IN ANOTHER WORLD

The dining hall was a warm, inviting space lit by the soft glow of spirit crystals embedded in the walls. Sou and Ren sat at the table, bickering loudly over some petty grievance, their voices rising above the clinking of plates and utensils. Gill observed them with a bemused smile, while Ella busied herself arranging the final dishes.

Rema entered the hall with Ella, her cheeks glowing from the warmth of the bath. She paused, noticing the tension between Sou and Ren.

"What's going on?" she asked, her brow furrowing. "Why are you two quarreling again?"

Sou glanced up at her, ready to explain, but froze mid-sentence. His expression shifted from exasperation to disbelief as his eyes widened. He rubbed them vigorously, as if to clear an illusion. His face turned scarlet, his gaze darting back to her before he dropped it to the table, utterly flustered.

Ren noticed Sou's reaction and followed his line of sight. Then, with a glance at Ella and a knowing smirk, he declared, "My goodness! Rema, you look absolutely radiant. It's as if you've been reborn."

Rema blushed deeply, her fingers instinctively playing with a strand of her neatly styled hair. "Is that so?" she murmured shyly.

Ella threw a wink at Gill, who chuckled under his breath, his own cheeks tinged pink.

Sou, recovering slightly, grumbled under his breath. "Who's glaring at you? I was just startled, that's all. You… you look like a jester, coming in all dolled up like that."

Ella's smile tightened, and her voice took on a motherly sternness. "Sou, a gentleman should never insult a lady. And perhaps you should stop lying, given how red your face has become."

"Indeed," Ren quipped, shaking his head. "Such gall! Truly, Sou, have you no manners?"

Gill cleared his throat, gesturing for everyone to take their seats. The aroma of freshly prepared dishes wafted through the air as the meal was served. Rema noticed immediately that the food on her, Sou's, and Ren's plates looked vastly different from what was set before Ella and Gill.

"Is it just me," Ren asked, eyeing the plates curiously, "or are you two eating something entirely different from us?"

Gill leaned back in his chair, a patient smile on his face. "Ah, I wondered if you'd notice. You see, Ella and I are not human like you. As spirits of the Sacred Mother, we do not eat ordinary food. To us, all things in nature possess a spirit form, visible or not, and we are forbidden to harm them. Our sustenance comes from soil sap, a sacred elixir. Though, in our true spirit forms, we can survive indefinitely without any nourishment at all."

Ella chimed in, her voice gentle. "We eat alongside you purely to make you feel comfortable. Sharing a meal, even symbolically, is a way to bond."

Touched, Rema whispered, "Thank you… Mom. And thank you too, Gill."

Gill paused, his fork midway to his mouth. His eyes twinkled with amusement as he glanced at Rema. "Did I hear that correctly?"

Rema stiffened. "I—well—"

Gill raised a hand, a teasing grin spreading across his face. "What does one call their mother's husband, Rema?"

Rema ducked her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry… Father."

Ren burst out laughing. "What a bargain! Not only do we have a place to stay, but Rema's managed to gain a family as well. Truly, she's blessed!"

The meal continued, but Sou had grown uncharacteristically silent. His gaze flitted nervously around the room, though it always seemed to land on Rema. He avoided eye contact with everyone else, his cheeks still faintly red. Ren noticed and smirked knowingly, while Ella and Gill exchanged subtle glances that suggested they understood exactly what was happening.

Rema, oblivious to their silent observations, thought to herself, Idiot Sou. If you're so mesmerized, it wouldn't kill you to say something nice. You've never once looked at me as a woman before, always comparing me to those girls you've dated. But now you see—if I put in the effort, I can be just as beautiful. What do you have to say now?

Ella cleared her throat dramatically, breaking the tension. "Sou, if you keep staring at my daughter like that, people might mistake you for a pervert."

Sou choked on the water he was drinking, sputtering as his face turned a deep shade of crimson. Desperate to change the subject, he asked, "By the way… could you tell us more about this world?"

Ella's smile faltered slightly as she looked to Gill for guidance. He sighed heavily, setting his utensils down. "All right, everyone, follow me to the main hall. It's best we discuss this properly."

In the main hall, the atmosphere grew tense. The flickering light of the spirit crystals cast long shadows as Gill stood before them, his expression grave. Ella hovered at his side, her usual cheer replaced with a quiet unease.

Gill began, "Friends, the truth is… we don't know how to send you back to your world. But we can tell you about Austagorose and its ruler, the only one who might have the power to help."

Ella placed a hand on his arm, her voice trembling. "Are you sure about this, dear? The Sun King… he's ruthless. Heartless. He won't help them; he'll destroy them. Seeking his aid is no better than seeking death."

Gill nodded solemnly. "I know. But they deserve the truth and the chance to decide for themselves."

Turning to the group, Gill continued, "Austagorose is ruled by the Sun King, leader of the Heredus Clan. He's known as the Slaughter King for a reason. Here, there is a law: if you reject the king, you must challenge and defeat him to take the throne. Many have tried, and all have failed, meeting their deaths at his hands."

Ella interjected, her tone urgent. "If you choose to confront him, know that the path is fraught with peril. We common spirits don't even know the way to his castle."

Gill added, "But I know someone who might. Rest here as long as you need, and when you're ready, we'll support you however we can. Food, supplies—whatever you need for the journey."

Sou bowed deeply. "Thank you. For everything."

Ella smiled warmly. "We don't have children of our own, but you are all like our family now. It's the least we can do."