Chapter II: Homecoming
1832 Words
It took Eryndor the whole night of travel just to reach the city his family governs. It’s already daybreak and the sun now shine upon the great walls of Brindlemark. And at that point, the gates of the city lowered itself. As his horse galloped across the empty streets of the city, he finally reached their mansion. On top of a small hill, known as the Thorny Haven, there lies their splendid mansion that oversees the whole city. The gates of their grand home opened as the knights guarding it greeted Eryndor a good morning. Eryndor and his horse stopped, and he got off it, asking politely to the gardener to place the horse in the stables. As he reached the doors, the sense of familiarity kicks in. He hasn’t come home for seven years.
He only wrote letters to his parents and siblings. He always sees them during noble events, such as balls and weddings. But it has been almost four years since their last meeting as Eryndor lived in the mountains to hone his Ki. And for the first time in years, he’s finally home. He was about to push the big and marvelous oak door open when it did it itself so suddenly. When the door was now fully open, a girl with long dark earthy hair was standing behind it. She has her arms crossed across her chest and has a smug look on her face.
“So, you finally decided to come home, stupid brother?” says the girl.
This is girl is Eryndor’s older sister, Eleanor Thorne. She’s six years older than Eryndor, and he came after her.
“Hey, sis! Been so long!” Eryndor waved at her with a smile.
He’s just so happy to finally see his older sister. But the welcome he was welcomed not what he expected. Eleanor was now walking towards Eryndor while looking down on the ground. And Eryndor’s smile gradually disappeared. In a swift moment, Eleanor grabbed his brother by his right arm and suddenly flung him over and pinned him on the ground. Her forearm was over her brother’s throat as Eryndor raised his hand in surrender,
“You dare make us worry like that?! Mom and Dad were worried sick about you when you suddenly disappeared for four years! And now you return with just a hey?! How dare you!” she says as fumes came out of her nostrils.
Eryndor was about to argue back when tears suddenly fell on his face,
“You had us all worried, Rin. So worried.” Eleanor cried.
Eryndor felt guilty. He never really sent a letter to them that informs them that he’ll be venturing into the mountains to train more. It’s his fault. And to make his older sister worried like this, it was so hard to watch. But he then placed his right hand on her head and gently stroked her beautiful hair.
“Sorry. I know sorry won’t fix it all, but, yeah, I’m sorry. But, sis, I’m back.” Eryndor smiled gently.
That smile, that expression, and that tone of voice. Eleanor missed all of it from the brother they are most worried about.
“Welcome back.”
Eleanor then hugged her brother as footsteps approached them,
“What seems to be the problem, Eleanor? What is this all—” a woman with the same hair color as Eleanor arrived.
She was still wearing her purple and floral bath robes,
“Rin!” the woman cried as she ran towards the two.
This woman is Laura Thorne, Eryndor and Eleanor’s mother. Eleanor pulled themselves up to their feet when Laura embraced her son.
“I was so worried! How have you been? Did your uncle give you a hard time? How are you? Wh-what have you—”
“I’m home, Mom!” Eryndor hugged her back.
Eryndor is just glad that he’s back home.
After the emotional reunion at the entrance, Laura led her children to the dining room so she can cook them breakfast. Eryndor sat on his usual seat that has been vacant for years. As they waited for their breakfast, Eleanor asked questions about her brother’s training in the mountains. Eryndor told her that it was great, and he has learned how to survive in the wild. While they converse, the door of the dining room flung open. Two more people entered and was still rubbing their eyes and are still in their pajamas. The small girl that was holding a teddy bear, Ariane, the youngest among the Thorne siblings. And on her left was this boy with a wild dark black hair that is the same as Eryndor, he’s Finnley, Eryndor’s younger brother.
“Mom! What’s for breakfast!” Finnley yawned.
“Fin! Manners!” Eleanor snapped.
“What manners?” Finnley replied with a shrug.
But then, as they looked at the other side of the table, the one facing their eldest sister, they saw this fine young man. He has a lean and athletic build, his dark hair as messy as it can be due to horse riding.
“Big brother!”
“Rin-Rin!”
The two exclaimed simultaneously. The youngest siblings then rushed towards their big brother. Ariane, the eight-year-old girl, hugged Eryndor tightly and let go of her teddy bear. Finnley on the other hand seemed to be sizing his older brother up.
“Yep, I’m home!” Eryndor laughed.
A few minutes later, breakfast finally arrived. Helped by the maids, Laura brought food to the table. The children dig into their mother’s cooking. Eryndor piled his plate up with eggs, bacon, and some bread and then he asked for a mug of fresh milk.
“Rin, your table manners! Why the hell are you eating that much also?” Eleanor asked.
“Been travelling the whole night. Quite exhausting, especially when you must face monsters on the way here!” Eryndor says as he stuffed his mouth with all the food he can.
Eleanor was disgusted by this and so he started scolding her brother, not to mention the fact that Finnley is also stacking up tomatoes like a tower. Eryndor swallowed his food and then looked at his mother,
“Where’s Dad?” he asked.
“On a border patrol mission. Like you said that you’ve faced monsters on the way here. There has been an increase in monster sightings within and beyond our borders. Maybe a dungeon leak. That’s why your father is with the knights and some adventurers. They’re investigating the matter.” Laura explained.
“Dad sure is hands on his duties. Anyway, Mom, I think you already know about me enrolling to the WIM, right?”
Laura nodded. She seemed to be a bit worried about it, “So, what’s your decision?”
“I accepted it. I’ll go there in Uly, but for now, I’ll enjoy my remaining time here before the start of term.” Eryndor nodded.
“You’re actually going there? Just so you know, I’ve also recommended to Mom and Dad that you should go to my school. There’s no discrimination there or whatsoever.” Eleanor pointed out.
Eleanor studies at the prestigious University of the Magical World. While Finnley and Ariane are still being homeschooled by professional mage instructors and teachers.
“When I grow up, I’ll be going to that academy also! I’ll show them what a Thorne is made of!” Finnley declared proudly as he raised his fork like a trident.
Eleanor bumped him in the head with her fist and scolded him as he was already on his next batch of food towers.
“Are you sure about it, Rin? Your father and your uncle went to that academy. It’s rough, full of discrimination, and—”
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ve survived uncle’s harsh training for seven years. A little bit of academy won’t hurt, right?” Eryndor smiled.
He was so enthusiastic that their mother and Eleanor just sighed. He was always like this.
“You’re leaving already, Rin-Rin?” Ariane asked as she pouted.
“Not already, Ari. But I won’t leave without spending some time with you, okay? Don’t be sad.” Eryndor patted her head gently as Ariane rejoiced.
The family then enjoyed their breakfast. As soon as they finished, the door of the dining room opened again. Then, a man, wearing a majestic leather armor entered. His dark hair flowed as he removed his black cloak’s hood.
“Three encounters! One with a minotaur! One hell of a patrol!” the man exclaimed.
He then collapsed on the chair that is at the center end of the table. He grabbed a plate and filled it with food. He seemed exhausted, his eyes were really puffy too. This man is the head of the house of Thorne. The younger brother of Stryker. He’s Lord Aron Thorne, Eryndor’s father.
“Dear, I think you shouldn’t eat in your armor.” Laura pointed out.
“No worries. I’ll take it out later before I take a bath and sleep. But for now, let me eat something.” Aron breathed heavily as he ate some sausages and eggs.
“Hey, Dad!” Eryndor greeted.
Eleanor eyed at him and Eryndor didn’t understand why.
“Oh, hey, Eryndor.” Aron responded, “So, is your son already home?” he asked a follow-up question to Laura.
Laura grinned as she then tilted her head towards Eryndor.
“What?”
Aron then looked at the direction his wife was pointing and that was when he finally saw his eldest son, waving slightly at him.
“Woah!” Aron stood up with a start. “Eryndor! My boy!”
He then went to hug his son. Laura along with her children laughed at Aron’s late reaction.
“When did you arrive?” Aron let go of his son as he then continuously patted on his back.
“About an hour ago.”
“If only you wrote a letter, I could’ve sent you a convoy! How’d you get here? Through horse?”
“Yep, Uncle Stryker arranged it for me.”
“That brother of mine didn’t even bother to accompany you, eh? He knows quite well that are land is now facing monster problems and yet he sent you alone! Ha-ha! That’s Stryker all right!” Aron then went back to his seat. “So, how’s training.”
Eryndor told his father everything, but also leaving some information hidden as it’s not necessary. Aron went on to say how proud he is of what Eryndor has become. But a bit disappointed in the fact that he didn’t write a single letter in four straight years.
“Can I see how much you’ve grown over the past seven years?” Aron asked.
But now, his tone and expression are stern.
“Dear, we should let Rin rest—”
“The grounds?” Eryndor asked
“Come on.”
- Writer
