Ivan had been working in his spacious office all day, lost in thought. As night fell, he remained engrossed in his work, poring over reports and lost in his own contemplations. Hans, who was off duty but still present in the office to attend to Ivan's needs, noticed him deep concentration and concern.
"Sir?" Hans spoke calmly, breaking Ivan's train of thought. "If you don't feel well, I suggest taking a break."
Ivan looked up from his work and regarded Hans for a moment before speaking. "Hans, was there a fight on the estate?" he inquired. "I heard that Avan attacked Elder Asashia. I heard the full story from Ullie, but I need to hear the other side of the spectrum. We are a family, and these kinds of matters are a concern to the entire society."
After a brief pause, Ivan turned to Hans and asked, "What do you think?"
Hans hesitated for a moment before responding.
"Can I speak freely?"
"Of course, Hans," Ivan said, nodding his head.
"You're my friend."
Hans spoke thoughtfully.
"You can acknowledge both of their faults. Both were in the wrong, and you can apologize on behalf of Avan to the Elder. Avan has been very distant from everyone lately, from what I've observed. It would be hard to make him apologize, but I'm sure the Elder would understand."
Bitterness crossed Ivan's face as he considered Hans's words. He signed in defeat before speaking.
"We lost far too much on our migration," he said, his voice heavy with regret.
"Lady Asahia is one of those who lost everything. The poor lady even predates our own birth. Her family were of royal lineage, and she lost her son, daughter, and husband."
A wave of sadness passed over Ivan's eyes as he gazed at a small oil painting that hung on the wall. The painting depicted Ivan, his deceased wife Fiona, Avan as a baby cradled in Fiona's arms, and little Rayhein holding onto Avan's tiny hand. Ivan held that portrait dear to his heart, a symbol of the family he had lost and the family that remained.
"We lost so much," Ivan repeated, his voice heavy with sorrow.
Hans interrupted him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I think the past should be left behind and forgotten," he said.
"Starting anew is for the better."
Together, they gazed out the window at the night sky, with its five moons shining brightly in the darkness. Ivan couldn't help but recall the many losses he had suffered in the past.
"Yes,"
"I will apologize personally to the Elder. I hope she doesn't resent me for talking sides."
"Please rest, Ivan," Hans urged him. "You're too stubborn for your own good."
"Not yet," Ivan replied firmly.
"I have to deliver the full news of the rift. I'm just waiting for some people to give me their support."
Hans nodded understandingly and left Ivan alone to his thoughts leaving the room.
In recent days, Ivan had arranged a meeting with several high-ranking human officials in the city council. It was a rare occurrence, as more than 20 individuals with major positions from every sector of the city's government, law enforcement, business, police force, and education had been called to attend the meeting. Ivan needed to deliver some bad news, and he knew it was necessary to be completely transparent with everyone this time.
As he prepared for the meeting, Ivan couldn't help but feel the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him. He knew the consequences of his actions would have far-reaching implications for everyone in the city. With a deep breath, he resolved to face the council and deliver the difficult news as best he could.
After the meeting, Ivan was relieved that he had finally disclosed the truth to the council. However, the reaction of some officials was not as expected, and they expressed their disappointment for not being informed earlier. Nonetheless, there were those who were not surprised by the news, as similar incidents had occurred in the past. In order to mitigate the backlash, Ivan had discussed the matter beforehand with a few officials who had offered their support.
Despite the mixed reactions, the council had come to a decision to allocate additional forces to monitor the rift near Ivan's estate. This decision brought a sense of relief to Ivan and the high humans as it ensured the safety of their city as well. Ivan felt a sense of accomplishment as he left the council chambers.
As he walked back to his home, Ivan contemplated the situation.
"There is no way a summoner is here unless it's interested in something. I will not let these things take anything from me ever again" he thought
As the sun rose, a new day dawned upon the city of Aquanus. However, the city seemed unnervingly silent, unlike its usual bustling self, with many of its diverse species remaining indoors. The city council had declared a curfew due to the growing civilian unrest sparked by recent events, leaving the streets almost deserted. Rumors of unsettling occurrences had spread throughout the city, leaving its inhabitants terrified and on edge.
Ray had woken up to yet another ordinary day. Since his conversation with Orion two days ago, he had been hearing unsettling things about the city. Some incidents had also occurred, and he was feeling mentally exhausted. Today, he had decided to take a break from his morning training session and relax. He found himself in a spacious garden filled with stone-carved benches. He thought the garden was a little too big. For getting an estimate, he walked around to find it was close to a literal park sized having roughly 1.2km in length and width. It was so large that it almost felt like a park.
As Ray walked around the garden, he realized that he needed to talk to his father, Ivan, but he was nervous about how to approach him. Lost in thought, he decided to take a breather and sat down on an empty stone-carved bench. From his seat, he watched the few people who were busy doing their own thing, taking in the sight of the garden's lush greenery and the pleasant scent of flowers. Some areas had massive trees-like things the size of 12-story buildings. He felt the cool breeze brushing against his skin, and he heard the soft rustling of leaves in the wind.
He never noticed it before because he mostly spend the 1st month inside the house being grounded, he was confined to the house, so he had never seen it up close. However, now that he was free to roam, he took a stroll around the vast estate, and he was surprised by how organized it was. He observed women going about their daily work, washing clothes using a creator of sorts, farming as the entire estate had to farm their own food, and using strange creatures to produce silk and sew clothes. The entire process fascinated him.
As he was now sitting on the bench, he couldn't help but notice and remember the towering height of the high humans. They were all so tall, and even all the women were taller than him. The average height seemed to be around seven feet, which was intriguing to Ray. He found the red eyes of his people mesmerizing. Lost in thought, he mused to himself, "The high humans are beautiful, in their own way. And their red eyes... they are captivating, even if they can also seem a little menacing. I am honestly proud of my species' characteristics "
Ray continued to sightsee around while staying on the bench, taking in the sights and sounds around him. The sweet aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, and the sounds of children playing in the distance filled his ears. Despite the turmoil in the city, the estate seemed like a peaceful haven, far away from the chaos of the outside world.
As Ray sat on the stone bench, he looked around but couldn't spot any high human males of his father's age. Hans and seven other guards were present, wearing protective gear so all of them were guards protecting the estate. Ray figured they must be off to work their shifts as part of the city protection force, based on what he had learned.
He turned his attention to the children playing nearby, chasing a fluffy creature that looked like a rolling fur ball. They played a game resembling dodgeball and football combined, which entertained Ray as he watched. He noticed that all four of them were small, similar in size to his sister Lilly.
"They must be around the same age as Lilly," Ray observed with a chuckle. "Quite a lively bunch."
As he watched the children, Ray was amazed by their speed and agility. Even the high-human children seemed to possess physical abilities beyond those of a normal human. Ray remembered noticing the two separate heartbeats, High humans had 2 separate hearts he came to that conclusion after a little while. Indicating that high humans were different from normal humans in more ways than one. He wondered if there were any normal humans in this world or if the high humans were the only type of humans to exist. The thought piqued his curiosity a little.
As Ray was lost in thought, a strange creature rolled up to his foot and touched it, drawing his attention to the ball the children were playing with. The creature then transformed from its ball form into a fascinating insect-like creature, resembling a cross between a fuzzy caterpillar and a miniature armadillo. It had multiple pairs of beady black eyes that twinkled in the sunlight and a pair of long, sensitive antennae that quivered with every movement.
Its round, furry body was segmented and covered in thick, soft fur, with a pattern of brown and yellow stripes running along its back. The creature had tiny, claw-like feet that clicked and clacked on the garden as it moved, and it made a soft, contented purring screeching sound as Ray picked it up, much like a kitten. As he looked up, he saw the children approaching him, not at all afraid of the strange, yet somewhat adorable creature.
Ray found it intriguing that the children showed no fear towards the creature. However, he could see that all four of them appeared to be on edge. One of the little boys, who looked bold despite his fear, approached Ray with his palm outstretched as if asking for the ball. Ray could see the child's eyes glaring, but not with contempt, just with a hint of fear.
Ray thought to himself,
"I hope the former Rayhein did not abuse any children." Despite the worry in his mind, he smiled and handed the bug over to the boy, patting him gently on the head. The child appeared a little flustered but gave a small nod of appreciation.
"Just be careful," Ray cautioned as they began to walk away.
As the group of children slowly backed away and ran off, two of the shyer ones remained and said "Thank you" before quickly scurrying off to resume their play. Ray found the experience heartwarming and amusing, as it reminded him of Lilly's playful nature. Despite their discipline which was odd, the children were still children at heart. The encounter also stirred up memories of his past on Earth.
He reflected, "I never had the chance to form lasting connections with others due to my dad constantly moving. We were always uprooted every couple of months, traveling around the world." Ray pushed aside these thoughts and focused on the present. He felt confident that this would be an ideal place for Lilly to grow up in.
Ray sat on the bench, watching the children play with the unusual creature. He couldn't help but feel a sense of longing for Lilly to be here with him. He was struck by the fact that there were only four children in the entire estate, despite there being six or more houses. It was strange, but he couldn't help but admire the beauty of the place, with its exotic birds and unique flora and fauna. Despite the oddness of it all, he felt a sense of peace and contentment.
"I kind of like it here. It feels like a big family," Ray said with a smile to himself.
As he lay there basking in the sun, his eyes closed, he sensed someone approaching. He opened his eyes to see Allister standing before him. Ray was surprised to see him.
Allister tried to say something, but the words caught in his throat.
"…."
"Finally decided to grace us with your presence, did you? Some freaking knight code that is." Ray's voice dripped with sarcasm as he folded his arms across his chest.
Allister had expected Ray to be furious, but his tone was less angry than he had anticipated. Summoning his courage.
Allister replied, "I'm sorry, Ray. I couldn't face you. I put both of us in danger. I should have told you I wasn't participating in any festivals, especially not that one. You nearly died because of me. And I heard that you saved my life, too."
Ray rolled his eyes. " Hmm," Ray said,
Contemplating Allister's apology. "Well, I asked you before if this was safe. You said it's dangerous but implied yes, back in the Sky Festival. You made it sound easy. So, I was riled up, thinking I was some hot shit or something. Yeah, you should be sorry. That skyfish nearly ripped us apart and made me a chewing snack. I later found out it was just a baby, you idiot."
Allister hung his head, feeling the weight of his guilt. He couldn't bring himself to meet Ray's gaze.
Allister remained silent, ashamed of his recklessness.
"I'm still angry that your stupidity nearly got us killed. But, I won't hold a grudge. Just do me a favor," Ray said, his voice softer now.
Allister perked up at the offer. "Anything, Ray. I just want to make it up to you."
Ray smirked. "Alright then. Stand there with your eyes closed. And don't you dare peek"
Allister was confused but he complied. He stood where Ray wanted him to. Ray went away for a few moments, leaving Allister waiting with his eyes closed. He couldn't help but feel a little nervous about what Ray had in store for him.
After a few minutes, Ray came back, and Allister heard some strange screeches. He was starting to get a little anxious. "Okay, just stand still and don't run away," Ray said with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
Allister felt something crawling on him, and he shuddered in fear. He had no idea what it could be. "Ray, what is this?" he asked, his voice shaking.
"RAY, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?" Allister shouted as the crawling sensation grew stronger.
Ray just laughed as Allister tried to swat the thing away. "It's just a little surprise," Ray said, still chuckling.
Allister opened his eyes to find a bug with fur on its armor plates crawling up to his face from his legs. The bug's screeching terrified him, and he screamed for help, flailing his arms wildly. The kids who had been watching nearby burst into laughter at Allister's antics.
"AAHAHAH" ray laughed
knowing that Allister was deathly afraid of bugs. He had found out back when they were training together.
"You should have seen your face, Allister!" Ray exclaimed, still chuckling. "Priceless!"
Allister jumped around in terror, with the bug now on his face. Allister blacked out from fear, and Ray took the little furry creature away from him, returning it to the children. He realized it was an intelligent creature, similar to a little puppy.
"Well, that made my day. Thanks a bunch. I'll handle him," Ray said, giving the bug-like creature back and the children ran off.
As the children played in the gardens, Ray stayed with Allister, feeling like he had gained a newfound way to mess with him. It was a fun day, but now Ray felt it was time to meet his father. He had a lot of convincing and maybe a bit of lying to do as well.