"Kyle, hold still," Mama teases, trying to get my little dress shirt to cooperate. "You're flapping around like a fish on the beach."
"Don't like," I protest, tugging on the collar. It's nicer than anything I've ever worn.
it was a dark blue coat with tiny silver buttons Papa says it will go well with my eyes.
"Just this one time," Papa reassures me, patting his own dress attire. "Everyone's been wanting to meet you officially."
"Everyone?" I exclaim, now curious instead of annoyed.
Uncle Marcus chuckles from across the room where he's fiddling with Lily's dress. "Your parents have a lot of friends, little fella. Important friends."
"What kind of important?" I ask.
"The kind who've fought monsters with your papa," Aunt Elena tells me with a smile. "The kind who've put their lives in your mama's hands."
This has my full attention.
I've had hints and hints here and there about Papa and Mama's quest, but having the chance to meet those who fought monsters with them? That's different.
"Are they strong?" I ask Papa.
"Very strong," he says, dropping down to my height. "But more importantly, Kyle, they're good folks. They've been waiting to meet you for months."
We are interrupted by a knock on the door, and Papa smiles. "That'll be Reed. Kyle, you're going to meet someone quite special."
The door opens and a tall man with silver streaks in his hair and piercing eyes as he stands in the doorway. He presence fills up the room just as Papa does, but in a different way...more formally....more commanding.
"Jake," the man says with warm sincerity, grasping Papa's hand. "Beatrice." He slightly bends his head toward Mama, and his eyes settle on me. "And this is presumably the notorious Kyle."
I find myself studying this man intently. There is something about the way he carries himself, the way Papa stands slightly taller in his presence, that makes me know this man is someone important.
"Captain Reed," Papa states proudly, "my son."
Captain Reed walks toward me, not rushing or pushing. I'm relieved about that. "Hello, Kyle," he states firmly but kindly. "I've heard good things about you."
"Hello," I reply, then added on because it seems like the right thing to do, "Nice meet you."
Captain Reed's eyebrows leap up. "Good manners for a child so young. Jake, you and Beatrice are to be praised."
No one is able to respond before a second knock on the door and Mama went to open the door...it's more people.
A woman with swift dark eyes and blond graying hair, and a redheaded youngster struggling to maintain his excitement under wraps.
"Mira! Thomas!" Papa calls out. "Right on time."
The woman.Mira, floats with the same graceful confidence I've witnessed in Mama doing magic. Her looked at me with immediate interest. "So this is the genius we've heard so much about."
"Genius?" I mimic, attempting the odd word.
"It means an unusually gifted child," she smiles. "Which, by your parents' descriptions, suits you to a tee."...another new word....woahhhh.
The young man.Thomas, can't sit still. "Jake, he's more alert than you said. Look at those eyes.he's drinking it all in."
It's true.
I am drinking in every little detail: the way Captain Reed stands as if waiting for the worst, the way Mira's hands sometimes sparkle with barely contained magic, the way Thomas keeps glancing at Papa with obvious admiration.
"Let's go into the dining room," Mama suggests. "I've spread out quite a feast."
When we sit down to the table, I am put in a special high chair so that I have a view of everyone. The conversation circles around me in music-like fashion, and I listen with awe.
"Do you remember the Thornwood mission?" Captain Reed asks Papa. "When you repelled that pack of shadow wolves all alone while Beatrice worked her healing magic on the wounded civilians?"
"I wasn't alone," Papa protests. "Marcus was there, an—"
"Marcus was out cold for half of it," Uncle Marcus pipes up, grinning. "Jake, just accept the compliment. You were incredible that day."
"What shadow wolves?" I demand, and they all stare at me.
Thomas leans forward, his eyes sparkling. "They're C-rank monsters that can—"
"Thomas," Mira interrupts softly, "maybe we should keep the monster explanations kid-friendly."
"Oh, yeah." Thomas is blushing. "Sorry, Kyle. Your papa just fought some terrible monsters to save people. He was very brave."
"Papa always brave," I say matter-of-factly, and Papa glows with pride.
"That he is," says Captain Reed. "And your mama is one of the best healing mages I've ever had the privilege of fighting alongside."
I look at Mama in confusion. "You heal people?"
"When they get hurt, yes," she answers. "Magic isn't just for fighting, to attack. It's utilized for healing and defending."
"May I see?" I ask.
Mira laughs and smiles. "Curious and direct. I like that." She looks at Mama. "Beatrice, would you be so helpful? I'd love to see his response to live magic."
Mama holds out her hand, and a golden aura begins to develop around her fingertips. It is warm and soft and makes me want to reach out and touch it.
"Pretty," I whisper.
"It's more than beautiful," Mira whispers. "It's hope...but it's made visible. Your mama has healed so many lives with that light."
I look at Mama in New eyes. I knew that she was great, but to hear it from these important people makes me understand just how remarkable they are.
"What about you?" I turn to Mira. "What kind of magic do you perform?"
"I study magic," she says, and tiny bursts of blue light flash between her fingers. "I try to understand how it works, how to make it better."
The sparkles are mesmerizing, but even more captivating to me is the intelligence in her gaze. She regards magic the same as I regard my blocks.as an issue to be resolved.
"Kyle," Thomas states, leaning toward me, "would you like to be a hunter when you grow up? Like your parents?"
I consider this seriously. Everyone is looking at me, waiting for my answer. "I want to keep people safe. Like Mama and Papa."
"That's the right answer," Captain Reed replies, his head bobbing up and down. "Power without a purpose is nothing. But power with a desire to protect others? That is what makes a true hunter."
"Will kyle be strong?" I ask, I pointing to myself.
The adults exchange a dry smile. "Very strong," Uncle Marcus says to me. "But strength isn't always the power to fight or perform magic. It is the power to be strong enough to do the right thing."
"Like when Papa saved people from shadow wolves?" I inquire.
"Exactly like that," Thomas cuts in eagerly. "And perhaps one day you will be saving people too."
The idea sends a strange heat through me. These people.these great, strong, brave people...they believe I've got what it takes to be one of them. To accomplish something that matters.
"Kyle is smart," Lily says out of the blue. "He's going to be the greatest hunter in the world."
"From your lips to the gods' ears," Captain Reed laughs, then holds up his glass. "Which reminds me, I believe a toast is in order."
All of them lift their glasses.even me, a small cup of juice is handed to me.
"To Kyle," declares Captain Reed gravely, his voice heavy with ritual, "let him be made strong in body and soul, steadfast in heart and intention, and let him never lose the knowledge that his greatest strength will ever be out of reach, but in his necessity to protect those who cannot protect themselves."
"To Kyle!" they all cry out, and my face blushes with delight.
"Than you," I manage to say quietly, even though I have no idea why am thankful for, but knowing that it must be important.
Later, as the evening progresses, I am passed around the room from hand to hand like some valued commodity. Everyone of the adults has some special way of reaching out to me.
Captain Reed tells me of duty and honor in simple terms I can understand.
Mira shows me the feeling of different types of magic.warm gold for healing, cool blue for learning, bright silver for defense.
Thomas asks me which of my games is my favorite and invites himself to teach me sword forms when I'm older.
"He's remarkable," I hear Mira tell Mama during one of the rare quiet times. "His comprehension is wonderful. He learns like he is much older."
"Jake and I have noticed," Mama responds softly. "Sometimes it feels like he does know things he shouldn't know yet."
If only they knew how precise they are....
As the evening wears on, the visitors begin saying their goodbyes. Each of them goes out of their way to talk to me one-on-one.
"It was great meeting you, Kyle," Captain Reed says formally, but his smile is genuine. "I'm eager to see you become the wonderful young man I know you will be."
"Take care of yourself, you young student," Mira teases, playfully ruffling my hair. "And never lose your curiosity. Curiosity is the fountain of all wisdom."
"Bye for now, Kyle!" Thomas calls out. "Maybe next time your papa will let me show you some fundamental training procedures!"
As the front door closes on the final of the guests, the house felt both full...and empty of their warm laughter and friendly chatter, but full of the love they left behind.
"Well," says Papa, scooping me up, "what did you think of it all?"
"I liked them," I answer truthfully. "They're nice people."
"Yes, they are," Mama concurs, stroking my hair. "And they all think you're pretty special too."
"Am I special?" I ask out loud, curious to know what they think.
Uncle Marcus grins. "Kyle, you're special beyond your comprehension."
As Mama gets me into bed in the upstairs bedroom, I think back over the evening.
So many people.strong, influential, respected people.and they all treated me like they really did care about me. Not because I'm Beatrice and Jake's son, naturally, but because of who I am.
"Mama," I call out, as she listens to me before bedtime and tucks me in , "will I really be a hunter like Papa and you?"
"If that's what you desire," she says softly. "But Kyle, being a hunter isn't about being strong or having magic. It's about making the choice to use whatever abilities you have to help others."
"I want to help others," I tell her, sincere.
"I know you do, sweetie. And that desire, more than training or magic, is what will make you truly great."
As I fall asleep, Captain Reed's toast resonates in my mind: may he grow strong in body and spirit, true of heart and purpose. The words echo out like a promise, a path unfolding ahead of me.
Tomorrow, Thomas offered to teach me swords. Next week, Mira offered to teach me more advanced magic.
Captain Reed reminded me that when I'm older, he'd be glad to tell me more stories of the good old days.
Everything feels bright and full of possibility.