"HERE ARE THE reports you asked for."
"Thanks Gin. How's the family doing?"
"Pops threw his back out roughhousing with the boys, and ma couldn't stop fawning over her only granddaughter."
"Sounds like it was a good trip."
"It was. Too bad I missed out on all the fun you had here." Gin jesters to the newly repaired wall. "You ever gonna tell me what really happened?"
"Earth Bear attack."
"Come now Dale, you can't bullshit a bullshitter."
"Good night Gin."
"Good night Dale."
After Gin departs Dale continues working late into the night.
"I love what you've done with the place."
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you for what you bastards did."
The figure dressed from head to toe in black moves from the shadows to stand in front of the desk, reaches up removes its hood, then removes a hair tie letting its long silver hair cascade down.
"It's time to bring her home, Dale."
"Her? Who are you talking about?"
"Our daughter." Five replied.
"What sorta nonsense are you spouting? We don't have a daughter."
"Yes we do. I kept it from you, to keep her safe."
Dale just sits there, trying to process everything he's been told. Five takes a seat across from him waiting for him to speak. She waits, and waits, and waits. Her patience runs out.
"Hey! How long are you gonna sit there with that dumb ass look on your face?"
"Start at the beginning. Do not leave anything out Bon-bon."
This brings a smile to Five's face. "Is my nickname the only thing you remember?"
"Tell me about our daughter, Bonaluria. Now!" Dale demanded.
"Shortly after you were forced out."
"Forced out. Is that what you think? I wasn't 'forced out' I was nearly killed because of you guys. Two couldn't stand following orders from someone it deemed intellectually inferior to its self, Three and Four have an unyielding apatite for killing, and One wanted to turn the entire Assassin School into its personal army of assassins, to eventually take over the Empire of Britannia."
"Taking over the Empire isn't what One is after."
"Then what is One after, Bonaluria."
"Don't know. They never shared with any of us, kept everything up here." Bonaluria taps the side of her head.
"Then why stay with them?"
"....." Bonaluria keeps mum.
Now Dale falls silent again. After some time Bonaluria begins speaking.
"After everything that happened and we parted ways I realized I was pregnant. Not sure what to do, I decided to return home.
****
Magnolia Village is home to mostly demi-humans and beastkin. They've made a decent life here living off the land. Those who are skilled in hunting hunt, farmers grow the crops, artisans make the necessary tools needed. Everything has a use, nothing goes to waste.
Children go to school in the morning after their chores are done. There they are taught the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. They return home for lunch and begin their afternoon chores.
When they get older the children begin their apprenticeship, learning to hunt, farm, sew, build things, or whatever else they choose. They'll even travel with a small caravan that leaves every two weeks to help sell their wares.
"Now where did I put that book?"
An elf woman scans her bookshelves, the titles faded with time.
"Nope. This one, nope. How about… nope."
"Want some help?"
"WWAAHHHH!!!" The elf woman practically jumps out of her skin by the sudden question.
"Dagnabbit child! How many times have I asked you not to sneak up on me? You damn near gave me a heart attack."
"Sorry."
Ahem. The elf woman clears her throat. "Now let's try this again. Go on now."
"I'm home mama."
"Welcome home Bonaluria."
Bonaluria and her mother make their way into the kitchen.
"Would you like some tea dear?"
"Yes, please." Replied Bonaluria, sitting down at the table.
While her mother gets the tea ready, Bonaluria begins looking around, remembering happier times.
"Here you are," said her mother, setting a cup down in front of her daughter. "How long are you staying?"
"I don't know." Bonaluria takes a sip of tea. "Ack! What did you put in this?"
"A little spirit to perk you up."
"The sun's barely up. And when did you start drinking?"
"Oh I've always been a drinker, just hid it from you kids. Now finish your tea before it gets cold."
"I don't drink, mama." Bonaluria said, pushing her cup away.
"Well more for me then."
"Mama, I need to tell you something"
"I'm all ears, dear."
"I'm pregnant."
Bonaluria's mother freezes, the tea cup halfway to her lips, she sits there stunned.
"Mama, did you hear me?"
"I'm…I'm." Her mother stammers, setting down the cup. "I'm gonna be a grandmother. Who's the father? Why isn't he here with you now? Did he abandon you? I'm gonna track him down and."
"Mama calm down. Let me explain."
"Sorry. Please tell me about him."
Before Bonaluria could say anything there's a knock at the door, a voice calls out.
"Finnea, are you home?"
"I'm in the kitchen!" Shouts Finnea from the table.
"Mama who's here?"
"That would be Zed's son Keegan."
"Zed has a son? With who?"
"Her name is MJ. A nice girl he met in another village."
The sound of heavy footsteps can be heard coming towards the kitchen. Then a big black wall of fur fills the doorway. Standing before them is a one hundred and eighty-two centimeter demi-human black bear.
"Oh, I didn't know you had company. Sorry for the intrusion."
"Keegan, this is my daughter Bonaluria. Bonaluria, this is Keegan."
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Your mama talks about you all the time." Said Keegan extending a paw.
"Does she now?" Asked Bonaluria, accepting the paw.
"Of course I do. I talk about both my children, and your father of course." Finnea replied nonchalantly as she polishes off her tea. "So Keegan, what brings you here this morning?"
"Huh? Did you forget your teaching the kids how to read and write over at the school house today."
"Was that today? Well I best get over there. Bonaluria would you like to head over with me?"
"Not this time. I want to relax from my travels."
"Alright, fair enough. I'll be back by lunch and we can continue our discussion then." Said Finnea, standing to go.
"Sounds good mama."
With her mother gone, Bonaluria wanders from room to room reminiscing. She eventually enters her bedroom.
𝐺𝑙𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑. Bonaluria goes to the window, opens it, allowing cool morning air to blow through. 𝑀𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟.
Noon rolls around and Finnea finds her daughter asleep in her room. Deciding to leave her be, Finnea prepares their lunch. Awakened by the aroma wafting through the air, Bonaluria joins her mother in the kitchen and they both sit down to eat.
"How was school? Bonaluria asked, as she takes a bite of her sandwich.
"It was good. Tea?"
"Just the tea, please."
"Who's the father?" Finnea asked, while pouring Bonaluria her tea.
"My former party leader, Dale."
"Former? Did something happen to him?"
"He died." Bonaluria replied. Lying straight to her mother's face.
"I see. Well your home now, and as you know in not just this house, but in the whole village we take care of each other."
"I know mama."
"Good. Now let's finish eating. My apprentices will be here shortly."
"How many do you have?"
"Five of them. Four are girls and one is a boy."
"What are you teaching them today?"
"Today I'm teaching them how to identify animal tracks, animal scat, and how to set simple traps. Would you like to help, Bonaluria."
"Sure sounds fun. Any of them stand out to you."
"The boy does. Not because he's a wolf, mind you. He seems to think several steps ahead. Almost as if he can see what's gonna happen. He's gonna make something of himself you wait and see."
"What's his name?" Asked Bonaluria.
"It's Oz."
"Days turned to weeks which turned into months in a blink. I spent as much time as I could helping out with the kids. I even started talking with other moms learning as much as I could about being a new mother.
"Then the day came when I would give birth to our daughter. She was everything we talked about. Ten cute little fingers and toes, head full of silver hair, her blue eyes with golden speckles. She was beautiful. Our Arcaena.
"Soon after Arcaena was born I was approached by an adventurer. His job was to deliver a verbal message to me. 'It's time to stop playing house and come back alone.' That's all he said.
"A feeling of dread washed over me. How did any of them know? Unsure of what to do I divulged everything to my mother, well almost everything."
"You have to go back."
"I can't just abandon Arcaena mama."
"We ain't going anywhere. So go make things right, and come back with a clear conscience. We'll be right here waiting."
"I don't know when I'll be back. I—"
Bonaluria breaks down crying. Finnea walks over and embraces her daughter.
"Listen to me, Bonaluria. You will be back. Arcaena will know you on sight. I will tell her about you every single day. She will know that you love her, and you had to leave for a bit, but that you will return to us."
𝑆𝑛𝑖𝑓𝑓. "Oh mama."
"Best get going before Arcaena wakes up."
"Alright."
****
"You left Arcaena with your mother. But if you're here asking me to help bring her home. Then something must have happened to your mother. So what happened?" Asked Dale.
"When I did manage to return home, I learned that True Believers raided the village. Killing almost everyone there, my brother and father were among the dead. Those that survived were the ones who had been away from the village at the time."
"How do you know Arcaena wasn't killed? True Believers wouldn't hesitate to kill a non-human child."
"For the longest time I thought she was. I was a shell of myself, mindlessly going through the motions. Then one day on a job I started hearing rumors that the nobles from the Marijuana Empire had slaves as servants, some of them were elf children."
"Do you realize how long that would take to search for her?" Dale asked.
"Yes. That's why I sought help from Odie, an information broker. I asked him to let me know of someone who could track down our daughter."
"And?"
"He found someone who could, and you've already met him."
"Who?"
"Corym."
"Corym? The elf who's a member of The Rising Sun Party."
"That's the one."
"How do you know he can help us, Bonaluria?"
"I don't know. Not until I talk with him, and explain the situation."
"Let me rephrase the question. What makes you believe he's capable of finding Arcaena? Why him?"
"Odie got his hands on a Black Mirror. I didn't see what was on it, but he assured me Corym can help."
Dale falls silent.
"I trust Odie, Dale. Now I need you to trust me. Help me find our daughter."
"Help me move my desk." Said Dale suddenly standing up.
Bonaluria helps move the desk aside. Dale pulls back the rug, revealing a trapdoor. Dale opens it, squats down, removes a chest, and places it on his desk. Opening the chest, Dale pulls out his black bow.
"Do you even remember how to use that?" Asked Bonaluria.
"Let's go." Replied Dale.
"Where?"
"You'll see."
****
Nemo's Office
"Hello Dale. How have you been?"
"I've been good. I see you're a teenage boy this time."
"Who's your friend?"
"I'm Bonaluria. It's a pleasure."
"Please have a seat you two and tell me why you're here."
"I'm gonna let Bonaluria explain." Dale said, sitting down.
"I'm listening."
"You don't recognize me, do you?"
"Should I?"
"I'm Five, former member of the Black Archers."
Nemo, reflexively throws a kunai at her. However it's Dale who has to dodge the knife. Bonaluria sits there unfazed.
"What the hell, headmaster!" Shouts Dale.
"I see that skill of yours is annoying as ever. What was it called again?"
"I never told you and I never will."
"Back to the topic at hand then. Do you expect me to believe you're a 'former' member? After everything that has happened. Give me one good reason why I should believe you."
"I will give you everything on the Black Archers. Their real names, locations, physical descriptions. I will answer any questions you have to the best of my ability."
"We can get that information with or without your cooperation."
"Headmaster Nemo, please refrain from threatening my former party member and the mother of my child."
"The mother of your child. Come now Dale, do you honestly believe her after all the shit you've been put through?"
"When Bonaluria and I were together, one of the things we agreed on is that we wouldn't lie about certain things no matter what."
"Like she's the mother of your child? Have you ever seen this 'so-called child' of yours?" Nemo asked skeptically.
"He never knew he was a father, and I haven't seen my daughter in quite some time."
Bonaluria goes on to explain everything that has happened to her since going into hiding.
"I remember hearing about that attack." Nemo sits in silence contemplating the next move. "Here's what will happen, you two will join me and explain everything to the Emperor, the other headmasters, and whoever else the Emperor deems important enough to know this."
"Then what?" Asked Dale.
"Don't know. It'll be up to His Majesty."
"I'll do it. Whatever it takes to find our daughter."
"Dale, are you in or out?"
Dale looks at Bonaluria, takes her hand, and says "Let's do it."