After hours of fruitless searching, Yuna and Haruto decided to take a break in a café to escape the cold.
The aroma of roasted coffee and freshly baked pastries filled the air, while the warm lights highlighted the rustic yet elegant details of the place. A cozy refuge in the midst of bustling Molgaroth.
Haruto, seated by the window, watched the relentless movement of the city.
Simo, his loyal crow, pecked at cookies and sipped tea from a small cup placed just for him—something that, strange as it seemed, fascinated him.
Across from him, Yuna absentmindedly stirred her tea with a spoon.
—Is Molgaroth always this busy? —Haruto asked, breaking the silence.
Yuna set down her spoon and nodded.
—From what I've heard, yes. It's a city of trade and forging. The activity here never stops.
Simo cawed, as if confirming her statement.
—Well, at least we're not running from ice wolves —Haruto remarked dryly, leaning back in his chair—. Though lately, everything feels a bit… intense.
Yuna gave a small smile.
—That's part of being an adventurer. Though, what is strange is finding a café like this in a dwarven city.
Haruto raised an eyebrow.
—You mean because the owner is a earth elf?
—Exactly. Most merchants here are dwarves.
As if fate had heard their conversation, a tall, slender earth elf with gray hair tied in a low ponytail approached with a small tray. On it rested a cake topped with cream and a cherry.
—A gift from the house. I hope you enjoy it. —he said with a polite smile, setting the plate on the table.
Haruto looked at him curiously.
—Thanks. We were just talking about how unusual it is to see an earth elf in Molgaroth.
The elf crossed his arms, his expression serene.
—When you fall in love, you'll do anything for it.
Yuna blinked.
—Sorry if I sound rude, but… love?
Silver, as if he had been waiting for that question, smiled knowingly.
—Would you like to know why I have a café here?
Haruto and Yuna exchanged a glance before nodding.
—Definitely.
Silver turned toward the counter and called out in a melodious voice.
—Milda, my dear, could you come over?
From behind the counter, a dwarf woman with sky-blue hair tied into two pigtails and bright eyes approached cautiously. She wore an apron that matched her hair, and a shy but genuine warmth reflected in her expression.
—Is something wrong, Silver? —she asked softly.
Silver took her hand naturally, as if the gesture was simply part of who he was.
—Nothing at all, my love. I just wanted to introduce you to these travelers. They come from the same forest as I do.
Haruto and Yuna gave a slight nod in greeting, while Simo cawed, as if wanting to participate.
—It's a pleasure to meet you. —Milda said gently, clasping her hands together as a faint smile brightened her face.
Silver, his expression full of evident pride, gestured toward the counter, where several awards gleamed inside a glass display case.
—Milda is the best pastry chef in all of Molgaroth. Her talent is unparalleled.
—Oh, stop it! —she protested timidly, waving a hand as if trying to downplay the compliment, though the blush on her cheeks betrayed her.
Silver, unfazed, added with enthusiasm.
—And these are our children.
With a gesture, he projected his status panel, displaying an image of a sturdy young dwarf alongside two small twin girls with sky-blue hair, identical to their mother.
Haruto and Yuna leaned in toward the projection, observing it with fascination. The warmth of family radiated from the image: Silver and Milda smiling as Branon, the eldest, proudly held a small forging tool, while the twins played in a corner decorated with flowers.
—They look like a wonderful family. —Yuna said sincerely, turning her gaze back to the couple.
Haruto crossed his arms, a faint smile on his lips.
—An earth elf and a dwarf… This city is definitely full of surprises.
—It certainly is. —Yuna murmured in agreement, sharing his amazement.
Simo cawed again, as if wanting to share his own opinion, earning a soft laugh from Silver and Milda.
—Not many expect to find a café run by such an unusual couple. —Silver said with a serene expression—. But Molgaroth is a place where anything can happen.
Haruto and Yuna exchanged a glance, recognizing that this couple represented more than just a thriving business—they were proof that even in a world full of challenges, the most improbable connections could flourish.
—Well, I won't keep you any longer. —Silver said with a smile before returning behind the counter with Milda.
The café's atmosphere settled back into its peaceful rhythm, but Yuna remained thoughtful, her eyes still lingering on the couple, observing the effortless harmony between them.
—Haruto, I want to ask you something.
In his mind, Haruto suddenly heard the crack of a baseball bat hitting a ball, followed by Kizuna's enthusiastic cheer.
—Home run, Kizu! —the tiny figure in his head exclaimed, striking an exaggerated victory pose.
Haruto blinked, shaking off his wandering thoughts. His imagination had begun to drift, leading him to daydreams of elves with perfect families and happy couples.
He quickly straightened up, returning to reality, and looked at Yuna with curiosity.
—Yeah, what is it?
—What do you think of Melodía?
The question caught him off guard. Haruto remained silent for a moment, processing the unexpected inquiry before answering cautiously.
—I don't think she's a bad person. It's just that… girls like her used to bother me all the time. —He shrugged, trying to downplay it—. It's nothing personal.
—I see. —Yuna replied, nodding before taking a sip of her tea.
A pause lingered before she pressed again, this time with a more serious tone.
—What do you really think of her? Forget the Kizuna link. Just tell me what you honestly think.
Haruto frowned. The image of that night at Yuna's house surfaced in his mind—Melodía playing the piano with blistered hands, struggling to maintain composure despite her obvious exhaustion.
—I think she works harder than she lets on. —he admitted, resting his elbows on the table—. But no one seems to acknowledge it. I can see it in her gestures, in her eyes…
He hesitated before adding with a sigh.
—I think she hides behind her sarcasm to protect herself. She's not a bad person, though, I'll admit, she can be irritating at times.
Yuna slowly nodded, absorbing his words.
—I've known Melodía since we were five. —she finally said, her tone tinged with melancholy—. I met her just days after my mother's incident.
—She did everything she could to make sure I didn't feel alone back then.
Haruto looked up, intrigued, but chose to remain silent, waiting for her to continue.
—She was never direct or emotional, but she always found a way to be there. Sometimes she'd bring music books, other times she'd just sit nearby without saying anything. She distracted me with stories, with little games… but always kept a certain distance.
Yuna let out a quiet sigh before continuing.
—I tried to get closer to her, to earn her trust, but she was always elusive. She never let anyone get too close to her world—not even me, though I tried for years.
Her gaze softened as she stirred her tea with a spoon.
—It's just as you said. That sarcastic front… it's her way of protecting herself. Don't forget, she's a noble's daughter. Ever since she was little, she was raised to keep up appearances, to never show vulnerability.
Haruto nodded, beginning to understand more about Melodía. But Yuna wasn't finished yet.
—In our Aeris tribe, everything is shared, like one big family. —Her tone was thoughtful as she set her cup down on the saucer—. We grew up helping each other, supporting one another through tough times.
Her gaze grew more serious before she continued.
—Light elves, on the other hand, are the complete opposite. To them, prestige is everything. It's not about the community—it's about standing out. Everyone must prove their own worth, and that leaves deep marks on how they see the world.
Yuna paused, her eyes drifting to the tea in her hands before speaking again, her voice softer.
—Imagine being a small child and having every move you make constantly corrected. It must be exhausting… but she always tried to hold onto who she was.
Haruto stayed silent, letting her words sink in.
—That's why I think she felt relieved when she left with us on our adventures. Maybe, for the first time, she felt like her chains had finally been broken.
Haruto absorbed the thought, beginning to see Melodía in a new light.
—I guess that explains a lot. —he murmured at last—. Maybe Melodía isn't so different from us after all.
Yuna gave a small smile, taking the last sip of her tea.
—That's what I've been saying. —she murmured, while Simo let out a soft caw from Haruto's shoulder, as if approving of the conversation.
After a pause, Yuna added in a more reflective tone:
—Besides, she's not just the daughter of the most respected noble—she's also the ambassador of the light elves. She lives under immense pressure. And not only that… —Yuna narrowed her eyes slightly, choosing her words carefully—. Her older brother, Armonio, is her father's favorite. A first-class violin prodigy.
Haruto tilted his head, intrigued.
—And what does that have to do with her?
—Melodía used to come to my house every weekend, looking for fresh air, escaping the nobility. But even then, she was always playing the piano or the violin, trying to surpass her brother. —Yuna sighed, watching him—. She never stops pushing herself, even though no one seems to notice.
Haruto furrowed his brows, thoughtful.
—I never saw it that way. I always thought she was… a spoiled girl.
Yuna shook her head, letting out a quiet sigh.
—It's easy to think that if you don't know her well. But trust me, her life is far from simple.
She gave him a small smile before adding:
—In a few months, it'll be her birthday. If we're still traveling together by then, she might invite us to Astralith. Then you'll understand what I mean.
Haruto raised an eyebrow, intrigued but skeptical.
—Astralith, huh? What are light elves really like?
—Don't get me wrong. Not all of them are like that—just the noble class. But Melodía… she's trapped right in the eye of that storm. —Yuna looked at him with a mix of compassion and firmness—. She carries more weight than people realize.
Haruto leaned an elbow on the table, reflecting.
—So, it's more complicated than I thought...
Then, with a wry smile, he added:
—Though, after the 'five-star welcome' we got in Stonehollow, I'm not sure I want to visit Astralith.
Yuna chuckled softly and placed a hand on the table, adopting an exaggeratedly dramatic tone.
—Are you planning to abandon your poor mentor in Astralith? What a cruel fate, Haruto! Whatever shall become of me?
He let out a lighthearted laugh, breaking the tension of the conversation.
—Alright, alright, I won't leave you alone… though I really hope the reception is less 'hostile' this time and doesn't end with me in a cell again.
Simo cawed from his shoulder, as if wanting to add a remark, and the two shared a lighthearted laugh, as the café's warm atmosphere wrapped around them in comforting stillness.