Chapter 280: The Warmth of Home (2)

Hours later, after Aoife left me to rest and I lay down on my bed, I heard the creaking of stairs. The door swung open as I lifted my head off the pillow, only to see a someone I hadn't seen in a while.

"Mother," I mumbled, surprised.

"Welcome back, Kai." She said with an emotionless expression. 

I pushed myself off my bed and got back up on my feet.

She was exactly as I remembered her. A long, crimson braid, fair skin, bright blue eyes just like mine. She stepped closer and ruffled my hair. "You need a haircut," She said. 

"Yeah…" I mumbled. She fiddled with my hair a tad longer before stepping back. "What happened in the Dojo?" I asked after a moment's hesitation. Why had she waited for so long before coming to see me?

She sighed. "Someone was being an idiot." She waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry about any of that. You've weakened considerably, get some rest, and eat well. Then you will start training your body."

My eyes widened. "There's no way I can hold a sword, I can't train like I used to." I made a vague gesture. "It will take a lot of time, Mother."

She nodded. "I know. You will walk, at first. Then, you will run. Then, you will work even harder. Eventually, you'll be your old self again." She smiled, for the first time since I had returned. "You've always been quick to heal, Kai. You might be surprised by how quickly you recover."

She left after saying those words. After some thought, I decided to do as she said and headed to bed. As the soft sunlight shined one me through the partially closed curtains, I fell into a restless sleep.

The passage of time seemed to slow as I slowly began to regain my strength. At first, I would only walk around the outer wall, taking plenty of breaks along the way. Then, I began taking fewer  and fewer breaks, until I didn't need any.

Days passed without incident – the phone Inspector John had given me never rang. Yet, with each passing day, I grew more and more restless. Only a short time was left before I would stand before the elders and talk about everything that happened.

According to Aoife, Lucius had already done so before leaving for his cousin's home. He had retold them his side of the story. For some reason, knowing that he had left to recover made me feel worse. His cousin was a doctor, so I knew he was in good hands while with her, but I still felt somewhat uneasy. Perhaps it was because I never got the chance to speak with him.

About two weeks later, when I could finally walk around without needing any assistance, the time to stand before the elders came. It was Mother who came to my room and told me they were waiting, yet it was my sister who walked with me as we headed to one of the smaller buildings.

"You seem really nervous." Aoife said as we stood before the sturdy wooden door. "Lucius was too." She added after a moment's hesitation. 

I shrugged. "The last time I stood in that room I was deemed inadequate. Of course I'm nervous." 

Aoife flinched. She had probably forgotten about that whole debacle. It was for the best. We didn't need to remember those times, not now at least. I took a deep breath. "It will probably take a while, so you should head back."

My sister shrugged. "Don't worry about what I do, just go and tell them your story." She smiled and shuffled my hair. "Then we'll try and cut all this." She fiddled with my way too long hair.

I laughed, then focused my gaze on the door. As I pushed the door open, the warm air blew on my face. 

I stepped inside and closed the door.

"Welcome, Kai Friseal." An elderly man spoke. It was quite dark inside, I could hardly see. 

I slightly bowed my head as a few more figures slowly stepped up. 

"Kai," Mother's voice sounded. "Have a seat," Her voice was cold and distant, as if I were a stranger to her. I gulped – I hated this. Of all our unusual or outdated customs, this was the only one I truly hated. 

Yet, I did as she said and sat on the soft cushions of the couch.

"Please," The man spoke again. "Tell us of what happened."

I nodded. My eyes had adjusted to the dark somewhat. I still couldn't see the people themselves, since they sat behind a semi translucent curtain, but I could see the inside of the room now.

The floorboards were made from a dark coloured wood. The walls were wooden as well, though they were lined with paintings. I was sitting on a couch, with my back turned to the entrance, facing the curtain behind which the elders stood.

Between the curtain and my couch, there was a low table. A stick of incense was slowly burning. I took a deep breath – it smelled of hyacinth.

"I met Erik Gallagher at college." I began talking. "He was kind, and fun. A good person who invited me to hang out with his friends…"

I talked, not knowing how long it would take to tell this long, painful story. I told them everything, of Vixia, of the Soul Keeper, of my nightmares… Of how Alina and Joshua betrayed us. I wasn't even halfway done when the incense stick burned out. 

Towards the end, it became harder to speak. The chaos of those few final days was difficult to put into words. Yet, I tried, and hoped it would be enough. 

Only when it came to the very end did I hesitate. 

"We freed the Keeper of Souls," I said before falling silent momentarily. "And I think that was what allowed us all to return. To… wake up."

I didn't tell them of what the Keeper told me moments before sending me home.