16 Home is always Home

Ever since leaving the forest, Kai had been flying nonstop for the entire day, only reaching the town's main gate a short while after dusk. 

Looking at his hometown's main gate, he felt nostalgic.

It's been 11 years since he had left and now he was back, but he was confused and scared about how we would explain where he had been all this time to his parents, or how he became a magic user. Since childhood, he has never been good at lying to others, so what kind of story should he make?

Looking not far away, he heard the sound of footsteps and people talking while they headed to the main gate. He quickly removed his hood and mask to entered the gate. As he went through, he saw that the town looked the same as it was 11 years ago.

Nothing much has changed, children were playing at the park and women were talking with each other.

A small town far from the capital city, and close to the forbidden forest which is home to magic beasts, was not visited often. Because of that, when Kai was passing by the park, the children and women started looking at him.

Suddenly, the women approached him when he was looking at the park. 

"Young fellow, you don't seem to be from this area, what are you doing here?" a lady asked.

"Miss, I am a traveler and explorer. It's just that I got separated from my friends when we were attacked by bandits, so all my goods are lost. Could you tell me if there is a place for me to stay in this town? Like an inn?"

"If you are looking for an inn, you should go to the Seft house. It is on the southern side of the town. Just take the road to the left and you will see the inn.

"Thanking the lady, Kai moved towards the left road and after some time, he was standing at the inn's doorsteps. It was the place where he had spent his childhood, his heart was pounding like crazy and his hands were shaking from nervousness, trying to adjust his mind. He took a deep breath and pushed the door open, as the ringing sound of a bell was heard. 

The lady at the counter looked at him with a smile, "Welcome sir, what would you like to have?"

Looking at the lady, Kai became absent-minded. His mother still had a same gentle smile, there are now wrinkles on her eye sides and looked thiner and skinny different. Seeing his Kai something peirced his heart.

His mother at most can only be in her early thirties but she lookeds like woman in her forties.

'She must have suffered so much? I am sorry, sorry for not able to come earlier. But don't worry from today onwards. I will take care of you and never let you suffer again.'

He wanted to scream out, but he didn't know what to do.

"Mom."

When hearing a stranger call her 'mom', she got stunned.

"Sorry, sorry, madam. It's just that you look so much like my mother that when I saw you, I remembered about my mother." Kai said as his heart beats quickned and confused how to explain it to her that I am her Son.

He had been missing for ten years and if he tells his mother what kind of unbelievable transformation he had gone through in these years and left a pain in his heart. He is so close to his mother but can't even tell what in his heart. His mother who had had await for him all these years, Kai don't know how to began telling her his story.

Seeing the absent minded Kai, Tarika asked.

"Sir, you don't seem to be from around here." said the lady.

"Yes, I am a traveler and on my way, my friends and I were attacked by bandits, so I got separated from them. On my way through the town, I was told your inn provided a place to stay, so I came here." said Kai to the lady as he try to control himself from falling on the ground.

'I can't believe I am speaking out nonsense one after another. It must be why people say that to hide one lie they have to say a chain of lie. But I don't want to lie, I want to let her know that I am her son Kai. Just what have I done?I am too nervousness, I should have discussed with Master Daoma about it. About the problem of me becoming a magic user.  While townlord said that eleven years ago that I cannot become a magic user'

"We don't have any visitors in this place, but there is an empty room. It will be 3 copper a day for the room with three meals provided." said the lady.

Hearing that Kai nodded and tried to calm himself down.

'I have already taken the situation to wrong direction so I can only wait and clarify later'

"Miss, I don't have any coins, but I have this." Kai took out a crystal the size of a finger out from his robe and placed it on the counter table as he talked to the lady.

The lady first looked at the shining crystal and then at Kai.

"What is this crystal?"

"It's a magic stone Madam. Its value is equal to 1 gold as I don't know when I will be able to leave or if my friends will come to this town. If miss doesn't believe me, you can go to the town lord to confirm it. I have heard that he is a magic Grandmaster after all."

Looking at the crystal, she smiled. "I will accept it for now then. Tomorrow I will take it to the town lord to confirm it, you can first go and take a bath, I will arrange your meal." said the lady.

"Oh... I forgot to ask. What is your name, mister?"

Hearing her ask for his name, Kai became nervous. "My name is Jai.. sorry Kai"

Seeing the nervous expression on the face of Kai lady was confused.

"Kai, is it?"

"Yes, it's Kai. I will get some rest and then take a bath."

He hurriedly went to the upper floor and shut the door as he entered, then he sat on the bed feeling his heart pounding. It was the first time he lied to his mother. He was so nervous, but he tried to look cool. His mind was exhausted and even when fighting beasts he didn't feel this kind of nervousness.

After some time, getting no solution in his mind. He took off his robe and just realized he was still covered in animal skin clothes, he forgot he didn't have any normal clothing.

As he took the towel on the side of the door, he quickly removed his clothes and wrapped the towel around his waist.

When we walked down, he saw a muscular man with eagle-like sharp eyes, a scar on his left eyebrow and a beard sitting on a chair and talking to the lady while she was preparing the food.

When the man noticed Kai's gaze, he turned to look at him. "So you are the young fellow who the whole town's talking about."

"Nice to meet you, mister, I am Kai." Said Kai.

"Nice to meet you too, I am Bolt Seft and she is my wife, Tarika Seft."

"Mister, do you have any clothes my size? Most of the goods were robbed by bandits, so I don't have any clothes." said Kai.

He really doesn't have any clothes most of his clothes are made up of animals skin.

"Sure. I'll get them for you." Bolt said.

Looking at the bathroom's closing door, both Bolt and Tarika were absent-minded for some time.

"Bolt don't you find this Kid familar. Even his name is Kai and you know just when he entered the inn. He called me Mom, I don't know why but for the first time in eleven years have I felt such joy. I was like my son Kai was calling out to me"said Tarika with a joyful expression.

Looking at Tarika, Bolt sighed

'She had been sad and depressed since Kai disappear eleven years ago. He just can't remember when he had seen such a joyful expression on her face. Everyday she would pray that his safety. Even my heart tells me that my son is alive somewhere.'

Remembering that just some day ago it was Kai 17th birthday.

He cannot help but feel bitter. It's already been eleven years and they have not heard any news about Kai even after his name is already registered under the missing list of people of Buraford Kingdom and look at the entrance of the bathroom.

'Even I got a familiar feeling but I cannot understand why would my son Kai trying to hide his identity. Only if he had hit his head somewhere and forgot his parents. Come to think of it, Kai always have intelligent but never good in expression his feelings specially when he is nervous and sometimes act weird. That's also the reson he never had any childhood friends aside from Alice in the village.'

Turning around he looked Tarika" Let observe him for sometime. I don't think my inteligent and truthful son had guts to lie to his parents. We have already waited for elven years. He must have his own reason to act and wants to hide something's from his parents."

Hearing that Tarika nodded and glimpsed at the bathroom door before returned back to her work.

Tarika went back to cooking and Bolt checked his knife, arrows and crossbow.

After taking the bath, he came out of the bathroom and a pair of clothes were placed on the side of the door. He took them and went back inside, then came out wearing them.

He didn't know that they are already know from his actions that he is their son but waiting for him to express himself.

When Kai came out to the dining room, all the food was placed on the table.

Tarika and Bolt were waiting for him at the dinner table.

Seeing this Kai felt warm. It's like he had returned back to his childhood days.

"Come, Kai, take a seat." said Bolt as he offered a chair for Kai to sit.

"We don't have any others to sit and share dinner."

"It's okay with me, mister, I spent most of my time eating alone, so eating with others is a new experience." said Kai as he held the knife on his left hand and fork on his right, having them cross, and he looked at Tarika and Bolt smiling as the dinner began. He felt the warmth and love in every bite, which almost made him cry.

At the end of the dinner, Kai stood up. 

"Thank you for the food, it was really delicious. It's been many years since I last ate delicious food." Said Kai.

Thanking Tarika as he returned back to his room to sleep.

Look at Kai's back, Tarika and Bolt smiled bitterly as their eyes met with each other.

"He really is our son. Let's give him time to get rid of his inner conflict."

Both of them cannot help but think as he look at Kai back.

[Kai Room]

Looking at the familiar old room of his Kai lied down on the bed and took a long breath

'i have lost another chance to tell them. But why am I still hesitating?'

Thinking so Kai called out to Daoma and told him about his problem.

As the first night of Kai outside the forbidden forest started.

Meanwhile, In the capital city. Western palace.

A old man was lying down on the bed with skinny ill body with a middle aged woman holding his hand.

When a man wearing dark clothes covering his entire body kneeling down before them.

"Madam Elena, your grandson had returned back?"

"What? Are you sure?"said Elena

The man nodded,"he had the same magic signature as your grandson and madam must who had everyone magic signature is unique and never changes. Yet due to some unknown reason. He is not revealing his identity to his parents."

Elena thought for a moment and told the man to leave and again sat beside the old man and touched his forehead.

"Did you heard the news. Our missing grandson has returned?"

"Cough cough. I heard it Elena loud and clear."said the old man as a thin smile appeared on his wrinkled face.