Steven: "Oh, Madelyn, perfect timing. What do you want to drink?"

Madelyn: "Justice."

Before I was able to react, she jumped on me and attempted to put me in a chokehold. I fought back and ended up wrestling each other, dragging it into the living room.

Steven: "Let me go, you bitch!"

Madelyn: "Who are you calling a bitch?"

Rayna: "Steven..? What is going on?!"

Madelyn: "Long time no see, Rayna!"

Steven: "Fuck… let go already!"

Madelyn: "Ahn~ What are you doing, step-bro~!?"

I manage to break free and pin her to the ground. I sat on top of her as she tried squirming her way free before she gives up.

Steven: "Don't ever pull that stunt again. Alright?"

Kanna: "I understand what it takes to be an older sister."

Steven: "Are you hearing me?"

Madelyn: "Yeah… I hear you."

I get up and brush myself off. Madelyn jumps up and does the same.

Steven: "Hey, Rayna, Young Mi. It's been a while."

Young Mi: "A couple of short months. The girls couldn't come because they're in Phia enjoying themselves."

Madelyn: "Sounds good. The castle must be really boring with nothing to do, huh, mom?"

Young Mi: "It can be."

Steven: "Especially when it's empty."

Rayna: "It does. I also noticed that you and Madelyn have grown close."

Madelyn playfully throws her arm around my shoulder.

Madelyn: "That's because Steven is the first guy that hasn't attempted to get in my pants."

Steven: "Well, that's because you wear skirts."

Madelyn: "If I wore pants would you?"

Steven: "I'd start thinking you were a guy for how much of a tomboy you are."

Offended, she jabs my gut.

Madelyn: "What was that?"

Steven: "Madelyn… seriously. I love you but you're too rough sometimes."

She blushed and looks away.

Madelyn: "You love me?"

Steven: "Of course I do. You're my sister."

Yuuna: "Hmhm~ I think Maddie was thinking about something else."

Cynthia: "Per-vert."

Livia giggles.

Rayna: "Are you usually aggressive, Madelyn?"

Madelyn: "I love roughhousing."

Steven: "Well, I'm going back into the kitchen to finish making the drinks, if anyone needs anything just ask."

Young Mi: "Thank you for inviting us, Miss Hisakawa."

Yuuna: "Please, call me Yuuna."

I head back into the kitchen and continue straining lemons for the lemonade. After some work and enjoying the solitude of my work, Rayna walks in and casually waves at me.

Rayna: "Steven, could I talk to you about Joan?"

Steven: "Yeah, what did you need?"

Rayna: "I was talking with her and she said she'd like to spend more time with me."

Steven: "That's fine."

Rayna: "I was thinking about taking her to Elinila Castle."

Ouch…

Steven: "Well… yeah… if that's what she wants."

Rayna: "I'm sorry, I know it stings."

Steven: "Of course it does… but I'll let you take her if she wants to go. She sees you as her mother, so you deserve to be around her as much as I am."

Rayna: "I'm sorry, I wish there was another way."

Steven: "Well, there is. You could do what Hugo does and get an inn. But that costs money. Nah, it's fine to take her to the castle if she's happy.

Rayna: "Oh, that's right!"

Steven: "What's right?"

Rayna: "Why don't we buy an estate?"

Steven: "We? An estate?"

Rayna: "Steven, I know this is spontaneous, but I've actually been thinking about buying one for a while."

As nice as it sounds, we might be too short on money to be buying mansions. Rayna's smart, but she could take some lessons from Yuuna on how to be frugal.

Steven: "The group already has funding issues when it comes to the castle; why are you adding more?"

Rayna: "It's an investment. Like how the Mage's Academies in Gennisi Archi are hubs for Twilight, the estate can be ours for Everhand. Besides, we're tired of sleeping on cots in the castle."

Steven: "Demons aren't allowed inside Everhand. Everyone but Dai-tai would be able to walk around freely. I don't want to leave any members of our group out."

Rayna: "Illusion spells are taught on Twilight."

Do those exist?

Steven: "Is she even good with them?"

Rayna: "Well… no, she doesn't know the spells, but we can teach her it. We could enchant some clothes to make it easier for her."

Steven: "Yeah, alright… do that. If you can, that is."

Rayna: "So~ can we get an estate?"

Steven: "Only if Dai-tai can use illusion spells. If so, you can find us an estate within our budget."

Rayna: "I have a couple of places in mind."

I sighed.

Rayna slides to my side and playfully touches my shoulders with hers.

Steven: "Any harder and you'll knock me over."

Rayna: "Hmhm~ what are you making, Chef?"

Steven: "My friends from the Academy don't drink, so I'm making them lemonade to enjoy."

Rayna: "You could mix vodka with lemonade."

Steven: "Rayna, what kind of mischief are you plotting?"

Rayna: "None. I just know you like to mix vodka and lemonade."

Steven: "Oh… well, did you find a way to use Shadow Leap without using too much blood? I heard from Young Mi in her letters, but she didn't say anything specific."

Rayna: "I did, I can show you tomorrow."