Lily's voice came gently, as if the weight of the last few months pressed against each word. "Yes…While you were asleep… the Balmount Kingdom became tense. Knights have been patrolling more often. It's like they're expecting something. Maybe war."
I turned slowly, watching her expression, innocent, but disturbed. It wasn't the kind of thing Lily usually noticed unless it was right in front of her.
Syl nodded, sitting beside her and running her fingers slowly through Ben's fur. "Aunt Sora told us to stay out of the kingdom. She started doing all the market runs herself. And she's… changed our training schedule."
"Changed how?" I asked, shifting a little. My body still felt strange, like I'd only just started borrowing it again.
"She made it harder," Syl replied. "Focused. Intense."
Lily let out a small giggle. "Syl had her own special training… she had to stay alone in the forest for a whole week. Aunt Sora would only come at the end to pick her up."
I sat up straighter. "Wait, alone? What kind of training is that? Did anything happen? Did you get hurt?"
Syl let out a quiet laugh. The kind that wasn't really amused. "A little… maybe. But I made it."
Ben let out a soft "grr-mrr," curling up tighter in her lap. His little body relaxed, but his eyes watched Syl, like he understood everything.
"If not for Ben's mother," Syl continued, "I don't know what would have happened. She was there in the forest. She guided me… in her own way."
Lily smiled softly. "She still comes sometimes. She checks on Syl. And on Ben too."
That caught my attention. "So… the mother you saved back then? Still shows up...Well it should be expected"
Syl gave a small nod. "She hasn't forgotten."
I leaned in. "That's… kind of amazing. So if she was your guide… did you really learn something from her?"
Syl's eyes narrowed, not in anger but in thought. "Yes. I learned a lot. She didn't speak, obviously, but… the way she moved, the way she watched me. I had to understand the forest. I had to survive it."
I smiled. "So, does that mean you've mastered the whole 'contolling to animals' thing now?"
She sighed and leaned back slightly. "No. I haven't mastered anything. I still can't control animals like Aunt Sora said I should. It's not control at all, really. It's… connection."
"Connection?" I asked, watching her eyes grow distant.
Syl nodded slowly. "Yes. I have to feel them. Not just what they are… but what they want, what they fear. It's like… if I can match my will with theirs, then we understand each other. But it's not easy."
My voice dropped. "And the ironfur bear? You're connected to her?"
Syl looked away, and her hand paused on Ben's back. Her fingers tensed slightly.
Before she could answer, Lily leaned in innocently. "She only comes because of Ben."
Syl muttered, "That's why it's frustrating."
In my mind, I couldn't help but wonder. Syl was clearly trying her best. But if the ironfur bear only came because of the cub, then maybe… maybe Syl felt like she hadn't earned that trust yet.
"So," I asked gently, "what kind of beasts have you connected with so far?"
She hesitated. "Just Ben. And some smaller creatures. Bunnies. Squirrels."
Lily grinned. "And rats!"
Syl's eyes flew open as she whipped her hand over Lily's mouth. "I told you not to say that!"
Lily giggled under her hand. "But wasn't it y—"
Syl sighed, removing her hand. "You promised you wouldn't bring it up."
I laughed. "Well… at least it's a start. From small creatures to big ones, right? Besides, Ben can protect you."
I turned to Ben. "Right, little guy? You got her back?"
Ben straightened up proudly and let out a spirited "rrf-grr," his tiny claws flexing in the air. Syl and Lily both laughed, reaching out to pet him with soft "aww"s echoing between them.
But inside my head, Ignis's voice struck through like thunder, hard and cold. "Pathetic. That cub can't protect anyone. Brat, I want that girl stronger. You're blind if you can't see how fragile she is."
I closed my eyes briefly, answering him in thought. "She's doing her best. She doesn't have to rush."
Ignis growled, sharp and merciless. "You have no right to talk about rushing. You learn quickly only because your body moves faster than your brain. You coddle her. She needs someone who pushes her, not someone who holds her hand like a trembling fool."
I bit my lip, resisting the urge to argue out loud. "Alright then… who's supposed to teach her? Your mate?"
Silence. Then—
"Brat," Ignis roared, his fury shaking my thoughts, "Don't you dare mention her. You insignificant, crawling speck of a boy."
My heart jumped. I hadn't meant to strike something that deep.
"Hey, calm down, oh wise one…" I whispered, more to myself than anything. "It was just a question."
His voice returned, colder than ice. "Your questions should never point toward things beyond you. Know your place. Speak less. Think more."
Syl and Lily were giggling again, their fingers running through Ben's thick fur. The cub lay between them, belly-up and purring like a pleased little beast, completely content. I sat there, watching them, feeling a bit outside the warmth of their moment.
I sighed inwardly. "I'm sorry… I shouldn't have crossed that line. I didn't mean to bring up something that deep."
Still… something didn't sit right. If Ignis's mate was dead, he would've said it plainly… but he didn't. Not once.
"I don't need your pathetic apology," Ignis's voice lashed in my mind like a whip. "I only need that girl to get stronger. That is what matters."
I stayed quiet, rubbing my thumb along my wrist. "Then answer the question. Who could train her?"
He snapped, curt and flat. "That, brat, I do not know. But the best place she might find someone worthy is in the Elven Kingdom."
My eyes widened slightly. "Elven Kingdom?" I whispered.
"Don't make me repeat myself, you deaf, idiotic brat. You heard me the first time."
I swallowed and muttered, "Yeah… I did hear you. But how's that even going to happen? I don't even know when I'm leaving this place."
"That is none of my concern," Ignis replied coldly. "But you heard them, didn't you? From your lover and that girl. There's war looming. If you're still too blind to prepare for it, then you deserve every failure coming to you."
I clenched my hands. "War… I don't…"
"Do not joke with this, brat," Ignis hissed. "That kingdom nearby, they're already cracking. Something is wrong behind those walls. Knights are moving to protect civilians. That's not routine. That's preparation. You naive, insufferable dolt."
I breathed out slowly. "But Syl's father is the king. From the way she talks about him, it doesn't seem…"
Ignis let out a cruel, cutting laugh. "You really are hopeless. So what if she praises him? How long has it been since she saw this so-called father of hers? What does she know about governance or the smell of war?"
I stayed silent, but he kept going.
"Don't start with 'she's been reading about it.' Reading isn't knowing. She hasn't applied a single thing she learned, and you still sit there like a fool, defending her like a brainless wretch who can't see beyond the tip of his own nose."
His voice faded as my thoughts began to whirl again. How would she ever make it to the Elven Kingdom? Could I really protect both of them if something happened?
"Kibo!" Lily's voice suddenly rang out, breaking through the storm in my mind.
I blinked and looked at her. "Eh?"
Both of them were staring at me now, concern showing clearly in their faces. Syl's voice was low and soft. "You looked deep in thought."
Lily nodded, tilting her head with a little smile. "Same, Kibo… that means you're doing better. You're thinking again."
Before I could say anything, a loud creak groaned from outside. A door. The hinges were stiff and rough from the sound. My body tensed instantly. "Who is that?"
Syl paused, her head turning. "I think Aunt Sora is back."
Then we heard her voice from down the hall, calm, sharp, always clear. "Thank you… would you like to eat something?"
A man's voice replied. Warm, relaxed. Friendly. "Yes, please… I would really love that. Anyway, where are the girls? This place is dead quiet."
I frowned. That voice didn't ring any bells. "Do either of you know who Aunt Sora is talking to?"
Lily's eyes lit up like a lantern. "Yes… it's Uncle!"
Syl smiled, her lips curving in recognition as Ben scrambled off her lap. His tiny claws clattered softly on the wooden floor as he hurried to the door.
Aunt Sora's voice carried clearer now. "Maybe they're in Kibo's room, watching him."
The man chuckled, his voice teasing. "Oh, young love… Kibo sure is lucky to have two beautiful young ladies taking care of him."
Sora's footsteps got louder, firm, no-nonsense. "Such words spewing from an old man's mouth like yours."
He laughed, without offense. "With that attitude of yours, that young lad you care so much about might leave you."
Sora's reply came like cold steel. "I am prepared to do anything."
Then she stepped into the room, standing tall in the doorway. Her presence filled the space instantly. Her hair was tied back, not a strand out of place. Her eyes scanned the room quickly, Syl, Lily, Ben… and then me.
"Hello, Aunt Sora," I said, offering a faint smile, trying to mask the tension still wrapped around my shoulders.
Ben darted back to Syl's lap, trembling as he pressed into her. His fur bristled like he'd just sensed lightning in the room.
"Hello, Aunt Sora!" Syl and Lily greeted together, their voices overlapping sweetly.
A voice from the hallway followed, a little closer, a little louder.
"So that's who you really are."
Aunt Sora let out a sigh, one of those tired, tight sighs that seemed to come with everything she did lately. Her voice followed, clipped and exasperated.
"Finally, you are awake. I almost got tired of taking care of you."
I blinked slowly, biting back a smile. Oh, Aunt Sora… I too am happy that I'm awake, even if your tone doesn't sound like it.
Then I heard it, his voice. Familiar. Rough but warm.
"Uhn… is Kibo awake?"
I turned slightly as a figure stepped into view, and there he was. Uncle. The blacksmith. His apron was dusted with soot, the front smudged from hours at the forge. His face cracked into a broad grin when he saw me.
"Oh, Kibo, you are finally awake!" he said, voice full of genuine warmth.
He turned to Aunt Sora with a look that was half gentle scolding. "Why do you have to say that to him?"
But Aunt Sora didn't even flinch. She strode off without so much as a glance, her voice cutting the air behind her.
"I meant what I said."
I gave a small sarcastic laugh, shaking my head. That was her way of saying she cared. As if she could ever admit it.
Uncle leaned down a bit, dropping his voice like it was a shared secret. "Don't mind her," he said, his smile lopsided. "She doesn't mean all what she says."
Ben, finally brave enough to move, leapt off Syl's lap and bounded toward Uncle. His little paws hit the floor in a series of soft taps. Uncle squatted low and let Ben crash into his hands, chuckling as the cub buried his face in his palm and sniffed his fingers like they were treasure.
Lily and Syl slid off the bed beside me and rushed to greet him. Their smiles were bright, like the whole room had shifted with his arrival.
Uncle scooped Ben up, chuckling as the cub squirmed happily in his arms. "You seem to be in a good mood, Ben."
Syl smiled, quiet and genuine. "Welcome, Uncle."
He reached over and patted her head gently, the way he always did. "Good to see you too, Syl."
Then he leaned a little closer to her, dropping his voice again. "Hope Sora isn't giving you a hard time."
Syl straightened a little, quickly shaking her head. "No… she isn't."
Lily, standing just beside him, beamed. "Welcome home, Uncle!"
Uncle turned to her and grinned again, his eyes softening. "Welcome to you too, Lily."
Ben, still wiggling in his arms, suddenly licked Uncle's cheek with a loud, playful "grr-mrrf!"
That drew laughter from all of us. Even Aunt Sora, I think, paused outside the room before continuing down the hall.