The two brothers emerged from the dense forest and arrived at their family home by late afternoon. The sun hung low in the sky, painting everything in soft amber light.
As soon as they reached the yard, they dismounted their horses—Muz and Wolf—and secured them near a water trough.
"Alright," Kai said, dusting some dirt off his clothes. "We'll pack a few supplies, then head back home before making our journey to Shumara."
Leon slid off his saddle, hesitating slightly. Despite his earlier resolve, the thought of venturing into Shumara still weighed heavily. "Sure…" he managed, nodding.
They stepped into the house—an old, sturdy structure built of weathered wood, the walls decorated with family trinkets and childhood memories. The inside felt comfortably familiar: the faint smell of spiced cooking, the warm glow of evening light through windows.
Collecting a handful of items—primarily their weapons—took only a short while. Their weapons were simple and unadorned, capable of defending against common threats but hardly the best for the dangers they'd soon face. Still, it was all they had.
"Are you excited to see her?" Leon asked at length. They had just finished stuffing a few essentials into their packs. He gave Kai a knowing smirk.
"Who?" Kai replied, feigning confusion but letting a smile slip.
"You know. Nahlia?" Leon laughed. "You haven't seen her in three years."
Kai chuckled softly, shaking his head. "We write letters," he pointed out, though his expression hinted at a deeper longing.
"Meeting in person's totally different," Leon teased.
They carried their packs outside, where the late-day sun bathed the yard in warm gold. Muz and Wolf waited patiently, ears perked as the brothers approached to mount them again.
"Don't forget, Leon," Kai said firmly, swinging onto Muz's broad back. "You're not to tell Mom or Dad about our true plans. Just say we're going traveling—keep it simple."
Leon gave an obedient nod. "Got it."
"Also," Kai added, "make sure Nahlia and Maribel don't find out. Don't tell your friends, either."
Leon rolled his eyes, reining in Wolf. "Yes, yes."
"And don't mention anything about my wounds." Kai leaned forward in the saddle, voice low.
"Relax, I know."
Kai exhaled, a relieved smile tugging at his lips. With that settled, both brothers urged their horses to a brisk pace.
Unlike their old carriage journeys, traveling by these swift animals cut the trip time drastically. The miles melted away, the horses galloping easily across rolling hills and dusty roads.
"Great to be back," Leon said as their hometown's silhouette finally came into view. His eyes brightened with anticipation. "Think everyone'll be surprised?"
Kai shrugged, guiding Muz along a familiar lane. "Who knows." He motioned toward the cluster of wooden houses. "Let's get home first."
"So you can rush off to your fiancée?" Leon teased, grinning.
Kai scoffed, rolling his eyes as he spurred Muz to move ahead. Soon enough, they found themselves in front of a modest but welcoming house. The place hadn't changed much—its walls showed more age, but the familiar warmth remained.
They dismounted, tethering Muz and Wolf near a shady tree. Leon hurried to the front door, rapping loudly against the frame.
"Calm down," Kai said with a small smile, amused by Leon's enthusiasm. "You're acting like a kid."
"Hey, unlike you, I'm not used to being away from Mom and Dad," Leon retorted. He rapped again with a flourish.
A moment later, the door creaked open. Their mother stood there, her face initially puzzled until her eyes fell on Leon.
"Ye—Leon?!" she gasped, her expression instantly lighting up.
"Hey, Mom," Leon greeted, an irrepressible smile stretching across his face. In a heartbeat, she lunged forward, wrapping him in a fierce hug.
"My baby!" she exclaimed, voice trembling with emotion.
Leon hugged her back, though a slight blush tinged his cheeks. Meanwhile, Kai stepped in, chuckling at the scene. "Hi, Mom," he said softly, giving her a side embrace once she'd released Leon. "Where's Dad?"
She pulled away, beaming. "I'll go get him." She caught Leon by the arm and hurried him inside, still fussing over him. "Leon, just look at you… you're so grown!"
Leon practically glowed under her attention. "Check out these muscles!" he said, shrugging out of his shirt with an almost childlike excitement. He flexed, showing off a series of lean muscles—and a scattering of white scars.
Kai settled at a small wooden table and rolled his eyes. "Idiot."
"Wow," his mother mused, nodding approvingly even as she frowned at the marks. "But what are these wounds? They look serious."
"Oh, those," Leon answered sheepishly. "Kai and I train a lot… I might've gotten a little banged up here and there."
She turned, eyes narrowing at Kai. "You hurt him like this during training?"
Kai, in the midst of sipping water, nearly choked. "What? He's lying!" he sputtered, coughing. "These are from riding accidents, I swear. If I did hit him, you'd see worse!"
Leon gave a shrug, no real malice in his grin. "Anyways, Mom, can you make some food? I'm starving."
She smirked, shaking her head. "Of course. Let me whip something up." She walked to the stairs and looked up, before heading to the kitchen. "Honey, come down!"
Footsteps thumped down the stairs, heralding their father's arrival. Rubbing his eyes as if fresh from a nap, he peeked around the corner. "What's all the racket?" he muttered. Then he spotted Leon and froze in place, eyes widening.
"Leon?" he said, voice trembling with disbelief.
Leon jogged over, pulling him into a tight hug. "How are you Dad?"
Their father's expression softened into a huge grin. "Better now that you're here. But why're you shirtless?" he added with a chuckle. "Showing off?"
Laughing, Leon flexed again. "Look at my muscles!"
His father whistled approvingly, patting Leon's shoulder. Then he turned to Kai, greeting him with a brief, hearty hug. "You too, son—how are you doing?"
"Fine," Kai replied, giving him a respectful nod before settling back into his chair.
Just then, their mother returned from the kitchen carrying a tray laden with steaming snacks. Leon pounced on the food with undisguised hunger, eliciting a soft laugh from her.
"So," she said, eyes flicking between them, "why the sudden visit? You didn't send any word."
Leon answered mid-bite, "I missed you guys."
She seemed touched, her face crinkling into a warm smile. "We missed you both, too."
"Kai," their father chimed in, turning a more serious gaze on his eldest son, "is everything sorted with Leon's condition?"
A shadow crossed Kai's eyes. He toyed with the spoon in front of him. "Yes and no," he replied slowly. "He's stable whenever I'm around, no real problems for three years now, which is good."
Their dad's brow crinkled in relief. "That means he's cured?"
"Not exactly." Kai sighed, then straightened up, as though bracing himself for unwelcome news. "We came back because I need to head out again soon… for research. Leon's coming with me."
Their mother's hand paused mid-motion. "For how long?" she asked in a subdued voice.
Kai glanced away, feigning a casual shrug. "I don't know. Until I find something to fix this. But for now, we'll stay a week or two so Leon can see you guys."
His father pressed, "Couldn't Leon stay here instead?"
"He can't," Kai said gently, shaking his head. "He still needs my containment every day."
The mention of containment brought a pensive hush over the room. Their mother nodded slowly, forcing a supportive smile. "We'll make the most of your visit, then."
Kai slipped to his feet, stretching. "I need to pop out. There's someone I want to see."
A glimmer of understanding flickered in Leon's eyes. "Nahlia?" he teased lightly, failing to hide his grin.
"Something like that." Kai offered a small smile. "Mom, has she been busy lately?"
Their mother paused in thought. "Not that I know of. I stop by her house from time to time, and she's usually around or with friends."
Kai ran a hand through his hair, perplexed. "I see. She hasn't answered many letters, is all." For a moment, his carefully guarded expression slipped, revealing a trace of anxiousness.
"Well," he continued, forcing a more optimistic grin, "I'll check in with her and be back." With that, he walked toward the door.
After Kai left, their parents directed their attention to Leon, who was still devouring the snacks.
"So," his mother began, smiling gently, "tell us what you've been up to these last few years. Your brother's letters were always so short."
Leon swallowed a mouthful. "Mostly training, studying… you know, nothing too crazy. I even tried the Rulin path again, but realized it's not for me. I guess I'm still figuring out what I want."
His father nodded. "That's fine. No rush. We're doing okay financially, so you can take your time."
His mother set a hand on Leon's arm. "Just find something safe, please. I'd love for you to stay in the village if possible."
Leon shook his head, letting out a casual laugh. "No way. I want to see the city—do something out there."
She sighed softly. "Alright, but promise to be careful."
Then her brow knit with curiosity. "Leon, does something seem… different about Kai? His expressions seem tense, almost restrained—like he's carrying a heavier burden than before."
Leon paused, taken aback. "Different? I don't think so. We're together all the time—training, studying, and eating. He seems the same to me."
Their father exchanged a glance with his wife. "He looks more stressed, somehow," he remarked. "It's subtle, but it's there."
Leon gazed at them uncertainly, recalling how Kai's face had tightened whenever talk of his injuries or Shumara arose. "I dunno," he finally said. "He never shows anything to me, at least. Maybe I'm missing it."
His mother gave a faint nod. "I might be overthinking it. He's always been good at hiding worries—like he doesn't want us to fret."
Leon chewed on the idea in silence. A heaviness settled over them, as though they collectively sensed the weight of what lay ahead, even if unspoken. For now, they let it lie, focusing on the relief of reunion.