Chapter 214: A Warm Meal…

The soft clatter of dishes came from the kitchen.

A moment later, Lucy emerged carrying a tray, steam rising gently from the bowl she set in front of Bruce. The scent was familiar, simple, hearty, something made not to impress but to comfort.

“Eat,” she said, placing a spoon beside it. “And don’t rush.”

Bruce glanced down at the food, then up at her. “You didn’t have to—”

“I did,” Lucy replied calmly, already turning back toward the kitchen. “You’ve been gone. That’s reason enough.”

She returned with a second bowl and set it in front of Lily, then poured herself a cup of tea before finally sitting down. Ash climbed onto the empty chair beside Bruce and leaned forward, eyes fixed on the food with intense interest.

“No,” Lucy said immediately.

Ash froze.

“That’s not for you.”

Ash chirped softly, pretending he hadn’t been aiming for it.

Bruce took the first bite.

Warmth spread through him almost instantly, not just from the food but from the familiarity of it. He exhaled slowly, shoulders loosening without him realizing it.

Lily watched him closely. “Is it good?”

“It is,” Bruce replied as ate the food. He wasn’t going to lie to himself, ever since the start of trial he never had the chance to have good food or test done delicacies of the Nether realm. It was definitely refreshing to eat good food back at home after spending his entire time in the trial world researching about poisons and antidotes.

Meanwhile Lily smiled, satisfied, “Mummy’s food is always good…”

Lucy sipped her tea and spoke casually, as if the question hadn’t been waiting the whole time. “You didn’t run into trouble, did you?”

Bruce chewed, then shook his head. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

That earned him a look.

Lucy didn’t press. She never did, not directly. Instead, she nodded once and changed the subject.

“Lily’s been waking up early,” she said. “On her own.”

Lily straightened proudly. “I don’t sleep in anymore.”

“She doesn’t,” Lucy confirmed. “She trains before breakfast. She’s growing mentally…”

Bruce glanced at Lily. “That’s good.”

Lily beamed. “Ash helps too. He also makes it harder.”

Ash puffed his chest.

“And louder,” Lucy added. “Much louder.”

That drew a faint smile from Bruce as he continued eating, each bite grounding him further. The world outside, the Nether, the trial, the authority, felt distant here. Manageable.

Lucy watched him for a moment, then spoke again, quieter this time. “You’re staying for a bit, right?”

“Yes.”

The answer came without hesitation.

She relaxed slightly, even if she tried not to show it.

“Good,” she said simply.

Lily tapped the table lightly. “After you’re done eating, I’ll show you everything I practiced. Even the parts I messed up.”

Bruce paused, then nodded. “We’ll go through it together.”

Ash chirped happily, tail tapping against the chair in approval.

Lucy stood again, gathering the empty dishes. “Finish up,” she said. “You look better when you’re not running off half-empty.”

As she moved back toward the kitchen, Bruce took another bite, slower this time.

For now, there was no urgency.

No trial waiting.

No pressure to move.

Just food, family, and a quiet moment that felt… earned.

Bruce finished the last few bites in silence, setting the spoon down once the bowl was empty. The warmth lingered, settling deeper than hunger ever had.

Lucy returned to collect the dishes. As Lily and Ash drifted toward the corner of the room, already whispering excitedly about stances and practice, Lucy paused when she reached Bruce’s side.

“Come help me for a moment,” she said softly.

Bruce rose without question and followed her into the kitchen.

The door didn’t close, but the distance was enough.

Lucy set the bowls into the basin and stood there for a moment, hands resting on the counter. When she spoke again, her voice was lower, steadier, but not quite as composed as before.

“You look different,” she said. “Not hurt. Just… heavier.”

Bruce didn’t answer immediately.

“I’m fine,” he said eventually.

“I know,” Lucy replied. “That’s not what I meant.”

She turned to face him then, eyes sharp in the way only a mother’s could be. “You carry things quietly. You always have. Just don’t forget that you don’t have to carry everything alone.”

Bruce met her gaze.

“I won’t,” he said.

She searched his face for another second, then nodded once, satisfied enough to let it rest. “Good. That’s all I needed to hear.”

She stepped aside, giving him a small, familiar nudge toward the doorway. “Go. Your sister’s been waiting since you sat down.”

Bruce returned to the main room.

Lily was already standing in the open space near the table, spear in hand, posture straight but eyes bright with anticipation. Ash sat nearby, tail swishing slowly, watching with keen interest.

“Alright,” Bruce said calmly. “Show me.”

Lily inhaled, then moved.

Her stance was grounded, feet set properly, weight balanced. She didn’t rush. She didn’t overextend. Each motion flowed into the next with intention, not force. The spear traced clean arcs through the air, controlled and deliberate.

Bruce watched silently.

When she finished, Lily looked up at him, holding still. “I kept my balance this time.”

“You did,” Bruce replied. He stepped forward and adjusted her grip slightly. “But your wrist tenses here. Relax it. Let the spear move, not fight you.”

She nodded quickly and tried again.

Better.

Ash chirped approvingly.

Bruce corrected a step, refined a turn, demonstrated once, slowly, so she could see every detail. Lily mirrored him, adjusting instinctively.

After a few rounds, Bruce nodded. “Good work. You’re improving.”

Lily’s smile was immediate and unrestrained.

“I’ll keep practicing,” she said quickly. “Every day.”

“I know,” Bruce replied.

The moment lingered comfortably, the sound of the house filling the quiet again.

Eventually, Bruce straightened and glanced toward the door.

“I need to head out for a bit,” he said.

Lily tilted her head. “Already?”

“Yes.”

Lucy looked up from where she stood nearby. “You’ll be back.”

It wasn’t a question.

“I will,” Bruce answered.

Ash chirped softly, hopping closer.

Bruce crouched and rested a hand briefly against Ash’s head. “Behave.”

Ash puffed up proudly.

Bruce turned toward the door, pulling his coat into place as he stepped outside. The world beyond the gate waited, unchanged, unaware.

And somewhere out there.

Sophie.

As Bruce Ackerman walked away from home once more, his pace steady and unhurried, one thought remained clear in his mind.

This time, he wasn’t leaving things unfinished.

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