by Eric Vall
It was strange to admit, but thinking my parents died in a monster attack had given me some comfort. After all, it meant it wasn’t their fault I was an orphan, and neither was it my own fault. I always believed my parents loved me, and I secretly suspected they died to protect me during that attack.
From what I remembered, I had no reason to doubt the naive narrative I created for myself. My father was often away for work, and my mother had a warm smile. They laughed a lot, and they were both kind to everyone they met. I even remembered my mother making me potato skins fresh from the oven, and she always smelled of the bread she baked every few days for us to eat.
Was it all a lie? Could it be a fantasy I constructed when I was little, and I simply forgot it wasn’t true as I aged? I couldn’t maintain my faith in my own memory anymore.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Ashla’s voice interrupted my thoughts in a hushed tone, as if she were afraid to startle me.
“I … “ I started, but the thought trailed off and escaped me before I could finish it. “I don’t know.”
“That’s fine,” Ashla assured me. “You don’t have to know. I’ll be here if you want to talk.”
“I will too,” Erin added seriously, and she looked at me with worry. “Well, I’ll be in the cockpit, actually, but you can call me back for a quick word when we’re at altitude.”
“I’m fine,” I reassured them, but it wasn’t at all convincing, and my voice cracked halfway through the second word. “I’ll be fine.”
“Maybe sleep is a good idea,” Ashla suggested as she chewed on her lip nervously.
“I think so,” I agreed. “I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize,” Erin affirmed. “You got some tough news. Time to stop trying to be the fearless leader and start treating yourself like a regular human being.”
Something about the last part struck me as funny, what with Sera living in my head, and I cracked a tentative smile.
“That’s the spirit,” Ashla said warmly. “Let’s get this hunk of metal running.”
“Her name is Diomesia,” Erin huffed in offense. “I can’t believe you dared to call her a hunk. She’s a finely tuned war machine, you know.”
“Sure, sure,” Ashla agreed. “Whatever you say, just don’t act like everything is totally smooth in the flying business, though. I know your pilot secrets, now.”
“Why did I think telling you guys was a good idea?” Erin asked herself in a mournful tone, and she shook her head as she ducked away into the pilot’s hold.
On the ride back, I tried to sleep and failed, just as I expected. Instead, I kept my eyes closed and thought about the potential of finding out even more about my family. What if I went looking for Genevieve and Relaude, and I actually found real information? What if I came back to Varle and asked Maelor, and he had the entire story ready for me? Did I really want to know?
More questions spun through my head about potential outcomes. Anything could happen, really, and it was possible my parents were both still alive. Hell, it was possible I even had brothers or sisters, or an entire extended family. Would it be a good idea to meet them, or was that asking for trouble? Besides that, where would I even find the time to worry about them? I had one Archon in my head and another snooping around Njordenfalls while she tried to end humanity. If I wasted my time on family research, it would be like using my sword to cut my hair when there were two lions about to pounce.
Are you sure you don’t want to take me up on my offer? Sera purred as if she was drawn to my distress. I could tell you so much about your past … you’d just have to pay my price, that’s all.
I clenched my jaw and shoved Sera back into the corner of my mind. She wasn’t getting a hold of me, not ever, and she’d better learn that.
Maybe … maybe it was smarter for me to ignore the entire parent question. I could simply live my life like I never found this information out. I could talk to Maelor and pretend like nothing happened. I could quietly shove this entire situation under the bed, and damn the morbid curiosity that roiled in my gut.
I sat upright and rolled the crick out of my neck as I pretended to wake up.
Ashla looked up from her research journal and blinked at me with a gentle, questioning gaze.
“Ashla,” I asked hesitantly, “do you think blood relationships are more important than friends?”
“Of course not,” she replied immediately. “I find the family I’ve made is far more important than the one I was born with. My parents weren’t bad people, but we simply weren’t as compatible in our relationship as my friends are with me.”
“Oh,” I said in surprise as I considered her words. “I’m glad to hear you say that, I think.”
“Don’t ever feel bad for prioritizing the people you love over the people you barely knew,” Ashla advised with a slight smile. “I know it’s tradition to respect one’s parents, but that only works with some families. I appreciate those who stick with their blood through thick and thin, but it’s not always the right answer.”
“Huh,” I said. “I … I think that’s good for me to hear.”
“It is,” Ashla agreed as she turned a page in her journal. “Don’t overthink it.
I wanted to laugh at her blasé attitude, but Ashla wasn’t one to just say things she didn’t mean, and she was unabashedly strange in many ways.
“Thanks,” I said, and this time I forced some conviction into my voice. “You’re right as usual, Ashla.”
“Damn straight,” she replied with a huge grin.
This time, I laid my head down with the real intention to go to sleep. I was emotionally and physically exhausted, and my body knew it. I listened to the airship creak as Ashla turned pages occasionally, and within a few quiet minutes of listening, I managed to nod off successfully.
When I woke up hours later, the airship was in the middle of its descent as it lowered itself shakily to the docking yard of Varle Enclave.
“Ugh,” Ashla groaned. “This little thing sure gets tossed around, doesn’t it?”
“Diomesia is pretty small,” I agreed as I rubbed my eyes. “Erin’s a good pilot, at least. I can’t imagine how it would be with some freshly trained military man at the wheel.”
“Yeah,” Ashla hummed. “I’m glad they stick with their humongous ships.”
“Me too,” Erin joined in as the mimic ducked from the cockpit. “They leave me the fun, quick stuff.”
Ashla and I laughed, and I realized I was feeling much better than I had before I got some rest. Once again, the ice mage’s suggestions were spot-on. I’d have to listen to her more often.
We clambered off the airship before we made our way through the empty streets back to the Academy. The people of Varle Enclave filed outside to do their jobs as they began to wake up for the day, and I knew the Academy would just be starting to rouse for classes. I wanted nothing more than to go to bed and report to Headmaster Sleet in the afternoon, but we didn’t have enough time.
Layla and Cyra needed us, and I didn’t like the idea of the permanent rift sitting without a proper, full guard.
We traversed the streets and slipped through the solid oak doors at the front of the Academy. The school was mostly abandoned, just as I suspected. I spotted a few teachers and dedicated students hurrying here or there, but classes were still over two hours away from starting.
I turned to the two women with me as the events of the day crashed into me with startling realism.
“Thank you both for your help today,” I said seriously. “I just didn’t know how to deal with the surprise of it all. I never expected to hear news like that.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Erin reassured me as she rubbed at her bloodshot eyes. “You help us all the time. It’s what friends do.”
“And I’m lucky to have you,” I said with gratitude.
“I’m lucky to have you too, Gryff,” Ashla replied. “Now, let’s go make that report.”
A small smile snuck its way onto my
face. It wasn’t huge, but it was there, and I felt better with the kind words of my women backing me up.
As a group, we headed toward the clinic, where I knew I could find either Meridan, Arwyn, or Sleet himself in order to set up the report. Unexpectedly, the three of us ran into Arwyn on the way, and she looked even more shocked to see us.
“You’re back already?” she asked as she glanced over us with a worried expression. “I guess that means mission success, right? Where are Cyra and Layla?”
“They’re both fine,” I explained quickly to reassure her. “We left them in Njordenfalls to watch what we think is a permanent rift location, but they’re going to need backup.”
“You’ll need to report to Headmaster Sleet, then,” Arwyn realized. “I’ll set up the meeting, but it might take an hour for everybody to reschedule their mornings. Be ready at seven-thirty, I think.”
“Thanks,” I said gratefully. “I’m glad you realize how quickly this has to get done.”
Soldiers took a long time to mobilize, and I suspected this case would take even longer than usual. Njordenfalls didn’t have enough room to house more than a couple dozen strangers at a time, so the soldiers would have to create their own lodgings, at least in part. It would be a difficult operation, and I hoped Sleet could speed it along.
“You three should get some food in you,” Arwyn told us as she frowned at our exhausted expressions. “I realize you’re tired, but part of that is a lack of fuel.”
“Sure thing,” I agreed easily. “Breakfast sounds good.”
“I’ve got to drop off my stuff,” Ashla said. “I’ll meet you in the cafeteria, Gryff.”
“Me too,” Erin added as she adjusted her travel pack on one shoulder. “I’ll make sure not to sit down, and that way I won’t fall asleep.”
I agreed to meet them all for breakfast, but I decided to just take my travel pack and go straight to eating. I might get some odd looks for carrying around fifty pounds of hiking gear, but I didn’t care anymore.
Unexpectedly, I ran into Nia on the way to the cafeteria. She was sitting on a bench and reading a book, and she paged through it idly as she uncrossed and crossed her legs. Then she looked up and stopped me with a surprised look as her eyes widened. Her face was bright, and her skin looked smooth and slightly tanned.
“I’m having a lucky morning, aren’t I?” I asked myself rhetorically.
“Gryff?” Nia wondered as realization dawned on her face. “You’re back so soon!”
“I am,” I admitted with some surprise.
It seemed like so much time had passed since I left for the mission, but it really hadn’t been long, if I thought about it.
“Are the others back, too?” she asked as she tilted her head.
“Ashla and Erin are,” I answered, “but Layla and Cyra are staying in Njordenfalls to hold down the fort. They should be fine, as long as Sleet sends a backup platoon quickly.”
“I’m sure he will,” Nia interjected confidently, though her brow creased in subtle worry.
“You look well-rested,” I said with slight surprise in my voice as I examined her closely.
“Things on the political side have been going well,” Nia answered with a pleased expression. “I may have gotten some relaxation time to train and walk around while you were gone.”
“Only you would use relaxation time for training,” I joked with a chuckle.
“You train almost as much as I do during your time off,” Nia sniped back with a shake of her head.
“I can’t argue with that,” I sighed with an amused smile. “Anyway, I’m going to get some breakfast. Ashla and Erin should be along soon.”
“I may as well join you all,” Nia decided as she stood and folded her book before she brushed off her skirt. “Arwyn’s study guide has led me to some good books, by the way. You should pick some up before you go anywhere else, okay?”
“I guess I will,” I said reluctantly.
“No guessing,” Nia told me resolutely. “Studying is important.”
“Sure, but nobody studies like you do,” I pointed out with a grin. “You’re doing extra reading, and I’m sure you’ve got the rest of the guide memorized.”
“I do not,” Nia said hotly. “It will be at least another week until it’s memorized.”
“You can’t hear yourself, huh?” I asked with a chuckle.
“This is perfectly normal if you want to do well in school,” Nia insisted before she looked away and huffed.
We grabbed lunch together, and I filled up my tray with pepper and eggplant pasta as well as smoked, grilled salmon. Nia piled on two servings of sweet potato puree before she got some salmon and pasta as well.
“I didn’t realize you were such a sweet potato fan,” I commented.
“I’m not,” she spoke succinctly, “but Braden is, and he’s sitting right over there.”
I hadn’t seen the large summoner, since he wasn’t at our regular table. Actually, Braden was pretty good at being unobtrusive despite his size, so I wasn’t surprised he slipped by me unnoticed.
“Let’s go eat with him,” I agreed happily.
We sat down, and Braden greeted us with a wordless noise as he struggled to swallow his huge mouthful of food. He stared at me in surprise, then I noticed his eyes shoot straight to Nia’s pile of sweet potatoes, and I smiled in amusement as I saw the telltale signs of puree that used to be on his plate.
“Hey bud,” I greeted, “I’m back.”
Braden made a wordless noise and waved at me, but his eyes slid right back to the sweet potato puree.
“Don’t worry,” Nia assured him, “it’s for you.”
She lifted her tray over and scraped most of the sweet potato onto his plate, and Braden’s eyes widened as he swallowed his food.
“You’re a saint,” he murmured in awe. “And Gryff’s here too! This must be the start of a great day.”
“I think so,” I agreed.
“Nia,” Braden continued seriously. “You’ll have to give me some way to pay you back later. This gift is too much.”
“It took me five seconds to do,” Nia insisted with a shake of her head. “No need to pay me back, Braden.”
The big summoner grinned at her anyway as he scooped up a forkful of sweet potato.
“You’re nicer than you pretend to be, admit it,” Braden retorted as he waved his fork at the ashen-haired mage. “By the way, I’m guessing your mission was a success?”
“Sure was,” I said, and I hastily dug into my pasta as I remembered the time constraints. “Though I’m worried about what could happen. I’ll tell you all about it during the seven-thirty meeting, if you come. You are going to come, right?”
“I guess I will,” Braden said thoughtfully.
“You definitely should,” Nia advised him. “You’re an integral part of this team, just as much as the rest of us are.”
“If you say so,” Braden hummed noncommittally.
Part of me worried about Braden’s lack of confidence in his own abilities, but I knew he’d get braver if he got the chance to fight again. I was okay with being patient with him, though.
“Where did Erin and Ashla get to?” I wondered out loud as I twirled my fork through my food.
“Maybe they realized they couldn’t make it to the meeting on time if they got breakfast,” Braden answered.
“Shit,” I swore at the idle comment. “We’re really going to be late, you think?”
“Better eat fast,” he told us both.
We finished our meal without much more chit-chat, since we were forced to scarf our food down quickly to finish in time.
After we were done, we rushed to dump our food before we headed out to the cafeteria hallway.
“Either of you have a watch?” I asked worriedly as I tried to figure out how long we’d been eating.
“No,” Nia answered.
“I always forget to rewind mine,” Braden admitted, “so I barely wear it anymore.”
�
��Uh, we’re probably on time,” I guessed without confidence.
We entered through the staircase and the hidden door, and I stopped short in the entrance at the sound of Ashla already narrating our journey.
Gawain, Orenn, Almasy, Arwyn, Erin, and Headmaster Sleet sat and listened to her, but they glanced up as we entered.
Almasy had his legs kicked up on the chair next to him, as if he were enjoying a conversation between friends rather than attending a secret meeting. The pilot’s blond hair was ruffled up, and his stubble was beginning to grow out, so I suspected he was run thin by recent monster activity.
Arwyn had her long, red hair tied back out of her face, and it was a look I was unfamiliar with, even though I liked seeing it. There was an ink smudge across her cheek, so I knew she was still in the thick of research.
Erin and Ashla looked pretty much the same as when I last saw them, and both of them seemed relieved to see us arrive. Ashla stopped her narration and gave me a smile.
“Two minutes late,” Gawain accused severely as he tipped back in his chair. “So disrespectful.”
He looked better than when I last saw him, and I noticed Meridan was no longer present to protect the fire mage from further injury.
For that matter, Orenn was also in good shape, and I suspected he was close to getting a clean bill of health if he hadn’t already.
“Sorry,” I apologized to the room. “We took longer than expected with breakfast.”
“You’re fine, Gryff,” Headmaster Sleet explained with a crinkled smile. “I decided to begin on the less important details of your mission result. You, Braden, and Nia haven’t missed anything critical.”
“Thanks,” I said gratefully as the three of us hastily slipped into our seats.
“Alright, Ashla,” Sleet said. “Continue from where you left off.”
Ashla narrated while Erin and I inserted our own comments. I was worried about the information we got from Tabby concerning my past, but Ashla and Erin glazed over those details with barely a mention.
