Draven walked down the corridor toward the room Vaelith had prepared.
The door was already slightly ajar.
Inside, steam rose faintly from a large basin—water still warm, faint ripples slowly settling. Fresh clothes were folded neatly on a wooden stool beside the wall. Towels hung from a small rack.
Vaelith's preparation was meticulous.
Draven stepped inside.
The door shut softly behind him.
—
Back in the living room, Aldric wasted no time.
He headed straight for the kitchen.
Drawers opened.
Cabinets inspected.
The refrigerator door creaked as he pulled it open.
His expression darkened.
"Yeah, I figured."
He reached inside and rummaged through the contents.
Not much.
A few basic ingredients.
Some preserved items.
Nothing luxurious.
He exhaled through his nose.
"Of course this bastard doesn't have anything decent."
He pulled out a small container, inspected it, then set it aside.
"Flesh is the only thing he probably eats."
His tone carried a mix of sarcasm and mild disgust.
"No snacks. No real food. Nothing."
He shut the fridge a little harder than necessary.
Lyriana watched him from the doorway.
"You expected otherwise?"
Aldric shot her a look.
"Hope springs eternal."
She didn't respond.
Aldric continued searching, opening another cabinet.
Utensils.
Simple plates.
A kettle.
At least the ghoul kept the place functional.
He muttered under his breath.
"Living like a hermit corpse-eater."
From the corner of the room came movement.
The black-haired girl—formerly the cultist—had taken a seat on the couch.
Cross-legged.
Eyes closed.
Her hands rested lightly on her knees.
Mana gathered around her in faint, controlled threads.
Not a surge.
Not a ritual.
Just replenishment.
Quiet.
Methodical.
Aldric glanced over.
"Oh look."
His tone was dry.
"Recharge time."
She didn't open her eyes.
"I am restoring reserves."
"Yeah, I can see that."
He leaned against the counter.
"Do you people ever just… sit?"
She answered without pause.
"This is sitting."
Aldric blinked.
"That's meditating."
"It accomplishes the same result."
He stared at her for a second.
Then shook his head.
"Unbelievable."
Lyriana moved further into the room, checking windows and entry points out of habit.
"We will remain here until nightfall."
Aldric groaned.
"Great."
He rummaged through the cabinets again.
"At least tell me there's coffee."
No answer.
He sighed.
"Of course not."
The girl on the couch continued her mana restoration.
Threads of energy slipped through her breathing—subtle, controlled.
No naming of steps.
No verbal cues.
Just discipline.
Draven was in the bath.
Vaelith watched the children.
Lyriana secured the perimeter.
Aldric complained.
And the house—quiet for the moment—held them together in an uneasy truce.
Outside, Raventhorn continued its ordinary life.
Inside—
They waited.
Aldric kept digging.
He yanked open another cabinet.
Nothing.
Just old utensils and a few dull knives.
He clicked his tongue.
"Useless."
He moved to the refrigerator again, rummaging through the contents with growing frustration.
A container caught his attention.
He opened it.
The smell hit immediately.
He recoiled.
"Ugh."
He dropped the container back inside.
"It's gone bad."
His expression twisted.
Of course it had.
This wasn't a normal household.
It belonged to a ghoul.
Flesh was what he consumed.
Not food.
Not anything that needed refrigeration.
Aldric shut the fridge with more force than necessary.
"That pisses me off."
He turned sharply.
"I should just kill the bastard and be done with it."
Lyriana looked up from her inspection of the room.
"It would change nothing."
Aldric scoffed.
"Would make me feel better."
"No."
She met his gaze evenly.
"It would create risk. We need this location."
Aldric opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Then growled under his breath.
"So we just tolerate it."
"Yes."
He glared at her.
"Fantastic."
He stalked toward the bedroom where the ghoul still lay unconscious.
"Or I could solve the problem."
Lyriana stepped into his path.
"No."
Aldric stopped.
"You want to argue?"
"I want you to think."
His jaw tightened.
"I am thinking."
"Then you know killing him serves no purpose."
He stared at her.
For a long second.
Then exhaled sharply.
"Doesn't mean I like it."
She didn't respond.
Aldric shoved past her and headed toward the ghoul's room—
Only to stop again.
He looked back.
"You said he eats flesh."
"Yes."
"So he doesn't keep money."
Lyriana raised a brow.
"What?"
Aldric gestured toward the room.
"Think about it. No food. No supplies. Nothing normal."
He smirked faintly.
"But people still need money."
He headed inside.
"If I'm going to tolerate this place, I'm at least taking something."
The ghoul still lay where they had left him.
Breathing steady.
Unaware.
Aldric knelt beside him and began searching.
Pockets.
Inner seams.
Hidden compartments.
He muttered under his breath.
"Got to be something."
Lyriana watched from the doorway.
"You are ransacking his belongings."
"Observation skills strong with this one."
She frowned.
"It is unnecessary."
Aldric ignored her.
"Money. Wallet. Something."
He pulled a small object from the ghoul's pocket.
A worn leather pouch.
His eyes brightened slightly.
"Ha."
He opened it.
Empty.
His smile vanished.
"What the hell."
He shook it.
Nothing.
No coins.
No notes.
Not even scraps of paper.
Just dust.
Aldric stared at it.
Then tossed it aside.
"Of course."
Lyriana sighed.
"You expected otherwise?"
He glared at her.
"Don't start."
He resumed searching.
Shirt pockets.
Trouser seams.
Anywhere something might be hidden.
His expression darkened further.
Nothing.
Not a single coin.
No identification.
No wallet.
No credit card—though the term itself felt out of place in this world.
But the sentiment remained.
Something of value.
Anything.
He growled in frustration.
"This bastard doesn't even have scraps."
Lyriana stepped closer.
"There was never reason to believe he did."
Aldric straightened.
"So what? He just lives here with nothing?"
"Yes."
A pause.
"Ghouls do not require human commerce."
Aldric scoffed.
"Great."
He looked around the room again.
Furniture.
Basic.
Practical.
Nothing worth taking.
His jaw tightened.
"Waste of time."
He turned toward the doorway.
"At least tell me there's something useful."
Lyriana shook her head.
"There is not."
Aldric muttered under his breath.
"Unbelievable."
He stopped.
Then glanced back at the ghoul.
"You're lucky you're asleep."
Lyriana's expression remained unchanged.
"He is lucky you are restrained."
Aldric smirked.
"Yeah."
He headed out of the room.
"But that doesn't mean I like him."
The house remained quiet.
The ghoul slept.
The children rested.
Draven was still bathing.
And Aldric—
Still annoyed—returned to searching for something worth taking.