Back at the familia's cozy home, Dimitra, Eleni, and Bahamut had made signifit progress in their efforts to prepare the day's meals.

  The kit was a flurry of ary activity as they expertly chopped, stirred, and seasoned a diverse array of delectable dishes.

  The aromas of simmering stews, fragrant spices, and freshly baked breads began to fill the air, tantalizing the senses.

  As they worked, the trio couldn't help but wonder about Draco's current state of mind.

  They khe events of the day had beeionally charged, and they hoped he would find the pead crity he needed during his solitary walk.

  They also wished the same for Cir, who took the hardest blow from things.

  Just as they were putting the finishing touches on lund pre-preparing the ingredients for dihe sound of the front door bursting opeheir attention.

  "We're back!" Michalis announced cheerfully as he strode into the house, Nikoos and Vasileios following closely behind.

  "Wele back, you boys," Bahamut called out from the kit.

  "Go and wash up, lunch is almost ready." she added.

  "But we took a bath this m” he grumbled, his nose wrinkling while sniffing his clothes.

  “I don't smell!" he muttered in a low voice.

  Vasileios sensing his reluce, pced a hand on his brother’s shoulder.

  "Sigh, don’t even try arguing, just do as she says. You want to eat lunch, don't you?" he said.

  Michalis nodded relutly.

  The two boys were about leave when they notiikoos was missing, but they soon saw him ing from the ste area.

  “Where did you go?” Michalis asked.

  “To cheething out” Nikoos replied.

  While Michalis and Vasileios were talking earlier, Nikoos had walked ahead, peeking into the kit and then Draco's room before rejoining his brothers.

  "It seems like all the girls are back, but Draii isn't around," Nikoos said, his brow furrowed in .

  "What?!" Michalis excimed.

  "Didn't you tell us that Draii said he'd be returning by noon?" Vasileios asked Michalis,

  Michalis nodded. "Yea, that's what he said in the m. But..." he gestured towards Draco's dungeon bag, which sat at a er in the living room.

  "This wasn't here when we left. Maybe he came bad went out again." Michalis surmised.

  Vasileios hummed in thought. "You may be right. With his bag here, he couldn't have gooo far. Let's get ed up first, and then we look for him." he suggested.

  Michalis and Nikoos agreed, and the three boys headed out the door to their own living quarters to freshen up, leaving the receipt from their request to the Goibniu familia oable.

  …………………………………………………………………………………………………

  After Draco exited Bahamut’s house, he found himself aimlessly wandering the streets, his mind ed by his swirling thoughts.

  Soon he found himself close to the bustling market area located in the southwestern part of the city, so he decided to immerse himself in its lively atmosphere, hoping it would help clear his head.

  As Draco approached the market, the sts of various perfumes, street food, and spices filled the air, creating aig sensory experienbsp;

  The loud chatter between vendors and ers, haggling over prices, created an oddly refreshing and eic ambiahat Draco found oddly f.

  Not far from the main market area, Draco stumbled upon the free market, where goods and services were determined solely by the supply and demand expressed by the sellers and buyers. Intrigued, he decided to explore this se of the market, despite his initial reservations.

  Draco was quite knowledgeable and skilled i of iation, a trait he assumed he ied from his draieage.

  However, as he navigated the free market, his mind became increasingly clouded, especially when he passed by the jewelry and antiques se.

  The allure of the preetals and gems was almost irresistible to Draco's draises.

  Uhe practical use of such materials in armor and ons, the polished ahetically-pleasing items in the jewelry and antique ses sparked an immediate desire within him.

  Draco could even effortlessly distinguish the real from the fake, a feat attributed to his keen draistincts.

  Thankfully, Draco's saving grace was that he had nht much money with him when he left home.

  The temptation to indulge in these shiny treasures was strong, but the prospect of stealing was an even more revolting notion to him.

  With great mental fortitude, Draao tear himself away from the free market area, resolving to avoid it as much as possible iure.

  Returning to the main market, Draco focused on pr the ingredients for the food that Vasiliki had requested.

  As he browsed the various stalls, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and satisfa.

  The effects of being surrounded by such a wealth of preetals and gems had been a rather novel discovery, even for Draself.

  With his purchases plete, Draco began the short journey bae.

  It didn't take long for him to reach the familiar door, but just as he approached, it suddenly flung open, revealing Michalis, Vasileios, and Nikoos.

  "Draii, you're back!" Michalis excimed, bounding towards Draco with unbridled excitement.

  Vasileios and Nikoos, while equally eager to greet their older brother, restraihemselves, aware of Michalis' overly enthusiastic dispy in the open.

  Draco pced a free hand on Michalis' head, gently calming the younger boy.

  "Calm down," he said, his tone measured and authoritative.

  ‘What’s got him so excited’ Draco wondered, intrigued by Michalis' unusual behaviour.

  "When did you boys get back?" Draquired.

  "Just a few minutes ago," Nikoos replied, struggling to ceal his owement.

  Michalis, uo tain his curiosity, asked, "Draii, what's in the bag?"

  "Just some stuff for Vasiliki," Draswered.

  Michalis' expression shifted slightly, a hint of skepticism creeping into his features.

  "Geh, don’t tell me that she's already awake?" he asked, his tone carrying a subtle undercurrent of reluce.

  It wasn't that Michalis wished ill upon Vasiliki or wanted her to remain unscious; rather, he had just grown aced to his rare moment of pead tranquility when she was not her normal, lively self.

  "She was awake a few ho, but fell back asleep soon after, if my calcutions are correct, she will remain asleep till te in the evening” Draco replied.

  Vasileios, a warm smile spreading across his face, "That's great. It's o know she's rec well." he said.

  Nikoos nodded in agreement, his own expression mirr Vasileios' se.

  Vasileios' eyes suddenly widened as he remembered something crucial.

  "ht!" he excimed, quickly turning around and dashing bato the house.

  Moments ter, he emerged with the receipt from the Goibniu familia in hand.

  "What's this?" Draco asked, taking the piece of paper from Vasileios.

  "It's the receipt for the equipment repairs," Vasileios expined, his voice tinged with a sense of aplishment.

  Draco's brows furrowed as he examihe dot.

  "Oh, this has the Goibniu familia insignia, and the price is signifitly lower than what I had budgeted. I guess the Hephaestus familia workshop was a bit on the expensive side." he said.

  Nikoos nodded in agreement.

  "Yeah, we had to hurry out of there after hearing the prices. The Goibniu familia's rates were much more reasonable." he replied.

  Draco's lips curled into a satisfied smile as he praised the boys.

  "Well done, you three. I'm impressed." he said.

  "Thank you!" they replied in unison, their faces beaming with pride.

  Draco's gaze then shifted, and he asked, "By the way, where were you all headed when I ran into you?"

  Michalis immediately spoke up, "Bahamut sama said, 'Take a bath or no lunch!'" he said, trying to imitate her tone.

  Nikoos quickly interjected, "Stop lying, she didly say those words, but it was kind of implied." he corrected.

  Draco chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

  "I see, so the kit is still occupied." He paused, deep in thought.

  Sensing the shift imosphere, Nikoos timidly called out, "Draii?"

  Draco turned his attention to the young boy. "What is it?"

  "Are we still proceeding with our level up today?" Nikoos asked, a hint of anticipation in his voice.

  "Yes, of course," Draco replied, his tone reassuring.

  "Why do you ask?" he inquired.

  Nikoos shook his head, a small smile pying on his lips.

  "No reason, I was just w." he replied.

  Draco's gaze softened as he observed Nikoos' restless tail, a clear sign of his excitement.

  "Silly boy, I know you're eager, but you'll have to wait until this evening." Draco said.

  Feeling self-scious, Nikoos quickly grabbed his tail, trying to still its movement, and turned away, a slight blush c his cheeks.

  Draco chuckled and spoke, "Anyway, I'll leave you boys to go take your bath. From the aroma, I tell that lunch is ready." he said.

  The three boys' stomachs rumbled in response, and they hurried off to the bathroom, eager to satisfy their hunger.

  As he watched them leave, Draco's expression turned pensive.

  'Hm, it seems they haven't been informed about the i yet,' he thought, shaking his head.

  With a resolute stride, Dratered the house, heading straight for the kit.

  "Draco, you're back!" Bahamut greeted him, a warm smile on her fabsp;

  "How was your walk?" she asked.

  "It was... productive," Draco replied, a hint of satisfa in his voice.

  Bahamut nodded, uanding the implication.

  "I see. Anyway, wash your hands and wait a bit. Lunch will be served shortly." she said.

  Draplied, quickly sing his hands and taking a seat at the table.

  The aroma of the freshly prepared meal wafted through the air, making his mouth water in anticipation.

  As Dimitra, Eleni and Bahamut moved about the kit, Draco decided to broach the subjebsp;

  "Bahamut, have the boys been informed about the... i?" he inquired.

  Bahamut paused, her expression turning somber.

  "No, not yet. I wao wait until you returo discuss it with them." she replied.

  Draodded, his brow furrowing in thought.

  "I see. They seemed unaware of it when I spoke to them earlier." he said.

  "I uand your hesitation, but the sooner we address it, the better," Bahamut said, her voice ge resolute.

  Draco let out a heavy sigh.

  "You're right. We 't keep them in the dark forever. I'll speak to them after lunch." he said.

  “I don’t think they will react much to it, except maybe Michalis” Dimitra interjected.

  “True, he is kind of……uable at times” Eleni agreed.

  "Anyway don’t worry too much about it Draii. They'll uand and handle." Dimitra assured.

  Draco's lips curved into a small, appreciative smile……..