After separating from Red, the Riser trio continued on their way to their original destination. They left the main housing area of the village and came to a more open area where a modest-sized house stood with a tree behind it. The family unit approached the door, but some were more excited than the others. To Achilles, it looked like Lyn's glee was about to break free from her calm front with each step she took; it looked like small sparks were flying off her as she got closer to the door. But just as she was about to knock on the door.

  "Mom, can I do it?" Roy asked.

  "Sure."

  So Lyn let Roy take the lead, walking up to the wooden door and hit it three times. They didn't have to wait long before the doorknob turned and the door swung open, revealing a well-endowed elven woman. Her long ears stuck out from her long golden blond hair that seemed to reach her lower back, and her eyes that mirrored the color of her hair. Her soft, motherly apprentice sent a wave of calmness over Roy that reminded him of his mother. She appeared to be about the same height as Lyn. However, this woman didn't even register Roy's presence; her eyes were only on Lyn, even giving Achilles a passing glance as she was greeted by Lyn's smile.

  "Lyndis!!" She cried happily, bolting to her old friend, leaving the boy to spin like a top. It looked like less of a hug and more like she was trying to absorb her. "It's been too long, how have you been?"

  Roy could only watch as she jumped his mother, tackling her in a tight embrace. Rubbing her cheek against hers. One thing was clear in his eyes. This elf was very, very friendly.

  "It's great to see you, too, Lumara. You're right, it's been far too long." She said, returning the hug, smiling at the actions of her friend.

  Still not letting go of the redhead royal, she turned to Achilles with a smile. "It's great to see you too. Did you get bigger? Your arms look more defined than the last time I saw you."

  "When you spend every day carrying around two kids, it tends to do that to ya."

  Achilles' comment caused Lumara to separate from Lyn and turn her attention back to the boy who knocked on her door. Bending down, bringing her knees to the floor, she made eye contact with the boy.

  "And this must be your son, right? So, dear, what's your name?" She asked.

  "My name's Roy, it's nice to meet you, ma'am." He simply smiled at Lumara.

  ....

  "You look so much like Lyndis, but you have Achilles' eyes!" She cried, pulling the boy into a hug. She hoisted him with such speed that the action startled Roy. It was a whiplash being thrust into the air and then forced into her bosom. "You're just a cutie!"

  As all this happened, only one thought ran through Roy's mind as he was smothered into her chest. 'She's really soft.' It was like being smothered by two warm, soft, but firm pillows.

  The sight only caused the boy's parents to erupt, laughing at the scene.

  "Well, I see you haven't changed much over these years." She couldn't help but laugh at her friend.

  "Well, I'll have you know that change is overrated." The elven woman responded.

  The group went inside and made their way to the living room. It was a simple design with furniture, two chairs, and a couch. To the left, there was a dining room that connected an open kitchen with a back door that led to the backyard. Looking past the living room, there was a hallway that appeared to have four doors and a fifth that was likely the main bedroom.

  Looking at the family picture that hung over the couch, Lumara was with a white-haired elf man and a small blond girl, both had blue eyes. "So Lumara, where's Indigo?" Lyn questioned.

  "He's–

  "Her loving husband was left in the kitchen alone to prepare lunch, while she left to answer the door." The same white-haired elf walked out of the kitchen, wearing elven clothing underneath an apron that he started to remove.

  "Looks like we arrived just on time, so I assume that lunch should be ready soon?" This time it was Achilles who spoke up. Walking towards the white-haired elf the two shook hands as they greeted each other.

  "Not really, Lumara and I were just about to start. Besides, one of us will have to go find our daughter. She said she was going to be back an hour ago, but it looks like yet again she got distracted."

  Lyn and Achilles looked at each other before laughing slightly. Their laughter only caused both Lumara and Indigo to give them both a confused look.

  "And what's so funny?" Indigo gave them a confused look.

  "What's funny is that now Achilles will have to join you in that search, so he can go find Red." Lyn didn't even give them the chance to protest; she was already bushing them both to the front door.

  ""Wait, why do we have to go?"" Both men shot their confusion at Lyn.

  "Simple, you both are the men. So go find the kids while we get lunch ready. Or do you both not want a loving lunch made by your beautiful wives?"

  Both men looked to each other, then to their respective wives, then back to each other. Only a fool would argue against that idea, and they were anything but foolish at that moment. After all, what man wouldn't want to eat a meal made by their loving wife? Leaving their wives, they went to start their search.

  Lyn was left laughing at how fast the pair left. "I love him so much, but my word, it's so easy to tell him what to do at times."

  Even Lumara couldn't stop her bubbling laughter. "So I see not much has changed between the two of you. This reminds me of the days when you would send Achilles out on a run to go fetch something. The way you would shut down all of his protests is by telling him. "Oh, Achilles, if you do this for me, I'll have a box lunch ready for when you return." She did her best to mimic her scarlet friend.

  "It's like they say, the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach." The pair could only laugh at their personal experience with that statement.

  "Yeah right," Roy scoffed. "That's never gonna happen to me."

  The pair just looked at him before laughing, knowing very well that someday, maybe not anytime soon but someday, his statement would change.

  However, another thought crossed Lumara's mind. "By the way, Lyndis, who's Red?"

  "Red is—"

  "Red's my older brother!" Roy exclaimed, cutting his mom off.

  "I should have known you wouldn't just stop at one, Lyndis, after all, you and Achilles always knew how to have some fun." The teasing from the elf only caused her to get a light shove from Lyn.

  "Really? You're going to say that in front of my son?"

  Still, Lumara only laughed. "How about we get to work so they have something good to come back to."

  With a shaking head and a smile, Lyn followed Lumara into the kitchen, leaving Roy to do as he pleased as he started to look around the house.

  ——————————————————

  The turn of another page led to the end of the story. The book came to a close and Red returned Heroes' Will to his bag. He wasn't the only one to have a smile; Lucina, too, looked satisfied with the story.

  "Yeah, I've never seen that one here before. I think my favorite part was when the group went to fight the serpent in that magma cave." Recalling the part she preferred. "So what was your Red?"

  "It might sound a little lame, but I liked the interactions between the group, but yeah, I agree the fight was great."

  "So what are we waiting for? Crack open another one and let's start the next one!" Her excitement was contagious, and before Red even knew it himself, he was already reaching into his bag to take out another book.

  "Sure, how about 'Golden Light'?"

  "That was the one you were reading earlier, right?" He gave a nod for an answer. 'Sure, why not."

  Just as he pulled out the next book, a low grumble escaped, causing them both to start laughing.

  "Guess it's about time for lunch, I'd better get home before I make my parents mad. It was fun hanging out with you."

  There was a slight mark of disappointment in Red. "Yeah, same here. I should probably go find and meet up with my family, too. They probably already met up with their friends already, so I guess I'm gonna have to start looking for them before my mom starts to worry."

  That made the elf stop in her tracks; she barely took a step forward before she turned back to him. "Wait, wait, wait, wait. You're telling me that, not only are you is this your first time here in Eden, but you also don't know where your family was even going?"

  "I wouldn't say that... my family is here to see old friends they haven't seen in a while. I just don't know where they live."

  He watched as Lucina's neutral, if concerned, face still just looked at him. "Do you at least know the names of these people?"

  He didn't respond, trying to look anywhere but at the elf in front of him.

  "Did they not tell you their names?"

  "My mom wanted it to be a surprise."

  He met with a blank stare that, for some reason, quickly turned into an energetic grin. "Well then, looks like lunch with my family will have to wait." Her tone picked up, matching her energetic grin. "Fear not, my young friend. For I, Lucina Starfall, shall do what I can to help return you to your family!"

  "Thanks, but you don't have to do that. I can probably find them on my own."

  However, his request was only met with repeated clicks of her tongue and a wave of her finger. "How can I turn my back on a kid in need?"

  'Did she just call me a kid?' "What makes you think you can go calling me a kid? You don't look that much older than me."

  "Really, then how old are you?"

  "I'll be sixteen in August. What about you?"

  A single finger rose. "One year, I'm one year older than you. Oh, come, it's not like it matters. After all, I'm helping guide my friend around. This way, if Yodei and his goons start giving you trouble, I can step in." Raising her fist with a flex, Red just looked at her.

  "Thanks, but I'll be fine on my own. After a while, you kinda get used to it."

  He was met with a frown that quickly turned back into a smile and just like before. Lucina grabbed his hand and pulled him along back to the village. "Would you just let me help my friend? Besides, I know this place like the back of my hand."

  Red didn't get another chance to protest. Lucina just took off, pulling him along with her as they ran back to the village.

  -----

  It was surprising how quickly they got back to the village center. Even when he was looking around it felt as if they were moving faster than before. Maybe it was because this time, rather than take his time to take in the sights, he was pulled along by Lucina.

  "So, where are you from anyway, Red?"

  "Phera."

  The way he said it so casually caught her off guard.

  "Ok, just wait a minute. So not only is this your first time here, but you're also from another country?"

  Again, that sheepish look from before returned as he looked away, but this time when he returned to her gaze, Lucina was anything but annoyed.

  Looking back, only to find that excitement had taken over, it didn't take long for her to give in and start bombarding him with questions.

  "Is it really warm all year round in Ielos?"

  "What about Phera? Is it true that in the city's center, there's a massive dragon skeleton?"

  The questions didn't seem to end; she was overwhelmed and didn't give him a second to answer.

  "Wait, if you're from Phrea, how long did it take you to get here? That isn't a short trip, that's at least a months-long journey."

  He tried to think of a reason that didn't involve bringing up the Travel Ring.

  "Well, you see–

  "Hey Lucina!" They both turned to see an elf with white hair calling out to her, followed by a human with black hair as he waved to them.

  The elf recognized the elf, and the human recognized the human. They called out simultaneously.

  ""Hey, Dad/Pop.""

  This caused the two to look at each other and laugh. So they made their way to meet them.

  "So Red, who's your friend?"

  "Right, Dad, this is Lucina Starfall. She was helping me... well, helping me look for you." With a friendly wave, Achilles returned before she went to the man he learned was her father. "But who is he?"

  "He's an old friend of ours. But speaking of your mother, we probably should get back; lunch should be ready soon."

  But just as Red was told about how lunch was approaching, his stomach's low grumble was another indicator. But he also heard that a smiler conversation went on between Lucina and her father.

  "Wait, we came here to see your family?"

  "Your parents know mine?"

  While their questions were different, that didn't stop them from speaking at the same time. It gave the two fathers something to laugh at for the walk home.

  While they made their way to a fast-approaching lunch, many different people waved to Indigo, giving him their thanks. Red couldn't help but notice a similarity between how the residents of Eden viewed Lucina's father, like how the people of Phera looked at both his Mom and Grandpa.

  "Hey, Lucina."

  "What's up?"

  "Why are all those people treating your Dad like that?"

  His question only caused the elven girl to grow a cocky grin.

  "Well, I'll have you know I'm the daughter of the strongest warrior in Eden Village."

  She couldn't help but puff her chest out and hold her head up high. As if trying to brag about her Dad to her new friend.

  "That's cool and all, but my Grandpa can knock a Minotaur's head clean off with his bare hand." He simply threw a counter at her, and the two started to throw claims back and forth.

  The only one who didn't enjoy the contest between the young pair was Achilles.

  It wasn't the fact that they were going back and forth as they tried to one-up the other... It was each time Red spoke that he was rarely brought up; barely one time was he mentioned.

  He could only sulk with each step. The fact this caused Achilles' sulking fueled Indigo's amusement.

  This continued until they reached a house on the outskirts of town. Making their way to the front door, Indigo and Lucina entered. Red was about to follow them in until Achilles stopped him.

  "Red, don't forget your manners."

  He looked at Achilles and back to the door and bowed his head.

  "I'm sorry. May I enter?" He requested blowing his head.

  This only caused Indigo to laugh at the request, and Lucina looked confused at the question.

  "Sure, come on in." Lucina told him, confused.

  With that, both Red and Achilles entered the house and followed them to the living room, and the next thing everyone knew, a blur moved past them all, tackling Red, knocking him across the floor. Achilles and Indigo could only laugh. Lucina, however, was left wondering who this red-headed stranger was, why did he tackle her friend, and what was he doing in her house.

  "Hey, Red, who's this?"

  Red, sitting back up with the strange boy now sitting on his lap, looked at Lucina. "This is Roy, my little brother."

  "Nice to meet you." Roy said.

  "It's nice to meet you, too. Lucina could only give an awkward reply. 'They don't look like brothers.' She thought, but untimely ignored it.

  They began talking to each other about whatever they wanted, from their favorite food, games, and their favorite hero stories. Soon, they heard a voice speak to them.

  "So, now that you're back, go wash up. Lunch will be ready soon."

  This caused the pair to turn and see both Lyn and Lumara. ""Yes, Mom."" The pair said in unison, causing them both to turn facing each other.

  ""Hey, stop copying me!"" They replied.

  ""Quit it!!""

  It happened again and again, causing everyone in the room to laugh at the scene, finding the pair amusing.

  Once everything calmed down and the two washed up, everyone settled in the living room. Lumara and Lyn brought the food, which consisted of chicken sandwiches, salad, and fruit. As everyone began to eat, Lumara spoke to Red.

  "So you must be Red. Roy talked a lot about you. I'm Lumara, Lucina's mother. It's nice to meet you."

  "Yes, it's nice to meet you as well, and thank you for the food, ma'am."

  "Well, aren't you quite the polite young man."

  "He'd better be. I wouldn't have my son be disrespectful, let alone in front of me."

  And while they ate and chatted among themselves. Lyn was busy just talking to Lumara.

  "Tell me, Lyndis, how are Igneel and Hellia doing? I hope they're still in good health."

  "Oh, they are as healthy as a horse."

  "That's great to hear."

  While they talked, the moment Lyn's full name was said, it was like a switch was flipped. She stopped eating and her azure blue eyes looked over every detail. That red hair and those obsidian black eyes. Her clothing was covered in golden flames

  "Wait, You're Lyndis?!"

  Turning away from her friend, she was met by the sparkling eyes of the elven girl in front of her. The girl looked like she was going to burst from her frozen statue-like state.

  "The Lyndis Riser, the one who was able to master Fire magic when she was only seventeen, traveled through all of Keltic. You fought the twin-head Cyclops and so much more!" Admiration filled her voice.

  "I mean, there was a lot more than that, but I never did it alone." Smiling at the young girl's praise, she couldn't help but recall some of her adventures in her younger days.

  Then Lucina realized something, causing her to freeze. It almost sounded like turning gears as she turned to the boy next to her, staring at him with wide eyes as if she were trying to see through him. Red, who felt her staring, turned to look at her, meeting her gaze, confused why she was now focused on him.

  "YOU'RE A PRINCE!!" Her shout scared the poor boy.

  But then she could feel her blood run cold and her cheeks grow warm at the realization she had not only gotten into a 'my dad is better than your dad' argument with the eldest son of the Riser family but grabbed the hand of a royal without his consent and dragged him around like he was a bag of potatoes."

  "I'M SORRY!!"

  Her sudden bow to the boy only made him grow nervous as he tried to handle the situation, much to the amusement of everyone; even his brother laughed at the actions of the pair.

  "Don't worry about it, it's not a big deal."t

  Lumara couldn't help but find her daughter's reaction amusing, but she enjoyed the shocked look on the child's face at meeting her idol and discovering that her new friend was of a royal family. It brought back fond memories.

  As they all ate lunch, Lucina couldn't take her eyes off the redheaded woman who sat across from her until she spoke up.

  "When I'm older, I want to master Fire magic and travel through all the lands of Keltic, just like the stories Mom told me about you, Miss. Lyndis."

  "Well, that's a nice goal to have. Maybe if you come to Phera, I could give you a few pointers."

  Lucina's eyes seemed to sparkle at those words, and she saw an opportunity. So she put her food down, hopped off the couch, and stood in front of Lyn.

  "Miss. Lyndis, please watch this. I want to show you something." Lucina requested.

  Curious Lyn watched Lucina hold her hand out and closed her eyes. Lucina began to focus, and to the shock of the Risers and especially Lyn. A blue flame appeared in the palm of her hand as blue fire trailed up her arm. This left the room quiet, except for the proud faces of the elven parents. Recovering from the surprise, Lyn broke the silence with a request of her own.

  "Lucina, after lunch, how about you show me what you can do? If it's all right with your parents."

  Lucina's face went from focused to excited, causing the flame to dissipate as she turned to face her parents and waited for their approval. They looked at each other, turned, and nodded their heads, giving their permission.

  ——————————————————

  In the backyard, Achilles and Indigo could be seen setting up a target practice range so Lucina would have something to aim at. During this time, Lyn was going over the basics of fire magic, while Lucina was more energized, barely paying much attention to the basics. Right now, she just wanted to let flames fly.

  Compared to Red, who was paying close attention to the audible lesson they were receiving.

  While Roy was sitting on Lumara's lap with another cookie and a glass of lemonade, ready to watch.

  "Hey Lyn, we're done, you ready?" Achilles called out.

  Lyn looked at the range, nodding at the men's finished work. It wasn't big, about thirty or so feet away from them, it had two metal sheets for them to aim at.

  "Ok, looks like we're all set up. Now watch me, then try to copy me. We'll start by going over a rather basic spell. First, focus your magic in your hand. Then use the heat of your body as a base to get a feel for a fire. Next, conjure the fire in your hand. After that, use your body's natural electrical current to give the spell a little more kick it. Finally, once you feel it's ready, combine the two elements, take aim, and call out the spell."

  As Lyn gave the kids step-by-step instructions, she slowly went through the motions, giving them a visual. She summoned a small ball of fire no bigger than a lemon. Blue sparks of lightning could be seen in clear contrast, coming off the red ball of fire. Lyn made sure to let them get a good view of it until she calmly called out.

  "Firebolt"

  The small bolt of static fire, as if the lightning was set a flame shot out from her hand. Hitting the target, but since this was a practice, she held back to not ruin the setup.

  "Now remember, when it comes to magic spells, for the basic ones like Firebolt, you only need to follow those steps, and as you get better, it will become second nature for you, to the point where you wouldn't have to call it out. However, for the stronger and more complex spells, you will need to recite a chant that coincides with that spell. But that's a lesson for another day. Do you both understand?"

  "Miss. Lyndis, can't you teach us something more... I don't know, advanced?" There was still excitement in her voice.

  Watching the elf stutter slightly, Lyn spoke up. "You know, Lucina, having a strong grasp on the fundamentals is the best way to ensure that once one starts the more advanced lessons, they have a strong grasp on how to apply them properly. Now show me what you both can do."

  Red and Lucina both nodded, and with that, their demonstration and lesson were done. So Lyn then moved to the side so that Red and Lucina had a full view of the range.

  "I'll get it right today for sure." Lucina couldn't help but overhear the words of her new crimson-eyed friend.

  So the pair took their stance and began to start the process. Red and Lucina went through the steps and, in their right hands, became surrounded by fire. An orange flame took its place in Red's hand, while Lucina had her blue.

  One of them moved to the next step far faster than the other, as small sparks of electricity could be seen coming off each of the growing fireballs. They then both extended their hands and aimed at the target.

  "Firebolt." They both called out.

  A ball of blue fire about the size of an apple was shot out, leaving a trail of sparks and embers as it traveled before making contact with the target, leaving a burn mark.

  However, the other fireball was barely the size of a grape and only seemed to fly a few feet before being blown out.

  "I did... I mean, that was simple for someone like me." Lucina quickly tried to recover her excitement in front of Lyn, with a cool facade. Something she saw right through.

  "Not again." A disappointed Red remarked, seeing that the flame burned out before netting its target... again.

  "Good work, you two. Lucina, good job, it looks like you have some natural talent, but don't let it go to your head. Hard work will always pay off in the end." Lyn told the young elf, causing her face to brighten at the compliment.

  Disappointment still painted Red's face at the result, still unable to even reach the target. Seeing this, Lyn appeared in front of him, bent her knees, getting closer to his level, and cupped his face, forcing his gaze to meet hers.

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  "Red, that was better."

  "But Mom, it seems like every time I try... It's always the same result."

  To Lyn, his frustration was clear. So she simply did what any good mother would. "Stop that, you're making progress." Her tone was stern yet soft. "These things just take time. Everyone learns at a different pace; you don't have to force yourself to advance. I know you'll get a hand on this someday. After all, you are my son." She smiled at him, kissing his forehead, causing his cheeks to flush, accomplishing her goal when a small smile returned. "That's better, now what do you say we give it another shot, ok?"

  Lyn's encouragement seemed to relight the fire in the boy's eyes; the pair got back in position and prepared the spell again. The scene in front of the onlookers had them captivated, but each time a similar result occurred, the blue fireball kept hitting the target with ease, whereas the red one slowly started to improve as it traveled further with each attempt.

  "Well, it seems like Red is making some progress." Lumara observed the boy as he prepared another blast.

  "Yeah, but he doesn't see it that way." Achilles retorted.

  "Why's that? It looks like he's around the same level I was when I first started." Lumara couldn't help but compare her younger self to the boy.

  "Red's got a friend who has a natural talent for the stuff, so lately he's been more motivated to try and get a hang on things." Explained Achilles as they watched.

  "So what do you do when he gets tired? Magic training can take its toll, especially when you're young." Lumara asked curiously.

  "Well, when that happens, Igneel or I will get him going on the basics of swordsmanship. Honesty, even outside of magic stuff, helps calm him down by giving him something to focus on."

  The group continued to watch the pair practice under Lyn's instruction, but unlike the others, Roy could not take his eyes off the pair. A part of him wanted to join them, but once his eyes fell on his brother, his mind refused to let his body act.

  As time continued to move forward, bolts of flame continued to fly. Lucina got faster in casting, and the power of her Firebolt increased. Whereas Red, while he wasn't making much progress in speed or range, however, the size of his fireball increased slightly, and more defined sparks started to slowly appear. Both were clearly starting to tire from each repeated blast, and just as they were about to cast the spell again.

  "Alright, that's enough."

  That pair turned to face Lyn.

  "But Mom, I can keep going, I'm not done yet," Red stated, panting.

  "Yeah, me too, I can keep going, Miss. Lyndis." Lucina said, taking deep breaths.

  "I can see that, but you two are still kids; you shouldn't push yourselves too hard." Her voice, while firm, was caring.

  This caused the two to just fall on the ground, lying on their backs. They looked at each other and laughed.

  After taking a moment to catch their breath, they made their way back to the porch, and to the delight of both kids, there was a tray of cookies and lemonade waiting for them. Seeing this, Red and Lucina joined Roy for a well-earned snack.

  Once Lyn rejoined the others, she was greeted with questions.

  "So what do you think?" Lumara asked proudly, trying to show off her daughter.

  "Well, she is talented. But I have to ask whose her teacher?" Lyn asked.

  However, she didn't receive an answer. The only response she received was the grinning faces of Lumara and Indigo.

  "Don't tell me... she's self-taught, isn't she?"

  "Well, for the most part, but Lumara and I did teach her some of the basics, and she has had an instructor from time to time. Kinda like how Achilles was telling us about your boy with swordplay." Indigo spoke. But at the mention of an instructor, there was a slight pain in the elven pairs' eyes.

  While that conversation continued, Roy was praising Lucina for how easy she made it look, causing her embarrassment from the boy's praise.

  But when it came to this brother, Roy couldn't help but taunt him for the progress he made... well, the lack thereof.

  Only to quickly find himself trapped by Red in a headlock, squirming to get loose. His laughter was infectious to the group.

  The pair's actions only made her laugh, laughter that brought their attention back to her. But this attention led to curiosity growing in the redhead's mind. "Lucina, why is your fire blue?"

  The question from the redhead caused the young elf to stop and think because even she didn't know why.

  "Yeah, why is that? Are you making it change color, or is that an elf thing?" Red pondered, curious to hear their fire was different.

  Lucina joined their pondering, her eyes closed and her hand on her chin, trying to think of the reason why her fire was different. Then it hit her. She opened her eyes and smacked the bottom of her fist into the palm of her hand.

  "I got it." She exclaimed confidently.

  This caused the brothers to lean in closer, waiting to hear what she had to say.

  "I don't know." She remarked, smiling.

  .....

  .....

  This realization caused the two to fall back, and an audible thud was heard.

  "How can you not know about something so cool!" Roy shot up from the floor, looking at her.

  "I don't know." Lucina's answer didn't give it much thought. "My flames have been blue since I can remember, so I've never really thought about it."

  Red, however, was thinking about the situation. "I wonder if there are others like that?"

  "Well, that's because no one knows why that is." They turned to face Indigo, carrying a wooden sword. "But there have been others who have had different colored magic. While rare, there have been records of some with black lighting, silver wind, and even golden light." He turned to Red when referencing a certain heroic tale.

  At that comment, Red grew excited, launching himself back onto his feet. He was about to run back to the makeshift range to practice, but was stopped.

  "What do you think you're doing, boy." Indigo called to him, causing him to stop.

  "To practice Firebolt, why?" Confusion washed over him as to why Indigo stopped him.

  "While practicing magic is well and good. But it's also important to train your other skills, not just magic, because if you have to rely on one skill set, what happens if you lose it?" Indigo told the boy, tossing him one of the wooden blades. "Plus, since Lyn gave my daughter a lesson, I might as well see what I can teach her son." He stated. "That is assuming your teacher knew how to teach you." He laughed, facing Achilles, who was about to say something but stopped because children were present.

  "Now follow me, let's see if you know how to use that blade on your back."

  They made their way into the yard, facing each other. The small crowd of Roy, Lucina, and Achilles watched the spectacle while Lyn and Lumara were absent as they went to prepare dinner for the evening.

  Red drew Breaker from its sheath with both hands and was in a defensive stance with the sword pointed up, compared to Indigo, who held his with his right hand and had it pointed to the ground on his side. Although his stance was relaxed and carefree, his eyes told a different story: they were sharp and focused. The two were waiting for the other to make a move. They almost seemed frozen.

  "Why are they just standing there? When Pop and I spar, it's never this boring." Lucina said with a pout. She was starting to get bored, tired of waiting.

  "Tell me, Lucina, how long have you been wielding a sword?" Achilles asked the young elf.

  "Well, Dad has been teaching me for a few years now. Why?" She responded, confused by the question.

  "Well, both myself and his grandfather, have been teaching him for years now."

  "Wait he's—"

  Lucina was cut off. The match had started, with Red making the first move. Closing the distance, making a diagonal slash towards Indigo's left side, which he left unguarded. A loud wack could be heard as Indigo used his blade to block the hit with little ease.

  Red immediately followed up with another strike, and when it was blocked as well, he jumped back. Retaking his guard, he slowly began to move more to Indigo's left side. Maintaining distance between himself and Indigo, keeping Breaker between him and his older opponent.

  As he moved, his eyes were constantly trying to find a blind spot he could use. Indigo however, returned to his relaxed stance and just watched the boy as he moved, waiting.

  'This is different from what I'm used to. Compared to Maryan, Dad, and even Grandpa, I'm on the back foot. But he's letting me take the initiative.'

  Once again using the chance he was given, Red dashed in, charging Indigo's side, this time attacking at an angle. Red made another diagonal slash, aiming for his back. Indigo rotated and responded with a horizontal strike of his own, stopping Red's attack, and like before, Red dashed back the moment the blades made contact. The game of hit and run continued, Red just kept his eyes on Indigo, repeating the same attack countless times.

  As they continued to watch this duel happen, Lucina couldn't stand still anymore as she made her way back inside.

  "Hey Lucina, where are you going?"

  "Don't worry, Roy. I'll be right back." She had simply left the boy to wonder what she was up to before his attention drifted back to his brother.

  At this point, Red had made dozens of different attempts at striking Indigo from several different angles.

  'Ok, I think it's time I try it.'

  Red charged, preparing another attack at Indigo's left side once again. Indigo swung, preparing to block the attack again; however, Red charged, and he forced his legs forward. Surprising, Indigo, when he slid under the wooden blade. Once on the other side, Red shoved both his heel and slammed his left hand into the ground, stopping a few feet away from Indigo, and in a single motion, he rotated himself, his chest facing the ground. He used his legs to launch himself forward at Indigo, gripping his sword with both hands, aiming to strike at what he believed was Indigo's exposed side. He thrusted the sword forward at the opening he made.

  However, in a single moment, in the blink of an eye. In that span of time, not a single second could pass as Indigo's movement was like a flash of light.

  With unmatched speed, he moved his blade like it was a part of his arm in a rising motion, hitting his opponent's sword. The sound of wood meeting metal echoed through the yard, reaching the ears of all those present. The sheer force of the hit caused Red to stumble and fall, landing on his rear. Breaker flew in the air, landing in the grass. The onlookers could see a standing elven man, who held his blade mere inches from the boy's head, as beads of sweat trickled from his forehead before falling to the grass as his eyes narrowed at his opponent's weapon.

  "I think that's it for now," Indigo told the boy, returning the blade to his side. "Good work, keep it up, and one day you might be able to make me take you seriously when you're older."

  At that comment, Red's face started to relax.

  "Yes, sir." He smiled, getting back on his feet, and he heard a voice call out.

  "HEY," it was a waving Lucina, "I want a turn!"

  As she approached them, Red took notice of her change. She was now wearing a white hooded cloak that had a golden vine-like pattern that traced much of the cloak back. It almost reached the ground with its length. It was connected to a gold color coin clip above her chest. Branching off the coin was more of the golden color that ran along the trim that helped form the hood.

  In her other hand, she carried a wooden sword, a blade he would learn was called 'Eden's Dawn.'

  The handle looked simple, but the cross guard had a single-wing shape on one side with a feather-like pattern. The blade looked to be a little over three feet long, and the blade itself looked thin, about two and a half inches wide. It looked like it had a sharp edge on the front side, and it appeared smooth on the other until it reached the end. The end was different from the rest of the sword. It had a rounded, flat diamond-like shape that came to a point that was more than twice the width of the rest of the blade, and unlike the rest of the blade, it was sharp on both sides.

  Red simply made his way over to try and meet her halfway, but she ran past him, marking her way towards her father. Red couldn't hear them all; he could see that Lucina was energetically talking to Indigo, who only seemed to chuckle as he listened to his daughter. He seemed to allow her request and started to make his way back to the porch. As Indigo passed Red on his way back to watch the show, he gave the boy a friendly shove, pushing him in the direction he was leaving.

  "Have fun kid."

  With those words, Red turned to see Lucina. She was hopping from one foot to the other before spinning, and once she faced him, the grip on her sword tightened as an excited, grinning smile was thrown at him.

  "I'm no slouch, so you better not go easy on me. Cause if you do, I'll be mad." The cocky grin on Lucina's face only seemed to grow.

  Once she said those words, Red took a deep breath, picking up Breaker off the ground, and he retook his starring form.

  Red noticed a slight change in Lucina. She wore a small smile on her face, but the joyful look that painted her blue eyes soon adopted a calm, serious look to them.

  As the two began their face-off, Lucina was the first to speak.

  "I, Lucina Starfall, the Azure Blaze of Eden Village, challenge you to a duel. Do you accept this declaration?" Her voice was different. It was more dramatic, almost playful, as she held a heroic pose.

  Her right arm pointed her blade at Red, while her left hand covered her face, allowing her right eye to be seen through her fingers. A light breeze went by, carrying both her golden blond hair and white cloak to the side. She looked like she was taken fthe rom pages of a storybook.

  "Ok, sure. I accept." He gave a confused answer, returning to the stance he was taught.

  Only for the breeze to abruptly stop, causing her hair and cloak to fall back in line as her body went limp, her arms fell to her side, and her eyes faced the ground, pouting. Even her ears seemed to fall downward.

  Red was left puzzled at her sudden change of expression, oblivious to the cause of her disappointment. "Hey, are you ok?"

  "You ruined it." She muttered under her breath, limply kicking the dirt. Her quiet words were lost in the calm breeze.

  Red was left confused as he watched Lucina pull her hood over and retook her guard, unaware of what caused her sudden mood change. Shortly, she regained her composure, readying herself for the match.

  Their eyes made contact, and the next thing Red knew, the battle had begun, but just like how they met, Lucina was the first to act.

  She moved like the wind, closing the distance. She swung fast and hard, using the blunt side of her sword. In the blink of an eye, she put Red on the back foot right from the start.

  With each strike, Red was forced to guard against her as she continued to force him back, leaving him little time to counter. Her pressure continued. He eminently tried to respond with a slash of his own, only for the elf to vanish.

  Then, as if instinct took over his body, it moved on its own. He soon found himself being parallel with her sword as he saw a cool, calm expression that painted her face. When he leaped back, Lucina planted her feet and continued her attack, making a horizontal strike aiming at Red's body. He narrowly avoided the tip of her blade as he felt the wind move against his chest. Regaining his footing, he put up his sword in an attempt to create some space between them.

  'She's right. I can't go easy on her. If I can get some distance, maybe I can—

  He didn't even have enough time to think, only act as Lucina dashed at him. Preparing another strike, she aimed at him again. Red dashed in, only to roll under her attack at the last second as he slid across the grass. He kept trying to put distance between them. Trying to give himself time to think of a way to beat her. Thoughts of tactics, attack methods, and anything to try and beat her overwhelmed his mind.

  "HEY!" The cry pulled him out of his head as he turned to face its originator. "I told you not to go easy on me. What kind of prince runs from a fight?"

  "She's right. I accepted this. If I just run, then what's the point?"

  Taking the moment she allowed him, Red simply took a breath and cleared his mind. A calm, unfamiliar voice spoke out.

  "Just do your best."

  Forcing himself to move. He charged head-on at her and an excited smile grew on her face as she met the attack.

  The sound of metal against wood increased rapidly. Red now tried to take a more aggressive approach, thus only made Lucina respond in kind. Each strike seemed to only get faster and stronger. It felt like he was stuck in the middle of a raging storm as he dodged and blocked each strike. Knowing that if he made even the slightest mistake, he would be blown off his feet.

  Right. Left. Diagonal. Straight. The barrage strikes didn't seem to have an end in sight.

  Her movements left little time for Red to counter. He was forced on the defensive as he looked for opportunities to strike back and every time he would break away, Lucina would rush back in. She was like a wild blaze.

  The grin on Lucina's face only widened with her continued assault . More so now that her opponent had finally decided to stand firm against her. She didn't relent and pushed her advantage, believing that she had the upper hand.

  "Your kid's pretty good." Achilles mentioned, his eyes were locked on the match.

  "Well, what did you expect, after all, I'm the one teaching her." Indigo proudly responded as he arrived back on the porch. Trying to brag that his teachings were superior to those of his friend.

  "I'd keep quiet and watch if I were you, pal." Unfazed by Indigo's taunts, he simply continued to watch as the match progressed.

  Giving in to his friend's request, he turned his attention back to the match, only for his cocky grin to slowly disappear.

  The cause of this wasn't Lucina, whose assault only grew faster, but Red. He was no longer dodging; only blocking her strikes became easier as if he knew when and where she'd strike. But Lucina didn't relent as she kept going on the attack, trying to force an opening, while Red stood firm, looking for a moment to go on the offense himself.

  Soon, an opening was found.

  'There, that's my opening.'

  Lucina was the first to find an opening; it was Red's left leg. It was in striking distance. She kept attacking, aiming her attacks at his right, forcing him to place all of his focus on defending that side. Until she forced him to step back, further exposing his leg.

  'Now.'

  She fainted a strike aiming for his right shoulder, and in a quick motion, changed her attack to a wide slash aimed at his left leg.

  A loud wack echoed through the yard. Red held his sword to the side with both hands on the blade, pointing to the ground, blocking her strike, as if he knew where she was going to attack.

  Then, in quick succession, before Lucina could respond, he rotated on his foot, turning so his left side was facing Lucina, and he hocked his left foot behind her, and using his sword, he pushed her sword away, creating an opening, and he took it. Lucina was left with no time to respond as Red raised his blade and slashed at hers. Disarming her, knocking her sword out of her hand and he pulled his foot towards him, tripping her. The sound of their blades colliding and the thud of Lucina falling to the ground signified that the match had ended.

  Lucina just sat on the ground, taking a moment to catch her breath. She could see that Red was doing the same as he wiped the sweat from his brow. Crimson and Azure meet again. They couldn't help but laugh.

  "That was fun, you're right, you're no slouch," Red told her, catching his breath, offering her his hand.

  "You're not too bad yourself, in fact, you're pretty cool." She smiled at him, taking his hand. Red couldn't help but feel his face grow warm from her words as he helped her back to her feet.

  "So, Red, you want to go again?" She challenged, picking up her blade, grinning.

  "Yeah, a prince shouldn't back down, right?" He accepted, matching her grin, playing into his role.

  The two had begun their second match, but this time, rather than starting on the defense, Red went on the attack, and Lucina, determined to win this round, met each attack with a swift, hard strike of her own. The sound of clashing blades filled the yard as the two crossed blades.

  Achilles and Indigo kept watching, chatting away, sending verbal jabs at each other as they watched a young rivalry form between their kids. Having their own fight to see who was the better teacher. The friendly conversation soon took a serious turn once Achilles recalled something he saw when they were outside of town.

  "Hey, Indigo, can I ask you something?"

  "Sure, what's up?"

  "How are you guys doing with monster sightings? On our way here and even in town I noticed some goblin tracks. Is everything ok?" His voice turned serious.

  "Yeah, just a few monsters here and there, it's nothing I or the others can't handle. Is something wrong?"

  "Well, lately, the dungeons in Ielos have been becoming aggressive. Adventurers and members of the guilds have made reports that monsters have been spawning at a rapid rate, and if that wasn't bad enough, they have been coming to the surface with higher frequency. Lyn and I are going to see if it has affected the others at the summit."

  "I see well, however, like I said, it's nothing out of the ordinary, but I'll keep you updated if anything changes."

  "Alright, and if you need, I know Lyn would be more than willing to help and would send over a few guards if you needed."

  "Thanks, but I think we'll be fine."

  The two continued to talk, but their conversation was ignored by the other onlooker. Roy didn't care about the conversation between the adults; his gaze was solely focused on the contest between his brother and the elf. As the match continued became more in sync as they both started to anticipate each other's moves. To the young redhead, it was as if they were dancing; they had his full attention. Then it happened a wooden sword was sent flying before it pierced the ground, and Red held his blade, pointing at Lucina, who grew agitated with the outcome. Roy could hear her demanding a third round before she stormed off in frustration to retrieve her sword.

  ——————————————————

  Lyn and Lumara are seen in the kitchen preparing dinner for the night. On top of the oven's open flame was a large cast-iron skillet. The smell of melting butter filled the room.

  Lyn was seasoning several pork chops. Placing them in the skillet only filled the room with the sizzling of the cooking meat as it joined the butter, and the aroma soon reached her. The smell caused her mouth to water with anticipation.

  Lumara, on the other hand, was seen boiling white rice, as she was cutting up boiled carrots, setting them to the side to be added to the rice once it was done. Reaching out, she grabbed a head of lettuce and began to prepare it for salads.

  The pair worked in harmony, periodically looking out the kitchen window, and they could see Red and Lucina.

  They were about to start their third match, and almost immediately, Lucina loudly stated that she would win this round. The pair couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Lucina pointing her finger at him, claiming that she'll beat him this time.

  "You know, Lyn, I don't think I've seen Lucina be this competitive in a long time. Your boy sure seems special."

  Lyn couldn't help but smile proudly at the mention of her fire gem.

  "Of course he is. He is my son after all."

  The two continued to cook until Lyn remembered something from long ago.

  "Hey Lumara, I don't mean to pry but is there anyone else here? I mean I thought that there would have at least been another pair of feet or two running around here." She couldn't help but laugh as he used a pair of tongs to flip the pork chops on their uncooked sides.

  The question caused her to stop cutting; she could only stare out the window, her eyes glancing from Indigo before landing on Lucina.

  "Yeah, it's just the three of us."

  "That's odd. I remember when we were kids, you'd always talk about how you dreamed of having a massive family with—

  Lyn couldn't finish because when she turned to face her. She only saw tears rolling down her face.

  "Lumara?" She was ignored. "Hey, come on, talk to me. What's wrong?" Lyn only grew more concerned as she took hold of her best friend's hands.

  She could only try to keep a strong face.

  "I guess what Igneel said was true, life tends to have other plans for us." Her voice cracked as she tried to keep her smile.

  "Lumara, what happened?" Her voice only grew softer.

  "Well, it happened when Lucina was born."

  "What do you mean?" Lyn's concern only grew.

  "You know how heavy the toll a delivery can be on the body. You see, when Lucina was born, I almost died."

  Those three words caused Lyn's heart to stop."

  "My body just can't handle the strain. I was lucky that the village elder was able to help me during the process, but even then, I barely survived. I guess that door has been closed for me, at least I was able to open another."

  Lyn hated this feeling that invaded her heart, and the smile that Lumara did little to comfort her as she saw the pain in her eyes.

  Without a care for letting the food burn, Lyn turned her back to the oven and grabbed Lumara. Before the elven woman even had a chance to speak, Lyn quietly cried out. "Why didn't you come see me? I would have done something to help."

  "It happened during your war with Nergal, and with the trip from here to Phera being too long, I figured it wouldn't want to stress you by making you have to worry about me." Lumara's golden sunset eyes almost seemed to have their color fade.

  "How could you think that? We've been friends since we were kids; you would never have been a bother. Honesty, having you around would have been a blessing. The number of times I needed help with Red and Roy, only to have Maryan or Tastu unable to help because something came up." Towards the end, Lyn tried to make the situation more comical to break the tense atmosphere.

  "I... I don't know about that." Lumara gave back the same tone. "Lucina was quite the wild child; she still kinda is."

  The pair turned to the window, watching their kids fight, as Lyn's hand slipped into her pocket and pulled out a second black ring with silver runes before shifting it into Lumara's hand.

  "A travel ring? Lyn, are you sure you want to give me this?"

  "You think I would come here after all these years and not bring you a gift? This way, now whenever you want to visit or even just take a trip, you have an easy way to come see me. Just please don't overuse it, the last thing I need is Johanis finding out and making a scene."

  "Don't worry, I won't cause you too much trouble."

  The pair simply smiled, happy that now they would soon return to being a major part of their lives again, but dinner still needed to be finished.

  ——————————————————

  The sound of clashing blades filled the yard. Red and Lucina were solely focused on each other; the setting sun caused their shadows to grow as it illuminated the dueling pair. The sweat that dripped down their bodies was the only relief they were granted during the hot spring evening. They rapidly approached the final stage of their third match of the evening. This was by far the longest match between the two.

  Lucina was determined to win this round. Using her speed to try and overwhelm Red. But he managed to keep up with her speed. Each time their blades met, Lucina not only seemed to move faster, but strike harder as she tried to get past Red's defenses, who, with each block, dodge, and strike of his own, grew to match hers. They continued to trade strikes as each strike not only grew fiercer, but faster.

  They both forced themselves to move faster, strike harder, and react quicker as the bout continued.

  As the saying goes, steel sharpens steel. And at this point, whether they knew it or not, they both had stopped holding back.

  As these young swordsmen continued to dance, the young pair couldn't help but smile. Clashing once again, their blades locked, as crimson red and azure blue both reflected the fire that was in the other's eyes. They pushed their blades against their opponent as they tried to force the other back.

  In a split second, they leaped back, putting space between them. They were both seen kneeling, giving them both a moment to catch their breath. As they calmed their racing hearts and steadied, they made their final dash, and when their blades were about to meet in their final clash.

  "Come on, you two, dinner's ready!" Lyn called out, her voice echoed, causing the pair to stop, their blades mere inches from colliding.

  Looking at each other. They both ignored the call of the scarlet-haired woman as they continued their duel. No words were spoken between them as their blades met once more.

  "Get in here before dinner gets cold! Don't make me call out a third time!"

  This time, they paused at her words. This time, when they looked at each only, their eyes spoke as they came to their final answer.

  ""Draw?""

  They could only laugh; they did it again. Agreeing now on how they would end their last match, they made their way back to the house. However, the match didn't end on good terms; Lucina was slightly annoyed at the fact that she was unable to win a single match. Until a malicious grin formed as she conjured up an idea.

  "Race ya, last one inside is a rotten egg." She took off like a bolt of lightning, smiling as she gave herself a head start, leaving Red trying to understand what just happened.

  "Hey, that's a cheap move!" He cried out as he chased after her.

  ——————————————————

  Everyone had taken a seat, each having a plate of pork, salad with chopped vegetables, and a bowl filled with rice, peas, and carrots. While the kids had milk, the adults simply had water. Red, Lucina, and Roy were occupying the dining room, while their parents took their place in the living room, each partaking in their own conversations as they ate.

  "Hey Lucina, can I ask you something?"

  "Sure. What is it, Red?"

  "Well, it's the sword you used. I haven't seen a practice sword like that before."

  "Yeah, it looks really cool." Roy joined in after swallowing.

  A proud smirk grew at the question. "That's simple, it isn't a training sword." She couldn't help it, she wanted to show off to her new friends. "It's my sword, my Dad made it from one of the branches of the Rainbow Tree, it also helps me with my magic. I'm even allowed to help him fend off monsters from time to time."

  "Wait, does that mean—

  "THAT'S SO COOL!!" The boy was ecstatic. "What kind of monsters have you fought?"

  Lucina couldn't help it; she liked this newfound avenue to show off. "Well, I have fought a few strong anything really impressive, mostly goblins, but I did fight an ogre once."

  Roy could only stare at her, his eyes shined as she recounted some of her adventures.

  However, Red didn't share the same sentiment. His insecurities started to make themselves known to the boy as a single thought started to occupy his mind.

  'So she was holding back,'

  To him, the thought made sense. She was not only more advanced than him when it came to magic, but even during their match. He could barely keep up, and she even used the smooth side of her blade.

  "Those people were born destined for greatness. For them, they had it written for them the moment they were born, not a blood-eyed orphan."

  The soft tone that threw those sharp words only seemed to further his frustration. All he could do was try and ignore Katlin's voices as he ate. Until he felt something poke at his side.

  "What is it, Roy?"

  "Are you ok? Lucina was trying to ask you something."

  Turning to see her, she wore the same annoyed expression she had earlier.

  "I'm sor—

  "Come on, I told you to ignore what those morons said."

  He couldn't help but see a resemblance to a certain half-elf as she scolded him.

  "Now come on, tell me what kind of adventures you've been on." Sitting on the edge of her seat, she wanted to know of the places her new rival has been and the things he's done. Only for confusion to grow as he shook his head.

  "Sorry to disappoint you, but I haven't done anything like that."

  "Eh?? But how? I couldn't beat you once!"

  To say the girl was flabbergasted at the boy's claim would be an understatement.

  "Yeah, I'm pretty sure I was only able to do that because you were holding back. I mean, you used the smooth side of your sword."

  "You think that's why I did that? Red, I did that because I didn't want to cut you."

  "So you weren't holding back?"

  "Why would I do that when I told you not to go easy on me? Do you think I would disrespect my friend like that?"

  "Sorry."

  "Hey, stop it, you don't need to apologize." She simply flashed him a smile.

  Her smile only served to make him feel worse.

  "Sorry."

  "Jeez, stop saying you're sor—

  "Don't worry about my brother. He's kinda stupid when it comes to stuff like this." Roy couldn't help but laugh at his brother being overapologetic, again.

  "I'm gonna get you for that." He could only glare at the redhead.

  "You can try." Giving a cocky response, Roy stuck his tongue out and pulled his eyelid down.

  As the two started to bicker, Lucina could only watch the brothers have their spat at each other. She could only laugh, bringing their attention back to her.

  Red was left confused by this. "What's so funny, Lucina?"

  "Ha, it's both of you. I guess this is how siblings act, then right?" She couldn't help as she still laugh at the pair. "Honestly, it kinda sucks the day is almost over. I had fun."

  "Who said this had to be a one-time thing?" Lucina simply turned to Red as he spoke. "Why would I want to abandon the friend I made, plus there's got to be a lot more to see here, right?" This time, he smiled at her.

  "Alright, it's a deal, but next time I want to see Phera."

  "You'll love it there's so much to see." Now Roy was looking forward to the next time they would cross paths again as he started to tell her about the places in Phera.

  Lyn could only watch happily as she saw the kids getting along.

  "So Lyn, what will you and Achilles be doing when you head back home?" Lumara asked, bringing her attention back to the group

  "Well, the royal summit is coming up in a week or two. Since it's in Phera this time, we'll be hosting it."

  After Lyn spoke, they heard coughing. They turned to see Red covering his mouth, Lucina patting his back, trying to help, and Roy simply ate as he watched.

  "Hey, are you ok?" She said, still patting his back, concerned for her friend.

  "You ok, son?" Achilles asked.

  "Yeah, I'm ok," Red answered, but he continued nervously. "but I don't think I can go to Summit this time."

  "And why's that Red?" Lyn asked, curious to hear his most recent reason.

  "Well, I promised Lucina we'd hang out again that day, and you keep telling me I have to keep my promises."

  'Please work.' The boy could only pray that his parents would believe him.

  Lumara and Indigo were confused by this statement. Lyn and Achilles both looked at each other and chucked quietly. Lucina was left confused, and Roy simply smiled as he ate.

  "Wait, when did you promise me that?" Lucina quietly whispered to him.

  Lyn could only chuckle; she knew what was going on.

  "Well, that's true, a prince must keep his word, but he must also fulfill his duties. We'll talk later, so finish your dinner."

  So a disappointed Red continued to eat with Roy and Lucina, who was trying to find out what had just happened as their parents started to talk.

  Their conversation ranged from stories of past adventures to what it's like now that they're parents and with those days behind them.

  "Achilles, do you remember in Elvis when we ran into a centennial bug?" Lumara asked him.

  "Of course I do. I'll never forget how big it was. I'm pretty sure it was bigger than our home. Like what in god's name decided that it was ok for a spider to get that big, let alone give it wings." Remembering the creature was enough to send shivers down his spine.

  "Don't forget the twin stingers and pincers." Lumara chuckled.

  "Don't remind me, Lumara. Are we sure we can even classify that thing as a spider?"

  "Don't tell me, the Great Achilles was afraid of a simple spider." Indigo mockingly questioned.

  "If you were there, you'd understand. But when comparing it to what Lyn did afterward, now that was scary."

  "Wait, what did Lyn do?" Indigo's gaze soon fell on the red-haired woman, curious as to what happened.

  "Well, after Me, Maryan, and Lumara dealt with it, Lyn stormed off to Eldien, barged her way through the castle door, and the next thing we knew, Lyn was giving Lowins a piece of her mind about why he didn't make it known one of those things got loose."

  "Hey, poor Tastu and I were covered in the thing's silk. There was silk in places it didn't belong in; it took us hours just to get the stuff out of our hair. And that isn't even going into how it got into places spider silk has no place being." Lyn complained as she recalled the event.

  "So Lyn, it's safe to assume you've been Elvis, right?" A nod was her answer. "I was curious is true that the rulers make their kids fight those things?"

  "Sadly yes. The elves from Elvis are quite transitional to put it lightly, and the high elves of the royal bloodline even more so. They think that to be worthy of taking the throne, they must kill one of those things. Honestly, I have some worry for Katlin; the thought of having to fight something like a Centennial bug, let alone my children, is rather unsettling. I don't think I could ever force Red or Roy to do something like that."

  During the exchange, Achilles couldn't help it. "Yeah, you couldn't, I remember this one time when—

  "Don't you dare." Her voice was fierce.

  But her response only served to make him continue. "When Red was about three, he 'disappeared' first thing in the morning, and during that time Lyn here had this habit of sleeping in his room—

  "Achilles, stop it!" Lyn cried as she swung her fists at his side.

  The scene was comical with how fast her arms were and how unfazed Achilles was by her strikes as he continued.

  "Well, one morning. Red vanished from his room and when Lyn woke up, I swear it looked like a tornado blew through our house, when I woke up. She tore up everything, calling out to him. I don't think I've ever seen her so flustered. And you'll never guess where we found him."

  "Under the bed?" Was Lumara's guess, only to be answered by Achilles shaking his head.

  "Come on, just tell us where he was."

  "All right, fine. He was hiding under the dining table, eating a loaf of bread and a tube of ice cream."

  The pair could only try to hold back their laughter as they imagined a frantic Lyn turning her home upside down as she looked for Red, who was likely hidden in plain sight, watching his mother panic.

  This led Lumara back to Red's earlier remark.

  "So Lyn, why did Red lie about making a promise to visit with Lucina again in a few days?"

  This caused Lyn and Achilles to let loose a tired sigh.

  "The thing is, he hates going to them; he's at that age where he's too young to be with the older kids, but he's older than the rest who are around the same age as Roy. He tries pretending to be sick or making up some kind of excuse every time just to avoid it." Lyn couldn't help but laugh, recalling all the ways her son tried to avoid this gathering. "So would you two be ok if Lucina comes to Phera for a few days?"

  Lucina had finished her food some time ago and was eavesdropping, trying to be quiet as she listened in on their conversation, excited at the thought of visiting someplace new.

  "Well, I personally don't mind. Indigo, what do you say?"

  He thought for a moment while taking a drink. "Hum, it would be good for her to see what's outside Eden Village. How long are these meetings again?"

  "About two or three days, although the bulk of the summit normally takes place during the second two days. The first day is normally used to explore the capital." Achilles answered. Indigo only nodded at the answer.

  "Well then, I'm ok with it, but... what about you, Lucina?" Indigo stated as he turned his head toward her. Noticing that she was hiding behind the wall. So she revealed herself now, knowing she had been found out.

  "Would that be ok?" She asked.

  "Like your father said, I'm ok with it, but you better behave." Lumara told her, smiling.

  With that said, a smile appeared on her face as she ran back to tell Red and Roy. They could only hear the excited murmurs from the kitchen.

  So with the sun finally setting under the horizon, Red's first day in Eden Village came to an end, and while Lyn opened a portal home as he made his final goodbye to Lucina, he couldn't help but feel happy to have made a new friend. For the first time, he was excited for a royal summit.