While the Athamanas waited in the depths of the sea for the time to come for Mittar to lead them to that particular performance, miles away in the northern sea, a young man with green eyes hurried through the streets of Floating Barracks. His steps were measured and he walked so confidently through the winding narrow streets as if he knew the place like the back of his hand.
Finally, he stopped in front of the door of a house, took a deep breath and opened it. Everyone in the city knew who owned this house, and it was not strange if mysterious or even dubious figures entered, the inhabitants of the city were used to such people. After all, as the owner of the house used to say when he poked his nose out from behind his work and stepped out between the city's people: The weapon doesn't ask who wields it, why should I?
This particular house belonged to none other than the only blacksmith in Floating Barracks, Mathias Mullen. And now, up the long, sea-bottomed steps of this house, the cloaked young man walked. To the people of the western city, he was one of the odd customers of Mullen the Blacksmith. The Itaguyn people had little to do with what went on in the Mullen house.
So it could be that by the time the young man reached the bottom of the steps, he had long since left the minds of the townspeople. He had become one of the unknown faces, a black shadow, a story deemed insignificant, one of many, just like everyone else who had ever set foot in the forge.
And for the young man, it was just as well. If he had not had a good reason to come here, he would have avoided this place from afar. Ever since he was a child, he had preferred the wast wilderness to the bustling cities. But there was nothing to do, the Mullen forge could only be approached from the Floating Barracks, even though the forge itself was on the seabed.
As such, the mysterious young man had no choice but to enter the building from above and walk down all three hundred steps that connected the surface to the seabed. Even if by the hundredth step he had long since had enough of climbing down the stairs and his legs were already hurting when he thought about having to climb the stairs back to Floating Barracks.
"I hope you didn't come on urgent business, because you won't be leaving for a while. Your mother is home." Matthias spoke, at the same moment that the young man stepped off the last step.
"Hi to you too, dad. How is mum home? Isn't her shop on the eastern border now?" The boy asked as he took off his hood from the top of his head. So in the yellow light of the forge, the resemblance between the two figures could be clearly seen.
"Her shop is there, but this year she came back for the Barracks Cup and has stayed here ever since. If you ask her, she probably won't admit it, but I think she missed the atmosphere of the city." Matthias chuckled, then put down the hammer with which he was shaping the sword and, wiping his hands, turned to his son. "It's been a while since I last saw you, Mukei, what brought you home?" He smiled at the boy.
"I'll be honest, I don't know either." The boy admitted as he strained his neck. "I was just walking around the area and..." He started with his head down, but didn't continue.
"You don't have to explain yourself. You'll always be at home here." Matthias' voice came, more serious and deeper than half a minute ago, so Mukei wasn't surprised, when his father hugged him.
"It's good to be home." Young Mullen whispered. The boys knew well that even though their father didn't say it, he still missed the coral reef of the undersea-walkers, his home. It was because of his own life that Matthias Mullen always emphasized that no matter what his sons did, no matter how much he disagreed with them, whether they got into a fight or all the other possibilities.
This smelter under the Floating Barracks, this is the boys' home and they will always be welcomed here with open arms. Matthias will never let his sons feel like they have nowhere to return to and that they are left alone in the world. The Mullen couple will love them just the same no matter what they do and home will still be their home, no matter how far they are from it.
"Come, say hello to your mother too. She'll be happy for you." Matthias took a step back, then patted his son on the shoulder. "I've just finished for today anyway. You can tell us about the western territories. You went there last time, right?" He asked the question as he led the boy towards the back of the forge.
"Yes, I did, your memory is still perfect, dad." Mukei chuckled, and Matthias just rolled his eyes.
"With all the orders I've had lately, it's a wonder I even remember my name." He sighed, but finally just shook his head. "But let's leave the work. It's not that important right now." He waved a hand, then entered the back home area of the forge inside the curtain. "Annie dear, look who's come to visit us!" The blacksmith exclaimed.
"Who is it that you grew up..." Marianne began to ask as she stepped out of her own little creative nook and turned towards the door to look at the guest. "For?" She finished with slowly, but at the same moment a wide smile appeared on her lips. She ran to the younger Mullen, who she immediately hugged. "Mukei, my little undersea-walker, you're home?" The tailor squised the boy.
"Hi, mum." The boy smiled. "I was just coming by and thought I'd visit father. I didn't know you were here, but I'm glad to see you." Mukei hugged his mother, and they slowly moved apart.
"Oh, I'm stupid. You must be tired from the long journey and you may be hungry." Marianne folded her hands. "Matthias, have him sit down, make yourselves comfortable. I'll quickly make something to eat." The woman became enthusiastic. "Then you can tell us about your travels. You must have seen wonderful places." She looked at her son with sparkling eyes. "Well, go, I'll be there soon." She announced, then turned around and left the two men alone.
"It's been a while since I've seen mum so enthusiastic." Mukei muttered.
"She's working on a brand new collection. She calls it Táltos fashion." Matthias shrugged as he regained his youthful figure and led his son into the living room.
"Oh, it must be something grand, if she hasn't shown it to you yet." The younger Mullen mused.
"Don't tell me, I think this is your mother's greatest work yet. I'll be curious to see what she came up with. And how difficult it will be to make her ideas a reality." The older undersea-walker chuckled.
"As if you don't love it when she comes up with something impossible." Mukei pulled his lips into a faint half-smile.
"Guilty as charged." Matthias laughed as he sat down next to his son and the two men continued talking while waiting for Marianne with dinner.