After an hour of meal preparation and plating Juka realized that there was a third plate on the table. He knew his mother only put out extra plates if guests were coming and she only used the fancy china and silverware when it was someone she wanted to impress, like when the district attorney came to talk about his inheritance or when her book club girls came over for the night. Either way, whenever the fine china came out, someone important was coming for a visit.
"Uh…Mom, who's the extra plate for?" Juka asked, hoping it would be one of her old party members. "Someone you'll get the time to know very well" She replied ambiguously. As soon as she had finished her sentence there was a knock at the door, she scurried over to get it after squealing "That's her"
Juka hadn't seen his mother that happy in a while, so he dropped his guard a little. Couldn't have his suspicion ruining the meal they made. "Ju-Ju come to say hi" "Ugh, I hate that nickname. But that's a sign that she isn't faking her happiness" "Coming Mom"
"I wonder just who this guest is that Mom had to be so cryptic about it…..and so happy, Maybe it'll be one of her old friends or party members…..fingers crossed" While he finished drying his hands on the way to the living room with a kitchen towel a voice cut into his thoughts. "Is that little Ju-Ju!? I don't believe it," a woman rushed to hug him and pinch his cheeks "You used to be so adorable and cute, now look at you, a strapping and handsome young man." Juka blushed at the compliment and scratched his head nervously.
He managed to squeak out a thank you to the lady and sat down at the table, his mother, after putting some food on his and her guest's plate sat and served herself last. "Aren't you going to ask who this is Ju-Ju?" She curiously inquired her son. She was expecting a barrage of questions as soon as her friend walked through the door but Juka did a good job at controlling his curiosity…..this time at least.
"I know you have your secrets, and I don't want to open anything I'm not ready for by asking any questions....that and hearing I'll tell you about it later sucks," Juka stated matter of factly. His mother chuckled and then introduced her friend, "This is Louise Manau. A friend I made in my high school days." Louise swallowed her food and spoke up, "Yeah, your mother and I were inseparable back in those days, but she went off to do adventuring, settled down, and had you. I stayed in the Weider Republic and eventually became the headmaster of Merlin's Academy for Gifted Mages, where you'll be attending soon enough" Juka's mother sighs and eats and Louise looks at her in a concerned way.
"You didn't tell him?" She asked "I wanted to be the one to say it but you ruined it…..again"
Juka's mother said sourly, Louise looked at Juka, whose eyes were wide open and jaw was also ajar. "Close your mouth sweetheart" His mother gently nudged him and he finally responded. "Merlin's Academy?! That's really far from Stonehenge Mom, like a whole three-day trip by carriage, plus, I don't exactly have the chops for magic" Juka said
"Well, that's why Louise is here actually, to evaluate you and understand what types of magic you have an affinity for" Louise interrupted, "We can do it when the boy is good and ready…I'm not going back to the city in a rush. I'm using my vacation days so I plan to enjoy my visit to the countryside for a few more days"
Louise waved her hand and her luggage was already on the couch. "How'd you do that?"Juka was surprised at what he saw. "Concealment magic is very useful kiddo, though it is more of a mix between light and dark mana. Making it easy to learn but difficult to master" Louise stated, then shrugged. "Nothing much to it really" She stretched and yawned a little. "You can stay in my room Aunt Louise, I can take the couch," Juka said, trying to be a generous and gracious host for his soon-to-be headmaster. "Trying to win me over with kind gestures, are you? It's sweet but I'm the guest here, I don't mind taking the couch" Louise replied. "She's right sweetheart, besides your room isn't exactly fit for guests who can't keep their hands by their sides" His mother jabbed at Louise.
"You're still mad about that puzzle dungeon? None of us knew the whole place was booby-trapped Averon" "If you didn't rush in blindly I would've gotten a chance to use my [PathFinder Spell] and I'd have a mana map we could've followed right to the loot without triggering any traps" Juka's mother stated coldly….something told him she was still peeved about that particular adventure. Louise whined a bit "Juka help me out here, she's being mean" "Hey, I'm staying out of those crosshairs" Juka said with his hands raised as he picked up the dishes to go to the kitchen sink "That isn't a battle I can win so I'm not challenging it" "Smart kid, Averon do you mind if Juka and I take a little walk to help the food go down?" Louise asked, "I don't see why not, You two can catch up while I tidy the kitchen and sort the laundry" Averon replied while she practically shooed them out of the house
"Alright kid, now it's just you and me," Louise said with something of a playful yet sinister grin.