Chapter 26: A Brief respite.
Sleeping soundly Kyle was disturbed by a sudden presence and on instinct snapped out of the way. The result, a wet pillow as the splash of cold water missed its target.
"Really?" Kyle looked at his father unimpressed.
"I was right to think that wouldn't work, though at the same time it did. Good morning," Arvel waved towards him. "Up you get, you might as well help me with the morning work."
Kyle couldn't help but smile at the normalcy of the situation, "Fine, I'll come down in a bit."
"You do that," his father smiled and headed downstairs leaving Kyle to his own devices.
It was a nostalgic feeling as Kyle went to his wardrobe and took out his everyday wear from what felt like so long ago. His wardrobe in the garden was 90% uniform, but here it was the perfect representation of a village boy. As he pulled on the clothes his eyes couldn't help linger at the reflection of himself in the mirror. Like the day before, his body was changing and the curves of his body becoming further than that of a standard male. For a moment his heart shook, but remembering Lillia and all she had said, he smiled once more. Whatever happened she would always accept him for who he was.
As Kyle came down the stairs, his father couldn't help but widen his eyes, commenting, "And here I thought you didn't like those clothes."
Kyle pulled at the fabric that clung to his body, revealing more of its shape, "Well I didn't and I still kind of don't, but you can't say it doesn't look good on me."
"It makes you look like, well, you." Arvel smiled, "If you fixed up your hair, it would be hard not to be convinced who you were."
"I think I'm a long way from looking like Estile." Kyle touched his body, "My proportions aren't the same, though if they were I think my clothes wouldn't fit properly. Then again I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be if they were."
"It is a strange experience, and one that I never look forward to but it'll get better." Arvel waived him over, "Now come on, these loafs aren't going to bake themselves."
"Right," Kyle rolled up his sleeves and equipped his apron, assuming his usual position beside his father.
For a long while they worked in silence as the two passed between each other. Their movements were clean and practiced as if Kyle had never left at all. It was a therapeutic experience and one that the two enjoyed more than they could put into words.
Finally as a break came, Arvel smirked, "While all this feels the same, the context has me a little perplexed."
"Why's that?" Kyle questioned innocently.
"Because you, Estile, were a terrible cook," he chuckled. "No matter how you tried to spin it, your food would be barely decent and honestly it was a flaw that the rest of us saw as humanising considering how good you were at other things. But look at you now. I mean I do take more than just partial credit for it, there were quite a few long days of teaching till you got it right."
"Well so far it's been my biggest asset," Kyle grinned. The fact that it was his own hard work and not something he had received from Estile lifted his spirits.
"Yes, things certainly have changed...." Arvel paused and looked at Kyle seriously, "I'll be heading to the Capital."
"R-really?" though he wasn't really surprised it was hard not to react.
"Not immediately though, there are a few things I need to take care of here."
"Ah right, I guess you can't just leave Tomph without a baker."
"Well there's that but I've also been running some experiments the past decade and a half." He laughed at Kyle's confused gaze. "Did you think I'd just be sitting here only baking and raising you? While I was the Hero I never had the time to try out all my ideas and since then I've managed to hone in on a few things. Though it may be just a bit, I've learnt more about what the fog is."
"Then... the night there was incursion here?"
"I wasn't here. Neither have I been here any day there was an incursion. I was out in the fog. I intended to stay here that night, to make sure you kept out of trouble but I couldn't. I regretted it quite a bit back then, but seeing how things turned out, I guess it was for the best," he smiled softly. "Whenever there's an incursion it's not just our world that's affected. Beyond the fog, our old world reacts too. I'm on to something, I know it. It'll take me a few days to sort the loose ends but once I'm done I'll find you back at the Capital. Then together we can start making some real headway."
"I'd like that," Kyle smiled. He was relieved and encouraged by Arvel's words but at the same time he knew the man would discover the truth of what his absence had caused. Until then however, it would remain a secret. "Should I go make the deliveries?"
"No, I'll take care of that," his father began to load the cart. "With you looking like that now, it'll cause a ruckus. Besides the village is used to me coming around. There won't be any customers coming till I get back so you can relax here. I'll leave it to you as to how much you want to tell your friends."
"Right...," Kyle was not looking forward to that. Fortunately Valandus and Melissa had been quite inebriated the night before and settled to bed quite quickly. Now however, he wondered if they'd accept what he had to say.
"Well good luck with that," Arvel took the cart and exited the store, once again leaving Kyle to his own devices.
*
"So what you're telling me is that you can't tell me?" Valandus sat at the dining table, his arms folded and unimpressed.
"Well, not until I speak with the Captain first," Kyle replied with a hopeful expression. "Things are more complicated than we thought they would be."
Melissa looked at him concerned, "It's not bad though is it?"
"No..., I wouldn't say so. Just surprising. Right Lillia?" Kyle looked to her for support.
The girl's expression squirmed, "Surprising is definitely the word for it."
"And until we speak with the Captain it's probably better that you two don't know anything."
Valandus sighed, "Just tell me one thing, do I have a reason to be annoyed at your father?"
With clear eyes Kyle faced the 2nd Officer, "No."
"Then that's good enough for me," with casual ease Valandus relaxed and took a bite of the glazed scroll on the table. "Your father is a damn good baker."
"You're really fine with just that?" Kyle asked.
"Did you not want me to be?"
"No!" he replied immediately. "It's just... thank you."
"No problem," Valandus continued to munch on his scroll and take a large sip of coffee. "Yep that's the good stuff. That hangover is as good as gone now."
Melissa rubbed her temples and sighed, "Speak for yourself. Kyle do you have any liqueur?"
"Umm no, but wouldn't that just make it worse?" Kyle asked confused.
"You would think but it's surprisingly effective. This will have to do," she drained her coffee in one go and released a tense breath from the exhilarating kick. "Better but I'm probably not going to be doing anything extreme for a while."
A sudden tick echoed in Kyle's mind. It was a memory of a room filled with laughter, among it some bright haired individuals. Then it came to morning and he saw a red haired women puking into a bucket as he placed his hand on top her head.
Without noticing Kyle had already reached out his hand and touched Melissa's hair. Before she could even react a gentle glow spread between them.
"Eh-ah!" Melissa widened her eyes unsure what was happening but as the light faded she suddenly stood up. "Oh wow, I feel great!"
"Hang on!" Valandus struck his gaze to Kyle who flinched. "What did you just do? Why didn't you do it to me?"
Kyle blinked and stared at his hand, though he used the magic he suddenly couldn't remember how he had done it, "Sorry I don't know."
"Oh I see how it is," Valandus moped. "Playing favourites you womaniser. Is that what your new get up is about as well? Trying to charm Melissa too?"
"N-No! That's- I just did it on instinct."
"So it was instinct? Kyle you player."
"Ha! Sucks to be you," Melissa poked out her tongue towards the driver.
Before the bickering could continue, Lillia broke between them, "Both of you cut it out." She looked at her hand and then at Kyle. She aimed her fingers towards Valandus' forehead, "Here." A flash of light burst.
"Yeoah, my eyes!" Valandus hit the ground covering his eyes. He suddenly stopped. "Oh, I feel pretty good." He moved to a stand and brushed himself off, "Where did you two learn that? Though Kyle's version honestly looked a lot more comfortable."
Lillia shrugged, "I saw Kyle do it and I kind of understood how, as for Kyle... we can't say."
"And were back to the secrets," he sighed. "Fine, fine. I swear though if the Captain says it's above my paygrade I'm never going to get another proper nights rest."
"Which means I doubt I'd hear it either," Melissa laughed, but unlike Valandus it was clear she wasn't too bothered. "On the other hand Kyle, don't you think your father is taking a while?"
"Yeah he is," Kyle looked to the door. The morning deliveries didn't usually take too long and he doubted, especially now, that anything could stop his father. As if on cue however the jingle of the shop's front bell chimed and not long after the baker entered the dining room.
"My apologies for taking a while," he bowed his head to the room's occupants. "I was sorting out a few things with the Mayor. I'll be ready to head off tomorrow."
"Oh are you coming with us Mr Barker?" Melissa asked.
"Not quite," from the atmosphere of the room he could tell that the two officers didn't know. "I will be heading to the Capital but I have a few things to take care of first. I assume you'll be leaving tomorrow as well?"
Kyle nodded, "Yes. We only had a few days so we'll have to leave early tomorrow to hopefully get back to the Capital by evening."
"And if we're lucky we'll get an extra holiday," Valandus grinned.
"Holiday?"
"For the last incursion. A four day break so the Hero's Guard can head back home and relax."
"Really? That's the first I've heard of it."
"Well for you it wouldn't change much and it's usually only a day or two but considering what happened last time, we could all use the downtime."
Arvel raised his eyebrows, "Last time?"
"It wasn't anything too serious," Lillia replied a little too quickly. "Just a few more demons than usual."
"A few? The-," Valandus would have continued gabbing if it weren't for Melissa who had caught on.
With a firm grip she yanked the driver from his seat and rubbed his head forcefully, "Oh you, don't bore Kyle's dad with anymore stories. We'll leave you three again and head for a walk."
"Those two are quite close," Arvel noted. "Is everyone in the Hero's Guard like that nowadays?"
Kyle shook his head and waved his hand, "No, that's just Valandus. Though he's actually pretty high ranked, you wouldn't be able to tell normally. Mellissa's also pretty easy going too."
Lillia huffed, "Yep, our division aside, most the Hero's Guard are pretty serious and responsible people."
Arvel smiled, "It eases my heart knowing that the organisation stands strong. To be honest I'm almost afraid to head back. So much has changed to the point I wonder if they would remember me. The only face anyone knows now is a helmet." He wiped his face and breathed, "Sorry look at this old man getting nerved. How about you two take a walk as well. I'll look after the bakery."
"But-," Kyle began but a hand pressed against his shoulder.
"We'll have plenty of time to talk later, the most important stuff has already been said." His soft smile turned to a grin, "Now go. I can tell you two are basically always being watched. Go have some fun alone. I won't tell anyone."
"Thanks dad," Kyle stood up and took Lillia's hand.
He laughed, "It's both familiar and strange hearing you call me that. Though I guess this evens things out."
"What do you mean?"
"Several centuries ago our situations were reversed actually. Estile used to be my mother. It's strange I know but that's for later. Now go!" He pushed the two out the store. With them gone and the store empty the flaxen haired man sat down behind the counter and heaved a breath both heavy and relieved. "Can I really still do this?" He shook himself. "No, I owe it to all of you to keep going. Not until the end."