295 Family

Within a matter of minutes, they were back in familiar surroundings, just a few kilometres away from Timebretune. From where they stood, they could smell the familiar scents of the quaint town. 

Lycster stretched his arm up, "It feels good to be back!"

"But we won't be staying for long." Vy reminded him. 

They were only returning to catch up with their old friends before they would begin the next part of their journey towards Aldergard City. They will be meeting with Future Eye's associates to discuss the next mission and for Lycster to get his new arm. 

As they returned to Trilantis after their adventures on Skollwood Island, a familiar black letter was delivered to Vy by messenger. The letter included a congratulatory message on the completion of her second message and additional information on the next trip they were to take. 

Vy removed the letter from her jacket and looked at it for a while before placing it back in her pocket. Unlike the previous two missions, Vy felt something did not feel right about the upcoming one. 

The arrangement she's had with Future Eye was that Lycster's new arm would only be given after the completion of all three missions. As a 'sign of good faith' as mentioned in the letter, they decided to bring it forward. 

It was also to coincide with the briefing of her next mission. Unlike the previous ones, this one was not formally made known to her via letter or by an associate. It required her to be there in person. 

As she watched Lycster happily skipping his way towards Timbretune, she can't help but frown a little. Her brother was growing up so fast. Every day she looked at him, it was as if he grew an inch taller. 

On the black letter that Future Eye had sent, there was one key thing to note. The letter ended with a line. 

'This will be a solo mission.'

Aether saw it too. He too wondered what it meant for him and Vy. It was not impossible for them to be separated, their souls were still connected regardless of where their physical bodies were. 

As they approached the front gate of Timbretune, the guards were able to recognise them with a glance. They immediately notified Caster and Bankster of their return. Word spread like wildfire throughout the town, their mayor was back from her trip. 

There were some visible changes that occured in Timbretune. The grounds had been expanded and new buildings were being built on Vy's previous orders. Caster and the rest of the committee that Vy had left in charge worked hard to ensure that everything was done efficiently and accurately with minimal mistakes. 

By the time Vy and Lycster made it to the market square, Caster was there to greet them and welcome them home. 

"I'm sorry to bother you as soon as you're back, milady. But there are some urgent matters that require your immediate attention." Caster apologised. 

Vy smiled and shook her head, "That's understandable. Let's make full use of the time we have here. I'm afraid this would not be a long stay for us either."

It was going to be a long few days of meetings and arrangements. Hence, Vy suggested that Lycster headed back home to unpack from their trip while she attended to the matters at the Bureau. 

"Actually, it might be good for Lycster to follow us to the Bureau." Caster commented. 

He seemed hesitant to speak his mind freely, making Vy feel uneasy. Did something happen when they were not around?

"Is something the matter, Caster? Please speak freely," Vy urged. 

"While you were away, a small group of travelling nobles came through Timbretune."

Vy arched her eyebrow, folding her arms as she bit her lip. Her past experience with the Baron and the King had made her skeptical of these people. Usually, they were trouble. 

The Varsoce Family they met at the Masked Ball seemed to be the rare ones. Although the time they had spent with one another was short, Vy remembered their conversations fondly. 

"Did they cause any trouble?" 

"Oh no, not at all. The thing is, they claim that Lycster is their son."

Vy eyes widened in shock, even Aether perked up after hearing with Caster said. She turned to Lycster, the expression on her face did not change. She never knew that Lycster had a family, she had always assumed the boy was an orphan. 

Lycster's expression was one of confusion and surprise.

"I… but Vy is my sister."

Her heart sank. 

"You have a family?" 

Lycster turned to look up at his sister. Her grey eyes were filled with sadness, confusion. 

"I… I don't know!" The boy was flustered, he did not know how to explain the situation. 

Thinking back to how he first came to Timbretune, Lycster realised he had not thought about it for a long time. 

"Let me explain."

The boy never knew how he ended up in Timbretune. All he remembered was that something happened and the next thing he knew, he was living on the streets. He was about five at the time and it was tough. 

But the townsfolk pitied the boy, so they were always looking out for him. During the harsh cold winters, some of the stall keepers would let him stay in their stall in the night to keep warm under blankets. 

He knew only one thing, he knew his name. His name was Lycster, and his surname was Wickerhem. But surnames did not matter when you lived on the streets. He buried it deep in his mind, it never came up in any conversation. 

Five years on the street was tough for a boy like him, but he never felt more alive, more carefree. He learnt to speak by listening to others. He never pickpocketed to stay alive. 

He was a smart boy, so he ran errands for small amounts of money. He knew the streets of Timbretune like the back of his hand, he even knew their roofs. 

"Why didn't you tell me?" Vy asked. 

Lycster bit his lip as he darted his eyes away, "It just… it just never came up when we spoke."

His lips were trembling, his hand was clenched up into a fist. He had tears in his eyes. 

"It never mattered to me! I don't care who my family was, you're my family!" He blurted. 

Vy could not help but smile. She reached over and ruffled his hair as she bent down to be at the same level as him. The boy was biting his lip, to keep the tears from flowing. He almost had snot coming out of his nose. 

"Were you afraid that if you told me, I would abandon you?"

"Yes… I know how silly it is to think that way. But… but…"

"But you were afraid?"

Lycster nodded as fresh tears flowed from his eyes. Vy wrapped her brother in her arms and patted him on the head. 

"What a silly brother I have," she teased, "No matter what happens, you will always be my little brother."

"But," she paused as she looked him in the eyes, "Your real family is here to look for you."

She wiped away his tears with her fingers, "You should meet them with a smile, not with tears."

"You're right, sis," Lycster agreed as he smiled. 

Vy stood up and turned to Caster, "These people aren't frauds, right?"

He shook his head, "They had proper seals and everything to prove their identity. I have had an authenticator look through their items as well. Everything checks out. They are indeed from the Wickerhem Family."

The entire situation still seemed a little too good to be true. But Vy did not want to doubt the fact that this could potentially be Lycster's real family.

She understood that in this world, it might be a lot more difficult for one to find a lost family member. However, five years seemed a little too long. 

Something was just not right.