Eddie, meanwhile, had practically disappeared into the enormous couch, the cushions swallowing him whole. He tilted his head back, eyes darting from the tall arched windows to the wooden beams overhead, then to the sprawling shelves lined with books and odd magical trinkets that hummed faintly when the light hit them just right. The home wasn’t gilded or gaudy like he imagined noble estates would be—it felt lived in, worn in places, like a house with history instead of a hollow trophy. But still, compared to his own small and cramped upbringing, it was staggering.
“This place is insane…” Eddie muttered under his breath, pressing a hand down into the cushion just to watch how far it sank before springing back up. “How do you even… not get lost here?”
Chippy spun on her heel, shooting him a look. “Ugh, Eddie, seriously? I can’t even think about that right now! Rin’s stuck back at the academy and—and I can’t stop thinking what if she’s crying alone, or—” She stopped mid-rant, biting her lip.
Eddie sat up a little straighter, but his gaze still wandered. His reflection wavered faintly in the polished stone floor, and across from him a grand fireplace, though unlit, was carved with careful runes that flickered faint blue like they were breathing. The sheer scale of it all made his stomach flutter, though he tried to keep a straight face for Chippy’s sake.
“Yeah, but… wow. I mean… Rin would’ve freaked out if she saw all this.”
“Eddie!”
“Sorry! Sorry… I’m just not used to this. That’s all…” He sank a little deeper into the cushions, as if the couch itself was scolding him.
“Do you kids want anything to eat or drink?” a gentle voice called from the upstairs kitchen. The sound carried easily — this house had kitchens, after all.
“No, Mom!” Chippy shouted back before flopping onto the couch beside Eddie with a dramatic huff.
Eddie immediately tensed, his face going red. He subtly scooted a few inches away, like distance might keep his heart from hammering.
“S-Sooo…” he started carefully.
“No.”
“…Okay,” Eddie muttered, deflated, slumping further into the couch.
he told himself.
But Chippy wasn’t about to stay still. She shot upright again, fists clenched with sudden resolve. “We have to go back. We need to go back.”
“And do what?” Eddie asked cautiously.
“We’ll break her out!” Chippy declared.
“As sweet as that sounds, it’s far more difficult than you think.”
Both children whipped their heads toward the stairs.
A woman descended, moving with a kind of effortless poise that made her look as though she was gliding. Her dark hair shimmered with a faint red sheen under the chandelier light, and in her hands she carried a large silver tray. On it sat a plate lined with an assortment of treats — saffron-orange laddus glowing like tiny suns, pastel macarons in pistachio green, strawberry red, and velvety chocolate, and even a delicate stack of Japanese shrimp chips. Two tall glasses of cranberry juice stood beside them, so chilled that condensation beaded and ran in foggy streams down the sides.
She set the tray down onto a coffee table that wasn’t there a moment ago. At her approach, the floor itself seemed to respond — the table unfurling upward out of polished wood as if summoned into existence.
Eddie’s jaw dropped, watching it all unfold like he’d stepped into a fairy tale.
Chippy, however, didn’t blink. She simply grabbed a laddu in one hand and a macaron in the other, chomping down furiously, crumbs scattering as her frustration found a new outlet in sweets.
“Plus, you know just how illegal that is, right?”
“…Yeah…” Chippy mumbled, her words muffled around a mouth full of sweets.
“Would you like some too, dear?” the woman asked, her smile gentle as her eyes shifted to Eddie.
“Y-Yeah… may I?” he stammered.
“Help yourself!” she chirped, voice warm and inviting.
Eddie hesitated, glancing down at the tray as though it might disappear if he reached too quickly. Then, with a nervous look back at the woman, he carefully plucked up a laddu. The moment it touched his tongue, his mouth flooded with sweetness he didn’t know he’d been waiting for. It was rich, fragrant, and impossibly soft. His eyes widened as he scrambled for the chilled cranberry juice, instinctively washing it down in one long sip.
The woman’s smile softened as she watched him. She gave a slow nod. “See? No need to be afraid. She doesn’t have too many respectable friends over.”
“MOOM!!!” Chippy shrieked, cheeks flushing crimson as she whined in embarrassment.
“I-I’m… respectable?” Eddie asked, blinking in disbelief.
“Oh yes!” Chippy’s mother replied without hesitation. “Look at you—taking your shoes off right at the entrance, tracing your own footsteps so carefully so as not to soil my floors. Then sitting so still on the sofa, as if afraid you’d be scolded for moving too much.”
“Uhhh…” Eddie faltered, realizing she had caught him red-handed.
“It’s alright, dear. I noticed. And I thank you.”
“Th-thank… you?” Eddie stammered, more confused than anything. Warmth wasn’t something he was used to—at least, not like this.
Then, a sudden knock echoed through the house.
“Ugh! Who is it now!” Chippy groaned.
“Might be my package,” Archas murmured. She glided toward the front door, her frilled dress whispering with each subtle step, almost as though her feet weren’t touching the ground at all. When she opened the door, her voice carried a polite curiosity that instantly set Chippy and Eddie on edge.
“Hello? And who might you two be?”
“Good evening, ma’am,” the man said smoothly, giving a small bow. “My name is Steve. This is my daughter, Rin. We’re here because her friend invited her to visit. Are you… Archas?”
“Yes, I am.” Her smile widened. “You must be the girl my daughter’s been so worried about! Please, come in.”
The door swung open wider, and to Chippy and Eddie’s shock, there Rin was—her cheeks glowing, her smile wide and unstoppable. Before either of them could blink, she bolted forward, leaping onto the couch between them and squeezing them both tight.
“RINNN!!!”
“CHIPPYYY!!!”
“RINNNNNN!!!”
“EEDDIEEEEEE!!!” Rin squealed with delight.
Behind her, the man flicked his wand, effortlessly vanishing the slush of gray snow their boots had dragged inside.
“Don’t mind her,” Steve chuckled warmly. “She could hardly stop squirming in the carriage, thinking about her friends.”
“Oh, believe me, I understand,” Archas said with a laugh of her own. “And thank you for tidying up. I would’ve done it myself, of course, but please—make yourselves comfortable. Join the children, have some sweets. I need to check my communicator upstairs and see if my son will finally give his mother a moment of his time…” She trailed off, squinting in exasperation as she climbed the stairs.
“Son?” Steve echoed with a chuckle. “I imagined one day I’d have a son of my own. Don’t tell me they really start ignoring their parents the moment they grow up!”
“Oh, he’s not like that,” Archas replied quickly. Her smile softened with something more wistful. “He’s just… too busy. The world is something he feels he needs to protect. But sometimes, he forgets there’s a family living in it too. And sometimes, we don’t need saving from evil sorcerers or scary monsters—we just need saving from the lack of his presence.”
“I understand, ma’am. And I won’t stop you if I overhear some scolding later.”
“Please, don’t. He deserves it,” Archas said with a light laugh, which Steve joined, matching her tone with ease.
He hung his coat on the rack with careful grace and crossed the room toward the children.
“You two must be Rin’s great friends,” he said warmly. “She hasn’t stopped talking about you the entire ride here.”
Rin still clung to her friends, her arms locked around both their necks. Eddie struggled against her grip, gasping for air, while Chippy held on just as tightly, unwilling to let go.
“W-we are!” Eddie wheezed.
Steve chuckled and rested a hand on Rin’s shoulder, guiding her gently back. She finally loosened her hold, sinking into the couch.
“I missed you guys so much! Too much! Wait—guys! You won’t believe who this man is!” Rin exclaimed, eyes glowing with joy.
Chippy wiped at a tear of laughter and relief, finally looking up at the man clearly. Her gaze caught the way his hair mirrored Rin’s own shade, and the realization struck.
“No way! That’s your dad?!”
“MHMM!!!” Rin squealed, her voice breaking with happiness.
“Dad?! I thought you didn’t—”
“That was before, son,” Steve interrupted smoothly, his tone dropping into something softer, almost aching. “It’s been too long. I’ve… spent so much time searching for my beloved. The last of my family. The only one I have left to share my love with.”
“Uhh… then where the heck were you?!” Eddie blurted, unable to hold it in.
“Eddie!” Rin shushed him instantly, her cheeks flushing. “I’ll explain everything later! Can’t you just be happy we’re together?”
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“Yeah! Buzzkill!” Chippy added, crossing her arms. “Try to ruin the moment one more time and I’m kicking you out!”
From upstairs, Archas’s voice rang out, carrying easily through the tall halls. “Dear! Is there any way you can come visit on Christmas? Don’t kid me—it’s Christmas, for gods’ sake!”
“Oof… he’s gonna get it thick now,” Chippy muttered, glancing upward with a grin.
“She did say I couldn’t stop her,” Steve said with a quiet chuckle, tugging his sleeves up neatly around his elbows as though bracing himself.
“Who is she talking t—wait. Is that… IS THAT—” Eddie started, his jaw dropping.
“Shh! Let her talk!” Chippy hissed, elbowing him in the ribs.
“I agree,” Steve said calmly, settling himself on the far end of the couch by the armrest. His poise was effortless, as though he belonged there already. “Let her have her moment.”
Eddie studied the man closely. He looked familiar—too much like Rin not to be. The soft, easy eyes, the hair, the calm confidence in how he carried himself.
“Sir… are you an Enforcer?” Eddie asked before he could stop himself.
Steve turned to him with a smile that was gentle, almost indulgent. “Are you a fan of Enforcers?”
“Uh…” Eddie hesitated.
“It’s alright,” Steve said smoothly, waving off the awkwardness. “I’m retired now.”
“Aren’t you… too young to be retired?”
“Well,” Steve leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, “I was discharged for medical reasons. I served on the front lines against the GNL. Before Staffire wiped those… viruses off the face of the earth, it was people like me who held the line. They weren’t strong or numerous, but cunning. Strategic. That’s what made them terrifying. The battle could tip either way at any moment. And in the end… I lost a lot.”
Eddie’s shoulders dipped, his voice small. “Oh…”
Steve’s hand brushed the air, as if to lighten the weight he’d dropped. “It’s alright, son. Being an Enforcer is sacrifice by definition. Simply enlisting shows bravery. And your curiosity?” His eyes warmed, steady as a hearthfire. “That tells me you’ve got something even better. Not something to prove, but something to do. A purpose. That’s commendable.”
“Th-thank you…” Eddie stammered, his guard falling away almost without realizing it.
“Study hard. Treasure your friends. Don’t lose your way. And above all—hold onto what you already have.”
“Yes, sir…” Eddie whispered, disarmed completely.
Steve reached out and rested his hand on Eddie’s head. For a fleeting second, Eddie almost felt… proud.
“I can’t believe you!!!” A furious shout thundered from upstairs.
Archas, once the picture of grace, stormed down the staircase with her dress swishing like an angry tide. Her sharp glare could have cut stone.
“He said no?” Chippy asked with a smirk, still chewing happily on her snacks.
Archas didn’t respond—she only squinted at her daughter. “Shrimp stir fry?”
“Ooooh. That bad?”
“Shrimp stir fry it is.”
“I told you sooo!” Chippy sang smugly.
Archas huffed, then spun toward Steve.
“Well… if you don’t need anything else, ma’am, I’ll let the children have their fun. I’ll head out no—"
“No. Stay. Please. Have some stir fry.”
Steve lifted his hands politely. “No, really, I couldn’t—”
“Just have some goddamn stir fry.”
Rin, Eddie, and Steve all froze, eyes wide. What had happened to the graceful, elegant woman from moments ago?
“Jarvis!” Archas barked.
“Yes, master.” The butler appeared from a hidden panel off the guest kitchen, bowing low.
“Ensure Rin’s father does not leave the premises until he’s had stir fry.”
“Yes, master.”
Rin, Eddie, and Steve exchanged stunned glances, utterly floored at how quickly the situation had escalated.
Immediately, Archas swept into the guest kitchen, her movements sharp and precise as she pulled out cutting boards and began chopping vegetables at speed.
Steve hesitated before following, his composure rattled. “Ma’am? I really shouldn’t… I’ve been saved by a Staffire before, and now to impose and… have you cook for me? It… it makes me feel terrible.”
“Oh, trust me, hon, you’re not imposing,” Archas replied without looking up, her knife flashing. “If you feel that guilty, then why don’t you help by chopping these vegetables for me? I’ll handle the shrimp.”
Steve blinked. “I—”
“Now,” she said, sharper this time, her tone brooking no argument.
“Y-Yes, ma’am!” Steve stammered, immediately grabbing a knife and chopping with soldierly precision.
Back on the couch, Chippy leaned back smugly and plucked a bright macaron off the tray. She held it toward Rin. “Rin! You’ve got to try these!”
Rin blinked at the colorful treat, hesitant. “Wh-what is it?”
“Perfection,” Chippy declared dramatically, shoving it closer to her face.
Eddie groaned. “It’s just a cookie. A fancy cookie.”
Chippy gasped. “Excuse me, Edward, this is art.”
“Yeah, yeah… but now your brother isn’t even coming home for Christmas!” Eddie huffed, crossing his arms.
Chippy waved him off. “I’ll let you talk to him on a call! He always picks up when I call!”
“Does he really?” Eddie asked skeptically.
“Yes! Now shove your face and—OH!” Chippy suddenly gasped, nearly spilling the tray. “RIN! I totally forgot! We need to do nail polish TODAY! NOW!!!”
Rin hummed happily, her cheeks puffed with macaron as she nodded enthusiastically. “Mhmm!”
Eddie dropped his head into his hands.
Outside, the world was cold and storming, but here the house was filled with gentle heat. Chippy had Rin’s hand stretched across a towel on the low table, carefully brushing a bright, glittery red polish over her nails.
“Hold still, Rin! If you smudge, I’ll have to start all over.”
“I’m trying!” Rin giggled, eyes wide as she watched the shimmering color spread across her nails. “It feels so… weird. It’s so pretty!”
“Exactly! Told you it would!” Chippy said proudly, blowing gently over Rin’s fingers. “By the time Eddie’s done sulking, you’ll look fabulous.”
From the kitchen drifted the smell of sizzling oil. Steve’s steady chopping mingled with Archas’s quick, commanding movements at the pan. Shrimp hit the heat with a crackle, followed by slices of tomato and onion. The sweet acidity of the tomato rose into the air, chased by the bite of garlic and the richness of soy. A whisper of ginger and chili joined in, and suddenly the whole house seemed alive with the fragrance.
Rin closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling the scent. “It smells… amazing.”
“Of course it does,” Chippy said, not missing a beat as she swapped bottles for a glitter topcoat. “That’s shrimp stir fry. It’s basically magic food. Plus? My mom’s like a master chef!”
Eddie leaned against the far wall, trying to look unimpressed but failing as his stomach growled loud enough to betray him. “...Okay, fine. It smells incredible.”
Rin and Chippy broke into laughter, their shoulders pressed together as the nail polish dried, while from the kitchen the hiss and clatter of stir fry carried on like the background music of a home Rin wished she could belong to forever.
Suddenly, Chippy gasped, eyes sparkling. “I have an idea!!!” she sang, her voice dropping into a conspiratorial whisper as she cupped her hand to Rin’s ear.
Rin tilted her head curiously, then blinked wide.
“Let’s put some nail polish on Eddie,” Chippy whispered, grinning from ear to ear.
“What!?” Rin giggled, clapping her freshly painted hands over her mouth. She couldn’t stop picturing Eddie’s serious face paired with a rainbow of glittery nails.
Slowly, in perfect unison, both girls turned their heads toward Eddie.
He stiffened immediately. “…Why are you two looking at me like that?” he asked, suspicion dripping from every word.
Chippy leaned closer to Rin, whispering loudly enough for him to hear, “Pick a color.”
Rin’s giggles bubbled over as she squeaked, “Blue! Definitely blue! Or like, greenish-blue! It’ll match the handle of his wand!”
Eddie took a step back, pointing a shaky finger accusingly. “Don’t you dare—”
From the guest living room came chaos.
“STOP CHASING ME!!!” Eddie shouted, vaulting over the back of the massive sofa like his life depended on it. Rin and Chippy tore after him, one waving a blue nail polish brush like a dagger, the other cackling with manic delight.
“Hold him down, Rin!” Chippy commanded.
“I-I’m trying!” Rin squealed, tripping on the rug and nearly tumbling headfirst into Eddie’s leg.
“HELP ME!” Eddie cried, grabbing a pillow as a shield.
“No one is coming to save you now!” Chippy snapped back, lunging. Eddie yelped and skidded around the couch again, Rin laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
Archas glanced into the living room and smiled at the sight, her expression softening with genuine warmth. Steve followed her gaze, his own lips curving in a quiet smile, though his eyes lingered a beat longer on Rin.
“So… where were you all this time?” Archas asked suddenly, pulling Steve back into the kitchen with her words. The question caught him off guard.
“I… I was locked away. In some trap they had cast,” he said carefully, lowering his voice. “I had to claw my way out. I couldn’t explain it—what kind of magic it was, where I was, how many soldiers I lost trying to lead them back home.”
Archas nodded slowly, glancing sideways at him. “And your wife?”
Steve exhaled. “She was one of the ones who didn’t make it back. She sacrificed herself for me. By the time I escaped… my little girl was gone. I searched, but… I was in a different world. In there it felt like a year, but here? Multiple had passed.”
“Well, you’re here now,” Archas said gently. “Ready to make up for lost time.”
“I am,” Steve said, wearing a father’s smile.
“If you need help with her, you know where I live.”
Steve blinked, caught off guard. “Trust me, I really don’t want to accept that offer. It’s—it’s too much.”
Archas’s grin broadened. She nodded toward the children shrieking and wrestling over the glitter polish. “Our world—this little one with those three out there—it’s all we have. If we can’t manage it alone, then we manage it together. So trust me, it isn’t much. You need to make up for lost time, and I need to ensure my daughter has good friends. Can’t you help me there?”
“Y-Yes… I can. Thank you, Mrs. Staffire.”
“Not a problem.”
Another yelp echoed from the living room. “RIN! DON’T LAUGH, HELP ME! SHE’S GOT THE GLITTER CAP OFF!”
Archas chuckled softly. “Though you might want to save him before she paints his eyebrows next.”
Steve glanced toward the living room where Eddie was shrieking for mercy, then back at her with a faint smile. “The boy’s wound a bit tight. Has been since I arrived. Maybe… later, he’ll need the story more than anyone.”
“You think so?” Archas asked, arching a brow.
“Let it be,” Steve said gently. “I’m sure he’ll remember today fondly, in time.” He tilted his head toward the pan. “How’s the stir fry coming along?”
“Excellent.” Archas’s eyes gleamed as she lifted a steaming spoonful. She held it carefully beneath his lips, the other hand cupped under the spoon to catch any spill. “Mind tasting this for me?”
Steve leaned forward carefully, accepting the spoon. The heat rolled across his tongue, the blend of shrimp, tomato, and spice cutting sharp and sweet. “…It’s simply… amazing.”
“It’s funny how amazing the simple things in life can be,” Archas said with a smile before turning back to the stove, stirring with practiced grace.
From the living room, Eddie was practically bawling, his voice echoing off the tall ceilings. Chippy sat triumphantly on his legs, pinning him down like a conquering general, while Rin knelt dutifully at his feet with a polish brush.
“You have such pretty toenails! What’s your secret?!” Chippy sang with mock admiration.
“LITERALLY NOTHING, YOU MONSTER!” Eddie howled, thrashing helplessly.
“I think this deep glittery green suits you,” Rin added, her brows furrowed in concentration as she carefully painted his smallest toe.
“I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU, RIN!!!” Eddie roared, his voice cracking.
The adults in the kitchen shared a look—Archas smiling knowingly, Steve letting out the faintest chuckle—as the shrieks and laughter of the children filled the house like a memory already worth keeping.
#
The smell of shrimp, onion, and tomato lingered even as plates were scraped clean. Archas dabbed her lips with a cloth napkin, then tapped the small crystal on the center of the dining table. The crystal pulsed with soft light before flaring, projecting a shimmering window of a communicator screen into the room.
“Oh wait! I forgot to ask Aimee if she’ll be coming over,” she said, tapping the device. “Let’s see if she cares about her mother-in-law more than her own son.” Archas hummed, her tone sly.
The crystal pulsed, then flared into a soft blue window of light above the table. Everyone leaned forward. Even Eddie, who had been busy scratching faint glitter from his nails, stilled.A woman’s image flickered into clarity.
And in that moment, the room seemed to breathe differently.
Her hair cascaded down past her shoulders in long, white-silver strands, catching the light as though woven from nebulae themselves. Hints of purple and blue shimmered faintly in each lock, shifting like starlight on water. Her eyes — vast and black, almost endless — seemed to draw the world into them. A small, tipped nose and lips soft as though painted from a dream completed her face. Pale, delicate, impossibly thin, she radiated a grace that no one at the table could mistake for anything but otherworldly.
“Aimee!” Archas broke the silence, her sharpness replaced by joy. “Finally. You’re not too busy to answer your mother-in-law, are you?”
“Of course not.” Aimee’s voice was like velvet. “How could I ignore you before Christmas?”
Rin gawked, breathless. “…She’s like… an angel…”
“Heyyy, Sis!” Chippy chirped, casual as ever.
“Hey, little sis!” Aimee sang back, her voice lilting with warmth.
Eddie flushed red, choking on his cranberry juice as if her image alone was too much for him.
Even Steve — perfectly composed Steve — leaned back, adjusting his sleeve, his gaze lingering with the faintest trace of reverence. If he admired her beauty, he did so seamlessly, as though it only made him seem more human. Yet still, he couldn’t stop staring — lips parted, unable to close.
Archas, hands on her hips now, cut through the reverie. “So? Tell me you’re coming home for Christmas. Unlike your pathetic … I want my family here. All of it.”
Aimee’s lips curved into a gentle smile, so radiant that it softened the weight in her words. “If I can pull him away, I promise I’ll be there. For you. For everyone.”
The children couldn’t look away. Rin felt her chest ache at the sight — a mother’s presence, fragile and beautiful, something she had only ever dreamed of.
“Ugh — you doubt yourself?” Archas groaned.
“I… he’s a difficult man to get hold of,” Aimee said, soft and patient.
“Everyone says that,” Archas muttered, pressing her palms to her cheeks and giving a little theatrical shake.
“That doesn’t mean I won’t try,” Aimee replied. “I’ll do everything I can to bring him over.”
“It’s one day! How hard is one day?!” Archas snapped, half-exasperated, half-playful.
Aimee laughed quietly, the sound like wind-chimes. “I’ll convince him. I’ll make sure you can punish him in person.”
“Good. I’d rather you be my daughter than him be my son sometimes,” Archas grumbled, though her tone was fond.
“Mother!” Aimee mock-scolded, smiling.
Archas joined in the laugh. “Alright, alright. I’ll let you get back to it. Don’t fail me.”
“I won’t!” she promised.
Eddie and Rin looked at each other.
The call ended, and the house seemed to glow with an extra warmth—as if Aimee’s promise alone could carry them all a little closer together this winter.
Hey everyone! Xay here! If you’ve been enjoying Rin’s Road so far, I’ve got something new dropping tomorrow — my romantic sci-fi comedy series:
Read it here: