“Mr. Aaron Attenborough, this is your delivery. Please give me the verification code,” a childlike voice spoke.

  Then the figure crawled out partway, the rest of its body still hidden in the drawer. It was a thin, gray-skinned demon with large yellow eyes. Its thick black hair was tangled and unkempt, and though it had the youthful face of a boy of twelve or thirteen, it was clear that he was no ordinary child.

  “They’re using drawer demons for deliveries? Whoever came up with that idea really is a genius,” Acher commented with a note of amusement in his voice. “They are one of the species best suited for this kind of work. But I wonder how they manage to suppress their natural malice. I can sense that this youngster is quite calm.”

  Drawer demons, also known as drawerfolks, were a type of low-ranking demon from the depths of the underworld. They were infamous for being weak and timid, and they merely served as food for stronger demon species. Their single redeeming trait was the ability to teleport between narrow spaces.

  Recognizing this potential, a certain naturekin sorcerer had invented a special magical work contract tailored for them. Through such an agreement, living beings could summon drawerfolk from the underworld, employ them for various tasks, and, most importantly, ensure their sanity and prevent them from succumbing to chaotic urges.

  From that point on, drawerfolks were no longer just pathetic low-rank demons.

  “Thanks a lot!” Aaron received the parcel and said.

  He glanced at the demon standing before him. Even though the delivery was complete, his hand remained extended, with no sign of withdrawing. He was staring at Aaron with a steady, almost expectant gaze.

  “Oh, I almost forgot! Give me a minute!” Aaron just realized what the drawerfolk was waiting for.

  He hurried into the bedroom, came back, and dropped two Lypus coins into the demon’s palm.

  “Thank you so much, sir! My name is Deron, and if you’re satisfied with the service, please remember to give me a five-star rating!” the demon said, giving a big grin before retreating and vanishing into the drawer.

  “That’s strange,” Aaron muttered.

  “Very strange.” Luther agreed with a nod.

  Aaron tore away the enchanted black wrapping and opened the parcel. Inside were clusters of small blue fruits nestled in a soft fabric lining within a wooden box.

  “These are gnome grapes,” he explained. “After we finished watching that Gaian Creatures episode the other day, I ordered them right away. They’re said to be super sweet but not cloying at all!”

  “Squeak squeak can I have some??” Jack-O bounded forward.

  “Hold on, let me clean them first,” Aaron said, casting a cleansing spell over the grapes.

  “Sweet, huh?” Luther glanced over, then reached for the entire box, leaving just a single grape for Aaron.

  “Don’t eat too many sweets. They’re not good for your burn,” he said before sharing the rest among everyone else.

  “Luther! I’ve been completely healed for ages now!”

  “Heh heh heh, serves you right, brat.”

  …

  Since the start of November, the outside temperature had dropped significantly, but spring still lingered at the Ravenswood garden, as though blessed by Persephone herself.

  The entire property carried an atmosphere of clean, refreshing air with a mild temperature, just a faint touch of pleasant chill, in stark contrast to the biting cold outside.

  Even though the place was already under the influence of the cloak of ambiguity, Luther still worried that the garden’s unnatural vitality might draw attention. So he purchased an additional set of illusion wards and deployed them to cover both the house and the garden. With that, the place vanished entirely from the sight of mortal eyes.

  “Think this spot’s good enough?” Aaron asked.

  Luther looked at the turned earth and nodded. He stepped forward and began digging small holes about an inch deep and spaced about five feet apart. Into each one, he placed a gemstone no larger than a fingertip: opal, ruby, emerald, diamond, and other varieties.

  These were the seeds of gemstone cherry trees, a magical plant whose fruits look like real jewels. After placing them, Luther sprinkled a pinch of fine, shimmering dust over each one, then covered them with soil and watered them.

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  Nearby, he also planted several other magical crops, such as laughingeggplant and whip cream lettuce. He wanted to see whether they would grow as advertised.

  On the branch of the apple tree some distance away, a pair of Northern Cardinals peeked their heads out of a nest, curiously watching the work below.

  The two birds had arrived soon after Luther had first unrolled the spring scroll. They seemed to enjoy the garden’s climate so much that they had begun building a nest and intended to make this place their home. Judging by their behavior, they were likely a young couple making their first nest together, which was made from just a few thin twigs woven in place.

  The advantage of such a nest was that it was simple and quick to build, but the drawback was that the eggs could very well drop straight to the ground right after they were laid.

  Seeing that, Luther bought a small wooden birdhouse and hung it on the tree for the pair. At first, they refused to move in, even looking at the wooden house with what could only be described as open disdain, until Luther placed two gnome grapes inside.

  On top of that, Aaron also cast a blessing on the pair so they could still see the garden even after Luther set up the illusion wards.

  The two boys spent almost an hour tending to the garden before sitting down together on the two rocking chairs beneath the porch roof. They relaxed there, eating fruit and sipping lemonade.

  The apples, which had once been bright red, had now turned golden and emitted a soft glow ever since Aaron infused them with light magic. The lemons, meanwhile, had become so clear that the plump, juicy segments inside were visible through the peel.

  Out on the lawn, the three pumpkins were running around and chasing each other, while Acher lay stretched out at ease on the outdoor bed Aaron had bought for him, basking in the sunlight.

  “Tonight I have to go home for dinner with my family,” Aaron said. “My parents are hosting Thanksgiving at our place today. Some relatives are coming too, so there’s no escaping it. You should come over and have dinner with us.”

  “No. That’s weird. I stay home with them,” Luther replied, glancing toward the pumpkins and Acher.

  After half an hour of trying and failing to convince him, Aaron sighed and said:

  “Fine. I’ll try to eat fast and then come back here.”

  I knew he wouldn’t agree. He’s still far too closed off around strangers.

  …

  Thanksgiving evening, at the Attenborough mansion.

  “Wow, Aaron, when did you get so tall? Last year, you were only up to my shoulder, and now you’re nearly eye to eye with me! What are you, six-two?” Joseph laughed, draping an arm over his nephew’s shoulders.

  “Hi, Uncle Joseph. Guess I’ve got Dad’s genes to thank,” Aaron replied with a grin. “And Mom’s side too,” he added quickly when he caught Helen’s sidelong glance.

  “Look at my handsome nephew! I bet you’re an even bigger heartbreaker than your uncle was back in high school. He had a new girlfriend every week,” Aunt Lauren, Joseph’s wife, chimed in.

  “Lauren, that’s ancient history!” Joseph groaned.

  The two had known each other since sixth grade. Aaron had heard they once hated each other, like cats and dogs.

  “Aaron is still too naive. I doubt he’s anything like Joseph,” Michael added.

  “Exactly. He’s still just a kid. Don’t go asking him about things like that,” Sophie, Aaron’s grandmother, said. “And stay away from your Uncle Joseph, Aaron. I don’t want you learning any of his bad habits.”

  Joseph scowled in frustration. Back in the day, Michael had been even wilder than him, but he was good at keeping it hidden, while Joseph had a habit of bragging, so now Joseph was forever branded the bad example in the family.

  Michael had two younger brothers, Joseph and Andrew, and a younger sister, Elana, while Helen had one older brother, Phillip. Tonight, the whole clan had gathered, including Michael’s parents and Helen’s mom. The only one missing was Andrew, who had been caught up in unexpected work.

  The house was filled with laughter and the playful shouts of children.

  Paul, Elana's eldest son, stood next to Aaron. When he overheard everyone talking about how “innocent” Aaron was, he pushed up his glasses with a sly smile.

  “I’m done eating, I’ll go upstairs and play games,” Aaron said, standing up.

  “Okay, let’s play Skydiver.” Paul followed right behind.

  "I’m just playing solo. You should stay down here and hang out with Jacob and the others,” Aaron replied with a frown.

  Paul:

  “???”

  “Aaron, why are you eating so little? That’s barely anything. Have some more meat,” Sophie said, as if she hadn’t just watched him polish off two full plates of turkey.

  “Don’t get so addicted to games. We only get together like this once in a while. Stay here and spend some time with your family!” Michael scolded.

  Helen also shot him a warning look. Aaron let out a reluctant sigh and sat back down to play with Paul and the other cousins. About half an hour later, he excused himself to go to the bathroom and then slipped away without a sound.

  Helen narrowed her eyes as she watched the boy’s retreating back. Joseph nudged Michael and whispered,

  “Hey, Mike, you think the kid’s got a girlfriend? He seems kind of restless.”

  “I don’t really know,” Michael said. “Paul, is he seeing any girl from school?”

  Helen turned to look at Paul, too, when she heard her husband’s question.

  “I can tell you for sure, Aaron doesn’t have a girlfriend,” Paul said with a shrug.

  As for a boyfriend… well, I’m not making any promises there.

  Aaron stepped into his room, locked the door, and vanished on the spot, teleporting straight into the Ravenswood living room.

  Luther was sitting on the sofa, watching TV with the pumpkins and the raven. The moment he sensed Aaron’s arrival, he turned his head, eyes lighting up, and a bright smile spreading across his face.

  Aaron suddenly felt something heavy settle in his chest.

  On a day like this, everyone’s surrounded by family, yet he has no one.

  What has it been like for him in the past three years? On Thanksgiving? On Serenity? On New Year? In summer? On his birthday?

  Aaron couldn’t even imagine it, and he also couldn’t find the right words to ask.

  He sat down beside him, then wrapped his arms around Luther, burying his face in the curve of his neck.

  “What’s wrong?” Luther asked.

  “I… I’m cold,” Aaron murmured.

  If you don’t have a family, then I’ll give you one.

  I’ll be your family.

  (Acher and the pumpkins: We are invisible; please pretend we’re not here.)