Suddenly, Veer slid onto the ground beside her without a word, passing her a carefully wrapped leaf. Kaya hesitated, looking at it, then shook her head. "No need."
He fixed her with a steady gaze. "Eat it. If you only stick to those fruits, you’ll get weaker. You just got out of bed."
Kaya shook her head again, a faint flush rising to her cheeks. "I said... no need."
Veer’s expression tightened slightly, a crease forming between his brows. "What’s your problem? Can’t you speak? Tell if sothing’s wrong."
"Nothing’s wrong. I just... don’t feel like eating right now," she said softly, lowering her gaze.
With a small sigh, Veer placed the leaf beside her. "Fine. Throw it away if you want," he said and stood, his footsteps retreating across the floor.
Kaya watched his back for a long mont. Then, curiosity—and hunger—got the better of her. She picked up the leaf he had left. Inside were two small drumsticks, likely from a bird. Normally, he always gave her bird at. She bit into one hesitantly—and her stomach imdiately sighed in relief. Finally, sothing that tasted like real food.
The fruits she had nibbled earlier left a strange, bland film in her mouth. She hadn’t dared sprinkle salt in front of the others—it would have been like setting off a tiny bomb. But this... this at was perfectly seasoned, a delicate balance of salt and spices. She realized, with a small, quiet thrill, that Veer had likely cooked it himself. Each bite ward her from the inside, chasing away the hunger and fatigue that had weighed on her all morning.
Suddenly, a voice broke through her thoughts. "Miss Kaya? Oh, here you are."
Kaya looked up and saw Tara standing there, smiling. Relief and amusent flickered across her features. "Oh, hello, Mister Tara. Do you want sothing?"
Tara’s smile widened. "Eating all the bland stuff, huh? Here, have so drink."
Kaya shook her head again, a faint laugh tugging at her lips. "No, I’m fine."
But Tara wouldn’t relent. He handed her a glass of fruit juice. She studied it, noting the bright color and the subtle aroma. Around her, others were sipping theirs, and the scent alone made her mouth water. She took a careful sip—and her eyes widened. Slightly tangy, slightly sweet... it was perfect. She took another sip, letting the juice slide down her throat, then another, until the glass was empty.
A warmth began to spread through her chest and limbs, soft and dizzying. Her vision felt a little brighter, the edges of the world softer. She blinked, a small laugh escaping her lips, realizing with a mix of surprise and delight that she felt... slightly tipsy.
Kaya looked ahead, and suddenly the number of people in front of her seed to explode. She squinted toward where Veer was talking to Tara at so distance. Now, instead of one, she could see four—no, five! She raised a finger, as if pointing could control her vision or her mory, but it only wobbled more.
One... Veer. Two... no, three... wait—was the distance multiplying too? Her legs trembled.
Crash!
A stool toppled nearby with a loud bang. Veer, still talking to Tara, spun around. His eyes imdiately locked on Kaya—wobbling in the middle of the open ground, arms flailing slightly, a tipsy grin on her face.
"Kaya! Are you okay?" he shouted, rushing toward her.
She looked at him and grinned, wobbling a little. "Here... here... here! Bird! Wow, bird!" she slurred, pointing frantically at the ground.
Veer crouched to look—but there was nothing there. Just two dry, brown leaves lying on the grass. He froze, blinking.
Kaya blinked at him, confused, then giggled. "No... no... leaf... not bird... funny!" She wobbled, swaying like a tipsy little penguin.
Then her eyes fell on sothing else. Across the field, near a seated woman, a wolf beastman had transford into a wolf. Kaya’s grin widened ridiculously.
"Doggy! So cute!" she shouted, wobbling forward.
Veer yelped and grabbed her waist to steady her. "Kaya! Careful!"
The wolf’s wife suddenly stood up, glaring at him with pure hatred.
"Oh... so that’s why you were changing your form. Huh".
The wolf froze, ears twitching, jaw slack, eyes wide. He had no idea what to say. Not a single clue.
Veer tried not to laugh as he held Kaya steady. She giggled again, wobbling forward. "Doggy... yes... wow... fluffy!"
The wolf stayed frozen, completely stunned, while his wife’s glare could have lted stone.
Veer’s eyes widened as he realized the scene was completely out of hand. Without thinking twice, he scooped Kaya up into the princess carrier and raised a hand to the crowd. "I’m... I’m sorry! Looks like she drank too much!" he shouted, his voice strained but polite.
He started walking, holding her carefully in his arms—but Kaya had other plans.
"Hey! Hey! Stop! It’s a kidnapping! This... this damn vulture is kidnapping !" she yelled, flailing her arms as if she could sohow fly out of his grip.
Veer tried to calm her, but it was useless. She pointed at his face with both hands, wobbling dangerously. "Where does your beak go, huh? How... how does your small face beco so big? Oh my dear vulture... they want to eat ! But you have to kill first! Huh? Wait, no... don’t eat ! Not yet! Oh! My wings! No, wait—I don’t have wings!"
Her words tumbled out so fast and in such a chaotic ss that Veer felt his head start to spin. Yet at the sa ti... he couldn’t help it. A laugh threatened to escape, and then he chuckled quietly, holding her tighter.
She wasn’t done. "Oh! Your claws! Do you bite? Do you bite? Be careful! Don’t eat , vulture! They’re behind ! Huh? Oh nooo! My little feet! They’re... they’re so small!"
Veer groaned but kept walking, trying not to bump into anyone. Her tipsy energy was relentless, but sohow... it was adorable. She was ridiculous, hilarious, chaotic... and utterly, unexpectedly charming.
By the ti she finally paused to catch her breath, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and Veer couldn’t help but grin. He had never seen her like this—so free, so wild, so ridiculously alive.
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