The cozy living room was filled with the warm aroma of freshly brewed tea as Gaela, Ray, and Jenny settled around the wooden table.
Davin and Eric's shouts echoed faintly from the other room, a cheerful backdrop to the adults' conversation.
"It's been too long, Jenny," Gaela said, pouring tea into three delicate cups.
"Tell us, how have you been? How's life treating you?"
Jenny smiled, her hands cradling the warm cup.
"Busy, as always. Between helping mothers bring new lives into the world and keeping Eric out of trouble, there's hardly a moment to rest. But I can't complain—it's a good kind of busy."
Ray chuckled, leaning back in his chair.
"Sounds like you've got your hands full. How's your husband? I heard he was back in town."
Jenny's expression brightened at the mention of her husband.
"Yes, he returned just a few days ago. He'd been in Einswell for weeks, trading goods and restocking his wares. He brought back some beautiful fabrics and spices… you should stop by the shop sometime."
"We will," Gaela replied with a smile before adding.
"But tell us, how was his trip? Did he bring back any interesting news?"
Jenny's smile faltered slightly, and she set her cup down.
"Actually, he did. And it's not all good news, I'm afraid."
Ray and Gaela exchanged a glance, their curiosity piqued.
"What happened?" Ray asked, his tone turning serious.
Jenny took a deep breath, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup.
"He said there's been a rise in beast raids on towns and villages near the Mystic Forest. Apparently, six villages have already been completely wiped out in the past few months."
Gaela's golden eyes narrowed, her expression turning thoughtful.
"Beast raids, you say? That's… concerning."
Ray leaned forward, his brow furrowed.
"Did he say what kind of beasts they were? Or why the attacks are increasing?"
Jenny shook her head.
"He didn't have many details, but he mentioned that the beasts seem more aggressive than usual. Some of the survivors claimed they saw creatures they'd never encountered before—larger and stronger beasts…"
Gaela's gaze drifted to the window, her mind racing.
"That aligns with what I've observed in the Mystic Forest lately," she said quietly.
"Over the past few years, I've noticed a steady increase in the number of magical beasts. Their behavior has become more erratic, and their power levels seem to be rising. I nowadays encounter beasts of Mystic Rank within just ten miles after entering the forest, rather than the usual deeper parts."
"What could be driving them to the outer parts?" Ray wondered.
"A new boss?" he added, his tone speculative though not entirely convinced.
Jenny's eyes widened in alarm.
"I've also heard stories of how a new, powerful beast can disrupt the existing power balance."
"It's very much possible that's the case here," Gaela replied, her voice calm.
"Let's just hope the new powerful ones are few in number. If they turn out to be many, then things might get… even more messy."
Ray placed a reassuring hand on Gaela's arm.
"But we've handled worse, haven't we? If those beasts come here, we'll give them a surprise."
Gaela nodded, her confidence unwavering.
"Exactly. The magical beasts in the Mystic Forest haven't surpassed the C-class threat level—at least not yet. Ray and I are more than capable of protecting this town."
Jenny's shoulders relaxed slightly, but a hint of worry still lingered in her eyes.
"I hope you're right. It's just… hearing about those villages being wiped out… it's terrifying."
"I understand," Gaela said gently.
"But you don't have to be worried about it. We're all in this together. If anything happens, we'll be here to protect you, Eric, and everyone else in town."
Ray nodded in agreement, his previous serious demeanor replaced by a reassuring smile.
"We've got this, Jenny. Just leave the beasts to us."
Jenny managed a small smile, though the worry in her eyes didn't fully disappear.
"Thank you. It's a relief to know we have people like you looking out for us." Her voice carried a note of hope, a sentiment born from her growing familiarity with the young couple.
Over time, she had come to realize that Gaela and Ray were not as simple as they seemed. Especially Gaela—the beautiful woman who often sought her advice on raising Davin.
Jenny had once observed the two sparring and had been awe-strucked by Gaela's mysterious and formidable strength.
"And by the way," Jenny added, her tone shifting to a more jovial note, "today is our town's inauguration day. We'll officially become a town! No longer just a village."
"That's wonderful news!" Gaela chimed in, her golden eyes lighting up with interest.
"So, there's going to be a celebration?"
Jenny nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, it'll start in the evening at the town center. Will you attend?"
"I'll think about—" Gaela began, but Jenny quickly cut her off.
"Actually, I came here specifically to pick you up," Jenny said with a mischievous smile.
"Don't worry—Ray will be the one to babysit the boys."
Ray, who had been unusually quiet until now, frowned deeply.
"Wait, what?"
Gaela giggled wryly, her hand covering her mouth as she glanced at her pitiful husband, whose fate had already been sealed.
"I guess you won't take no for an answer," she said with an amused tone.
"No, I won't," Jenny replied with a firm nod.
"And as for you, Sir Ray, I think my husband will be delighted to accommodate you and the boys at his shop tonight."
Ray then smirked with a raised eyebrow, "So, you ladies want to have all the fun while tossing your responsibilities onto Jotham and me, huh?"
The two women immediately turned at him, their eyes narrowing in unison.
"Excuse me?" Gaela said, her voice sharp.
"Do you have a problem with that?" Jenny added, her hands crossed over her chest.
Ray's face became downcast, his smirk fading as the two women launched into relentless scolding.
By the time they were done, he was sitting with his head lowered in defeat, a sheepish grin on his face.
"Alright, alright," Ray said, raising his hands in defeat.
"I'll babysit the boys. But you owe me for this."
"Consider it your contribution to the town's inauguration," Gaela said with a wink, her tone light.
"…" Ray could only silently stare at Gaela's sweet smile.
'How did I forget that it was Jenny who encouraged her to start scolding me…' He thought with a regretful sigh.
Jenny nodded, clearly pleased with the outcome.
"Perfect! It's settled then. We'll head to the celebration together, and Ray, you'll have a lovely evening with the boys."
Ray sighed dramatically, "Fine, but don't come crying to me when those two turn the shop upside down."
"Oh, I'm sure you'll manage," Gaela said, her voice dripping with confidence.
"After all, you're the one who taught Davin how to turn everything into a game."
Ray groaned in response causing Gaela to chuckle, but the laughter in the room was infectious. Even Jenny couldn't help but chuckle at his exaggerated misery.
What she didn't know was how dealing with Davin was a headache to his poor father.
The conversation then shifted to lighter topics after that, but the weight of Jenny's news hung in the air, a silent reminder of the growing threat beyond the town's borders.
As the afternoon sun streamed through the windows, Gaela couldn't help but glance toward the Mystic Forest, her mind already racing with plans.