30 Home

Kyrie was seated on the wooden floor of the large cabin home the Null family lived in. Aden was drinking from the bottle Kyrie was helping him hold. The curtain was fluttering in the sunlight as a breeze made its way through the open window. Null was out back. He was checking on their garden. Ayla was carving a charm as she watched her children. And Brayden was gnawing on a hardwood horse's head as he watched Aden with jealousy.

Brayden pulled the toy from his mouth and crawled over to his brothers. He reached up and pulled on a fist full of Kyries teal bangs.

"Ow, Ow. Brayden stop!" Kyrie moved the arm he'd had around Aden's back and freed his hair from Aden's grasp.

Ayla placed her carving and tools on the bench. Then went over to her pile of boys. Brayden was leaning on Kyrie with his arms wrapped around Kyrie's neck. Ayla crouched next Brayden and gently grabbed him. "Brayden let go of Kyrie." Brayden's weak grip fell easily as his mother picked him up. Ayla had just settled on the floor with her middle child when a shock of magic tore through their little clearing in the woods.

The shock was a warning that something had entered the clearing without permission. And Ayla reacted swiftly. She used her ability to create illusions to hid herself and the kids.

Kyrie moved to stand, and Ayla placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "But I can help." He knew how to fight and was better than most.

Ayla watched Kyrie sadly. "Not this time." She'd keep her children safe while Null checked out their intruder.

"B-"

"Sssh. I can't hide sounds."

Null arrived at the front of the house. He was standing guard over his family as the trespassers approached. They were close and outnumbered him. It would be better to stay in reach of his family.

When Alic rounded the curve of the path through the trees Null called out, "Why are you here?"

"We're here to return Kyrie to his family."

Null glared at Alic and said, "What makes you think we'll let you?"

Alic watched Null carefully as he said, "Because we're losing this fight."

Null clenched his hands in his pockets.

"You know what it's like to lead Mat. Sometimes we have to do things we don't like." Alic stood firm in front of Null's gaze. "He can help us defend our cities." And help reclaim them. "We just lost Knightwind. If Kyrie'll help us, we can keep the Legends at bay, we can protect those who need us."

Kyrie placed Aden on the ground and watched Null through the fluttering curtain in front of the window.

Null ground his teeth in irritation. "I've said pretty words like yours. I know what they really mean."

"Just because they're pretty doesn't mean we don't need his help." Alic waved at the trees behind him and several people left their hiding places amongst the trees and undergrowth.

Null growled at Alic, unaware of the running child in his home. "You think I'll-"

Kyrie slammed the front door open and stood barefoot on the porch. "Dad!?"

"Kyrie…"

"Kiddo, go back inside," Kyrie's father, Kyle, said as he pulled his hood down. He'd warned Alic that Kyrie would know he was there if he got close enough. But he shouldn't have. Alic was using him to get to his son.

Kyrie paused for a moment. He started towards his father as Null placed an arm in front of him. "Kyrie please."

Kyrie glanced from Null to the man who'd cared for him all of his life. He was torn between the desire to follow the instructions of the man that had protected him for over a year and his desire to go to his father.

"It's okay Kyrie. Stay with Null."

Alic grimaced internally. They needed this child's help and they needed Null's as well. But they would take at least one. Preferably Kyrie's, he was less likely to take off or turn on them.

Alic knew it was a low blow, but they were losing more ground. Alic called out gently, "Kyrie, we need your help fighting legends." Null and Kyrie's father glared at Alic. "You've fought them with your father before, right?"

Kyrie glanced at his dad and nodded yes.

"If you come back with us you can do that again."

Kyrie turned from his father to Null. He shivered at the thought of going back. At what else his return would hold. "I don't want to go…" Kyrie opened and closed his mouth. He was unable to give voice to the word caught in his throat. Kyrie clenched his fists in irritation that he couldn't say what he wanted. If he couldn't say it, then Null wouldn't understand.

Null crouched and half turned to face Kyrie. He was watching Alic as he spoke, "You don't want to go where?" Null knew the answer Kyrie would give may not help him keep Kyrie safe, but he wouldn't keep this child trapped. He was already trapped enough by what had been done to him.

Kyrie smiled and relaxed. Null always knew when he had more to say. "The… my old room."

Null nodded and stood up. He repressed his sigh of sadness. Still, he wouldn't let Kyrie go if they were just going to treat him the same as before. "Can you do that? Guarantee he won't be placed in that horrible room. And that he won't be chained."

Alic nodded as he said, "We can't guarantee it won't happen if he loses…" Alic paused and glanced at Kyrie. "Well, you know. But the old leader of the Say clan had passed several months ago and we've helped place Kyle in the position." Null glanced at Kyrie's father in surprise. "I'm sure you know he'll look out for Kyrie."

Kyle looked from Kyrie back to Null. "Null, you can visit anytime. Or move to Avalon." Kyle would've felt better if someone who could truly protect his son was there.

Kyrie turned to Null with a grin. "Yes! You and Ayla and the twins should come!"

Null solemnly rested a hand on Kyrie's shoulder as he said, "Sorry kiddo."

"Oh…" Kyrie bit his lip as he glanced from his father to Null. "I…"

"Kyrie, this is serious. Please take a moment to think before you answer," Kyle said as he watched his son. He wanted to hold his child again, but he also wanted his son to be safe. He wanted all of his children safe.

Kyrie frowned and shuffled his feet on the porch. Alic had said they needed his help. And Kyrie wasn't sure what the other meaning Null had mentioned was. Kyrie glanced from his father to Null. He wanted to help but he didn't want to do it alone. And… Kyrie glanced at Alic. He'd trusted Alic before but, Kyrie glanced at Null, he trusted Null more. "I'll help if you do."

Null watched Kyrie. "Do you really want to go back?"

Kyrie nodded and said, "They need me."

Null opened his mouth then closed it and his eyes. He wanted to help, he wanted to let Kyrie go where he wished, but Null also wanted to keep Kyrie safe.

Ayla knew that, and she knew her boys. She walked out the front door and hugged her boys on the porch. She stood up and smiled at Kyrie and Null. "You can help them as much and as long as you want."

Ayla hugged Kyrie again and said, "Sweetie you will always be welcome in our home. And you'll tell me if someone tries to hurt you. Got it?"

Kyrie spilled into Ayla's hug as he said, "Got it."

Ayla smiled and stood up. She turned to Kyrie's father and said, "Do your best."

Kyle nodded he'd never done anything less when it came to his family.

Ayla turned to face Alic. She walked toward him as she said, "My boys are a lot nicer than me." Ayla stopped in front of Alic. "If either of them get hurt," Ayla lifted a finger and placed it under Alic's chin.

Alic tried to step back but found himself frozen by Ayla's presence. The presence of a predator that had caught a trespasser in her territory.

"I will kill you." Ayla lifted her finger and forced Alic to tilt his head up. "And, I'm stronger than them." Ayla removed her finger from his chin and stepped back. "If you still want their help then what's your plan?"

Alic gulped as he looked at Null. "There's a vacancy as the Laserath branch Guild master. It's the closest position of power I could get for you near Avalon. From there you should be able to support Kyle in keeping Kyrie safe." Alic looked at Kyrie. "Part of the deal we made with the Say clan was Kyrie's participation in a minimum amount of missions per year." Alic focused on Ayla who was still very close to him. "That way we can make sure he's okay."

Null nodded and knelt at Kyrie's side. "You can go back to your dad now."

Kyrie smiled and glanced at his dad. Kyrie turned back to Null and hugged him. "Thanks M&N." Kyrie let go of Null and ran to his dad. Kyrie's Dad picked him up, his now far too large for carrying son. It was time to get Kyrie's things and take him home.

♢ ♢ ♢

The next time Null saw Kyrie he was still eight. And five months had gone by. Kyrie and Kyle were in Laserath's guild lobby as Null entered.

Null smiled when he saw them.

Null walked over to them and said, "Hi Kyrie." Then hugged a very startled child.

Kyrie pushed Null back. "Who are you?"

Null watched Kyrie with shock and confusion marring his face. As he glanced from Kyrie to Kyle, his eyes narrowed into a glare. What had they done to his eldest?

Kyle glanced at his son with sorrow and guilt. "Kyrie why don't you go check us in for the mission."

Kyrie nodded and left with a last glance at the weirdo that had hugged him out of nowhere.

Null watched Kyrie leave with an aching heart. If he'd really forgotten, then… he could turn. Turn and be lost to Null forever.

As Kyrie rounded the corner Null felt his worry and hurt turn to anger. "What did you do to him?"

Kyle looked around the lobby they were standing in and said, "Can we go somewhere private?"

Null watched Kyle for a moment before he nodded in agreement. He led Kyle to his office.

Once inside Null closed the door and took a seat at his desk. He glanced at the family photo on his desk. It was a photo of Ayla, Braden, Aden, himself, and Kyrie. "Explain."

Kyle sighed and told Null about the events of a mission they'd gone on three months ago. "Afterwards he needed to relearn how to control his ability and aura around his wrists, neck, and ankles. But to do that safely he needed to go back to this old room."

Null sighed. "You could've asked me for help."

Kyle shook his head. "There was no time at the start and…" Kyle's eyes closed in anguish. "It was too late, by the time he regained consciousness."

Null picked up the picture on his desk. "Why was he chained?"

"Kyrie was going through a power surge again. He gets them sometimes and needs something to help absorb the increased aura." Kyrie had been okay with it, but he was losing his fight to control his ability. And Kyrie was okay with a lot of things when that happened. Really happened.

Null nodded as he ran a finger down Kyrie's smiling form in the picture. "But… why did he forget?"

Kyle watched Null sadly. "Probably because he couldn't take having to go back."

Null and Kyle sat in a sorrow-soaked silence for a while. Eventually, Kyle stood and said, "I should get going."

Null stood as well. "I'll take you back."

When they returned to the main lobby they heard, "Come on Dad. We need to go!" And then Kyrie was grabbing Kyle's had. Kyrie glanced at Null as he pulled his dad towards the meeting location for their next mission. "See ya later M&N."