When class had finished, the children streamed out of the school like a river that had just broken through a collapsed damn, for as excited as the students were to be back in class, they just as pleased for the day's work to be over as well. Most of the students browsed at the markets on their way home, looking at new armor and gawking over their insane prices.
"Sixty thousand spirit coins?" one student called out, "Are you mental?"
"This is bronze ranked armor!" the vendor snapped back, "It has a wind pattern inscribed upon it, using the blood of a snow wind banshee. Those things are not easy to hunt so I'm not going to just give this stuff away after all that hard work that was put into making these things! Move along if you can't afford such majestic equipment!"
Nei-Li wasn't interested in such things at the moment as he walked through the market and rarely stopped as he made the long trek home. It had been so long since Nei-Li had taken this route home, but for some reason he never forgot a single turn as he feet started to move faster the closer he came to his destination. And then the small hut became present as he got closer, and for some reason Nei-Li stopped just short of the door. It wasn't locked, for it didn't even have a lock attached to it. There was no need to have one for Nei-Li's family didn't own anything of value for thieves to even bother opening the door. The young man looked down at his hands, and then were both shaking. There was a bead of sweat running down his temple, and he was breathing hard from having just jogged home from school. While only a single school day had passed for them, Nei-Li hadn't seen his home, his parents and even his little sister in centuries... long after the fall of the city.
All that time had passed trying to survive, live on the lands, and hunt down the powers that destroyed his home. Nei-Li stood there at the door and took a deep breath. He was home and he had to keep his cool and not freak out. She had no idea where he'd been, and what her son had experienced before making his return back in time. He didn't want to tell her, and it wasn't just because she wouldn't believe him. He was more afraid that she would believe him and then be sad by all the hardships he's had to endure. Nei-Li loved his mom enough to keep all the details to himself. The many years he spent outside the city walls was his burden to carry. He chose to go out there, and there was no need to burden the woman who brought him into the world with it. After taking one more breath, Nei-Li finally pushed the door open, and put on his best smile.
"Hey mom!" he called out as he walked through the door.
"Nei-Li!" his mother called back, stunned to see him. "I thought you were going stay at the school tonight and study."
"Too distracting," Nei-Li lied, "I thought it would be best to bring my studies home where things are a little more laid back."
"Oh," his mother said, looking around at the food she was preparing. "If I knew you were coming, I wouldn't have made dumplings. I know how much you don't like them."
"Nonsense," Nei-Li said, putting his school bag down on one of the chairs in the kitchen. "I will eat whatever is served to me and appreciate your efforts."
Before his mother could even reply to the last thing she expected her son to say, the young boy had hurried over and embraced her in a deep hug, which seemed odd to her since she had only seen him earlier that day. To the young boy many years, decades and even centuries had passed since he hugged his mother. He missed her so much when he was out there fighting to stay alive all those years. Never did he imagine he would be back, and in her arms again.
"I'm sorry, mother." He said to her, not letting go.
"What are you sorry for, son?" she asked him.
"For not helping out and being a good son." He told her, angered by what a brat he had been to her the first time he was there. "I promise to do better. If there's anything I can do around here to help, please let me know."
"Oh... alright," His mother replied, wondering that happened to him. She had begun to wonder if Nei-Li had tripped and hit his head on the way to school. "Could you watch your sister for me while I finish making supper?"
"Of course!" Nei-Li replied, excited to see his sister again as well. "I'd be happy to do that!"
"She's in the yard out back with your father," his mom continued, "Call him back here so he can help me in the kitchen."
Nei-Li gave his mom a slight bow and then bolted out the back door. As he ran out into the yard, he saw both his father and sister playing. He walked up and scooped the young girl into his arms and also gave her a big hug.
"It's good to see you again, little sister." He whispered into her ear. "It's been a while, but I promise to do better by you this time."
"Nei-Li?" his father called out, "I assumed you were staying in the city tonight."
"Change of plans," Nei-Li said, smiling back at his father. "Mom wants you inside to help with supper. I'll watch her for you."
"Oh," his father said, also surprised. "Thank you, my son."
It was not a chore at all, as Nei-Li enjoyed spending time with his sister and playing with a kick ball and laughing and giggling while waiting for supper. His mother came to the door and watched them play for a few minutes before finally calling them both back in for dinner. Nei-Li picked up his sister and walked her back into the small house. As they sat down for dinner, he looked at the rice, the dumplings and a few other small things that his mother had served. She was right, the first time he ate them so many years ago... he hated those dumplings. But back then he was young, stupid and inconsiderate. He had never had to hunt for his own food, something Nei-Li had to do almost every day after the city fell to keep himself and his wife alive. Looking down at the food his mother served, to Nei-Li it seemed like a royal feast compared to the grim standards he had to force himself to consume out in the wild lands. He picked up a dumpling and bit into it, and unlike his first experience this dumpling was juicy and absolutely delicious. He ate the whole dumpling without a single sound or complaint. It was the first thing he had eaten since he returned to the city, and Nei-Li was blown away by how amazing the food was. His parents sat there in stunned silence as Nei-Li ate everything he was served.
"May I have some more, please?" he asked them.
"Sure," His mother said, passing him a bowl. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Nei-Li said, smiling. "It's just good to be home."
"I'm taking school went well?" his father asked.
"Not really," Nei-Li said, "I'm surprised they didn't kick me out."
"Oh?" his father replied, "What did you do?"
"I challenged a teacher," Nei-Li said, "Just means I'm going to have to work harder to prove her wrong, but I can do it. Do you guys mind if I meet up with some friends later on to work on those studies? After I help clean up, of course."
Rather than question her son's sudden shift in attitude, his mother preferred not to look a gift horse in the mouth and smiled back. "Of course dear, just as long as you don't stay out too late."
"I'll try not to," Nei-Li said, "but this is for school so I can't make any promises."
"Just try your best, Nei-Li." His father said, "We're proud of you as long as you don't waste the opportunity you've been given."
Nei-Li smiled when his father made that statement, because the old man had no idea what opportunity his son was truly given. Nei-Li was unsure how he went from fighting the Sage Emperor to being all the way back into his thirteen year old body, but he was going to take his father's advice and not let his second chance go to waste. He didn't care how he came back in time, but Nei-Li didn't care as there were more pressing matters ahead of him. His focus had to be retraining to get back to his old form, so he could become stronger and more powerful so that he could defend the city. He would also train his friends, cut down their focus to the bare necessities, because time was not on their side. They had less than a few years to get ready, to prepare themselves and the city for the army that was coming to destroy them. Nei-Li was determined to change history and make sure that Glory City never fell. To save all the people that he cares about, and save the people who were left to die by the corrupt houses that looked down on them. If he had anything to say about it, Glory City was going to be able to defend itself this time, and fight back.
But first, Nei-Li had a few more dumplings to finish.