---
The bath was finally complete, and what stood behind the hut no longer resembled a rough construction project but something closer to a functional wooden structure that actually had purpose, its shape carefully reinforced and sealed enough to hold water without immediately leaking back into the earth. The morning light reflected softly against the surface of the wood, and for a brief moment there was a strange sense of accomplishment in the air, as if all the arguments, disagreements, and chaotic efforts had somehow aligned into something real that could now be used by the children who had been waiting for it without fully understanding what it would feel like.
Kael stood with his arms crossed, staring at the finished structure with a mixture of pride and disbelief. "…it actually worked."
Riven, standing a little to the side, nodded calmly. "It was always going to work."
Kael immediately turned his head. "You say that after everything?"
Riven replied, "Because it was logically sound."
Theo, sitting nearby, leaned forward slightly. "So… we can use it now?"
Leon followed. "Warm water?"
Noella clapped softly. "Bath?"
She stepped forward then, her gaze sweeping over the structure once more before she nodded. "Yes. But listen carefully."
The three children immediately looked at her.
Her tone shifted slightly—firm, but not harsh.
"This is not a game," she said. "You follow instructions. You don't run. You don't waste water. You don't play in it too long."
Theo nodded seriously. "We understand."
Leon nodded. "We'll behave."
Noella smiled. "I behave best."
Kael muttered. "That's debatable."
She ignored him and continued. "Also—"
She paused, then added more clearly.
"You don't call me anything other than Mother."
Silence.
Theo blinked. "Not Elo?"
Leon tilted his head. "Not Astra?"
Noella looked disappointed. "Not cute name?"
Kael immediately looked relieved. "Good."
Riven glanced at him. "You seem invested."
Kael shot him a look. "I am not."
She raised an eyebrow slightly. "Mother."
The children froze slightly, then nodded.
Theo first. "Yes… Mother."
Leon followed. "Mother."
Noella smiled again. "Mother."
Only then did the tension ease slightly.
Kael exhaled. "…strict."
Riven replied, "Stable."
Kael pointed at him. "Stop being satisfied with everything."
Riven simply said, "It reduces chaos."
She turned away from the argument and focused again on the bath. "Kael. Riven."
Both men straightened slightly at the same time.
"…yes?" Kael answered first.
She pointed toward the boys. "You bathe them."
Kael blinked. "…me?"
"Yes."
He immediately frowned. "Why me?"
She looked at him. "Because you are capable."
Riven added calmly. "That is not a compliment."
Kael pointed at him. "Don't translate her."
Riven ignored him and turned slightly toward her. "And I?"
She gestured toward Noella. "You will wait. I will handle her myself."
Riven paused briefly. "…understood."
Kael frowned. "Why does he get calm responsibility and I get chaos?"
Theo raised his hand slightly. "We are chaos?"
Leon nodded. "We are boys."
Noella smiled. "Boys are chaos."
Kael groaned. "See?"
She didn't respond to him, already moving toward the side of the hut where warm water had been prepared in buckets, carefully heated over the fire. The steam rose gently, filling the air with a soft warmth that contrasted against the cool morning breeze, and she tested the temperature briefly before nodding once in approval. "Begin."
Kael sighed heavily. "This is not what I expected from my life."
Theo looked up at him. "What did you expect?"
Kael paused. "…less bathing children."
Leon nodded. "That sounds unrealistic."
Kael pointed at him. "You're not helping."
Riven, already guiding Noella toward a seated area nearby, spoke calmly. "Remove outer clothing carefully."
Kael froze. "…you're very comfortable with this."
Riven replied, "Efficiency."
Kael muttered, "I hate efficiency."
---
The bathing process began with reluctant cooperation from Kael, who very quickly discovered that dealing with Theo and Leon in water was far more complicated than any hunting task he had ever faced, as both boys oscillated between being cooperative and asking entirely unnecessary questions while simultaneously trying to avoid water getting into their eyes. Kael, despite his complaints, handled them with rough but controlled movements, clearly unfamiliar with the softness of the task but not entirely careless either, while the boys reacted with a mixture of curiosity and mild amusement at his frustration.
Theo blinked up at him. "You are bad at this."
Kael paused. "…I am not bad."
Leon tilted his head. "You missed my arm."
Kael frowned. "You moved."
Noella, from the side, laughed softly while sitting with Riven. "Father Kael is struggling."
Kael immediately turned. "I am not struggling."
Riven calmly replied, "You are adjusting."
Kael pointed at him. "Stop making it sound polite."
---
Meanwhile, Riven's side was almost unsettlingly quiet, as he carefully helped Noella into the warm water, checking temperature, ensuring stability, and adjusting her position with precise movements that made it clear he was treating the task with unusual seriousness. Noella, however, seemed far more relaxed in his care, occasionally splashing lightly and watching him with curious eyes.
"Father Riven," she said suddenly.
He paused. "…yes?"
"You are very serious."
He nodded. "Yes."
"Why?"
A brief pause.
"Because mistakes are unnecessary."
Noella tilted her head. "Mother is more scary."
Riven glanced slightly toward her direction. "…correct."
Noella smiled. "But nice."
Riven didn't respond immediately.
Then simply said, "…yes."
---
After a while, both baths were completed, and the children were finally clean, wrapped loosely in cloth as they sat together again near the hut. The atmosphere had shifted once more, now warmer, calmer, and slightly more intimate in a way that felt unfamiliar but not unwelcome.
She stepped back outside then, glancing at all of them before speaking again.
"Where did you put the materials?"
Kael looked up. "Materials?"
Riven answered immediately. "For clothing."
She nodded. "Yes."
Kael gestured toward a pile near the side of the hut. "There."
Riven added, "Cloth, fibers, and old fabric scraps."
She walked over, inspecting it quickly. "This is enough for basic clothing."
Theo blinked. "You will make clothes?"
"Yes."
Leon looked impressed. "Fast?"
"Yes."
Noella smiled. "Mother is fast."
Kael muttered, "Everything she does is fast apparently."
Riven added calmly, "Competence appears efficient."
Kael sighed. "Stop agreeing with her more than me."
Riven replied, "She is correct more frequently."
Kael froze. "…that's worse."
She gathered the materials into her arms. "Stay with them."
Kael blinked. "Us?"
"Yes."
Riven nodded slightly. "Understood."
Theo looked up. "Where are you going?"
"To cook," she said simply. "And make clothes."
Leon blinked. "At the same time?"
"Yes."
Noella smiled proudly. "Mother can do everything."
Kael muttered. "That is becoming a problem."
Riven watched her leave briefly before speaking quietly. "…she does not delegate easily."
Kael crossed his arms. "No kidding."
Theo tilted his head. "Is that bad?"
Riven paused.
"…not necessarily."
Kael added immediately. "Yes it is."
Noella laughed softly. "Father Kael complains a lot."
Kael pointed at her. "You are learning too much."
And as she disappeared back into the hut—
The three children sat together.
Two fathers stood nearby.
And for the first time—
The word "family" didn't feel like a mistake.
Just unfinished.
---
End of Chapter