~ 3 Years Later
The calm and bustling town of Royal Oak is brimming with life as its residents go about their lives without worrying about everything going on all across the continent of Freylin, which is something not afforded to most in this day and age. 3 hooded figures make their way through the forest as one moves ahead of the others a black shadowy blur left behind him as he stops at the city sign and reaches a hand out. He firmly presses his hand against it and takes a deep breath before taking off the shadow enhanced hooded coat revealing himself to be Asher. He's taller, older, physically bulkier than before but not too much, and halfway up his fingers they are pitch black.
He folds the coat and shoves it into his dark brown bag he wears on his shoulder as he's wearing a blue long sleeve shirt rolled up to his elbow, black jeans, black high top shoes, and the same blue ribbon on his left wrist which is slightly tattered. His eyes are a deeper green but seem to be moving from light to dark instinctually and his normally ash white hair has a black streak in it. "Damn, I didn't think it would take me 3 years to make my way back here. I don't look like that same vulnerable child anymore, but I really should've been back here sooner. I wonder if they will even recognize me?"
The other two take off their hoods and stuff them away as they stand next to him and wait for Asher to start heading down. One is a tall tree creature, Leka Semul the Vilmite, and the other is a shorter Druid, Valerie Raine. Leka is taller and bigger than Asher and has the physical attributes of a tree as he wears green cotton clothing he fashioned to mimic the grassy floor. Valerie is an assassin Druid, and is wearing a blue fitted top and gray silk fitted pants that allow her to move around smoothly.
Valerie walks past him and flicks the sign as she says, "You know Ash, if this place is so important to you why is this the first time you're visiting? I mean with how you would always talk about this place I would assume it was a place you would visit often."
Leka puts his hand lightly on her shoulder as he gives her a soft smile, "Val, there are things so important to us that no matter how much we want to be around it or want to see it, we don't because we want to keep it safe. Especially since we have on more than one occasion directly affected Brimfell slave and auction houses."
Asher looks at his companions and smirks as he ignores their conversation and makes his way into town, his mind going through so many emotions and thoughts, but not letting any of it show on his face. "This place is starting to look like the towns around the capital, I'm glad it's no longer lost to the outside world."
Valerie and Leka race after him and watch as his face looks like a child in a sweets shop marveling at all the different and new things that are around. "Oh this is new. That one too, Woah, I have only ever seen one of those in the Northern District. I'm glad they made it out here; the deserts were divine."
He is zipping to each new building while exclaiming different responses to each as his colleagues are looking at him embarrassed, doing their best to not make it seem like they are together while the people are looking at him. 'This place has really changed a lot in those 3 years, huh. I wish I could've visited more often, but things kept getting crazier and it wasn't safe for them. I hope things aren't too different at the shelter.'
He turns to the left and is caught off guard when he notices Bailey standing over there laughing with her friends as she is holding some guy's hand. "She looks different, but more confident and from what I can tell her mana is more calm. I guess it really has been a long time since I saw them. Life really does move on whether we want it to or not and she has a boyfriend, why am I surprised it was bound to happen."
He hasn't taken his eyes off of her as his companions finally catch up to him unsure of what he's doing. Valerie starts talking to Asher, but the words are not reaching him, "Ash what are you standing out in the middle of the road for, did you see a pixie or something?"
Leka follows Asher's eyeline and reacts, "Val, it seems that Ash is staring intently in that area over there where a group of Druids are talking. Maybe they are the reason he is frozen like a Toris when it's grazing in the morning."
Valerie smiles at the fact that Asher hasn't reacted to them in the slightest and takes advantage of the situation to slap Asher to get his attention. "Ash, get it together already you idiot. We are here to repay that debt you've been going on for the 2 years I've known you, right Leka?"
Leka nods in agreement as Asher reacts to the sudden slap about to hit him and catches her hand before it reaches his cheek and says, "You are going to have to be way faster than that if you are going to land a hit on me Val. I'm sorry I got a bit distracted, but it's right up here, come on."
Asher starts to make his way to the shelter as his companions follow close behind him as they try to keep their interactions with the residence to a minimum. When they reach the building Asher has a giant smile spread across face which Leka doesn't react to, but Valerie blushes at the smile. The once two story shelter has completely changed into a coffee shop as well as a shelter on the second and third floor that is bustling with people and employees, but the sudden change makes Asher's heart ache. "This was the place that saved me all those years ago, but it was just a shelter at the time. The place looks good and is profitable, which is always a good thing, but maybe it was a mistake to come all the way out here guys."
Valerie and Leka look at each other, their eyes saying everything they wish they could say, but words wouldn't be able to help him. He was about to turn around but a woman bursts through the door and rushes over to them as Leka and Valerie get ready for a fight. Asher turns around quickly when he notices them get into fighting positions as he locks eyes with Daisy Quinn the mother of Bailey with a stern and angry expression on her face. "Oi! Who do you think you are showing up back here 3 years after you promised to visit every now and then? Do you understand how worried we all have been, since you left? There was an excess of Brimfell movement around these parts at the time and we thought you were captured or worse killed. We had no way to tell if you ever made it out of the village that day, and you are so lucky Bailey isn't here or she would rip you limb from limb."
Asher is looking at her with fear in his eyes as his two friends have put away their weapons and are looking at him laughing with each other as he tries to get any words out before Mrs. Quinn hugs him tightly. "I am just glad to see you're safe, you stinker."
Asher is confused by everything that is happening but accepts the hug as he holds her tightly, Mrs. Quinn, I am really sorry I have been unable to visit you at all during these past 3 years. I swear I had valid reasons for not showing up. I really wanted to come back, but as soon as I left the village I made a vow not to come back till I was strong enough to control my power, because I didn't want to harm you all or anyone I cared about. Things kept escalating and at one point I figured it was too much of a risk to come back, but this time we can deal with whatever rears its ugly head."
Mrs. Quinn takes a deep breath as she pulls away from him and smiles, "I am sorry for the verbal assault, but you deserved every word of it for never visiting. We kept waiting on something as small as a letter or a quick visit at the very least, but in the end there was nothing. How else did you expect me to react, kid? I understand your reasoning and I value your willingness to keep us safe, but really not even a little letter. We were so worried about you."
Asher looks at the floor utterly defeated by Mrs. Quinn, but looks up at her and says, "I know, I am sorry for these past 3 years. I truly wanted to come and visit more than anything, but things just kept getting in the way and speaking of Bailey, I saw her right before heading over here, she was with some guy and her friends I assume."
Lazuli notices the little bit of jealousy in his voice and says, "Oh that must've been her and the study group along with her boyfriend. Her birthday is tomorrow, you know and they are having a little get together right now. I'm sorry, but I can't just ignore your friends there behind you, who are they?"
Asher motions for them to move up next to him, "They are my friends and companions who I met during the past 3 years. The angry looking Druid in the back is Valerie. She is a former Shard of the Brimfell army, and the second best warrior I know. The loveable lug next to her with the wooden everything is Leka. He is a Vilmite I met a couple of weeks after I left here. Leka helped me focus and strengthen the magic within myself, and with them around I never had to worry about anything going wrong."
Mrs. Quinn looks at them softly as she shakes their hands and says, "Thank you both so much for keeping him safe and bringing him back here alive. I know it seems weird since he only stayed with us once, but I love and care for everyone that stays here regardless of how long. Although it seems like I had no real reason to worry about him, regardless, thank you both again."
She smiles at them softly as she gestures for them to enter the cafe, and as they all enter Leka and Valerie say, "Thank you very much we are honored to be invited in."
Once the words leave their mouths they look at Asher pleased with themselves that they were able to say their line perfectly as Asher looks at them and shoots up two thumbs up and mouths, 'Good job.'
Mrs. Quinn snickers to herself as she sees it from the corner of her eye but doesn't pay it any attention and gestures for them to come inside, "No need to worry about anyone interrupting us the kids are at school, and we have a full staff to take care of the cafe, so how about you guys follow me upstairs and Asher let's meet in the kitchen once up there."
Asher looks around at the people from the employees to the customers and notices a few familiar faces but ignores them before they could notice him and follows after Mrs. Quinn. He looks around and notices it all looks pretty much the same with some minor change here and there as they sit at the table the same way he did the last time he was there and his friends follow in behind getting a good look at everything. Mrs. Quinn pours him a cup of herbal tea and she looks at him inquisitively, "Honestly, how have you been doing Ash? I can tell you're healthy, you have good friends, and your magic is so much more potent, but how are you?"
He smiles softly and runs his fingers across the ribbon still on his wrist which makes Mrs. Quinn smile softly as he takes a deep breath, "I am okay. I have been busy with different things here and there, but otherwise I am perfectly fine. I can tell you have been doing amazing, the cafe looks to be a hot commodity and you are still taking people in, which is so great. I'm glad."
She looks at him and takes a sip of the tea before responding, "Yeah, things have really been picking up a lot as of late, and the cafe is recent. A horde of people have been coming in and out and I needed a way to keep up with it all so I started the cafe and the people who would come looking for housing that were older would help out there. Even when they found their own places to live they still come out to help. I can never imagine why all this has happened to me and us, but I am so grateful it makes my heart so full."
Asher smiles widely as he is about to say something a woman walks into the room and notices Asher talking with Mrs. Quinn. "You. Finally you made it back."
Mrs. Quinn looks at her and back at Asher confused, "Do you two know each other, Hanna?"
Asher looks at her trying not to look too shocked as he looks at Mrs. Quinn with an awkward smile. Hanna stands next to Asher and says, "Yeah, a year ago he came to the auction house I was being forced…"
Asher interrupts her before she could say more and says, "She's an old friend from my time wandering the continent…"
Hanna looks at him slightly embarrassed and whispers something to Mrs. Quinn who gives her an answer begrudgingly as Hanna leaves. Mrs. Quinn watches as she leaves and says, "Ash, what the hell was that about? Be honest with me, boy."
He takes a deep breath and says, "Okay, I guess I can start with the fact that I found out what I am and why the Brimfell army is after me, I am an Alluran. I am a hybrid of two powerful species, one part Demon and the other part Elf and the village where I came from was the last home of the Elves, and it was my fault it was purged because they were searching for me. I decided to take the fight to them and started by attacking their slave houses and auctions trying to save as many people as I could from the dark underbelly of Brimfell and I met a few people who had no place to call home, so I told them about you, this place, and Bailey. I didn't know any actually came here until I saw a number of the people I saved helping out at the cafe."
Asher taps the black streak in his hair and two small horns appear on his head as he continues talking. "The magic I use is called World Elemental or that's what I am calling it. The Demon and Elven souls within me are both fighting for power, which means my mana was very unstable and if I used too much the demonic blood in me tries to take complete control."
He notices tears streaming down her cheeks as he stops talking and looks at her intently, "What's wrong? Did I do something bad?"
She chuckles to herself as she wipes the tears away, "No, nothing like that, just I knew someone was looking out for us, just never imagined it was the kid we saved a few years ago. Why did you do something like that?"
He perks up, "No reason really, just wanted to pay you both back for everything you did that day. Both of your dreams were to heal anyone and everyone from the emotional side and the physical, so if there was anything I could do to help I would. So I spread your name and mission all across the continent to the underprivileged and in some circles the name Quinn became a beacon of hope for them."
Her eyes widened as her hands tensed up, "Us a beacon, what do you mean?"
"Well, to the people displaced because of the might of Brimfell and the fear of the Demons I would tell them about you all and it would help alleviate their fears, and they would tell others and it would go on and so forth. I was in Freylin with the rest of my team and they were talking about a special place called Quinn's that they wanted to visit just once. I didn't know it would go that far, but hey there is nothing wrong with hope in a world like ours."
She rushes over to him and hugs him again as tight as she can and they stay like that for a few moments before he says, "Wha…"
Mrs. Quinn whispers, "Thank you, unknowingly you made my late husband's dream come true, so thank you."
Asher is stunned and unable to say anything lets her hold onto him a little longer before she says, "Go on, you were telling me about yourself, sorry I just got taken by surprise."
He smiles softly as she returns to her seat, "No worries, I would be surprised if you didn't have a reaction to hearing about that."
Asher takes off his gloves and shows Mrs. Quinn the black on his fingertips and as his eyes light up a small tree appears out of nowhere in the middle of his hand as he continues speaking. "My magic is within me so I have no need for spells or enchantments, magic just flows through every part of me. I can't use too much or the black will start to crawl slowly up my skin and at a certain point there is no way back. The horns are a different story; they will continue to grow no matter what and all I can do is just keep breaking them down. Ha…I guess they are my punishment for being born."
Mrs. Quinn looks at him with a soft sympathetic look on her face as she grabs his hand and gives him a smile, "Hey, there is nothing wrong with you in the slightest, and I will stand by that fact until the day I die. The horns or the black on your skin are nothing more than just who you are. The only thing that matters is how you hold yourself and choose to live that truly defines you. You aren't being punished for living, so stop thinking that way about yourself. You are so much more than the parts of you they hate, you are a young man with a bright future and I am so very proud of you."
Asher looks at her tears building up as he smiles and she lets go of his hand and says, "I doubt the only reason you stopped by was for some therapy. What brought you back to Royal Oak after all these years."
Asher wipes the tears from his eyes and goes into his backpack and pulls out two items and slides them over. "The reason I am back is to repay the debt I owe the both of you for saving my life back then. I know it can't cover everything you did, but I brought you some gifts from my adventures. Yours is in the smaller box and is a pair of Blue Wave earrings I made using some blue sapphire I found at a shop in Clearwater. The bigger one is a scroll I found in a cave near the outskirts of Brimfell. It is a powerful healing spell that can be used to heal the deadliest of diseases and poisons. It hasn't been used in over a 100 years, so it was a crazy find. I just didn't want to come back empty handed. You two are very special to me."
He turns and looks at his friends as they drop a book and in a clumsy haste pick it up again and place it on the shelf, "If it wasn't for them I don't think I would be sitting here with you right now. These past 3 years have been full of fun, laughter, pain, and misery, but please don't tell that to Bailey when you hand her the gift please."
She looks at him with a hint of sadness in her eyes, but also some pride in how far that little vulnerable little kid has come in the past 3 years. She holds both items in her hands as she looks him in the eyes with slight anger in her eyes, "What do you mean when I give it to her? Asher, how can you show up here 3 years later and not give this to her or even see her? She missed you and has been worried just as much as I have, so don't you think you owe her at least a little hello after all these years."
Asher smiles softly at her response finding no wrongs in it as he embarrassingly looks at the floor, "I just think she has enough to worry about with the shelter, school, friends, her boyfriend, and getting her life started once school ends, so I feel like adding me to that list would be selfish on my part. I don't want to be a burden to the person who saved my life when she has so much already going on.
Overhearing the conversation Leka walks into the room and responds, "Asher, was she a part of that druid group we saw that made you freeze up in the middle of town?"
Asher has an embarrassed look on his face as Valerie has an annoyed look on hers. Mrs. Quinn smiles softly at him, "Wow, 3 years later and still you blush at the thought of her huh? Well if you really don't want to see her I don't understand, but I won't fight you on it. Was there anything else you wanted to say before you go?"
He looks at the watch on his wrist and fiddles with it slightly as he looks up at her, "I was curious if you or Bailey saw the inscription on this thing, because I don't remember where it came from and when I woke up it was on my pillow."
Mrs. Quinn takes a drink of her tea and nods softly, "Yeah we saw it, but didn't want to give you too much to worry about since you had just lost your memory. We assumed you would notice it later, but we wanted that to be something for you to deal with alone. Although I am glad to see you kept the name, I am sure Bee will be happy to hear that 'Asher' is still what you go by."
A small smirk appears on his face as if he is remembering that day she gave him the name. He starts to stand up and heads out as he responds, "Asher is the name she gave me and not just some words on a watch, so of course I kept it. It also gave me a reason to come back here and thank you for everything you did for me that night. One day I will be able to look her in the eyes, but right now I don't think I'm ready. Come on you two. Goodbye Mrs. Quinn."