A few minutes later, the door cracked slightly open, revealing a single green eye peaking through the crack. The eye kept glancing at Ed before swiftly moving away. Slowly, the door continued to open until Aite stepped out. She seemed a bit nervous.
Edmund noticed the tense atmosphere between the two kids so he began, "Hello Aite, I'm Edmund. I'm a long-time friend of your parents. We've actually met before but you were very little. I was also here a little bit ago but you fell asleep just after I came. Nice to meet you." Aite hesitated a moment before nodding her head. "Hello Edmund, I sort of remember you from earlier today." She then glanced at Edain before looking away. Edmund smiled and introduced him, "That's my son, Edain. He's a really good kid who has no friends at all!" Edain's eye slightly twitched when he heard the end his introduction. He shook his head toward Edmund with a sigh before turning to Aite and smiling. "Hello Aite, I'm Edain Alues. I'm sorry for surprising you before. I was just as shocked as you were."
When she saw Ed's smile and heard what he said, Aite relaxed and regained her usual energy. She ran over and jumped onto the couch before plopping right down next to Ed. She joyfully greeted, "Hello Edain! Nice to meet you! You have dark hair like me. Yours is much darker than even mine!" Suddenly being hit from a barrage of words from the girl who at first seemed reserved was like whiplash for Edain. He took a few moments to recover from the barrage before responding with a calm voice and a smile, "Don't you like it? It's kind of similar to yours right? Yours is a very pretty color."
Jett had a shocked expression on his face at the high social skills of a kid who'd been locked inside all his life. Edmund on the other hand had a proud smile as he watched on. He's always known that Ed was capable in many ways. He often jokes to himself that the reason Ed can't use mana is that it's the worlds way to keep him balanced.
Aite's eyes lit up as she listened to Ed. "Yeah! It looks so cool. I've never seen anyone with hair as dark as yours! The darkest I've ever seen is my own." After saying this, her happy expression dulled down and she looked as if she realized something.
With concern in her voice, she asked, "Do you get made fun of too? The boys here in the village are really mean. They make fun of me and my hair. They say it's the devils color and that I'm a monster. B-but no matter how many times I tell them that I'm not they don't stop saying it. The other adults even yell at me what I tell them." Tears streamed down her eyes as she looked down. Meeting someone like her helped her to reveal more then she even told her parents.
Ed frowned at this and thoughtfully responded. "While I haven't met the boys in this village, I know that you aren't a monster." She looked up at him and continued listening. "Monsters are big and scary, you are small and cute. You are definitely not a monster. If anything, those guys are trying to pretend to be monsters." Edain finished comforting and patted her head. He joked, "Not that they're big or scary enough."
Lily turned to Edmund. "Are you sure you raised him? I know he's not really related but I doubt you can raise that good of a kid." She asked half jokingly and Edmund responded, "He's definitely got his mother in him. From what I knew of her, she was always kind and compassionate. That's not to say that my parenting wasn't effective! I polished that diamond!" The adults laughed while Ed ignored whatever they were talking about.
After being comforted, Aite took a moment to wipe her tears. Once clean, she looked to Edmund with a beaming smile. Through the smile, Edain sensed a hint of nervousness. In a slightly lower voice, Aite asked, "Do you want to be my friend?"
This was a very important question to Aite and her family. All her life, she has only received scorn and false sincerity in response to the question. Despite being so young, she had given up on ever making friends.
Noticing the sudden silence from the nearby conversation and the thinly veiled nervousness of Aite, Ed realized how important this question was to them. He thought for a moment the best answer but decided to go with his instincts. He let out a long breath that made Aite even more nervous and responded with a smile. "Of course! I'd love to be your friend." That was all. And it was enough. Aite's smile lost the nervousness and somehow shined even brighter.
Jett and Lily were watching the scene with warm expressions on their face. Jett faced Edmund. "Are you sure he'll be fine with being her friend. I don't want him to feel forced bu-" Jett tried to ask but Edain interrupted him. Ed was talking with Aite but they could feel that it was directed at them. "I am more than happy to be your friend. I haven't talked to anybody but that big guy since I was a year old, let alone have a friend! So you are my first. You better be proud."
Jett blinked a few times then laughed. "Really, he's too good of a kid to be yours."
....
The day went on into the night. Ed and Aite properly introduced themselves to each other as the initial introduction wasn't the greatest. Edain had his hands full the whole time dealing with Aite. Not that he wasn't enjoying it. Having a friend, even if she is younger than him, has certainly brightened his mood.
Despite the fun being had, eventually Edmund and Edain had to go home. Aite had now sprawled out on the couch, asleep. Lily was passed out drunk on the other half of the couch. Ed and Edmund began to walk out the door while waving. "See you guys later! Next time I'll fight you without any interference and show you how weak you really are!" Edmund shouted as he left the door. "Yeah right! You tell yourself that." Jett turned to Ed, "I hope to see you soon Ed." Ed nodded in response and said, "See you soon. Tell Aite and Lily that I said goodbye when they wake up."
Suddenly, a sleepy voice resounded from the living room, "Bye bye… Ed… see you tom…morrow…" Aite had woken up to say goodbye but fell right back asleep after.
Ed smiled began walking home with Edmund. Ed was now wearing a light jacket to keep the chilly night air out. It was a light black zip up jacket. He had gotten it at his last birthday. The jacket was actually a pretty important item to him for a few different reasons.
I'm order to get the jacket, Edmund had to leave the village. He wouldn't have been able to get the black color in the village or really anywhere nearby. The difficulty increased even more when he factored in the zipper which required unique manufacturing implementing mana. Edmund ended up going all the way to the capital where some unique merchants were trying to start a new trend. Edmund was likely one of the only people to buy the merchandise. He bought many sizes for Ed to use over the years and returned home. His efforts were not in vain as Ed loved the jackets as some of his most prized possessions.
As they were walking home, Edmund decided to break the silence. "I thought you didn't like your hair and eyes or being the only one with those features." Edmund was confused at the sudden shift in opinion.
"No, I love my hair and eyes. I always have. I also don't care that I'm the only one with these features. I was just upset about being kept inside for that reason and was letting it out." Edain then smiled and joked, "Do 'you' not like my hair and eyes?" He placed his hand on his chest, "These are all mine you know, none of my parents even came close to my darkness." Edain said in a dramatic voice, letting a light smirk appear on his face. Edain's always let himself looser with Edmund.
Edmund ruffled Ed's hair, "Of course not, I love your hair and eyes. They make you different from all the brats of the village!" Edmund joked off the topic but was truly happy for Edain. "Don't worry about not going out anymore. We'll be going to and from the Dores often. They'll also be coming to our house more often." This made Edain happy as his first friend would be around often. Despite the small age gap, the two got along very well in the time they had.
Ed and Edmund arrived home and entered. Edain threw out the food that was left on the table with a regretful expression. The two walked toward their respective rooms. "Goodnight Edmund, see you tomorrow evening!" Edain said goodnight and Edmund responded, "Goodnight Ed, see you tomorrow! Sleep well!" The two fell asleep with satisfied smiles on their lips.