Lena’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Eden. Before anyone could say anything, she rushed forward and placed both hands on top of his head.

"Aww, you’re so cute!" She began ruffling his hair aggressively. "Look at you! You’re like a little baby mage!"

Eden froze, his face turning red. "I... what?"

Lena continued petting him like he was a small animal. "And you have a baby phoenix too! Two babies! This is adorable!"

"I’m not a baby!" Eden protested, but Lena was already moving her hands down to pinch his cheeks. "But you are though! Look at these cheeks! So squishy!"

Eden’s face burned with embarrassment. He glanced around desperately for help, but found none.

Lumi stood off to the side, watching the scene unfold with a neutral expression. He made no move to intervene.

Merath observed quietly, stroking his beard. He seemed mildly amused but similarly disinclined to stop Lena’s behavior.

Sol chirped from Eden’s arms, apparently confused by the sudden assault on his bonded partner.

Lena squeezed Eden’s cheeks one more time before stepping back with a satisfied grin. "There! Much better!"

Eden rubbed his face, trying to restore some dignity. "That was really weird..."

"Was it?" Lena tilted her head innocently.

"Yes!" Eden gestured at himself. "I’m fourteen! I’m not that much younger than you!"

Lena blinked. "Oh. You’re right." She gave a small shrug. "I guess I got carried away."

Eden took a deep breath, trying to center himself.

This was already an overwhelming day.

To begin with, his life was already stressful. He lived and worked alone. His parents were dead. Now, he’d learned he was descended from a legendary hero and his farm was being left behind. He’d bonded with an Imperial Phoenix. And now he was being treated like a child by a strange woman.

It was too much.

But he couldn’t say that. How could he say that? That was so pathetic to say outloud. He was a man already at fourteen.

What would expressing ’this is too much’ even accomplish? A statement that he can’t handle life? But life was what life was. He couldn’t change it. He had to handle things, no matter what.

Not to mention, one look around, and it was obvious that these were powerful people. Important people. He was just a farmer who happened to be forced by fate into something bigger than himself.

So he said nothing.

Lena’s gaze shifted to Lumi. She didn’t speak, but her expression asked a clear question. Who is this kid? Why is he here?

Lumi caught her look and nodded slightly. "Eden is my new disciple."

"Oh!" Lena’s eyes went wide. "You have a disciple now?"

"Yes." Lumi gestured toward the boy. "Eden is descended from Phoenix Master Henry. One of the heroes who sealed the Dark One centuries ago."

Lena’s expression shifted. "Wait, really?"

"Really." Lumi confirmed. "The phoenix he’s holding is an Imperial Phoenix. The same bloodline as Henry’s partner."

Lena stared at Sol for a long moment. "That’s... wow." She threw her hands up. "It’s like that’s so cool!"

"..." Eden looked on, saying nothing. He was wondering, though. Did power corrupt the mind? Was magic a drug? Why did every magician act so weird? Not a single one of them acted normal.

Lumi continued explaining. "Imperial Phoenixes have a unique property. They grow stronger by defeating evil. That said, it’s not just any evil either. Deep, fundamental evil. Like demons."

Eden listened carefully, taking in the information. He hadn’t known that detail.

"So if we defeat demons, cultists, servants of the Dark One..." Lumi gestured vaguely. "Sol will absorb energy from their defeat and grow more powerful."

"That’s incredible!" Lena exclaimed. "Say, are you about to do what I’m thinking of?"

"I am." Lumi nodded. "Which is why Eden will be accompanying us on certain missions moving forward."

Eden’s head snapped up. "I will?"

"Of course." Lumi said it like it was obvious. "Your my disciple. Travelling with me only makes sense. You need to grow stronger. Sol needs to grow stronger. The best way to do that is practical experience."

Eden wanted to protest. He had no combat training. He barely understood magic. How could he possibly be useful in actual battles?

But again, he said nothing.

"By the way!" Lena suddenly exclaimed. She took a step closer to Eden. "I just want to let you know... your Lumi’s disciple."

"I... I know?" Eden tilted his head confused.

"No. You don’t know." Lena gripped her hands just a bit tighter. "What I mean is, that’s your identity. And since that’s your identity, it’s not something else."

"...huh?" Eden was baffled. Even Lumi and Merath looked on, confused.

Seeing that the boy was still lost, Lena clarified. "What I’m saying is that Lumi is mine. He’s mine. He’s my man. So don’t try to take him from me."

"..." The room went silent.

Eden’s eyebrows twitched. He took a step back. He was honestly a bit offended, but he couldn’t yell. So he just retorted. "I don’t even like men!"

Lena smiled. "Good!"

She grinned and moved closer to Lumi, leaning against him. "Yep! We’re together!"

"I see." Eden wasn’t sure what else to say to that.

There was a moment of awkward silence.

Lena’s expression shifted. She looked at Eden more carefully now, taking in his body language. The way he held himself. The tension in his shoulders. The uncertainty in his eyes.

She recognized that look.

She’d seen it in the mirror not that long ago.

She took a deep breath. Should she do something about it? Should she comfort him? But she had already positioned her personality to be the bad cop to Lumi’s good cop. Would being too nice here ruin anything?

Why was she thinking about herself in categories? She wasn’t in public. She could just do. With that thought in mind, she stepped forward and grabbed both of Eden’s hands firmly. "Hey."

Eden startled slightly. "Yes?" He backed off a step. "Miss, I told you, I really have no interest in your partner, I-"

"Not that." Lena interrupted. Her tone changed. It wasn’t playful anymore. It was serious. Stern, but with an underlying softness. "Forget my jokes, I’m being serious now. I know you must be going through something difficult right now."

Eden didn’t respond.

"And I really know." Lena emphasized the word. "I’m not just saying it to be nice. I actually know."

Eden met her eyes. There was something in her gaze that made him believe her.

Lena continued. "When your life gets upended like this, it sucks. You don’t get to do the things you want to do anymore. You don’t get to have the life you spent your younger years imagining you’d have."

Eden’s grip on Sol tightened slightly.

"You have no idea what to do." Lena’s voice was steady. "You lost everything. And now you’re lost. Completely and utterly lost."

Eden felt something twist in his chest.

"Lost and burdened with a responsibility you didn’t ask for." Lena kept going. "One you don’t want. And yet, for one reason or another, you have to carry it anyway."

Eden’s eyes stung slightly. "I... I can handle it..."

Lena shook her head. She squeezed his hands tighter. "And you have no hope things will get better in the short term. Even hope in the distance is just a faint light. So far away you can barely see it."

Eden tried to speak but couldn’t find the words.

"I know all of this." Lena said firmly. "Because I’ve gone through it myself."

Eden stared at her. This strange, cheerful woman who’d just been treating him like a child. She’d been through something similar?

"So this is what I have to say." Lena’s gaze was intense as she stared into his eyes directly. "Attach yourself to something. Become obsessed with something. Find a way to find enjoyment from the chaos."

Eden couldn’t handle the intensity. He had to avert his eyes, but he still heard every word. "I see..."

Lena glanced down at Sol. "And see, you’re actually lucky. You have Sol right there. A phoenix you have to bond with. A friend from now until death."

Sol chirped softly.

"Become its friend." Lena said. "Not a pet. A friend. A partner. A bond. One and the same."

Eden looked down at the phoenix in his arms.

"Do that." Lena said. "And life will become bearable."

She pulled Eden into a hug.

Eden froze completely. He had no idea where this was coming from. No idea how to react. His mind went blank.

But then he felt something wet on his cheeks.

He was crying.

He hadn’t even realized it. When had he started crying? Wasn’t this bad? He didn’t want to seem weak in front of all these people. Yet... Lena was hugging him and patting him on his back. She was so nice to him just now, despite how she acted earlier.

Something about Lena’s words had resonated with him. Had reached past all his defenses and touched something raw.

He hugged her back.

The library was completely silent.