—Ghislaine Village—
Sitting Eris and Rudeus down in the mansion, Hilda and Paul got them up to speed on everything that had occurred after the Teleportation Event. Listening to everything they had to say, Eris began to tear up as the realization hit her that the life she knew before was over. Having lost her father, her family name, her noble status, and the city she loved Eris began to wonder if it was worth continuing to live for a moment. Placing a calm hand on her shoulder, Rudeus assured her that everything would be alright.
“So this is where we will live from now on?”, Rudeus asked, trying to change the subject to something more upbeat.
“Correct, this is the safest place for us to live for the foreseeable future. Thanks to the former Prime Minister Darius and James, our family name is in tatters at the moment. As you both have likely figured out, we cannot continue using our last name anymore without potentially being attacked. Lilia and I have already decided to use your mother’s last name, Latreia, moving forward.”, Paul explained.
“What about us?”, Eris asked Hilda.
“Your grandfather has chosen to continue using the Greyrat name till the day he dies.”, Hilda said, with a warm smile, “As for you and I, that has not been decided yet. I have considered using my maiden name, but I do not want to cause my family any problems. If you have any suggestions, I am more than happy to hear them.”
Shaking her head, Eris acknowledged that she was not the best at picking names. Switching topics, I decided to brooch the topic of what they intended to do now. While Hilda and Paul might want them to live in the village, there was little chance they would stay put for long. Having had a taste of the open road for themselves, they were bound to run off eventually to continue their adventuring like in the normal timeline.
“So what do the two of you plan on doing?”, I inquired, leaning forward with interest, “Are you going to settle down and make this your home, or are you going to set out on a new adventure?”
“Cole!?”, Hilda gasped, taken aback by my question, “We just got them back, why are you asking if they are going to run off again?!”
“Come now, what did you think was going to happen? Both of them have tasted freedom and adventure, it is going to stick with them till they are good and ready to settle down. I have been in their shoes before, there is nothing quite like sleeping out under the stars with people you hold dear.”, I remarked, recalling all the happy memories I had on the road with my family, “It is better if both of you accept that they will want to leave again and embrace the time you have together now. They are not going to disappear and never come back, they just want to go out there and find themselves in the world. You can rest assured that they will write letters and send presents back to you from all corners of the globe.”
“I…I do not like it!”, Hilda protested, fearing that Eris would die like her sons.
“Of course, I am not suggesting we let them go as they are now. They need the proper training and knowledge to survive on their own. You will not have the safety net that Ruijerd provided you up till now.”, I pointed out, “If you both want to be Adventurers, you will need to learn swordsmanship and magic to a much higher degree than you do now. My suggestion is to take courses in my capital for two years, then head out on your journey.”
Looking at one another, Eris and Rudeus thought about my suggestion for a moment. As they thought about my suggestion, I heard something rustling outside the window behind us. Looking over my shoulder, I saw two unmistakable sets of ears poking out of the bushes trying to listen in on our conversation. Letting out a sigh, I looked over at Ghislaine and pointed over at them.
“What are you pointing at?”, Ghislaine remarked, leaning over to look, “Seriously…Linia and Pursena, what are you doing here? Gyes and I made it very clear to stay away from Sauros’ home!”
“Yipe!!”, the two screamed, leaping out of the bushes in shock.
“It was Linia, she dragged me here against my will!”, Pursena stated, immediately shifting the blame to her friend, “Please spare me, Linia deserves whatever she has coming for her!”
“Yeah, I deserve every…HEY WAIT A SECOND!!!”, Linia shouted, glaring at Pursena, “Are you trying to get me killed!”
“Better you than me.”, Pursena remarked.
“Enough, both of you head home immediately!”, Ghislaine scolded them.
“Yes, Ma’am!!”, they screamed, turning to leave in a hurry.
Watching them stumble over one another, the two girls vacated the premises in a hurry leaving Ghislaine with an exhausted expression. Apologizing to everyone for her niece’s antics, she promised to have a serious discussion with her after this. Thinking about something for a moment, I asked Ghislaine if her niece and friend were causing a lot of problems here in the village.
“I assume they are the village’s troublemakers?”, I inquired.
“Of course they are, Gyes’ stories of my escapades did the opposite of what he wanted. Lina wants to live the life she thinks I had on the open road, but what she knows and what happened are two different things. Based on what I have seen, she will get in over her head and end up a slave. As for Pursena, she goes along with Linia because they are best friends but as you saw…the moment trouble happens she throws Linia under the wagon.”, Ghislaine admitted, “Gyes and Beaute want to send the two of them off to the Ronoa Magic Academy to gain experience. While they may be troublemakers, they are some of the best mages in the Great Forest.”
“I see, why not send them along with Eris and Rudeus to my country’s academy?”, I suggested, with a smirk, “There are plenty of troublemakers in the capital that will give them a run for the money. They will not cause trouble there and will have time to mature a bit more while also not being too far from their parents.”
“How so?”, Ghislaine asked.
“I can open a portal here in the village, or somewhere else in the Great Forest. The people here can go trade in my capital, and not have to worry about being discriminated against.”, I pointed out, “You were in my capital city for a while, did any of you feel discriminated against or taken advantage of?”
Looking at each other, they acknowledged that my country was unlike any other nation they knew of. Agreeing that Linia and Pursena would not be troubled by the people, Ghislaine agreed to speak with Gyes about it.
“Now that everyone has something to consider, I suggest you all take some time as a family. All of you have gone through a lot and need some time to yourselves.”, I said, sliding some coin to Paul, “Take your family to a nice meal and dessert in my capital city, my treat. Let Rudeus get to know his sisters and reconnect with all of you, it has been a few years since he has seen any of you. Hilda and Eris, if you do not mind, how about joining my family and me for dinner and a movie?”
“Are you sure?”, Hilda inquired.
“Of course, we are going to watch a movie that the kids have been begging to go see.”, I chuckled.
“What is a movie?”, Eris asked her mother.
“It is moving pictures with sound!”, Hilda explained, using the description I gave her previously.
“That sounds cool!!”, Eris acknowledged, “Let us get going!!”
Sending off Paul’s family first, I tossed Rudeus a crystal that would teleport them back here once they were done. Thanking me for my kindness, I reminded him to just enjoy some quality time with his family and forget about everything for the night. Seeing them off, my group headed to my home to meet with my family and head out for a night on the down.
—Ghislaine Village—
Sitting Eris and Rudeus down in the mansion, Hilda and Paul got them up to speed on everything that had occurred after the Teleportation Event. Listening to everything they had to say, Eris began to tear up as the realization hit her that the life she knew before was over. Having lost her father, her family name, her noble status, and the city she loved Eris began to wonder if it was worth continuing to live for a moment. Placing a calm hand on her shoulder, Rudeus assured her that everything would be alright.
“So this is where we will live from now on?”, Rudeus asked, trying to change the subject to something more upbeat.
“Correct, this is the safest place for us to live for the foreseeable future. Thanks to the former Prime Minister Darius and James, our family name is in tatters at the moment. As you both have likely figured out, we cannot continue using our last name anymore without potentially being attacked. Lilia and I have already decided to use your mother’s last name, Latreia, moving forward.”, Paul explained.
“What about us?”, Eris asked Hilda.
“Your grandfather has chosen to continue using the Greyrat name till the day he dies.”, Hilda said, with a warm smile, “As for you and I, that has not been decided yet. I have considered using my maiden name, but I do not want to cause my family any problems. If you have any suggestions, I am more than happy to hear them.”
Shaking her head, Eris acknowledged that she was not the best at picking names. Switching topics, I decided to brooch the topic of what they intended to do now. While Hilda and Paul might want them to live in the village, there was little chance they would stay put for long. Having had a taste of the open road for themselves, they were bound to run off eventually to continue their adventuring like in the normal timeline.
“So what do the two of you plan on doing?”, I inquired, leaning forward with interest, “Are you going to settle down and make this your home, or are you going to set out on a new adventure?”
“Cole!?”, Hilda gasped, taken aback by my question, “We just got them back, why are you asking if they are going to run off again?!”
“Come now, what did you think was going to happen? Both of them have tasted freedom and adventure, it is going to stick with them till they are good and ready to settle down. I have been in their shoes before, there is nothing quite like sleeping out under the stars with people you hold dear.”, I remarked, recalling all the happy memories I had on the road with my family, “It is better if both of you accept that they will want to leave again and embrace the time you have together now. They are not going to disappear and never come back, they just want to go out there and find themselves in the world. You can rest assured that they will write letters and send presents back to you from all corners of the globe.”
“I…I do not like it!”, Hilda protested, fearing that Eris would die like her sons.
“Of course, I am not suggesting we let them go as they are now. They need the proper training and knowledge to survive on their own. You will not have the safety net that Ruijerd provided you up till now.”, I pointed out, “If you both want to be Adventurers, you will need to learn swordsmanship and magic to a much higher degree than you do now. My suggestion is to take courses in my capital for two years, then head out on your journey.”
Looking at one another, Eris and Rudeus thought about my suggestion for a moment. As they thought about my suggestion, I heard something rustling outside the window behind us. Looking over my shoulder, I saw two unmistakable sets of ears poking out of the bushes trying to listen in on our conversation. Letting out a sigh, I looked over at Ghislaine and pointed over at them.
“What are you pointing at?”, Ghislaine remarked, leaning over to look, “Seriously…Linia and Pursena, what are you doing here? Gyes and I made it very clear to stay away from Sauros’ home!”
“Yipe!!”, the two screamed, leaping out of the bushes in shock.
“It was Linia, she dragged me here against my will!”, Pursena stated, immediately shifting the blame to her friend, “Please spare me, Linia deserves whatever she has coming for her!”
“Yeah, I deserve every…HEY WAIT A SECOND!!!”, Linia shouted, glaring at Pursena, “Are you trying to get me killed!”
“Better you than me.”, Pursena remarked.
“Enough, both of you head home immediately!”, Ghislaine scolded them.
“Yes, Ma’am!!”, they screamed, turning to leave in a hurry.
Watching them stumble over one another, the two girls vacated the premises in a hurry leaving Ghislaine with an exhausted expression. Apologizing to everyone for her niece’s antics, she promised to have a serious discussion with her after this. Thinking about something for a moment, I asked Ghislaine if her niece and friend were causing a lot of problems here in the village.
“I assume they are the village’s troublemakers?”, I inquired.
“Of course they are, Gyes’ stories of my escapades did the opposite of what he wanted. Lina wants to live the life she thinks I had on the open road, but what she knows and what happened are two different things. Based on what I have seen, she will get in over her head and end up a slave. As for Pursena, she goes along with Linia because they are best friends but as you saw…the moment trouble happens she throws Linia under the wagon.”, Ghislaine admitted, “Gyes and Beaute want to send the two of them off to the Ronoa Magic Academy to gain experience. While they may be troublemakers, they are some of the best mages in the Great Forest.”
“I see, why not send them along with Eris and Rudeus to my country’s academy?”, I suggested, with a smirk, “There are plenty of troublemakers in the capital that will give them a run for the money. They will not cause trouble there and will have time to mature a bit more while also not being too far from their parents.”
“How so?”, Ghislaine asked.
“I can open a portal here in the village, or somewhere else in the Great Forest. The people here can go trade in my capital, and not have to worry about being discriminated against.”, I pointed out, “You were in my capital city for a while, did any of you feel discriminated against or taken advantage of?”
Looking at each other, they acknowledged that my country was unlike any other nation they knew of. Agreeing that Linia and Pursena would not be troubled by the people, Ghislaine agreed to speak with Gyes about it.
“Now that everyone has something to consider, I suggest you all take some time as a family. All of you have gone through a lot and need some time to yourselves.”, I said, sliding some coin to Paul, “Take your family to a nice meal and dessert in my capital city, my treat. Let Rudeus get to know his sisters and reconnect with all of you, it has been a few years since he has seen any of you. Hilda and Eris, if you do not mind, how about joining my family and me for dinner and a movie?”
“Are you sure?”, Hilda inquired.
“Of course, we are going to watch a movie that the kids have been begging to go see.”, I chuckled.
“What is a movie?”, Eris asked her mother.
“It is moving pictures with sound!”, Hilda explained, using the description I gave her previously.
“That sounds cool!!”, Eris acknowledged, “Let us get going!!”
Sending off Paul’s family first, I tossed Rudeus a crystal that would teleport them back here once they were done. Thanking me for my kindness, I reminded him to just enjoy some quality time with his family and forget about everything for the night. Seeing them off, my group headed to my home to meet with my family and head out for a night on the down.
