As the sky above Creedwood was beginning to darken, Edward and Derrick made their way to their abode: an imposing and well kept three-store stone building, provided with a basement. The stone took on various shades of gray, windows were at every store of the mansion. Its appearance was solemn, but not excessive.
It was the Raven's Nest, home to the Crowleys for generations.
A modest alleyway preceded the main doorway of the manor. The two spellcasters walked through that courtyard and entered. They would have found a man to receive them; a man with short black hair, a thin mustache of the very same color, and brown eyes, dressed in a white shirt, brown pants, black shoes and a brown vest.
"Welcome back, master Derrick and master Edward." he greeted affably, with a smile and a gracious bow, which was returned by the two alchemists.
"Thanks, Andrew." the former of the two replied.
"How did your work with the Guild go today, master Edward?" Andrew asked.
"All in due time, Andrew." the young alchemist replied.
"That is right." his father added "I believe it would be best to speak of it in front of a warm meal."
"About that matter, masters, I made sure to cater to it in good time." Andrew readily replied, before turning "Please, follow me."
"As foresighted as ever, I see." Derrick commented, with a good-hearted laugh, as he walked alongside his son, following the man through the atrium, and headed up a flight of stairs, eventually reaching the room used for private meals. It was a modestly sized room, furnished with a window giving a view over the city of Creedwood, as well as a small circular table and four wooden chairs, provided with cushions.
There were two perchs for the winged familiars for the spellcasters, as well, complete with small hanging bowls already filled with fodder. Oculus and Noctis were quick to perch themselves upon them, and began voraciously eating their food.
"Sit, if you please." Andrew said, with a smile, and once the two took their place at the table, he took an apron and, after wearing it, headed into the adjacent kitchen; a room filled with utensils and provided with a furnace that ensured the complete self-sufficiency of the manor regarding food. He came back to the dining room with a tray carrying cooked chicken, with small-sized vegetables and potatoes as a side dish. "Dinner is served." he stated as he laid the tray upon the table, before the two alchemists.
"Many thanks, Andrew!" Derrick said, with a smile.
"Why won't you sit to eat with us?" Edward suggested, with a smile of his own.
"Ah, 'tis not necessary." the man objected, shaking his head "No need to concern yourselves."
"Oh, please, I insist." the young spellcaster replied "After all, we were supposed to relate to you the happenings that today brought, were we not?"
"My son is right, Andrew." Derrick added, as his smile brightened "You are a member of this family. Come, sit with us." The servant eventually yielded and, with a bright smile of his own, joined the two alchemists in their supper.
"Thank you, sires." he said as he sat beside them. Then, the three began indulging in their meal, not neglecting to converse.
"Today, you have exceeded yourself, Andrew!" Edward exclaimed, after savoring some eager morsels.
"Your praises honor me, sires..." the servant replied "Although, I would like to know how your day went."
"Oh, indeed!" Derrick retorted, before scratching his short beard as he went on talking "Well, given the scarcity of requests for the workshop today, I decided to make a tour of the city, to observe whether there were any problems arising, and to ascertain that the clients were satisfied with their purchases."
"I imagine that medical offices and hospitals have been your first concern." Andrew commented, to which the imposing mage nodded.
"Indeed." he replied "And it appears our medicine sees a large and efficient use."
"What of fireworks and markets for adventurers?" Edward asked.
"They were widely satisfied of our goods, as well." Derrick readily replied.
"What do you have to recount, master Edward?" Andrew asked. The young spellcaster was ready to answer.
"Kain and I have been tasked with patrolling an agrarian village. We came across a troll about to devour some poor peasants, and put it down, then we ensured that no other monstrosity was close by."
"Local militia short on men, I suppose." the servant of the two alchemists observed.
"Yes, so it is." Edward replied, with a nod "It happened this afternoon. Before that, I stood by awaiting orders, and in those few times I have been busy, I was still in the city."
"The blood of the troll, of course my son has collected, and given it to me upon returning." Derrick added, to which his servant nodded in understanding.
"You have met master Jonathan upon returning, I imagine." he mused, to which the two alchemists nodded.
"It seems he had a rather tranquil inspection tour, as well." Edward replied, smiling "Furthermore, he sends his regards." The butler smiled upon hearing those words, before remembering an important message he was supposed to relay.
"Master Derrick..." he began "We have received a letter from master Thomas. 'Tis in your office, ready to be examined, along with the requests for the workshop for tomorrow."
"Thank you, Andrew." the mage replied, with a nod and a smile.
Not long after, the three had finished with their supper.
"What shall you do now, sires?" Andrew asked, as he took off the apron.
"I will head to my office." Derrick replied "I will use the troll blood that has been found today, I will read Thomas's letter and write a reply." The butler nodded, before turning to the mage's son.
"What about you, master Edward?"
"I was thinking of training myself with my blade." the young spellcaster answered, before suggesting "Would you mind assisting me, Andrew?"
"Not in the slightest." Andrew replied, shaking his head and smiling. The three stood up from the table. Derrick headed to the stairs, with the intent of walking upstairs and reaching his office, located at the utmost height of his manor, while his son, followed by Andrew, was intent on heading downstairs, in the basement of the Nest, in a room where there could have been enough space for maneuver for an exercise such as training with swords.
...
Treading upon the pathways of Creedwood, under the sky darkened by the looming of the evening, with the sun almost completely engulfed under the horizon, and the half moon already visible in the sky along with some stars surrounding it, Jonathan Crowley made his way to his house, a large three-store villa, with white walls and blue tiles, particularly in the roof. The walls were complete with glass windows.
Once he was in front of the door, he knocked thrice. A young woman opened the door to him. She had shining green eyes, dazzling shoulder-length red hair, and two small black horns atop her forehead, revealing her nature as a Tiefling, a being whose blood carried signs of demonic essence. She was dressed in a white shirt, black pants, polished black shoes and a black vest. Upon seeing the black-haired young man, she smiled at him.
"Welcome back, master Jonathan." she greeted, with a bow.
"Thank you, Kimberley." Jonathan replied, bowing back. The Tiefling slightly moved aside, enough to allow the commissioner to enter his dwelling.
"Dinner is already prepared, sire." she remarked, following him.
"Thanks." he replied "Patrol tours in the city can make a man quite peckish..."
"I can imagine." Kimberley said, smiling at his statement, before turning away from him "Please, follow me." She led him across the atrium, and up the flight of stairs, until they reached the room of private meals, decorated in a minor manner and furnished with a window offering a view of the city below, as well as a circular wooden table with four chairs. Beside the window, there was a perch with a hanging bowl, upon which a beautiful peregrine falcon, with brown feathers and lively amber eyes, was perched, intent on eating the fodder placed in the bowl. As Jonathan came closer, it raised its feathered head, giving him the chance to stroke it. The falcon gleefully accepted the gesture, rubbing its head against his hand, and emitting low cries which resembled something between a purr and a chirp.
"I hope the wait of me did not weigh upon you, Gladius." Jonathan murmured, to which the falcon looked at him, and answered with a higher chirp, still far from the majestic screeches of which every falcon is capable. In the meantime, Kimberley collected from the adjacent kitchen two dishes, already filled with roast chicken, along with carrots and potatoes as a side, and placed them on the table, before sitting at it. The raven-black-haired youth was swift to join her, and the two began eating the food on their table.
"You have my compliments, Kimberley!" Jonathan exclaimed, after savoring some morsels "It is delicious."
"You flatter me, sire." she replied, with a warm smile, before asking "But, pray tell, how did the patrol go, today?"
"Well, today has been a tranquil day." Jonathan replied "I did not come across nothing that was immediately concerning."
"I understand... But you are not the kind of man to stop to the immediate." his servant commented, smiling "Knowing you, sire, I know that you do your work even when things are seemingly completely tranquil around you..." Jonathan let out a crystal clear laugh.
"You know me all too well, Kimberley." he said, before continuing his recounting "I have seen the flow of life, in the streets of the city, but also the misery of the ones who are overwhelmed and swept by it... As I was skirting the river, I came across a poor woman, reduced to rags, followed by her child..." Kimberley listened to him attentively "I gave them a golden coin, along with the loaf of bread I was eating in that moment."
"Did you not have, even for an instant, the doubt that your choice was truly right?" Kimberley asked, with a certain seriousness, the same seriousness that was on Jonathan's face as he replied.
"A constable caught me and rebuked me, asking me the very same question..." he said "...But, just as I answered him, if I didn't make an attempt to mitigate the suffering of my fellow men, if I behaved as if their struggles were separate from me, I couldn't call myself a man." Once the Tiefling heard those words, a bright smile bloomed on her face.
"You do know pain, after all..." she murmured, to which the youth shook his head, with a smile of his own.
"I had but a taste of it. That is all there is to it." he replied "I do not delude myself in thinking that I can understand the pain of others with so little... But I still wish to commit myself to sparing others from it, as much as I can."
"This is my sire." Kimberley serenely stated "Nothing less is to be expected from the likes of Jonathan Crowley." At those words, the commissioner giggled.
"Pray tell, Kimberley." he then asked "Were there any problems, while I was away?"
"Not a problem of sorts..." the Tiefling replied, shaking her head "...If not the children's impatient wait for your return."
"Well, they will not have to wait much longer, then. Ah, speaking of which, they do eat accordingly, yes?"
"No need to concern yourself, sire. As we speak, Celia addressed this matter." At those words, Jonathan could draw a slight sigh of relief, and smile.
"Well, all that is left is to go to them, once we are done with supper." he said.
"I will ready the portal as soon as we get up from this table." Kimberley swiftly replied.
"Thank you, Kimberley." Jonathan murmured, with a smile and a nod.
"'Tis my duty, sire." Kimberley replied, nodding herself.
Little time had to pass before the dinner came at its end. Kimberley, raising herself first from the table, left the room, heading towards another room. Jonathan, having gotten up after her, followed, and was led by her in a room housing a portal. Its arc bore a semicircular form, its legs bore signs similar to runes. Kimberley came closer and, whispering magical formulas, laid her hand upon each one of the runes, for about a ten of seconds each, until the four runes lit up of an azure light, one after another. Within the portal a strong light of the same color began shining, and it was then that the Tiefling turned to her master, with a smile upon her lips.
"The portal is ready, sire." she said, to which the commissioner nodded.
"Thanks, Kimberley." She nodded back at him, and stepped aside, allowing him to cross the portal, then, she followed him through it. After crossing the portal, the two found themselves in another building, provided with a large courtyard. In times past, it belonged to a noble family, subject to decadence, of which no member remained. However, it had found new life in being acquired and renovated by Jonathan himself.
As soon as they reached the open space of the courtyard, a group of children came out and ran towards Jonathan, tackling him to the ground. Jonathan was quick to embrace them.
They were of various races: a cub of centaur, a little winged, two little, ebony-skinned dark elves, a boy and a girl, a little, ivory-skinned moon elven little girl, two half-elves and a little half-orc.
"Jonathan!" the little winged girl shouted, unable to contain her joy, her wing arms, still minute, wrapped around the left arm of the young man.
"You are back!" the dark elven boy added, just as gleefully, as he was hugging his chest. Jonathan laughed, looking at them.
"Yes, children." he replied. Then the little ones stepped back a little, allowing him to raise his bust, and sat around him.
"We were waiting for you, Jonathan!" the little moon elven girl said, before complaining "You always take so long to come back..."
"You have been around the city, right?" the dark elven girl asked "Tell us how it went!"
"Yes, yes!" all of the children said in unison. The young commissioner brought his hand to his raven-black hair, almost sheepishly.
"I am sorry, children..." he replied, regretfully "Today has not been such a demanding day. I only patrolled the city. I have not much else to tell you, I'm afraid."
"Awwwww!" the children complained, making their disappointment manifest. "There must be something interesting to tell!" the little half-orc protested. "Have you met uncle Ed?" the centaur cub asked, to which Jonathan smiled. "Yes, Baa'ki." he replied "I met him shortly before returning."
"Has he told you when he will be coming to visit us?" Baa'ki asked again. Among the children, a joyous hum began resounding.
"No, he did not give word of it." Jonathan replied, to which the children whined once more.
"When do you think he will be coming?" Baa'ki pressed on.
"His magic shows are always fantastic to see!" the little dark elven boy added, while the girl murmured, dreamily:
"Ah, how I would love to learn magic from him..." Jonathan giggled at the reactions of the children
"Calm down. Soon, he will visit us, trust me!"
"Children!" a female voice called, firmly, yet gently. It belonged to a young woman with coral pink skin, dazzling violet hair, eyes of the same violet, shining as if they were two amethyst gems, and with eight tentacles coming out of her hips, out of the folds of the tunic she was clothed with, and upon which she wore a coat, leaving her long legs bare "Enough! Give him pause, will you?" Immediately, the children turned to her and lowered their heads apologetically.
"Sorry, Celia..." they murmured.
"You do not have to tell that to me." Celia replied "But to him." Instantly, the children turned to Jonathan, keeping their heads low.
"Sorry, Jonathan." The youth giggled, as he got on his feet.
"It is all right, children." he replied "And, nonetheless, uncle Ed sends his regards to us all." That was enough for smiles to return on their faces.
"He is with us. At least in thought." added a third voice, a male one, belonging to a man with short, night blue hair, opal colored eyes, ivory skin and pointed ears, betraying his nature as a moon elf. He was dressed in a blue dress, coupled with pants of a darker tone, boots of the same dark color, shoulder plates of armor of a shining blue, with silver finishes, and two swords placed in night blue scabbards latched at his hips.
"That is right, Rethas." Jonathan replied, with a bright smile on his lips, the same smile gracing the features of the children.