Chapter 9: A long wait.
Outside a familiar villa a white haired girl stood in the centre of the path blocking the way out. It was Estile, though her usual friendly expression was scrunched into a hard frown as she held her arms wide preventing the young man in front of her from leaving. The man not much older than a boy had a complicated expression himself. A head taller than Estile, he had a fine amount of muscle and a handsome face. His most prominent feature however were the lightly pointed and pulled back ears on either side of his head.
"I said no!" Estile stomped her foot causing the paving beneath them to crack. "You're not going to become an Adventurer, it's too dangerous. Until you change your career choice Callus you're staying right here!"
The half elven man sighed, "I knew I shouldn't have told you." Behind him the Villa door was still open and the children inside peeked out with a blatant curiosity. "Mori, Kyle and Karen already agreed, can't you as well?"
"That's because those three are idiots," Estile huffed. "Unlike us you're too fragile. Becoming an Adventurer is too random. What happens if you meet a Dragon or an Archdevil? You'd die and I just can't let that happen! Couldn't you be like Hannah and Quoril and go open a bakery?"
"Please Estile, mum. You're overreacting," Callus kept his voice calm. "I'm no good as a cook or much else. What I am good at is what you and everyone else taught me. You said yourself I had talent for swordsmanship and magic. Isn't that why you let me train with you and why Karen taught me?"
Estile refused to budge, "That was to protect yourself, not go off to do the opposite."
The young man smiled warmly. Instead of being annoyed he seemed happy for the care she was showing. He kneeled to the ground and looked up at her, "Estile, Mercenary of the Ever-Garden. When you first found and brought me here I honestly thought I wouldn't have a future. I was only 4 but I can remember all I wanted was to let everything go and see my parents again. Instead I found a new family, one that I couldn't be more proud of."
"Flattery won't get you anywhere," Estile folded her arms.
"It's not flattery. You and the others became my parents and I found a new joy to living. All my life I wanted to do one thing and that was to help people like you helped me. Arvel used to read us stories about Heroes but more than anything that's what you are. Can't you let me carry out my dream to be like you?"
Her eye twitched as she began to crack under his earnest gaze. "Those stories aren't what it's really like," she spoke seriously. "There's more pain and suffering out there than you know. We-I just want to keep you away from that, to be happy."
"I know and that's exactly why I want to go out and be an Adventurer. I promise I'll send you letters and visit whenever I can and I swear I won't do anything I can't. If it's more than I can handle, the first one I'll talk to is you."
Estile blinked and with a heavy sigh she gestured, "Stand up."
"You'll let me go?" Callus rose excitedly.
"I didn't say that... but yes." She held the young man's hands tenderly, "Each and every one of you keep growing up and leaving."
"You didn't raise us to slouch around at home."
"Maybe I should have," with one last squeeze she let go. "I know the others already agreed and even if I tried to stop you now, you'd somehow do it anyway. Just please be careful. The closest town to register is Everdale. Don't let the other Adventurer's push you around and make sure to always look after your equipment. Spend your money wisely and-."
"Mum please that's enough, I know. You've taught me well so all I need is a smile when you say good bye."
Estile hesitated but finally gave in, stepping away from the path, "It's not a good bye but see you later."
Callus laughed, "Did you steal that line from Kyle?"
"I can use it however I want," she grumbled in reply. "Now go before I change my mind."
"See you later mum," he stepped past before turning around, facing the Villa and the crowd that had gathered to say goodbye. Standing and waving were his family. The other Mercenaries of the Ever-Garden and the children of the Villa. "Bye everyone!"
They cheered goodbye in response as Callus grinned and began to march down the path away from the villa and the world beyond.
Estile's hand hovered over her chest apprehensively as the young man left her sight. Unable to contain herself any longer she made a move to go after him but a hand held her back.
"Estile let him go. He's old enough to look after himself," a brown haired youth held her back. His eyes were like hers and shone with far more years of experience than their appearance revealed.
She clicked her tongue, "But Kyle he's... he's...."
"He's what, not ready?" the youth named Kyle laughed. "With his skills let alone an Adventurer he could join any country's finest knighthood and fit in easily."
"I'm worried."
"We know. You're like this every time one of the children leave. You'd think you'd get used to it but I swear it's getting worse. For someone who doesn't look a day over twenty five you're way too motherly."
Estile glared at him, "I get it but I can't help it." Her tone fell to a whisper, "Mori's nightmares are getting worse. I'm afraid we won't be able to stop what's coming this time."
"And that's why we need people like Callus to be there and help those we can't," Kyle smiled sincerely. "Now we can't sit around all day. Someone has to make lunch. Also that coast city with all the pineapples called again, something about a sea serpent."
"I've got dibs on the serpent," she punched her fists together. "I'm in the mood for some stress relief."
"Good because no one likes it when you cook."
Estile's eyes narrowed onto Kyle dangerously, "You know the serpent can wait. I think I can just relieve my stress now."
"It was just a joke. Though it's true...."
"What did you just mumble!?" in the next moment the two were running around the front Garden displaying something normal people would say was quite out of the ordinary.
In front of the Villa a red headed women sighed, "Come on everyone it's just the usual. Let's head back inside."
*
Thud. Kyle hit the floor of his room. Thick winter blankets were strewn across his body still half on the bed. Judging from the light streaming through the window the sun had just started to rise which meant the morning of Lillia and Tai's departure had finally arrived. For a while he just laid there blinking and letting the sleep drain from his body. He was honestly surprised by how alive he felt considering how much he had drunk the previous night, though a part of him felt it was because of the dream he just had. The Mercenaries of the Ever-Garden and Estile... he was beginning to piece their lives together slowly. The question was whether they were actually real or just figments of his imagination. For one, the timeline in his dreams didn't make sense. He could still remember his dream of Callus as a child and the Callus he had seen now was clearly much older yet the Mercenaries hadn't aged. Going by their conversations though, while they looked human they were more than that.
As Kyle stood up he took a moment to look into the mirror. He had grown used to seeing himself and despite his feminine appearance he was getting used to the way he looked. That wasn't to say he didn't desire a more robust body. He thought of the Kyle in his dream. They shared a name but their constitutions couldn't be compared. What he took most from the dream however was the peacefulness of their villa and lives. The brief glimpses of the orphans they had taken in and the other Mercenaries painted a blissful picture. Kyle had to wonder if he'd ever get that chance to send off one of the children like Estile had. To see them grow up and go out into the world as an adult. The thought was sobering as he knew he'd be saying goodbye soon enough but just not for the reasons he wanted.
Still early in the morning the children would be sleeping, Maila on the other hand was wide awake and waiting in the dining room.
She smiled as he entered, "it's nice to see you back. I heard you worked some wonders while you were gone."
Kyle sat down opposite her, "I'm not sure about wonders but at least Lillia and Tai managed to get a night off."
"Thank you for that. Though you did leave me to look after the children by myself with barely any warning. What's the point of a schedule you can't keep?"
"I'm sorry," he bowed his head in reply.
"I'm joking," Maila let out a short laugh. "Remember I've looked after them alone long before you came here." She stood up, "Coffee or tea?"
"Let me get it," Kyle followed her up but she didn't back down so in the end both of them stood in the kitchen. For a long while there was just silence as they calmly made their drinks. Underlying it however was a tender tension. Both knew the reason but neither could do much other than bear it. It wasn't until the soft sound of footsteps when they looked up.
Lillia walked into the dining room and followed close beside her was Tai. The two were properly dressed in full military uniform sporting their Special ranks.
"Would you like a drink?" Maila asked softly.
"No I'm..., actually sure," Lillia answered a little awkwardly.
"Tai?"
"Ah um, yes please," the boy was clearly nervous.
To put it lightly the atmosphere was strained. The previous night the three had revelled in a brief state of freedom but now the crushing reality of their responsibilities were just around the corner. When the bell to the reception door rung, even Maila jumped at the sound. With heavy steps the four nodded and reached the entrance where Bethial and Reina waited.
The Captain nodded to them in greeting, "Are you ready?"
"Yes sir," Lillia and Tai answered.
"Good. We'll depart as soon as possible." He paused. "Have you said your goodbyes?"
"We arrived late last night so we didn't see everyone but they're still sleeping. It's okay. We'll come back." Lillia's confidence shook as she spoke, wanting to believe her words more than she could.
"Then let us go," the Captain gestured as Reina went to stand beside the two as a guide.
"Wait!" Kyle shouted before he could help himself. "This just doesn't sit well with me. I think we all need to say goodbye. A little less sleep is fine, right Maila?"
"You're right," the women patted down her dress and smiled. To his surprise she stepped outside the room into the open air and took a deep breath. "Everyone wake up! It's time to say goodbye!" Her voice was far louder than any of them could have expected. Even Bethial flinched.
The sound of shuffling steps from the floorboards above quickly started to echo through the villa. Then the first appeared. Himila and then Kara and Mitsu. The list went on as some were being dragged and others still bleary eyed.
Himila stood firmly, "You were just going to leave without telling us?"
Kara nodded beside her, "Shame on you. Just because we were sleeping doesn't mean you shouldn't wake us up."
"Y-yeah," Mitsu agreed though it was clear she was having trouble staying on her feet.
The other children filled the room until there was barely any space left. The reception wasn't made to accommodate all of them at once and though it was still early their chatter escalated as they pulled against Lillia and Tai.
Maila stood near the edges of the crowd, "They really have changed."
"What was that?" Kyle asked as he heard her mumble.
"Oh nothing," she shook her head. "I was just reminiscing."
At the rate they were going they'd never leave and it wasn't until Bethial signalled Maila that she spoke again, "Come on everyone, give them space. It's time for Lillia and Tai to go now." A chorus of goodbyes followed along with a few grumbles.
Kyle stood at the front unable to move as some of the younger ones clung to his pants. Lillia however came to him and gave him a hug, "Thank you really."
"I should be saying that to you," he returned the gesture feeling his heart beat strengthen. As their arms wrapped around each other neither moved to let go. Kyle was sure he didn't want to. He wanted to give Lillia that chance of a future, to say goodbye like Estile did, to be worried but also have the confidence to see them again. He wanted to give her something no one else could and in that moment he made up his mind. "Um Lillia I know this might not be the right time, but when you come back I'd like to talk to you. So promise me you will."
Lillia let go and stepped back sensing the weight of his words. Her own heart was beginning to churn at the implication of what he could mean. "I-I promise."
"Good," Kyle let out a grin and turned to Tai. "Look after yourself as well. I want to see everyone back home in a few days."
"I'll do my best," Tai nodded firmly.
"Good bye everyone," Lillia and Tai finally waved their last and began to follow the Captain away.
Kyle called after them, "It's not good bye, it's see you later."
The remark caused Lillia to almost trip as she laughed, "You really are weird. See you later everyone." And with that the two left the Garden, neither knowing if they'd return the same but each hoping nonetheless.