Justus
Once they fetch Wendell the trio immediately follows the couple out of the barn. Justus can hardly believe he ran into them by chance after calling off their search. Numerous questions swarm his brain being at a loss on which one to ask first.
"We only arrived here at Pencent just last night, but a slight slip of the tongue spread the word about our visit. That's the reason we tried coverin up a bit and gave fake names to the innkeeper," Barric says, so that would explain the gaudy attire. He can't even study their appearances with the most important features like hair and eyes not visible. The couple's tall height already marks a major constant to his short stature.
"Why didn't you want anyone to know of your coming?" Wendell asks, and the wife sighs.
"Well, we wished to keep this little trip private. You know when people see us they're constantly asken to share old adventure stories. Pencent might not be all that fancy but it reminds us of our hometown, Narrok. We wanted to come and spend a week here for a nice break."
"You're both from Narrok then..."
Justus feels his earlier excitement begin to diminish at their confirmation. Given such accents, he assumed the couple probably wasn't from that village. Regardless if they might resemble each other, it's reasonable to assume these two aren't his parents. Still, the adventures have traveled worldwide so maybe they've visited there to offer him a lead.
"Um, have either of you ever been to Lunaville?"
"Talkin bout that tiny cold village in Quincy? We did make a few stops but it was a long time ago. There are plenty more interestin stories we could tell y'all."
"I want to know all about it! You see...my parents were supposed to be from that place. I ended up moving with my foster parents to Kali Springs and then later to Everlane."
Both exchange an odd look he can't quite decipher, and they could know something or perhaps even met his birth parents. The boy can hope the couple will accept his request, despite these tales not being as thrilling.
"Well, there's a story we can share about our first visit, though it wasn't a fun experience. If anythin this might be rather sad but it's one I feel y'all will wanna hear." Barric adjusts his dark glasses as his eyes now hold a nostalgic gaze. "Ages ago before we became famous adventures, I lived a happy quiet life with my wife. The two of us had been married for over a year when a new member joined our household. A tiny baby boy we named after my great grandfather, Filmore. Expenses were tough back then but my family motivated me to put forth my best efforts."
The mentioning of a child makes Justus's chest tighten until he reveals their son's name. How foolish of him to have a spread of hope from the start, nevertheless, the boy continues listening to their past. This is a grand opportunity to learn more about the village he could've been raised in.
"Our peaceful days were brought to an erupt end, however, when some bad people sent us death threats. They were dangerous criminals the authorities even had trouble catchin. Apparently, my younger brother borrowed some gold from them and was long overdue payin back what he owed. Now, he went and hid himself to escape without givin me any kind of warnin. Since our parents passed away their next target was set on my family."
Most would expect him to be filled with anger recalling this betrayal. Barric's sibling put the three at risk as he fled thinking about his own safety. Yet, his tone doesn't hint at a shred of animosity while he shares.
"Aren't you upset with your brother? His actions could've caused your family to get hurt. Well, if..." Justus's voice trails, considering no child is with them who knows of his fate.
The man simply shakes his head with a small smile. "Naw, that's ancient history now. Andrew has sincerely apologized to us so best to forgive and move forward. Continuen the story, we were left with no other choice but to leave that home behind. The three of us snuck to a nearby village at midnight, and I was hopin if we lay low that things would be okay. Unfortunately, luck just wasn't on our side because they tracked us down within mere days. We fled to another location much farther out, and this time around had gone in secrecy. Told neighbors we planned to lose them in the capital when actually we had plans for Lunaville."
"So that's how you ended up living there, though I guess since this isn't a heartwarming story your plan didn't succeed?" Saelufu asks and he slowly nods.
"Yeah, it only kept us safe for a while. When I learned they were again in pursuit it was a difficult decision I needed to make. Ya see, those goons didn't truly care about the gold but rather their pride. Just couldn't accept someone crossin them and gettin away with it. I was the one focus of revenge given they never managed to find Andrew. This had me thinkin, what if I gave myself up without a fight? It could create a window for my wife and baby to escape which is what mattered above all else." Barric grasps her hand and she gently squeezes back in return.
"Did...you go through with it?" Wendell quietly questions.
"Heavens no! If he had done that my husband wouldn't be standin here today. I didn't allow him to sacrifice himself for our well-being. Marriage vows state to stand by each other's side at whatever the cost. I was prepared to do that but..."
Leila pauses for a moment and takes a deep breath before the quivering smile returns on her lips.
"We, um, we both knew the right option for our child's safety. Similar to every lovin parent, his loss is what scared us more than anythin. The next step was to change our identities and travel far away from the country. Moreover, we couldn't guarantee this plan would work, and a baby only months old shouldn't have to go through that."
By the way she's talking they can't really be...
The three teens remain completely silent when she softly speaks. Farmers have turned in for the day with barely anyone outside, and this bubble of solitude adds to the tension as his heart begins racing. Justus was almost certain they had no connection to him whatsoever, yet he finally understands why they chose this particular story.
"There was no orphanage in Lunaville because of the small size. With those men gainin on us, we couldn't risk even seeking a peaceful residence for our son. Now there was a church center town and we believed that was a better option than any... So we bundled little Filmore tightly in his warm blanket, and then laid him inside this tiny woven basket."
Lelia no longer glances over the shoulder when sharing her piece of their painful ordeal. Instead, the woman's blurry gaze is aimed toward the ground, and he can hear a strain in her hoarse voice. Every step she takes is heavy like the words that surely are weighing down her heart.
"...My husband and I waited until he had fallen asleep, so we wouldn't hear his cries from the doorstep as we walked away. To this day, that was and forever will be the hardest obstacle I've ever faced. It was all to ensure his future, even one without any parents. Both of us kissed our son goodbye before we turned and left him there alone."
Lelia's feet come to a sharp halt once they reach the town's inn. In an instant, she spins around with her hat blown off by the gentle breeze. Her strawberry blonde hair causes his lilac irises to sparkle, and she embraces the baffled boy in a comforting hug. He can feel the woman's body tremble as tears trickle down his neck.
"And we prayed that God would bless him with a home where ya were loved and happy!"
Her last sentence rings in Justus's ears yet it doesn't register right away. Everything they said led up to this precise moment, but his mind just can't grasp the fact. These famous adventures, Barric and Leila are indeed his biological parents.
This strong resentment I held toward both these past two years was...meaningless. They gave me up so I could be granted a life without fear. The whole purpose I was abandoned by them was to protect me...
Another joins the hug as his father wraps securing arms around them both. There are so many things he wants to say, a sincere apology being foremost. However, Justus cannot form a single syllable as one hiccuped breath leaves the boy. This shortly escalates to full-blown sobbing, not able to hold back the wave of emotions any longer. Those awful nightmares are proven to be false because they truly did love him.
Wendell and Saelufu exchange soft smiles as the three stand like this for several minutes. An action so simple yet precious that hasn't been done since he was only a newborn. If he and his friends had departed a little earlier, who knows if they would have ever crossed paths.
Upon breaking their tender embrace, Barric guides them inside the inn and insists everyone's meals will be his treat. Fortunately, even if breakfast has passed visitors can still dine although they're not staying the night. Being on foot for so many hours straight has worked up quite the appetite. His friends also accept the kind gesture but choose a different table, perhaps giving the reunited family some space.
Justus's puffy eyes stay glued to the full plate of food set in front of him. He is happy to have got this chance to meet the married couple, but since their emotions died down a certain awkwardness lingers. Now that he's aware these two are his parents, the boy suddenly has no idea how to act around them.
"Who woulda thought durin a simple trip to Pencent we'd actually be sittin beside our son. When we checked back with the bishop years later and discovered those who adopted ya had left, I thought we'd never see ya again. The only thing he could tell us was that they lived somewhere in Quincy, but it just wasn't enough of a lead to ever track ya down."
Barric is the one to break the ice, and an interest surfaces he hadn't paid much thought toward.
"How did you figure out it was me at the farm? That is why you approached us, right?"
"Well, your appearance for one caught our attention. Ya favor us so much it through me for a loop." Barric places his glasses on the table which reveals a matching pair of purple irises. Looking at his parents with the disguises removed, he can note their similarities. His father's eyes are only a shade darker than his own with their faces sharing many common features. As for his mother, their hair color and style are practically identical though her's has a feminine touch to it.
"I can see what my classmates meant. The rumors really weren't an exaggeration..."
"That's what initially caught my attention, but I had some sixth sense tellin me it was our baby boy. This strange feelin is why I tried to hint at your age without askin directly. I wanted to see if the dates would line up, yet I just made y'all weary of me. When you began pryin for information about Lunaville our doubts were no more," Barric finishes, taking a bite of his salad.
"I am mighty curious what exactly were y'all doin here? Was it by coincidence ya and your pals were visitin or another reason?" Leila questions and his reasoning aligns with their own.
"Well, a lot of people kept insisting to me how much I resembled you both. I found out two years ago that the couple raising me weren't my biological parents, so when I heard about your stay I came searching for answers. Maybe it was a weird six sense on my end too."
After all, just going off the fact people claimed they looked alike wasn't a strong lead either. Perhaps he was more eager to come off based on his wish rather than gather actual proof. Part of the boy yearned to see them even from afar, but soon living in a different kingdom, he believed it would be impossible for them to ever find him someday.
Leila tucks strands of hair behind her ears at this with a soft smile. "We actually only became the famous adventures we are today because of you. When we tried searchin in Quincy but could never track ya down, the two of us nearly gave up hope. That's why we decided to start globe trottin to see if maybe we'd ever cross paths."
"Seems God worked His magic gettin us to meet again after fourteen years. Words can't explain how much of a blessin it is to see ya happy and healthy. The terrible people that hunted us down are long gone now. Still, we would have gave you to another family member if there was an option..." Barric's voice trails off, and she sets a comforting hand on his lap.
"Yes, but no relatives of mine lived nearby to reach under those circumstances. He didn't have a good relationship with the rest of his fam, so we were at a total loss on where to take our son. We're sorry if it feels like we just up and abandoned ya because that wasn't our intention."
The remorse in her gaze is the same expression his foster parents wore when informing him of the truth. Justus knows in his heart they aren't lying, and just learning their earnest motive is plenty comforting. He should be apologizing for jumping to conclusions like he's done these past two years.
"No, I understand now why you did what you did. Plus I'd like to add that the O'Reilly's who took me in were the best alternative. My foster father succumbed to his illness a couple of months ago..." he mumbles, staring at his downcast reflection in the glass, but the boy faces them with a genuine smile. "Still, I have my foster mother and other close relationships to help me push forward. Times haven't always been easy but there was never a period when I resented where I am."
This isn't solely to ease their concerns and guilt but the honest truth. Whether the hardship of losing a parent or the money issues they're currently undergoing--it doesn't matter. He wouldn't change the family that brought him up for the world.
Leila quickly swipes the tears threatening to spill again followed by a sigh of pure relief. Likewise, Barric has a toothy grin spread across his face with this reassurance. They must've carried their own worries no different than himself, and for seven times longer at that.
"It's an indescribable joy to know our prayers were answered. I would love to hear more about your fam, and we can tell a few souvenir stories too. Was plannin to stay clear of travel talk for a while, but we'll make a special exception tonight," Leila bargains, he doesn't hesitate to accept this offer.
Multiple topics are discussed during the short timeframe they have available. Justus answers all of their questions between his favorite foods and the different friends he's made. They boldly proclaim daring stories which leave him on the very edge of his seat. This includes their hometown of Narrok that has commonalities with Pencent. It's crazy to imagine he would be speaking with a western accent if grown up there.
"Wow, it's surprising we held my birthday only a few months off. We always celebrated it that winter day when the priest stumbled upon me. My mom-well I mean my foster mom thought the name Justus was a great fit. She said they would do me justice by ensuring I had a pleasant life."
"I see, and ya don't need to keep correctin yourself. This woman is the one who raised ya, so she's indeed your mother. We agreed on the name Filmore but Justus has a nice ring to it." Leila waves off his supposed error, and Barric studies the seated boy's appearance.
"Ya know, your momma gave birth to ya prematurely which might explain your short stature. Being so tiny as a newborn, I could balance ya with the palm of my hand. It was a big surprise but we were just grateful our child had still been born healthy. The two of us are quite tall, but I'm not sure if ya will ever reach our height."
Justus pouts at this remake as he sits back with crossed arms. "I-I still have time to grow."
The two laugh a bit with him joining in as well, and Barric glances at the time.
"Much fun as we're havin we outta wrap this up. The inn will be closin soon for overnight guests only. Besides, y'all youngsters should be goin home before it gets too dark."
"Okay..." he mumbles, falling to hide the disappointment in his tone. The three talked long past the course of their meal, yet the boy is far from satisfied conversation-wise. There's countless subjects they haven't even got around to covering, and after today, Justus has no idea when he'll see them next. That's especially with their busy schedules because of the constant traveling.
Barric goes up to the front desk exchanging hush words with the owner. Seconds later, he approaches holding out a small paper and fountain pen. The man hands these items over to his son who gives him a quizzical look.
"Why dontcha scribble down your address for us so we won't forget? We jump around a lot and our trips home are often pretty short. Though we did find the most valuable treasure this evenin by gettin reunited with our boy."
Justus blushes slightly at these kind words and between the gold and legendary artifacts found over the years, they place him above them all.
"Our precious lost baby was the spark of our journey. Now we've both have been doing this for so long, I couldn't imagine us settin with ordinary work. We meet so many wonderful people and see beautiful sights on the road. Regardless if we're forever on the move, we can still keep in touch by writing letters to ya. The two of us just won't always receive a response."
"I wasn't thinking about that..."
It's true with no permanent address the boy can't send any himself. Despite that, if Justus is able to read how they're doing every now and then, he will be content. Returning the paper to Barric, this gets secured firmly in his pocket.
"Also, I'd love for us to set a date that'll work for Hannah. I need to thank the woman who did such a terrific job in raisin' ya. And while we're at it, we can meet some of your other relatives," Leila adds, and the idea of hosting a get-together puts a smile on his face.
"Alright, I'll be sure to let her know."
Justus hugs his parents tightly once more before they finally part ways. Uttering their promised plans, he forces himself to exit the establishment. The boy catches a glimpse of their tender expressions before the door is shut. Unlike the well-lit room, it's dark and nippy outside with the blazing sun absent up above.
"Thankfully, you didn't wound up just missing them. I guess it was a good thing I suggested that we stop at the barn instead of us leaving. They both seem like kind people," Wendell says, interrupting the peaceful silence as they head for home.
"I can't even absorb it all myself. This feels like a realistic dream, but I actually got to laugh and dine with them. The what-if scenarios can end because I learned the full truth."
His gaze drifts up toward the skies where the moon has become visible. No different than the stars being out of reach, he thought similarly with ever meeting his parents.
"...Contrary to what I said earlier, thanks a lot for sticking with me," The boy quietly adds, not daring to make eye contact with them. These two took their whole day to lend a hand without any complaints or even needing to ask. It is kinda embarrassing to recall his emotional display both witnessed at the inn. Though if they hadn't accompanied him, he sincerely doubts his solo search would've been successful.
"It was no trouble. We're glad we were able to help."
"Yup, what's the purpose of friends if you can't depend on them when problems arise," Saelufu comments with her usual bright attitude, and this is the reaction he expected from her during their previous chat. "...I am surprised by one outcome though, considering your parents had a legitimate reason for their actions. I figured if they offered you to tag along with them that you might've said yes."
The dwarf's casual remark has him stop dead in his tracks. Truthfully, the thought never entered his mind about traveling alongside them. There are circumstances like him required to finish another year of education on why they couldn't ask. However, if those factors didn't exist would he have gone?
"...I'd told them no. Happy as I am to have bonded this evening, my life is here in Calestra now. I have a mother at home I refuse to just abandon, including other family and friends I don't wanna leave behind," Justus corrects, causing her hazel eyes to widen.
"Well, that's a good answer. You're my number one person to mess with, so no telling how bored I would have gotten if you did move. It's really cool to know either way you plan on sticking around."
Saelufu's smile is a tad softer again and the boy second-guesses if he woke up this morning given the shocking events. Prior to pinching himself to check, she runs off ahead of them with a light bounce in her step. Originally, Justus was upset when departing from Quincy, but ever since he met her this opinion has changed little by little.
Don't overthink things. That response is what any close friend would say to another in this situation, minus the teasing piece. Yet, I feel an unexpla
inable warmth hearing it from her...

A/N Here is the ending conclusion and I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please don't forget to vote, comment, and share!