As they walked there in silence and the sky began to darken they arrived at their destination. Toya lived together with his mother, father and little sister. Their house laid out in the fields a little away from the village itself. Their house wasn't particularly big. It was made up of a living room, kitchen and 3 bedrooms. The living room had a dining table, four chairs and some pictures. The kitchen like any other had a stove and some storage. 2 of the bedrooms were rather small and were only made up of beds but Toya's were a little bigger with a bed, a desk and a little bit of storage.
When they knocked at the door, Toya's mother opened it.
"Oh hey Theia its good to see you." Theia was the name of Toya's mother and just like Toya she had black hair and golden eyes. She was thin and her smile was as bright as the sun. But right now her face was full of confusion. Toya's mother broke the silence, that had been filling the air, with a sigh.
"What did Toya do this time, Major?" At that, the Major could do nothing but smile.
"Oh don't worry about that I'm not here because of Toya" said the major clearly amused. At this Theia's face lit up.
"Glad to hear that, why don't you come on in?"
The major thanking for the invitation and Toya went on in.
"And major if you want you can stay and eat dinner with us."
"There is no need for that Theia I'm just here to have a quick talk with your husband."
After that the major and Toya's dad went outside to talk. In the meantime, Toya had come inside the kitchen and Theia had begun to make dinner. While she made dinner Toya told her everything that happen early that day. At the end of the story she was both angry and concerned.
"Nothing can be done to change it I guess but I do hope that you learned your lesson. But still to meet a magic user here is rather rare."
Toya just sat there a moment opening and closing his mouth trying to say something but couldn't find the right words. His mother noticing this urged him on making him say it.
"Mom, do you know how to find out whether or not you can use magic?" He asked curious.
His mother smiling "I do. If you want to find out whatever or not you have an attribute for magic, you can take a test at a guild. You get a piece of paper and just have to pour your mana into it. You do know what mana is don't you?"
Toya feeling a little sad over his mother not really believing he knew what it was, said: "Of course I do. It's the energy you use to use magic, the more you have the more magic you can use. But what do you mean you can and don't have to, is there another way to know if you are able to use magic?"
Theia pondering the question for a few seconds. "Well in legends its said that when you unlock an attribute for magic or hidden skills you hear a voice inside of your head, this also applies to hidden skills. But it has been a lot of years since a person has experienced this." Toya thanked his mother for the help and excused himself to the living room to take a break.
A few minutes after going into the living room, his mother called asking him if he could tell his dad that dinner was ready. Toya didn't even have to reply because she already knew that he would do it.
As Toya went outside he couldn't see them at first but he could hear their voices coming from behind the house. When he was about to turn the corner and face them it was like an invisible force stopped him an d told him to listen. And just like any kid his age of course he listened and what he heard were truly interesting.
"Kenzo, do you think they are here looking for you?"
Kenzo - that was the name of his father but what did the major mean by looking for him. His heart hammered in his chest as their conversation continued.
"I mean you are the former captain of the royal army, and a deserter at that."
Former captain of the royal army. Toya's heart pounded in his chest. His dad wasn't a soldier he was a farmer, nothing more nothing less. And what did he say deserter like a runaway?
"I didn't desert," his father snapped, his voice low but filled with something dangerous. "I was betrayed. They made me the villain so they could hide their own sins. If I had stayed… if I had fought back…" His voice trailed off, as if lost in a memory too painful to relive.
The major hesitated before speaking "If they get you, you know what will happen. The royal family don't take traitors lightly."
"Yeah, I do" his father exhaled slowly "That's why I can't let them, I will lay low for the time being. At least until the soldiers are gone. Not for my sake" pausing for a time before continuing "but for my family's."
Toya felt his chest tighten. Family.
"You still haven't told him, have you?" That was the major's voice. Stern. Unwavering.
"It's not the right time," his father had replied, his tone lower, quieter than usual.
"He has a right to know." The major's voice was firm, almost frustrated. A long silence had followed. His father hadn't answered right away. And then, finally…
"When he's ready."
A sick feeling curled in his stomach, twisting like a snake. He could feel the anger, the betrayal, burning in his heart. His father, the man he had always admired for his patience and wisdom, was hiding something big. Something about his past. Something dangerous. He wanted to hear more, but his foot shifted against the dirt, making a soft sound. But too loud for the silence.
Both of them froze. Then, slowly they turned their heads in the direction of the sound. Toya panicked. A shiver running down his spine. Did they know. He couldn't be caught listening. If they found him now, he would never get to know the truth. He forced himself to calm down and stepped around the corner as if nothing had happened.
"Dad, mom says dinner's ready."
Kenzo and the major turned, their expressions unreadable. For a moment, his father's sharp gaze lingered on him, as if searching for something - did he know Toya had been listening?
Then, just like that, the tension in his shoulders disappeared, and he nodded. "Alright. Let's go inside." But as they walked back to the house, Toya couldn't shake the feeling that nothing would ever be the same again.