"You did good today—just like all the other days this break," Dylan's dad said, his voice mellow beneath the blanket of stars. "Even with your return tomorrow, you still went out, hunted, and brought food home. That's something, kid."
Dylan tilted his head, a sly smirk ghosting his lips. "Well, can't let the legendary Wellington laziness catch up to me just yet."
His dad chuckled, low and warm. "Fair. But tell me this—how's the princess doing? Heard she followed her brother's footsteps… enrolled in the Dark Knight Academy."
"Sheila?" Dylan raised a brow. "She's good. More than good, actually. Holding her own—and currently ranked first among us first-years."
"Hm," his dad hummed, glancing away with a knowing smile. "Still ahead of you, huh?"
Dylan groaned, folding his arms. "I'm painfully aware, old man. No need to salt the emotional wound."
"That's what dads are for," he said, nudging Dylan's shoulder with his elbow. "Besides… you like her, don't you?"
Dylan blinked. "What?"
