1
X913 – Spring
Karrie was now one year old. She had gone through the worst parts of infancy and had lived longer than others thought she would.
The year had been met with laughter and smiles. Worry started to settle down as she grew older. She would say Mama and Dada and Izzi, but for some reason wouldn't say Si.
"Oh, come on, you can do it—just a little more! Come to Dada."
Finlay had the day off. During his days off, he wasn't the gruff and tough guardsman—he was a daddy's girl.
Karrie waddled over, one foot in front of the other, to him.
"That's my girl!"
He smiled big as she reached him.
The house was lively with a drooling terror crawling around. Having a child meant you had to keep them from offing themselves. Her curiosity with fire and things that were choking hazards was immense.
One time, she crawled and found Finlay's daggers.
"Ah! Karrie, what are you doing?!"
Luckily, Kyleigh was on her feet—never underestimate the reflexes of a mother.
Of course, he was scolded for being so careless.
—
During the year, Simon had officially started school. He didn't really care for it. He mainly learned basic reading and arithmetic. However, history was something he was interested in—but that wouldn't be taught until he got to Izkeial's age.
He found school boring.
Elves lived off the land, so they didn't really have their own classes or formal schooling. So, he went to the small building near the town where Izkeial had gone.
He had asked Kyleigh why elves didn't have to go to traditional school.
"Our clan raises our children as a community. We teach them individually or as a group, like the magic lessons you were taught," she explained once.
Simon didn't like school at first. He was nervous. He had lived in the elven village for a year, but still didn't make many friends besides Catriona and Ewan.
These two seemed to warm up to him after that magic lesson incident.
They could do magic, but they didn't have the knack for it as much as the other children, so they bonded over failure.
Catriona was two years older, while Ewan was a year younger.
The village, being a commune, had its ups and downs. Children around his age were expected to help around the village, so he gathered herbs in the plains. However, they wandered near the riverbeds.
"Hey Ewan, you know we're not supposed to be near here... without adults…"
"Relax, Catriona. My dad said to show Si around, and I'm just doing what I'm told like a good son!"
He rose his nose up at her, which she promptly stuck two fingers up.
"Ow ow, stop! That hurts!"
Simon liked these two. They weren't like the other elves—not to say they were bad or mean—but throughout the year, even someone as young as Simon could feel a sense of not belonging, of being the odd one out.
"Look what I found!" Ewan said cheerfully.
"Wow, it's poop!" Simon said with a smile.
"Men…" Catriona rolled her eyes.
"Not just any poop! It may very well be poop that belongs to a Kelpie!"
He poked it with a stick.
"A Kelpie?" Simon crouched down with Ewan.
"They're like horses—but soggy."
"What?"
"Okay, maybe that wasn't the best description." He scratched his cheek. "Kelpies are horse-like creatures that hang around lakes and rivers. Its mane is seaweed, and it has big shiny eyes! ...They say if you get on its back, it'll drag you to the bottom of the water!"
"Yeoow ow! Why are you hitting me with a stick?!"
"Because you know I hate scary stories!" Catriona huffed. "Let's just get the herbs and move."
Just then, the water rippled.
"?!"
A large animal shaped like a horse crept out of the river—its mane made of seaweed, and its skin soaked in darkness and shining like oil.
"Neeeeighhh…"
"Cool!"
Of course, Ewan was ecstatic.
Catriona tried pulling him away.
"Let's go. Those things are dangerous."
"It's only dangerous if you get on its back—there's nothing to—"
But as they had their conversation, Simon's eyes were glassy and glazed over, resembling the green river.
He kept walking toward the horse-shaped beast. Ewan soon followed after.
"Hey, you two idiots, stop! I'll tell an adult!"
"You're such a tattletale. It's just a horse, relax."
He brushed her off.
"Bleeegh!" She stuck out her tongue and ran off.
Simon reached the Kelpie and stroked its mane.
"Wow, you have no fear, don't you, Si!" Ewan walked up. "A real-life Kelpie! So awesome! I knew that poop belonged to something awesome!"
He loomed all around the creature, circling it, admiring its black oily skin and its eyes that seemed to mystify you.
"Whufff."
The Kelpie let out a soft exhale.
"We should name it! I think Regulus would be awesome."
The Kelpie began to let out a whistle in the form of a song.
It was like wind passing through a hollowed-out stone, and it enchanted Simon… He started getting closer.
"Hm, Si, you're quiet? Is it awesome that you're speechless?"
Simon was using the mane of the Kelpie to hoist himself up.
"Whoa, hey, don't do that!"
He was halfway up when Ewan pulled at his leg.
"Huh… what's going on…" Simon muttered, his irises returning back to normal.
"SNRRRHHH!"
The Kelpie reared, standing on its back legs.
"Ah, crap."
"!!"
The Kelpie charged at Ewan.
"Ah, wait!"
Just then, Simon knocked him out of the way. The Kelpie used its head to throw Simon and put him on its back.
"Simon!"
"Huh?"
The Kelpie began to go slowly into the water.
Simon couldn't move a muscle. He was stuck backward on the horse as it started sinking into the water.
He quickly inhaled water, and his vision was obscured by nothing but the water.
Am I gonna die?
Am I gonna die?
Am I gonna die?
His thoughts filled with nothing but sorrow and fear—fear he'd never see his father, brother… and his new sister and mother.
His world was growing dark—
Wuuush!
Something grabbed his collar and pulled him from the water.
"Simon, you okay?"
It was his father.
"Huh… oh I—" Simon stammered, then nodded slowly.
"WHINNNEEEHHRR!"
The horse rose from the water, its eyes fixed on Simon.
Finlay drew his sword and stood in front of Simon.
"Stay back, boy."
The sword was your run-of-the-mill blade, nothing fancy—but in his arms, it seemed more grandiose.
Finlay swung his blade, but he wasn't in close distance.
"What are you doing, Mr. Fillips?! You're too far—"
Ewan started, but the next thing they saw: the sword made a crackling sound. It lengthened. It was thick at the base but thinner at the tip.
The sword's sound reached the Kelpie, and with a loud—
THWAK!
—it hit the Kelpie. It sounded like a cannon going off.
"Nhhhhg."
The horse backed away and dipped back into the river, slowly disappearing.
"Phew."
The sword in Finlay's hands returned to normal.
"You two boys alright—?"
Simon ran to his father and clung to his waist.
"I was scared."
"I know."
Finlay kneeled down to his level.
BOINK.
"YEOW!"
He rubbed his forehead.
"That's for almost getting yourself killed and worrying Catriona. She was scared half to death."
He sighed.
"You're lucky I got off early and was heading this way. Make sure to thank her."
He looked over to Ewan.
"And you best know your father is gonna be hearing about this."
Ewan was trying to tiptoe away.
"Yes, sir…" He slumped his shoulders.
"Alright, then. We better get back to the village."
And so, the near-death experience came to an end.
However—
"Hey, Father! How'd you do that swoosh and wham with your sword! It looked like a noodle!"
Finlay raised his brow.
"I thought you weren't interested in swordsmanship?"
"Well, I didn't know you could do something so cool! I wanna protect everyone when you and big brother aren't around. I can't do magic, but if I can do what you did, I can do it easily!"
Finlay patted his head.
"I'll teach you. But I'll be busy for a while. The town has been getting more foreigners lately… when I have time again, I'll teach you and Simon, alright?"
"Yes!"
"Now let's deliver those herbs."
"Um, Mr. Fillips…" Ewan pointed at Finlay's feet. "You're stepping on them."
"…Ah, nooo!"
2
X915-Summer
"Huff... huff... so much... huff... pain…"
Simon was sweating head to toe in the summer heat.
"You've been making good progress, Si."
Finlay rested his wooden sword over his shoulder.
"Bah! My wrist feels like jelly!" He flailed dramatically.
"That means you're making progress. Feel the jelly!"
"That doesn't even make sense!" Simon barked.
He was now six and a half and learning the sword.
"Izzy learned the Tor Style at your age. If you have my blood, you'll learn it eventually too," Finlay smirked.
"You and big brother aren't human…"
Simon flopped back onto the grass. They were out in the plains on a family picnic.
"Big brother Si! Here, I made you some water!"
Simon looked up at the little redheaded bundle of happiness that was Karrie.
"Oh, thank you."
He took the cup from her.
"..."
"You made this with magic?"
She nodded her head proudly.
"Mmhmm! Mama helped me this time!"
Simon was a bit hesitant. Kyleigh had been teaching Karrie magic at just three years old. She could do very basic water and earth magic—like making water or turning dirt into a ball. This only frustrated him.
He still couldn't do magic no matter how hard he tried. Even his baby sister could do simple spells at her age. And his brother, now ten, had begun getting proper sword lessons from both their father and a teacher in town.
He felt left behind. So he asked his father to teach him that move from a year ago.
Simon took the water and sipped it.
His face scrunched up.
To put it simply, it tasted like dirt.
Sure, she could use simple magic—but that didn't mean she was good at it yet. It was like a child making a mud pie for their parent.
"Mm. Good," he said, strained.
"Go on! Drink up, big brother! You gotta stay hydrated!"
Her smile was so cute it gave him courage. He downed the dirt-flavored water.
"Gah... ree... refreshing...!"
Her eyes did a little wiggle—a sign she was excited and happy.
"I'm glad!"
"..."
"Something wrong, big brother?"
She tilted her head.
"No, nothing."
She turned to Finlay.
"You made big brother upset! Apologize, Papa!"
"Gah—what did I do?!"
He pointed at himself.
She crossed her tiny arms.
Simon stood up and ruffled her hair.
"Father didn't do anything. I'm just... tired, is all."
"Hmm. Okay..."
The three walked back over to Kyleigh, who was sitting peacefully by a lone tree.
"You did good today, Simon. Really put in the work," Kyleigh said, handing him a water cup in a whisper while Karrie was distracted.
"Ah, thank you as always, Miss Kyleigh."
He drank the water she made. It was like drinking from an iceberg.
"Father, what was that SWOOSH moment and the CRACK move you did?" Karrie asked.
Finlay chuckled.
"Funny. Your big brother here asked that same question when he saw me do it."
Karrie climbed into Simon's lap without a second thought. He didn't mind her clinging like this—she fit into his lap like a square in a square hole.
"It's called the Tor Style," he said proudly. "A staple for our Fillips family, passed down for generations."
"Tor Style? Sounds cool!" she chirped.
"Very cool indeed!" Finlay grinned. He was clearly enjoying his little girl's interest in swordplay.
"The Tor Style works like a whip. It has the same basic rules and tricks, you see."
He stooped and mimed the motion with his wrist.
"When you snap a whip, energy travels down from its thick base to its thinner and lighter parts until it reaches the tip."
He looked over at Simon.
"Remember what that process is called?"
"Um... it's called a kinematic chain, right?"
"= Exactly!"
"Big brother is so smart!"
Karrie leaned her head back against Simon's chest, her ears wiggling cutely.
"Well—not really... Father beat the lessons into me…"
He shuddered. "Figuratively and literally..."
"What was that, son?"
"Ah—nothing, sorry, continue."
Finlay smirked.
"Anyway, you know that loud crack sound I made earlier? Well, like a whip, it's the sound of the sound barrier being broken—creating a sonic boom, and—"
"Gahhh…"
Karrie's head was starting to feel woozy.
"In simpler terms, moving your wrist a certain way goes boom—making a burst of air to slice through."
"See my sword? It can lengthen—ah, look, don't touch!"
He swatted her hand away.
Finlay's sword looked like a traditional longsword, but with a torqued curve and a serrated edge.
"This one is more modernized. You see this here?"
It had built-in gear mechanisms that allowed it to extend and retract with the push of a button.
"Does bigger brother Izkeial know how to use the Tor Style?" Karrie asked.
"Hm? Well, yes. He's a natural at swordsmanship. He definitely takes after me in that regard."
"Bet that feels good, huh…" Simon mumbled.
"Don't pout like that. You're still learning. As long as you have blood in ya, you're destined for great things!"
Finlay gave a boisterous laugh.
"What, like being a guard in a shanty town?"
"hitting it where it hurts son..."
3
A person's fifth, tenth, and fifteenth birthdays were big milestones in a child's life.
Today was Izekial's tenth birthday.
Birthdays were a joyous occasion filled with laughter, smiles, and awkward singing. But getting someone like Izekial a gift was a little hard. Even after living in the village for years, someone like Izekial was quite difficult for the Fillips siblings and Kyleigh to shop for.
Izekial was the usual brooding type, acting more like a middle-aged man than the ten-year-old he actually was.
"Mama, I wanna pick out something too!" Karrie clung to her mother's leg.
"Sorry, but… that's not a good idea. When you're older, okay?"
She pouted and furrowed her brow in frustration.
Kyleigh patted her head.
"I'll pick something up for you to give to him."
"Not the same!" she stomped off in a huff.
"..."
Kyleigh sighed, then looked over to Simon.
"You mind helping her out 'til I come back?"
"Of course! I'll do my best!" he gave a thumbs up.
"Ahh, you're such a good boy, Si."
She gave him a big, wet kiss on the forehead.
"Gah, not in front of Karrie! I'm supposed to look cool!"
"Alright, I'll be back. I'll be sure to get your father to—don't burn down the house while I'm gone."
She waved and closed the front door.
Simon wanted to find Karrie and found her in her room, digging through her toy box.
"Planning to give him one of your toys?" Simon leaned against the door.
"No."
"Oh? Then what are you doing?"
"I needa think..." she continued to rummage through her toy box.
She eventually pulled out a doll. It was one of a girl in a blue sundress with red hair and pigtails.
"I wanna make dis."
"Hm? A doll?"
"Not doll. Mm... thing to remind Bigger Brother of home."
Simon tilted his head.
"I don't think Simon is gonna want a doll at ten—" he waved his hand.
"Nnnnngh." She bit her lip. Tears threatened to fall out.
"Ah—don't cry! I'm sure a guy like him would love a gift from you! You are the cutest little girl in all of the village!" he said, frantic.
"Mmm–r-really?"
"Absolutely! I know I would love anything you give me!"
"Even my mud pies?"
"Especially your mud pies!"
And so, the creation process began.
"How do you expect to make a doll? You can't sew, can you?"
"..."
"..."
"Nnngh." She started to cry again.
"Wait, wait, wait! Don't cry! I'm sure there's other ways to make dolls! Wait—I know! Miss Moira makes dolls with Earth magic!"
"Ah! You're as smart as ever, Big Brother!"
"Well, let's go pay her a visit."
A Short While Later…
"Hello, Miss Moira!"
"Oh? Karrie and Simon? Something wrong?" she asked, as she started putting away toys.
"It's Bigger Brother Izekial's birthday, and I wanna make him one of the dolls you make!"
"Dolls… ah, I see. You mean my golems."
"Golems?" Karrie tilted her head.
"Well, they're not actually golems, just replicas," she said, finishing putting the materials away.
"Oh, Father told me about them before," Simon added. "They're inorganic life forms that run on mana crystals, right?"
"Mm, yep! I personally find them really cool. However, they use alchemy, which I don't know the first thing about, so I only work on what I've read."
Karrie seemed not to follow the conversation.
"Stop using big words!" she huffed.
"Ah, sorry, Karrie. I get a little too excited talking about things I like," she smiled and patted her head.
"Sure, I'll show you how to make my golems." She paused. "I must say, Izekial does seem like the type to like—"
"Ahem."
Simon cleared his throat and shook his head.
"Alright then. I'll help you."
"Thank you!" she said, giddy.
Doll-Making 101
"Alright, first we make the mold from clay."
Moira set out a variety of different molds in different colors—tan, grey, dark grey, and cream.
"Wow! It's so squishy, like mud pies!"
"You really need to calm down with the mud pies…" Simon muttered.
"Hmm..." Karrie looked over the different colors. "I'll take these two."
"Eh?"
She had pointed at the dark grey and cream-colored clay.
"You want two?"
"Uh huh." She nodded.
"Oh... well, I suppose it's fine."
"You wanna help for the next part, Simon?" Moira said sweetly.
"How can I help? You need magic, right?" He looked down at his hands. "I still can't use that or alchemy, so I'm pretty useless."
Moira put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll help you." She cupped his hands.
This made heat rise to his cheeks.
"Y-yes."
"Alright. Let's get to work then."
The process was simple. They formed the clay into the body and used heat from their hands to harden it.
"Woah, Karrie… the head's kinda… large. The body won't be able to support it."
"But it looks cool! Dada's head is large!"
"Don't say that to his face. It'll traumatize him." Simon exhaled.
"Now we've got the body. Next, we'll do the eyes."
Moira pulled out a box full of buttons, glass eyes, and pins.
"Ah! Pretty colors!" Karrie was way too happy about this—almost as if she was making the doll for herself.
She rummaged through the box.
"Hey, Si… is Kyleigh home today? I've been meaning to get her advice on something…" Moira asked, rubbing her belly gently.
"Well, she went to town to find Izekial a gift. Karrie and I wanted to go too, but she said no."
"Oh, I see. That's smart…"
Simon raised a brow. "Why is that smart?"
"Huh? Oh, no reason!" she said frantically. "Just… ya know… hard to shop with kids around, ya know!"
"Oh… right..."
"..."
"Got it!" She had picked out two different colored buttons—one yellow and one purple.
"Oh... wow… I mean, good choice! Let's do the hair and accessorize! I'll do the hair—don't want you poking yourselves with the needle."
Karrie chose green. A very peculiar choice for hair.
Karrie looked up and seemed very proud of her choices.
Karrie was happy.
The golem doll ended up looking like a mix between a leprechaun and a man from the desert. It had tan skin and mismatched eyes—one pupil purple and the other yellow.
"Now for the clothes," Moira started. "I think he'd like a more knightly—"
"Bow tie!" Karrie interrupted.
"Huh?"
"I want him to look fancy-like!"
"Fancy? B-bow tie it is. I'll see what I can do."
As Moira sewed the eyes, Karrie began to nod off.
"Take her home. I'll finish up here. I'll be sure to give it to you when I'm done."
"Thank you, Miss Moira." He hoisted Karrie on his back.
"Thnk oo iss Oria..." she said, then fell peacefully asleep.
A few days later…
The lessons weren't going well.
For some reason, Simon had no knack for magic.
"Huh?" He tried his best, but nothing would come out.
"Hmm, strange. I've never met a child who can't even use basic magic before…"
This puzzled Moira, who narrowed her eyes.
"Let me see your hands."
Simon upturned his palms, facing the sky. Moira ran her hands over them.
"Close your eyes."
Simon did so.
4
Kyleigh returned home with a small gift box in her hand and some bags.
"Ah, thank goodness we made it back before Izekial."
In tow was their father, Finlay. Over the past year, he'd gotten even more in shape. Just because a man had a family didn't mean he had to let himself go. He needed to remain strong. His muscles were as big as a melon and as firm as a boulder.
"Yo!" he said boisterously.
"Shh! Karrie is sleeping!"
"Ah, sorry! It's just been a long day and I'm excited to see my adorable children, is all! Can you blame me?"
"What'd you get Izzy?"
"You're gonna have to wait till he gets here."
He puffed out his chest.
On his back, he had a long object wrapped in cloth.
"It's a sword!"
"Gah, come on! How'd you guess!?"
Karrie walked into the living room, rubbing her eyes.
"Mm… Papa?"
"Look what you did, you loud oaf," Kyleigh swatted his belly.
"Ah—a sword?"
"Ah, not you too! Is it really that obvious?"
He took it off his back and placed it on the table.
"I'll start decorating, I suppose," Kyleigh muttered, seeming slightly tense.
"I really do hope he likes it…" she said softly.
"It'll be fine. He'll love your effort, hon."
He gave a thumbs up.
That only slightly calmed her nerves.
That's when the front door opened.
Izekial walked through.
They didn't have time to put the streamers up.
"SUR-prise?"
5
"Oh right, that's today?" he said flatly.
Finlay draped his arm around Izekial's shoulder.
"Come on, at least look a little excited. You're the big One-O now! That's gotta mean something, even to an unflappable boy like yourself."
"Have you been drinking, Father? Your breath reeks."
Finlay backed up and put his hands to his mouth.
Sniff sniff
"Oof… I swore I brushed…"
Finlay took a few moments to collect himself.
"Alright! I suppose it's party time!"
And so, Izekial's tenth birthday began.
He didn't have many—no, he didn't have any—friends at all, so there wasn't really anyone to invite.
Sure, he had his fan club of girls like any other handsome, hardworking boy, but those weren't the types you wanted around during an event like this.
The time for gifts arrived.
"I used my one-month salary for this."
"Sorry, but I don't see you that way," Izekial said plainly.
"Jeez! It's not a ring! Here, look."
Finlay pulled out the mysterious long item wrapped in cloth.
"A sword?"
"Yeah, yeah—I figured you'd guess." Finlay threw up his hands.
"You kids aren't any fun."
Izekial unwrapped the mystery item. It was indeed a sword—and a finely crafted one at that. It was sharp to the touch, silver, with an insignia carved into the handle.
It was a snake coiled around a lion.
"Woah, it's so pretty… What's that?" Karrie asked, pointing at the strange carving.
"Well, it's the family crest. Pretty neat, huh?" Finlay said proudly.
"It's to be passed down when the next in line learns the Tor Style. Izzy here's been working his ass—butt—off. It's time he inherited it."
"B…Bigger brother, I… made you something," Karrie said meekly, holding up the doll Moira had dropped off.
"Hm?" He turned to her.
She avoided his gaze, cheeks turning slightly pink.
"I… made you th-this."
She held out the doll. It had mismatched eyes and mossy green hair. It was charming, for what it was.
Izekial took it from her and examined it.
"Oh. Thank you," he said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Karrie, however, didn't catch his reaction.
Izekial gently stroked her head—a rare display of affection from him.
"Ah—here, I got you this. It's not much, but I think it suits you." Kyleigh handed him the small box she had gotten from town.
He took it and opened the box. Inside was a red necktie ribbon.
"Thank you, Kyleigh."
He held it to his chest and gave a faint smile—the same one he gave Karrie.
Izekial looked to Simon and held out his hand.
"What?"
It took a second to register.
"Ah crap, I totally forgot to get a gift! I got so busy helping Karrie, I didn't realize—"
"The doll is from me and Big Brother!" Karrie interjected.
Izekial narrowed his eyes.
"Is that so… Well, thank you, Simon."
"!!! Well—it's whatever."
He crossed his arms. Now it was his turn to be flustered.
"One more thing, Izzy. Come here and sit."
Finlay led him to the chair in the dining area.
"Another surprise?"
"Not quite. You see, when a Fillips learns a good amount about the sword, the teacher—me—bestows them a braid. Like the one I have. It's a sign you've matured and mastered your craft."
Finlay stood behind him and started fiddling with his hair, turning a piece of it into a side braid.
Izekial's hair was a reddish brown, just like his father's. When the rare chance came for the two of them to be close like this, the likeness was undeniable. You could truly tell they were parent and child.
This made Simon sour a little.
He had his mom's hair, as he'd been told—but he couldn't compare their likeness with hers. He didn't have a parent to compare himself to. Even Karrie shared aspects of both parents: Finlay's red hair, Kyleigh's eyes and nose.
"There. All done."
There sat Izekial, ten years old, now bearing the braid of a warrior.
"Bigger Brother looks cool!"
Izekial traced his fingers along the new braid.
"I had no idea you could do hair, Father."
"It's the only hair thing I know how to do. Pretty cool, huh?" Finlay puffed out his chest.
"Well, it's kinda tight… but I suppose it's fine."
He analyzed the braid.
"You never have anything nice to say, Izzy…"
"Well, when there's something to praise, you'll get it," he said casually.
"Brutal."
"Enough of that. Get along, you two," Kyleigh said.
"It's a special day, so we should at least pretend to get along."
She softly wrapped her arms around Finlay.
"It's friendly father-and-son banter, is all. No need to worry."
That made her pout.
"Even as a joke, I don't find family fighting very funny…"
"Ah! My adorable wife is getting all pouty on me—it melts my heart! Alright, son, let's get along from now on!"
He was getting ahead of himself. When it came to Kyleigh, the man didn't think straight.
"Cake now?" Karrie asked, tugging at her mother's pant leg.
"Right—almost forgot. Can't forget that."
She went to the kitchen and placed a cake on the table.
"Mm… looks yummy," Finlay said, going to poke it.
THWAP
Kyleigh swatted his hand away.
"Manners! Jeez, you're worse than Karrie, and she's three."
She huffed and got a knife, beginning to slice the cake.
It wasn't large or extravagant, but it was homey.
"I hope you like honey cake. Your father said you weren't the biggest fan of sugar…" she said meekly.
She was trying her best to be accommodating, but Izekial still seemed guarded.
"I'm sure it'll be good."
He gave a soft nod.
Kyleigh cut the cake and divided it up. The family sat at the table and ate like a family should.
But only a few could feel the soft tension in the air.
"Don't eat so fast, Karrie. You'll spoil dinner," she said motherly.
The smell of dinner was vast and varied. When she brought out what she had made, it cluttered the dining table.
There was Colcannon, Fish Pie, Pease Pudding, and Cranachan.
"Don't you think?" Finlay asked.
"Well… once I started cooking, I couldn't stop…"
She slumped her shoulders.
"Ah, well don't be so down on yourself! We're surrounded by growing children! They'll eat it all. Right, kids?!"
"___"
"---"
"...."
"Right, kids."
His tone shifted.
"Ye-yeah!" Simon and Karrie cheered with raised fists.
"Alright…" Izekial muttered.
And so the great food binge began.
It was a story that was passed down for generations to come.
6
Karrie was in a food coma, drooling on her pillow as her parents peeked in, then slowly closed the door.
Meanwhile, both Finlay and Kyleigh went out for the night on a rare date in town. Finlay didn't have a lotta time on his hands these days, so he took advantage of his son's birthday to go fool—ahem—spend some quality time with his wife.
Out in the yard, Izekial was training under the moonlight, swinging his new sword with clean, fluid motions. Simon was watching, though he too was suffering the side effects of eating way too much.
He gave a big yawn.
"If you're so tired, go to sleep, Simon."
"But I wanna see you go swoosh and wham!"
Izekial stopped and sheathed his sword.
"You'll have many opportunities to watch me another time."
"Mmm… you always say that, but you're barely around lately. You're always off training or learning something without me and Karrie…" he muttered.
He was right, in a way. Izekial had always been a bit of a loner—but as of late, he seemed to be widening the gap between them.
Izekial walked over and flicked Simon on the forehead.
"Yeow! What was that for?" Simon rubbed his head.
"Go to bed. I swear, I'll show you tomorrow."
He gave a faint smile.
"Ooh… alrigh'..."
Simon stood up and went inside. The door closed softly behind him.
"Good night, Big Brother."
"Good night, Simon."
...
It wasn't long after that Simon got up for some water. They got theirs from the well nearby, and as he made his way back inside, he noticed Izekial was still out in the yard.
He went to go say good night—but he stopped.
Through a narrow crack in the door, he saw something strange.
Izekial looked… angry. Or maybe in pain?
"Grrh..." he grunted, stomping hard on something beneath his foot.
The backyard was dark, lit only by a flickering gas lamp. The light barely reached the edge of the yard, but after a few moments, Simon's eyes adjusted.
That's when he saw it.
The doll.
The one Karrie had made.
It was crumpled beneath Izekial's boot, and he kept stomping on it.
Simon had never seen a face like that on his brother before. It was a mix of anger and frustration, contorted in a way that made Simon's stomach twist.
What was happening?
Why would he do that—to a gift their little sister made with her own hands?
"Mm… Big Brother?"
A small, sleepy voice came from behind him.
Karrie stood there in her PJs, rubbing her eyes.
"Wh-what are you doing up?" Simon asked quickly.
"I had to use the bathroom… Is… bigger brother still outside?" she yawned.
"Oh, well—yeah. But let's not bother him. Go on, get back to bed."
"Um… okay…"
He gently ushered her along.
...
The last thing he saw before heading inside…
was Izekial.
Burying the doll.