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“I don’t really want kids, now that I think about it.”
“Pardon?” Riddle raised his brow questioningly, staring up at Kalim with a puzzled look. Azul pushed up his glasses, a similarly confused expression on his face. Riddle huffed lightly, “I don’t see how this is relevant. You’re supposed to be studying the history of Afterglow Savanna,” he let out a long suffering sigh, crossing his arms.
Kalim scratched the back of his head bashfully, “Ahaha, sorry, sorry! But all this talk about families and heirs… It just made me think of my own family. And the future,” he paused momentarily, “Uh, but I’m sorry! I’ll get back on task, promise!”
Riddle opened his mouth to reply, but his expression soured as Azul interjected with a (falsely kind) smile, “No, do go on. I’m curious to hear your thoughts.”
Riddle frowned, “We’re getting off t-“
“Ah, silence. Let Kalim speak,” Riddle’s frown deepened at Azul’s words, but he obliged with a soft scoff, “Ugh, you… Fine, but do make it quick.”
Kalim beamed, “Oh, really?! Okay, let me try to get my thoughts together…”
His grin faltered slightly, “I was just thinking! When I was younger, I got captured multiple times. Poisonings, stuff like that. They never panned out, though… I’m glad they didn’t. But those people targeted me because I’m the heir to the Asim family. One day, when I’m the family head, will my kids go through that too? So, I thought… If I didn’t have kids, everything would be okay. Nobody has to be hurt!”
Azul and Riddle stared at Kalim with wide eyes and concerned expressions. Riddle cleared his throat awkwardly, “Um, pardon me, but… Kalim, are you okay?”
Kalim blinked a few times, tilting his head before smiling again, “I’m okay! I don’t let sad thoughts like that distract me. I want to focus on now. I want to focus on making people happy now! Whatever happens in the future happens. But if I make everyone happy now, it’ll be okay!”
The two other Housewardens stayed silent, exchanging glances and unsaid words between one another. Azul spoke up, “…I see. So that’s the case?” Kalim merely nodded in lieu of reply.
Riddle averted his gaze, “It’d be best for us to get back to studying. I don’t have all day,” his words were slightly strained. Kalim grinned, “Oh, okay!”
Azul and Riddle gave each other a look, and a nod of mutual understanding—
‘Do not bring this up ever again’.