‣ unclean realm

@☘︎┊nie yongguk ᵃ karina could sees the reaction of out the alpha when she wants to retreat her hand back. a small frown graces her expression before she acted like nothing happened. 'is he okay, leia?' heleia grumbled. 'i bet our alpha wants to hold our hands longer, rina but of course you refused.' karina rolled her eyes back through their telepathic links. 'stop it and stop calling him our alpha. he... he might not be the one..' there's a hint of uncertainty in her mind. this time heleia scoffed in annoyance. 'keep on dreaming, rina. you'll acknowledge him one day whether you like it or not!!!'

she sighed before she looks up at the male. karina's lips curled into a faint smile as she watched the alpha approach, as he strides over the quicksand. the sight of him working so carefully for her sake stirred something warm within her chest and her omega, though she hid it behind her usual composed demeanours.

her gaze flicked to the shimmering purple crystals in his hands, as her fingers instinctively brushed against the largest one and picked them up. her lips parted open in amusement. "oh my god — yongguk ah. these are so beautiful!" she couldn't contain her excitement as she tiptoeing and pressed a light smooch on his cheek. "you've done well, oppa. thank you. these will do nicely. heh."

at his suggestion, karina tilted her head slightly. "a stone cutter! mmm that might save me some time. " she paused as she met his gaze. "but if we go to your village, are you certain i won't find myself at the mercy of another alpha looking to impress? you know I'm quite pretty myself." said her confidently with a playful hint on her tone before she laughed. "i was joking!!! but yes , we can go there and cut these because i want to send them to the jewelers or goldsmith later on. i was thinking of making a pendant."

@❀┊jiang karina ᵒ As much as it was nice ot see that Karina was relaxing for him, it also pained the alpha to have to let her hands go - which meant her palm leaving his chest. Such a shame, he thought, hearing Cam protesting in the back of his mind. It was a soft grumble, but still one that grew even quieter when Karina gave him the direction he sought.

"Purple. Of course, Rina." Yongguk allowed their hands to part with a smile he was finding was hard to wipe off his face when he was around the omega. Standing, he turned and strode back out over the quicksand. True to his words, his packs' imbued resilience made his steps somehow light enough that he was not caught in the sinking trap of quicksand the same way she had been.

He stepped over other clusters of crystals and moved around to the shimmering purple minerals, crouching down to work free four of varying sizes and shimmering qualitites, which eh thought through quickly. The smallest were roughly matched, slightly larger than pearls, a middling one roughly the size of his airpods case, and the largest being roughly the size of a deck of cards, which would be perfect to be cut down to any size and shape Karina might want. His decisions and actions were swift, aided by a pocket knife, and he tucked the crystals into a pocket before walking back over the trecherous land to the omega.

"See? Easy when you know what you're doing." He grinned, reaching into his pocket to produce the stones for her approval. "Do you need a stone cutter? We have many in the village not far from here." He offered, gathering up his discarded tools and placing them back on his shoulders.

@☘︎┊nie yongguk ᵃ karina's lips pursed slightly at yongguk's remarks. "stop teasing me like that, gukkie. i can clearly see you're enjoying this, aren't you?" she huffed, giving him a slight glare, though the red-tinted flush on her rosy cheeks betrayed her embarrassment. she bit her lower lip, trying to suppress her reaction.

the sound of his laughter made karina pause. it was either so melodious and pleasant to hear or something that triggered her inner omega, leaving her wanting to hear it even more. she couldn’t decide, but either way, his soft laughter was undeniably nice. even his voice was captivating. how could he be so perfect right now?

and when he took her hand and pressed it against his chest, allowing her to feel his heartbeat—it was definitely not on karina's bucket list. she swallowed hard, her eyes widening slightly, the same crimson blush spreading across her cheeks. her head felt light, as if she'd just experienced her second near-death experience.

taking a deep breath, she smiled sheepishly at the alpha in front of her. she pointed at the crystals and mouthed, "purple. is it possible to have that one?"

@❀┊jiang karina ᵒ "Ah, to be a Jiang... Your kind are far too easy to panic..." Guk teased softly, hitting right back to Karina's sarcasm, enjoying her huffy side so closely after a near-death experience. At least he knew this was her natural personality and nothing was being hidden from him - Not that he should be so comfortable with a student, but...

That feeling was one he couldn't help.

His eyes moved with hers, looking over his shoulders at the various crystal formations that rose out of the quicksand. He couldn't quite tell which of the groupings was the one that had caught her eye, but when he looked back at her to answer her question, he noted the markings of fear in her eyes before she even spoke her concerns. "I'm sorry?" He asked quietly, head tilting as he processed the words. In spite of the real, genuine terror apparent as her shaking hands held his face, he broke into a soft laugh.

Yongguk's work-roughened hands rested atop Karina's, cupping them lightly and removing them from his cheeks as he attempted to soothe her through his low chuckles. "Karina - Rina, please... Calm yourself. We don't execute people for something so small... Really. Breathe with me, please? I'll explain." He offered with a kind smile, bringing one of her hands to his tattooed chest as a grounding exercise, walking her through the paces of breathing deeply, letting her feel how his chest rose and fell with his every breath. After a moment, when he could see she'd calmed some, he continued.

"You're supposed to announce yourself to the pack leader if you're of outside lineage and looking to use our lands... But that's not that big of a deal because you're also with a Nie now. You're my guest, and I am offering to go and pick the crystals you want. I don't have the same issues you do with these lands."

@☘︎┊nie yongguk ᵃ karina's eyes widened slightly when the professor took off his shirt, her cheeks start to blossom in crimson hue as she darted her gazes away for a moment. heleia was howling in a bit too excited for such scenes as karina immediately scold her through their links. 'stop making a fuss over it, leia.' heleia snickered, 'as if you're not blushing yourself, karina.'

heleia was damn right about it and karina bites back her lips to cover her embarrassment. 'shut up leia, go away.' she scoffed in annoyance. she took the clothes anyways and quick to dry herself with it. "well, i am sorry that i couldn't even get to think properly when im IN THAT , oppa." she answered him through her light sarcastic manners with a small huffs.

when yongguk suddenly cups her cheeks, karina's body stiffened. her heart starts to race and her gazes moved back forth from yongguk and the pretty crystal behind him. oh my god —'did he just asked that?'

"w why are you asking that, are you going to take it for me or something?" asked her a bit stuttering. ' what if he wants to took you to his leader and execute you bc you apparently come here to steal
rina?' but heleia's tease got karina worked up somehow. " or or are you going to report me to your leader and have me executed ??" she asked widening her eyes in dramatic ways. she quickly cups yongguk's face in returns despite him still in holding her tear streaked face, "please send me back to my dorm , i will give them up as long as you don't send me to your leader. i am not a thief!" she's bout to cry again.

@❀┊jiang karina ᵒ Yongguk kept her in his arms even after they were on solid ground, only able to smile fondly at the outburst of emotions he'd come to expect from the unique student. Plus with how she clung to him... Well, couldn't blame the man for taking advantage of a perfect situation.

He carried her to a fallen tree and set her down gently on the log, standing just to take off his shirt, which was only slightly damp from the wet sand, compared to her clothes, which were soaked. He broke a bit at the teary look, playful scolding exchanged for a half-grin as he offered over the shirt to her. He was endeared by not only the tears, but her thinking that one could be taught everything they needed to know about his pack lands by reading.

"Books should have also taught you to lay back like you're trying to float in a pool and not to struggle." He said softly. "Dry off as much as you can, okay?" Cam lingered in the back of his mind, worrying over the omega much more than he outwardly showed, but Yongguk's professional opinion was that this scare was a healthy one - Only something a Nie clan member would think logically.

He sighed, following her line of sight before kneeling down before the omega. Yongguk cupped her cheeks, wiping away the tears with his thumbs, and peering into her pretty eyes. "Which color do you want?" He finally asked, voice soft as he looked at her.

@☘︎┊nie yongguk ᵃ karina coughed, struggling to catch her breath as yongguk carried her out of the quicksand. her heart was racing — not just from the near death experience but also the fact that she was so close to him. her cheeks flushes as she tried to get her answer with her voice trembling slightly. "h hey, i w wasn't trying to get anyone's attention." her fingers instinctively gripping the fabric of his shirt, as if afraif she might fall again. "and mind you, i wasn't risking my life just for something shiny,, well — maybe a little but i need the crystal for something important!" she glanced away embarrassed before she sighed.

"i didn't think it would be this dangerous. I thought it was safe because earlier i did throw some rock and it stays afloat! and I've read about thsi place too, i thought I'd be fine as long as i was careful you know. " her eyes getting teary somehow as she looks up at ay him. "thank you — for saving me."

she bites her lips. "I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come tho. i might be died, and i don't even manage to touch the crystal yet." she looks across the area and sighed with her pouty lips.

@❀┊jiang karina ᵒ The mountainous terrain of his home was soothing to Yongguk's very soul, and he enjoyed the time he could spend on weekends traveling the space. It helped him get grounded again - the school was nice, but the plain, flat forests they had were just not the same for the boy from the mountains.

He'd been tasked with felling trees by his father, hunting for the spots with old trees that were already dying; that meant less time spent drying the wood for their forges, which made his help stretch longer. He carried an axe and a sling strapped to his back, tattered shirt with sleeves cut off showing his tattoos to the empty woods. He'd be shirtless if not for the need to carry wood, and the scratchy straps that might wound his ink. He'd made that mistake before, and wouldn't let it happen a second time.

He was nearing a common hunting ground that he knew was ripe with trees when he heard the screams coming from close by. He knew the sound was panic and quickly looked around the path to figure out the direction. It had to be the ore mines, and he could almost guarantee that someone who wasn't Nie by birth or right had come hunting for their treasures.

He set off at a run, easily darting through trees and brush like he had when he was a mere pup, coming to a surprising sight. It was the omega that had been on his mind, and she was sinking quickly into the pits that caught many treasure poachers before her. His first instinct, had it been anybody else, might have been to scold or lord it over them that this was what you earned for trying to claim what didn't belong to them, but for Karina...

Yongguk's instincts kicked in to family mode, casting off the sling and axe that were strapped to his back, before he carefully stepped into the quicksand. His pack powers imbued him with the ability to ignore such natural traps, so each step was easy, and acted as though he was on solid ground. As he crouched, arms wrapping around Karina and pulling her to his broad chest, he couldn't help but grin. "There are less dangerous ways to get the attention of a Nie, you know."

Their faces were close, and he could smell her sweet, fruity scent as he freed her body slowly from the wet sand, cradling her protectively in his arms. It was torture to be so close, in the best possible sense of the word, and he relished in the chance to act on holding her to his body. When her legs were free, he lifted them over an arm, easily swinging her body into a princess carry to move her from the pit, before he began scolding her gently.

"Why are you up here alone? And what are you doing? You could have died out here. The mountains are treacherous, and without a Nie to bring you, deadly for most. Are you really risking your life for something shiny?"

@☘︎┊nie yongguk ᵃ karina swallowed hard as she stepped into the unfamiliar terrain. the rocky cliffs loomed high, shrouded in a heavy mist that sent shivers down her spine. she had never been this bold—leaving the safety of the academy to venture into such an ominous place. but her desire for pure crystals, essential for her accessories, had fueled her courage, even if she had no idea what dangers awaited her.

carefully, she navigated the uneven, rocky steps, pushing aside branches that snagged at her clothing. her eyes darted around, scanning her surroundings, every shadow and rustle putting her on edge. then, she saw them. crystals glimmered faintly across the soft sands, their beauty radiant even in the dim light. her eyes lit up, but her excitement was short-lived as a voice echoed in her mind. 'how do you plan to get the crystals? that sand looks like a trap,' grumbled heleia, her inner wolf.

'you’re too eager, karina,' heleia continued, her tone laced with irritation. 'you’ll get us both killed. can’t we just go back to the academy and daydream about our hot professor or something?' karina rolled her eyes internally. 'don’t be ridiculous. as if the professor would ever think about you the same way!' she scoffed, brushing off heleia’s sarcasm.

she picked up a small rock and tossed it onto the sand, feeling determined. to her surprise, it didn’t sink. it stayed perfectly still, resting on the surface. "oh? it’s not a trap, then," karina muttered, a small smile tugging at her lips. "the sand’s solid, just like the ground. i guess it’s safe."

with cautious steps, she made her way toward the crystals. but before she could even reach them, something gripped her legs, pulling her down with alarming force. the sand wasn’t as harmless as she’d thought—it was swallowing her, dragging her into its depths. panic surged through her as she thrashed, trying to break free.

"help!" karina screamed, her voice echoing through the misty expanse as she sank deeper and deeper into the treacherous ground.

@☘︎┊nie eunbi ᵇ ¹⁹⁰¹²⁵ Aeri nodded at her warning and grip tightly with her hand around Eunbi's as they went further inside the cave, this one was special for the Nie alpha as she usually hangs out here, this was her hiding place from all the problems in the world. This is not the first time Aeri brought Eunbi, knowing the other must have pretended to be not knowing her at all after what happened to them years ago.

She gestured the other to close her eyes, wanting the other to feel surprise about what she had to see. Then Aeri brought her further deep inside the cave before they eventually heard the splashes of the waterfall, the further they are, the more mosses and flowers surrounded them. The glow of the river below due to the luminescent algae radiated the area, they stopped at a certain spot where the vantage point of area before looking at Eunbi, she tapped on her shoulder to open her eyes and see the majestic sight of what Aeri wanted to show to her.

(https://64.media.tumblr.com/571f0f00d8e95ca747213f68aaa2d538/d362c52d83b254e0-44/s1280x1920/a7566cd94e4c20302b2a13366914cfdfa077bf5b.pnj)

@☘︎┊nie aeri ᵃ Eunbi dropped by her room after classes was over to quickly change into something more comfortable. She changed into blue jeans and a my happy marriage anime shirt with a gray jacket before meeting Aeri surprisingly not getting lost on the way.

The beta followed the alpha happily close by not at all having a hint of where they are going. She have a huge gap in her memories since she in all irony lost them. Eunbi not seeing Aeri mate bite mark had no idea she was her missing mate nor did she had a mate at all.

“A cave?” She questioned along with sign as she held Aeri hand getting more and more curious by the second. “I might not be able to read your lips once we’re inside so use your phone to if you want to communicate with me.” Eunbi said in warning.

@☘︎┊nie eunbi ᵇ After meeting Eunbi after class, they both went to the place where they used to hangout and dated and once they took the mating ceremony. Aeri had been visiting this place from time to time before even meeting Eunbi once again. Aeri took the mated beta in the forest as she knew the other is helpless when she goes to the forest alone and the female alpha promised that she will take her home once she showed her the place where they used to meet.

Aeri remember every details of where they are going, her perceptiveness to things is one of her strengths. She always glanced at Eunbi, expecting to say something like she is familiar with this place. But it seems like she completely forget all about it... maybe because she always gets lost a lot.

"Here we are." She told Eunbi as she showed her the gave and the inside of the cave is already dark enough, plus it's already dusk since they went back to Unclean Realm by foot. "Stay close with me, okay?" Aeri said before she gets her flashlight and her other hand holds onto Eunbi's.

@☘︎┊nie san ᵃ As San told her that he believed on what she can do before or after she became a leader, it is enough for her to stand up and opened the door. The door swung open before she back hugged her brother while he is still sitting on the ground. "Damn you, bro. You really don't want me to be alone." She muttered as she leaned her head towards his shoulder as her arms wrapped around his neck.

"If I became a leader," She turned her head to look at her twin brother, "Will you be my right-hand man?" Aeri asked before chuckling and still hugging him from behind.

@☘︎┊nie aeri ᵃ San leaned his forehead against the door, his voice steady but carrying a softness that only Aeri ever got to hear. “You know, Aeri… I think Father’s been wrong about a lot of things. Responsibility isn’t heavier than promises—it’s the promises we make that create responsibility. And when someone keeps breaking those promises, maybe they weren’t ready to carry that responsibility in the first place. But you’re not like him. You never were.”

He sighed, his hand resting flat on the wood between them. “You care, Aeri. You actually listen. You’ve always tried to make things better, even when it’s not your job to. That’s what makes you different. That’s what makes you a leader—not because Father says so, but because people believe in you. I believe in you. And you don’t have to figure it all out today, or tomorrow, or even next month. You’re allowed to feel lost sometimes. You’re allowed to lean on me—or anyone else who loves you—because you’ve been carrying everyone else for so long.”

His voice dropped to a near whisper, the weight of his words measured. “Aeri, you’re the best part of this family. Not Father’s power, not the clan’s traditions—you. And whatever kind of leader you decide to be, I’ll follow you. Not him. You.”

@☘︎┊nie san ᵃ Aeri listened to her twin brother and grinned, knowing that she has been standing up for him ever since they were little, her little antics and other actions she had done for him. Aeri had been the eldest among them yet emotionally she is fragile, she doesn't want anyone to know what she really feels especially to personal things.

Questions about her being the next leader to her father seemed to take a month before Aeri could make a proper answer, however, San was always there for her despite all of it. "Sometimes... I feel like I'm a desperate one who needed help from you or anyone else.." She said, "I wanted to be a leader our clan would hoped for, no one will be ignored-- all my ears are open, I just wanted to listen and sort everything out." She looked at her hands.

"Father was right, you know. Responsibility is heavier than promises." Aeri quoted their father's words, "That is why, he kept breaking promises nowadays." She starts drawing on the floor, she scribbled using invisible lines and draw whatever that comes from her mind.

@☘︎┊nie aeri ᵃ San let out a soft sigh from the other side of the door, his forehead leaning against it as though he could feel Aeri’s emotions through the barrier. “I’m sorry, Aeri,” he said, his voice low and filled with regret. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I know I push too hard sometimes. I just hate seeing you go through this alone.”

He stammered for a moment and touched his fingers to the wood of the door, like he was reaching out to her. “Remember when we were little kids, and you took care of everything? You’d stand up for me at school when you really didn’t have to? I used to look up to that—a strong, independent world. You made it seem so easy, like nothing could ever touch you.” San let out a soft, almost bitter laugh. “But I think that’s the problem, isn’t it? You’re so good at carrying everything on your own that no one thinks to ask if you need help. Not even me sometimes.”

Taking another deep breath, he continued in a softer manner. “I don’t want to make things harder for you, Aeri. I just… I don’t want you to feel like you’re completely alone in this. Even if Father’s gone all the time, I am here, and I always will be. For you, okay? You don’t need to do this alone.”

@☘︎┊nie san ᵃ Frustration. Hate. Grief.

All the emotions Aeri suppressed from inside exploded into the pillow, as her emotions deemed to be not valid towards her family nor anyone. The only one who cares for it was her twin brother who knows how she feels to be pushed to the responsibility she had to take once she became a leader.

Hearing her brother's voice from behind the door is enough to calm herself down, she rose from her bed, the eyeliner strickled along her tears before she wiped it off with a tissue. "Why do you have to say those things?" Aeri asked softly as she walked towards the door and leaned against it, "We both know father is a busy man, you don't have to insist for his presence to come." She told San. "We're already grown ups now, San." She added, "Our father already spent so much time for us when we're younger, we're as busy as him." Aeri said before hugging her knees.

@☘︎┊nie aeri ᵃ San sat stiffly at the table, his hand gripping the edge of his chair as Aeri’s outburst echoed in his ears. The room fell silent except for the faint clatter of utensils that had dropped back to the floor. His heart ached, a deep, twisting pain that spread through his chest as he stared at the empty spot where his sister had sat just moments ago. She hadn’t just stepped out of the room; she’d run, taking with her all the unsaid words and charged emotions he didn’t know how to grapple with either.

He looked up at his mother, the woman he loved more than any other, the one who had kept this family together through much that most never have to bear. Yet, the sight of her, calm and composed, as steady as a rock in loyalty to their father, lit something in his chest he couldn’t suppress. “Mother,” he said, the words trembling with the effort of keeping calm. “I love you. More than words can describe, I love you. You have sacrificed so much for us, for him, for this family. I know how hard you try to hold everything together.” He stopped, his throat constricting. “But sometimes… sometimes I feel like you’re holding onto something that isn’t holding onto us.”

His voice cracked, and he stared down at his hands—the anger and sorrow wrestling inside him. “I know you believe in him. I know you think everything he does is for us, for the clan, for the realm. But that does not change a thing—that he is not here, that he is never here. Every time you defend him, every time you say to understand his reasons… it feels like you’re telling us how we feel doesn’t matter.” He looked up, his eyes welling with emotions he could no longer bottle inside. “It does matter, Mother. Aeri’s feelings matter, my feelings matter, yours do too. I know you love him, but does it not hurt you? Does it not pain you to sit here night after night, staring at his empty chair and pretending it’s all okay? Like this is all normal?”

San’s chest heaved as he took a shaking breath, the anger finally giving way to guilt. He didn’t want to hurt her, didn’t want to make her feel she was failing them when she did everything she could. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “I don’t mean to speak to you like this. It’s just… I’m worried, Mother. About Aeri, about this family, about what we’re becoming without him.” He pushed his chair back and rose, deliberate in his movements, as if every step was an effort to keep himself together. His gaze flicked down at the scattered utensils on the floor and then back up at his mother. “I need to check on her,” he muttered, almost as if saying it out loud would give him the strength to face his sister’s pain.

He left the table and walked down the hall to Aeri’s room, his footsteps growing slower as he approached her door. He could hear the muffled sound of her crying—or maybe screaming—into her pillow. The sound was like a knife in his chest, twisting with every second he hesitated. At last, he reached up and tapped the door softly. “Aeri,” he called, his voice quiet but insistent. “It’s me. I’m here, okay? Can I come in?”

When no response came, he leaned his forehead softly against the door and let out a soft sigh. “Aeri, I know you probably don’t want to talk to me right now. And that’s okay. But I’m not going to leave you alone in there to deal with this by yourself.” He hesitated, searching for words. “You don’t have to let me in, but… I want you to know I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. When you’re ready, I’ll be here.” He broke off, his hand flat against the cool door as though he might reach her through the barrier. “You don’t have to say anything. You don’t even have to open the door. Just… let me stay here with you. I’ll wait as long as you need me to.”

@☘︎┊nie san ᵃ Listening to what her twin brother had said, he hasn't been used to their father not having a proper meal with them. She knew their father, Lan Mingjue is a very busy leader, he wanted to do what is best for their realm and their clan. However the downside of it was sacrificing his role as a father for them. No matter how delicious the foods around them, the words that comes from San seemed to dull her excitement to eat.

Aeri couldn't open a single word as her mother and her brother exchanged their views about their father's absence. She may be a troublesome child but she knows when to keep shut, the restraint of her emotions is what her father had taught her. The responsibility of a leader will soon be carried on her shoulders, she needed to only speak when she needed it and be quiet on what nonsense she wanted to say. Her family knew better of Aeri's violent tendencies back when she was only a girl: Impulsive, violent and throwing tantrums.

With their father's discipline of a trouble child that she was, she learned. But the emotions inside that matters. The more San and their mother keeps exchanging words, Aeri's emotions building up like a magma inside a dormant volcano. But her ability to manipulate metal reacts to how her inner emotions, cutleries and utensils on the table slowly floated while two of her family members are too focused on exchanging words.

Her brown eyes very slowly changes into ocean green like a ticking time bomb, "Stop it..." She muttered repeatedly without a sound. She wanted them to stop but who is she to stop the argument that spills the truth, San's frustration over their father's absence and their mother's word of excuses for it. The more words they utter, the more Aeri's words ringing inside her mind.

'Stop it, stop it, stop it.' It keeps repeating on and on and it gets louder and louder as the metal utensils starts floating mid-air.

Until she explodes, "STOP IT!"

All the metal utensils and cutleries shoots off to the ceiling, some of it sticks on the ceiling and some clattered on the floor and on the table.

Asuka's eyes widen when she saw Aeri stops their bickering with her exploded emotions, "Aeri...?" She called her name. The female Nie looked at her mother, her ocean green hues slowly reduced to her normal brown ones, "I... I think I'm not hungry yet..." She muttered and then she looked at San. "But we're still got each other." She uttered then she stood up from her chair, "Please excuse me..." She said as she left the dining area.

As soon as she did not see the sight of her mother and brother, her pace hasten as she reached to her room. She slammed the door shut and slumped on her bed, face down on her pillow and she starts screaming her frustrations and disappointment in their dinner on it, knowing it could muffle her voice as she gripped onto her pillow.

@☘︎┊nie aeri ᵃ San leaned back in his chair, his trademark grin firmly in place as Aeri smacked his arm. “No brainer, huh?” he teased, rubbing the spot as if she’d genuinely hurt him. “Careful, Lady Heiress. One of these days, I’m going to start believing you mean it. And then what? I’ll just have to cry myself to sleep.” He leaned in closer, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial yet playful level. “At least I make this place more fun. Admit it—you’d miss me if I wasn’t around.”

The lightness in his voice shifted almost instantly when their mother mentioned their father’s absence. San’s grin faltered, the easy humor draining from his face as he sat back in his chair. His hand moved to his tea, swirling it lazily, though his sharp and deliberate movements betrayed his growing frustration. A brief moment passed before he spoke, his jaw clenched. “Ah, of course,” he said, voice slicing, dripping with sarcasm. “Busy. Because, you know, it’s just so hard to make time for the family when there’s… whatever it is he’s always doing.” He raised his tea cup slightly in a mock toast, his dark eyes narrowing as they flickered with a mix of humor and simmering irritation. “Cheers to another evening without dear old Dad.”

Their mother, Asuka, let out a soft sigh, laying her tea cup down with deliberate calm. She straightened her posture then and looked at San with her usual patience, the kind that seemed endless yet unyielding. “San, you know your father’s duties are important,” she said, her tone soft yet firm, the authority of her position tempered by maternal care. “He carries the weight of this clan on his shoulders. It’s not always a matter of choice.” San snorted, leaning back in his chair with a defiant air, his arms crossing over his chest as he stared at her. Fingers tapped idly against the armrest, the rhythmic motion an unmistakable indicator of irritation. “Sure,” he said, heavy with sarcasm. “Because clearly no one else in this entire clan is capable of doing anything without him. Delegating is such a foreign concept, isn’t it? Heaven forbid he actually be here for one night.” He shook his head, his lips curling into a bitter smile. “But it’s fine. Really. We’ve gotten used to it by now. Another night, same story.”

The hardness in Asuka’s gaze softened, though behind the calm, there was a sharpness that only appeared when she spoke to her son. She watched him for a moment, letting his words hang in the air as she gathered her response. “San,” she started, her voice stable, “your father loves you and your sister. His absence does not mean he does not care.” San lifted an eyebrow, the lopsided smile falling short of disguising the bitter twist of his mouth. “Yeah, sure; love from over the horizon—very fatherly,” he snapped, his voice sharper. He placed his cup down with a clink, deliberately leaning forward as he fixed his gaze into hers. “You can say that, Mother, but we both know it’s actions that talk. And his? Well, they really do not scream out ‘loving father.’”

“San,” Asuka said, her voice firmer now, though composure still dominated. “It is not just about making decisions, your father’s role; it is about keeping this family and this clan stable. He carries that burden for every one of us.” San laughed humorlessly, his head shaking as he leaned back again to run a hand through his dark hair. “A burden, huh? Right. Because abandoning your family is just part of the job description, isn’t it?” His voice quieted, but the rise of frustration beneath his words was no less apparent. “He’s not the only one with responsibilities. Aeri’s been stepping up—hell, she’s been doing half of what he should be doing, and she’s only twenty-four. But you know what? She still manages to show up. She’s here, right now, proving that you can do both.” Asuka’s calm exterior cracked just slightly, a flicker of something—perhaps guilt or sadness—crossing her face. “Your sister’s role is different, San. She isn’t the patriarch.”

“Not yet,” San said sharply, his voice taking on a hard edge. “But let’s be honest, she might as well be. And at least she’s present. She makes time for the people who actually matter.” He exhaled sharply, his gaze softening as he looked at his mother, though the frustration in his voice didn’t fade. “And you,” he added quietly, his tone losing some of its edge. “You shouldn’t have to carry this alone, Mother. I see it—you’re always the one picking up the pieces, always the one making excuses for him. You deserve better than that.” Asuka held his gaze, her expression unreadable for a long moment. When she finally spoke, her voice was softer, though no less steady. “San, I know it’s not easy for you to understand. Your father’s choices aren’t about neglect. They’re about sacrifice.”

“Sacrifice,” San echoed bitterly, his jaw tightening as he stared down at the table. “Funny how it’s always us doing the sacrificing,” San echoed bitterly, his voice quieter now, yet no less cutting. He leaned forward slightly, his hands resting on the arms of his chair, the tension radiating off him palpable. “It’s always us sitting here, waiting, making excuses for why he can’t bother to show up. Meanwhile, he gets to play the noble martyr, sacrificing for the greater good.” He laughed humorlessly, shaking his head. “And what do we get in return? A few breadcrumbs of affection and a list of reasons why we’re supposed to be grateful for his absence.”

Asuka’s face was impassive, her hands in her lap clenched a fraction more tightly—the only indication of the emotion she wouldn’t let flow over. “San,” she said, her voice soft but unyielding, “your father’s decisions aren’t easy. They’re not taken lightly. He loves you and your sister, and his work is for the future of this family, even if it doesn’t feel that way sometimes.” San leaned back again, running a hand through his hair as he let out a sharp exhale. For a moment, his gaze flicked to the ceiling before landing once more on his mother. “And how exactly are we supposed to feel, Mother? How do you think Aeri feels, having to shoulder responsibilities he’s supposed to be here for? How do you think you feel, covering for him time and time again while we sit here pretending this is normal?” His voice softened somewhat now, the frustration still there but modulated by genuine concern. “You deserve better than this. We all do.”

Asuka met his gaze, her own eyes softening for the briefest moment before she straightened her shoulders again, her composure returning like a shield. “I know you are frustrated, San,” she said, her voice steady. “But it is your father’s sacrifices that keep us living the lives we do. It lets Aeri grow into the leader this family needs, and it secures your future, too. It is not about one person; it is about the family, the clan, and the legacy we leave behind.” San let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Legacy,” he muttered under his breath. “Always the legacy. What’s the point of a legacy if the people you’re building it for feel like they don’t even matter?” His words hung heavy in the air, the weight of his emotions pressing down on the room. He glanced at his mother, his jaw tightening before he spoke again. “You keep saying he loves us, but love isn’t just words, Mother. It’s actions. It’s showing up. It’s being there when it matters.” He paused, his voice dropping lower. “And he hasn’t been there. Not for you. Not for Aeri. Not for me.”

Asuka watched him long, her face impassive. When she finally spoke, her tone was softer, a little tentative. “Your father does what he believes is best for all of us. It’s not a perfect solution, San, but it’s the reality we live with. Sometimes, I know it’s just not enough, but that’s what he knows how to give.” San clenched his jaw, looking away as he fought to suppress the bitterness threatening to spill over again. He glanced at Aeri briefly, forcing a faint, crooked smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Well, at least we’ve got each other,” he said, his voice lighter but still tinged with frustration. “The real dream team, right?” He reached for his tea again, took a long sip, and leaned back in his chair, allowing the tension to settle. Though he did not say anything more, his eyes spoke volumes: unuttered words, disappointments lingering in the air, and quiet hope that things might someday be different. For now, though, he could only sit amidst the silence, the weight of their conversation hanging heavy between them.

@☘︎┊nie san ᵃ "I have heard you've been quite a fuzz in the academy lately." Their mother said while sipping her tea, this made Aeri a bit tense as she had been making troubles in the academy in the past few months. "Well, I had to be a good role model for my fellow Fenririans." She chuckled sheepishly, however, Uchinaga Asuka tends to be sharp and smart in her decision on disciplining her children. "How so?" Their mother asked.

"I..." She looked from left to right, finding the right response to their beloved mother, "...helped some new students finding their way to their classes and other premises, I contributed on establishing an event in the academy and here and there!" Aeri kept her sheepish smile even though their mother already saw her lies.

But before she could say anything to her dear daughter, her dear son, came with a wide smile on his face. Asuka hugged his son with him kissing his cheek as well, "Ah, my darling San! You've grown quite a man." She greeted with a loving smile.

Aeri finally gets saved by San's abrupt return to their household, she gave him a wink, prompting that she saved her from their mother's questioning as they both know that she's the most troublemaker between them. "Don't call me lady-- and heiress, you no brainer bro." She playfully smacked his arm before he sat across her while the mother is in the middle of the table. "Now that you're all here, I wanted to have a dinner with the two of you." She told the twins.

The female twin blinked, "Father isn't joining us?" She asked their mother before Asuka sighed. "He's busy, as always. But he'll be joining us next time." She added before the servants starts to serve their meals for dinner. Aeri's eyes twinkled as she sees how delicious their food they served.

@☘︎┊nie aeri ᵃ San sauntered into the ancestral home with an air of ownership in his lightly unhurried steps and a natural, charming aura that seemed to follow him everywhere. His black cargo pants sat low on his hips, paired with a loose shirt he hadn’t bothered to button up properly, revealing a hint of his toned chest. His boots scuffed against the floor as he entered, his jacket slung lazily over one shoulder. He greeted the bowing servants with an easy grin, his tone warm but teasing. “C’mon, no need for all that. I’m just San—not the emperor.” He paused briefly in the hallway, tilting his head back and taking in the familiar scent of their home. The aroma of cedar and old stone pulled at something deep in his chest, but he let it go, a playful light in his eyes as he pressed ahead. Reaching the dining room, he slid the door open with smooth ease, leaning against the frame for just a moment to take in the scene. His twin and his mother, seated together, were framed by the soft glow of the evening light.

“Well, well,” he said, a wide, boyish grin spreading across his face as his gaze landed on Aeri. “If it isn’t Lady Heiress herself. Thought you’d gone and forgotten all about us common folk.” He stepped fully into the room, the air around him buzzing with his lively energy, and sauntered over to the table with an almost playful swagger. He bent down first to hug their mother, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Mother,” he said warmly, his voice a low, soothing hum. “You’re still the most beautiful woman in Qinghe Nie. That’s a fact.” He leaned back, the grin never once leaving his face.

He turned to Aeri, opening his arms wide in mock theatrics before wrapping her in a quick but tight hug. “Aeri, my better half,” he teased, stepping back to look her over. “You’re still as put-together as ever. Honestly, it’s a little unfair. I missed you, though,” he added, his voice softening briefly before his grin returned. Dropping into a seat across from them, San kicked his feet up onto the empty chair beside him, leaning back with effortless ease. “So, what’s this about?” he asked, glancing between the two of them with a twinkle of curiosity in his eyes. “Is it a secret family meeting? Are we plotting world domination? Or is it just Mother’s excuse to spoil her two favorite kids at once?” His tone was light and teasing, his free-spirited energy filling the room as he reached for a cup of tea and sipped it like it was the finest wine. “Whatever it is, I’m here for it.”

@☘︎┊nie san ᵃ Going back to their home in the Unclean Realm, their mother, the matriarch of the Uchinaga clan, wanted to have a dinner with her children. The twins, Aeri and San, both of them in the different views in life. Aeri being the heir in Qinghe Nie, she had to be present when their mother called her. It has been months since she moved to a dorm in the academy to focus on her studies.

Once she came to the entrance with a backpack, the servants bowed their heads as they greeted in unison, "Welcome back, Lady Aeri." The female Nie looked at them with a smile on their faces. "You don't have to bow for me, please." Still humble as she used to be to them, one servant told Aeri, "Lady Uchinaga expects your arrival, she has been waiting for you in the dining room." He said before she smiled. "Thank you, I'll be going." She continued her walk inside their ancestral home, through the dining room. Aeri walked inside by sliding the door of their home and saw her mother drinking tea.

There, the matriarch of their clan, Uchinaga Asuka, ever as elegant in her clothing with a sigil of Nie and Uchinaga each of her shoulder. "My daughter," She smiled towards Aeri as she stood up, the heiress wolf hugged her mother lovingly. "Mother, I missed you. It has been months since we last saw each other." She greeted before her mother caressed her pink hair then to her cheek. "I see the gods are taking care of you." Their mother complimented before gently leading her to the table and made her seat beside her. "San isn't here yet?" She asked her mother, "He'll be here soon, don't worry." She said as she sipped her tea.