. "Father Kael is big."
Kael pointed at her. "…I am not discussing this."
He tried threading the needle.
Missed.
Tried again.
Missed again.
Riven watched. "…your angle is incorrect."
Kael shoved the needle at him. "Then do it."
Riven took it.
Threaded it instantly.
Kael stared.
"…Father Riven is cheating," Noella whispered.
Riven replied calmly, "It is not cheating."
Kael muttered, "…I still don't like it."
He started stitching.
Immediately—
Wrong.
The line curved.
Then twisted.
Then tightened into something completely chaotic.
"…why is it doing that?" he demanded.
"Because you are pulling too hard," she said.
"I am not pulling hard!"
"You are attacking it."
"I am sewing!"
"That is not sewing."
Theo whispered, "It's suffering."
Leon nodded. "The cloth is crying."
Noella leaned forward. "Be gentle, Father Kael."
Kael froze.
"…why do I feel judged?"
"Because you are," Riven replied.
Kael glared. "Your turn."
Riven accepted.
Calm.
Focused.
His line—
Straight.
Even.
Then—
Too tight.
The fabric wrinkled.
"…oh," he said quietly.
Kael immediately grinned. "You failed."
Riven nodded. "Yes."
"…I feel better now."
Theo clapped once. "Both failed."
Leon added, "Equal failure."
Noella smiled brightly. "Perfect balance."
She finally reached forward.
Took the cloth.
Fixed it.
In seconds.
Silence filled the room.
Kael blinked. "…that was unfair."
Riven added quietly. "…impressive."
She didn't respond.
But—
For just a moment—
Kael leaned slightly closer, his voice lower.
"…you make it look easy."
She didn't look at him. "It is not."
Riven's gaze lingered on her hands. "…your control is precise."
Kael frowned. "Why do you sound like that again?"
"Like what?"
"…like you admire it."
"I do."
Kael paused.
"…oh."
She stilled for half a second.
Then continued sewing.
Ignoring them both.
But not completely unaffected.
Kael leaned back again, watching her now instead of the cloth.
"…you didn't tell us to leave."
"You are quiet," she said.
"…so we can stay?"
"If you stay quiet."
Riven nodded. "Understood."
Kael added quickly, "I can be quiet."
Theo whispered, "No, Father Kael cannot."
Leon nodded. "Impossible."
Noella smiled sweetly. "He will try."
Kael didn't argue.
For once.
And the hut filled again with quiet sounds—
Fire crackling.
Thread pulling.
Soft giggles.
And two men—
Watching her more than they should.
---
End of Chapter 16
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