My demon frowned. “That is inaccurate.”
“You cried when your childhood raven disappeared for three days.”
The entire room went silent.
I turned toward him. “…You cried over a bird.”
“It returned.”
“That did not answer the question.”
Nina collapsed laughing across the couch while the younger brother was delighted beyond recovery.
“Oh this is valuable information.”
“You are all horrible.”
His father finally looked up from the palace papers thoughtfully. “The raven was aggressive.”
“That makes it worse,” I informed him.
Meanwhile, his mother had already moved beside me on the couch like we’d known each other for years instead of hours. Honestly, the woman was terrifying. She adjusted one of the silver bracelets on my wrist absentmindedly before speaking again, her voice softer this time.
“You fit here easier than expected.”
The words settled strangely into my chest. Because that was the problem, wasn’t it? I did fit in here now. Way too easily. Before I could answer, Nina spoke from across the lounge without her usual joking tone.
“…That’s the scary part.”
Silence settled quietly afterward. The younger brother’s fingers slowed slightly where they rested against Nina’s leg.
His mother noticed as well, and after a brief pause she asked the question gently, without a trace of pressure in her voice:
“What are you both thinking about?” The room felt even quieter after that.
Nina stared down into her tea for a second before shrugging lightly. “Earth feels weirdly far away already.”
Nobody interrupted her, so she continued, her voice quieter this time.
“I thought I’d miss normal things more.”
Her fingers absently played with one of the younger brother’s rings while she spoke.
“But honestly? My apartment sucked. My boss sucked. Half my family only called when they needed money.” She laughed softly afterward. “Hell is remarkably stable compared to my old life.”
The younger brother’s expression shifted slightly at that, not with pity but with clear understanding, and then his mother turned toward me more carefully.
“And you.”
I stared into the silver fire for a second before responding.
“I think…” Tiny pause. “I stopped feeling connected to Earth before I even summoned him.”
Beside me, my demon went completely still. I glanced at him. But kept speaking anyway.
“My parents weren’t bad people.” I shrugged lightly. “Just busy. Everything always felt temporary. Work, relationships, friends.” My fingers tightened slightly together in my lap. “Then I summoned a demon into my apartment and that felt more real than most of my actual life.”
His mother watched me quietly for a long moment afterward before speaking gently.
