Chapter 318: Questions and Departure

Chapter 318: Questions and Departure

Tala was just leaving the teleportation tower, after dropping off Dagan and Alva, and she had set her sights on having a discussion with Terry.

She almost headed back to the alchemy shop to set Kit on the door and speak with Terry in the sanctum.

Instead, she hesitated. If she did that, she knew that it would be noticed and set off a cascade of questions as to how the twins got off, if they were alright, and things of that nature.

It would take quite a long while before she could take time to speak with Terry.

Therefore, she went to her bench in the park near the family house.

It was where shed met Nalac on his way home from school nearly a year and a half ago.

There wasnt much snow about; spring had begun to fight back winter, leading to more melting and less snowfall.

The bench was vacant, so she sat down and opened Kit.

Terry? Can we talk?

Terry flickered out, standing on the bench, sized to put their eyes at an almost equal level. He had a stern, stiff demeanor about him.

What can I do for you, Terry? Tala kept her voice calm and level, while also making sure that the warmth of her affection for the avian came through as well.

He cocked his head to the side, awaiting her explanation.

Something is wrong, I can tell that much. What do you need? Do you need me to take you beyond the citys defenses? Do you need something different to eat?

He seemed to hesitate for a long moment.

Tala felt a building nervousness that she couldnt explain, like a thousand voicesjust outside of her ability to hearwere screaming at her that this was important.

No, not out of hearing range, maybe behind some sort of barrier, blockage, dampening field, or wall.

-Maybe the fourth?-

Yeah, it could be the fourth.

It felt like a thousand voices were trying to emphasize the importance of this talk with Terry from just beyond a metaphysical wall.

Terry?

The avian shook himself in the negative, indicating that it wasnt either of the things she had offered. He then hunkered down, looking up at her questioningly.

I assume you dont want to spar again.

He tilted his head and squawked irritably.

Right, hard to answer that. Do you want to spar again, now?

He shook himself.

Do you want to discuss the bond?

He hesitated, then let out a tentative trill.

Yes, but not how I mean it?

He bobbed to that.

So, not a soul-bond, but our friendship? Our partnership?

He bobbed slowly.

Close

Terry started flickering to two spots, just as he had so long ago. He showed two terror birds fighting, growing together in ability. This time he didnt go for nearly as long, as he was seemingly referencing that earlier time.

Training together? Growing together.

He bobbed.

And that along with the previously indicated partnership are you talking about us being a group, or herd?

He squawked loudly in irritation.

Right, right. Herds are groups of prey. She suppressed a smile. How silly of me. You are thinking about us as a flock?

He slowly bobbed. The motion conveying importance and seriousness rather than hesitance.

You are trying to decide if we can grow together or if it is time for us to part. It wasnt a question.

He bobbed again.

So what are you thinking?Ñøv€l-B1n was the first platform to present this chapter.

He gave her an unimpressed look before standing up and sinking back into his previous position.

Youre saying, Im here, arent I?

He trilled, and the tonality and timbre cared a note of obviously.

Well, thats good. So, youve decided to stay?

He hesitated before finally bobbed his assent.

Tala felt a wave of relief as the tension shed felt building was released. Im glad.

She smiled and scratched the side of Terrys head.

So, you wanted to discuss it?

He bobbed.

But youve decided.

He bobbed yet again, making sure to keep her hand in scratching range.

So, you wanted to tell me that youd decided. She nodded to herself. You want me to know that this is important and significant. So, what does that mean?

Around the scratches, he gave her a flat look.

Right, right. You cant easily answer a question like that. Her smile grew. So, do you want to bond?

Terry shook himself.

Thats alright. Do you think you might ever want to?

He immediately bobbed, then shook himself again.

Thus, the month was spent, and before she really registered the passing days, it was time for Tala to depart.

While she didnt make a big deal about it, her siblings all knew she was leaving, and they each said their goodbyes.

Sella, in particular, tried to make demands for Talas quick return.

For Talas part, she promised to communicate more often, and to return during the following summerif not beforewhen Nea would be making her final choice about whether or not to go to the Academy.

The siblings shared a final dinner together, Mistress Petra going above and beyond to make it a special one.

The Zuccat childrenKarsa, Segis, and Mettidropped through to bid goodbye to the Karweils, as well. The children had actually played as a group quite a bit over the previous month, so the goodbye was a bittersweet one.

Karsa was actually planning on leaving for the Academy in just a few months, so she would see Dagan and Alva there, and if Nea joined them, shed have another friend too.

Terry joined the siblings for the full dinner, and they all enjoyed throwing out bits of food for him to snatch throughout the meal.

The next day Tala was up and ready for departure before daybreak.

Kit had been left on the alchemy shop front door, so when Tala exited, she chose to exit outside, where she found her father sitting, just where he had been when she had arrived.

How long was he out here, to make sure to catch me leaving?

He was in the process of standing as she stepped out, likely having heard the door open, and she didnt pause, closing the door and pulling Kit to her belt.

He gave a short, respectful bow. Mistress Tala.

Master Alchemist.

If he was insulted or saddened by her address, he didnt show it. Thank you for the kindness you showed to my children. I know you care for them, so I dont intend to say you would have acted otherwise, but I wanted to specifically express my thanks.

Tala almost bristled, but in the end, she decided it wasnt worth the energy. You are welcome.

Thank you, also, for talking with Dagan and Alva about their futures as Mages. From what I was able to gather, they did seem to have more realistic expectations than Id previously intuited.

Oh? That was news to Tala.

Yes, it was a small thing. They seemed to be approaching the prospect more like a career path than a storybook to step into. Thank you for that.

Im not sure that was due to me. It could just be that they were faced with the growing, very real truth of their own departure.

In either case: Thank you.

You are welcome.

They stood there for a long moment, silence filling the space between them.

It was not the comfortable silence of new-fallen snow, nor the deep inhalation before a storm. It was simply an emptiness.

There was nothing between them at all.

Was there anything else? Tala finally asked.

After a brief, final hesitation, he nodded, Just to say, your mo He closed his mouth and eyes, shook his head and restarted, My wife and I are here if you ever wish anything of us. Even if that is just to yell or rail or anything. We will be here, until we arent.

Tala had been building toward irritation as he spoke, ready to snap at him that she would never want anything from him, but the final sentiment stopped her in her tracks.

They would be there, until they werent.

Theyll be waiting, until they die.

-Which wont actually be all that long, at least not in the scale of your life now.-

Tala grimaced.

She didnt want to do this, now.

She didn't want to do this, ever, but certainly not now.

Still, she couldnt muster the rage to snap back at him, not anymore.

Thus, she gave a simple response, the depths of her emotional exhaustion leaking through into her tone. I will keep that in mind. Goodbye, master Karweil.

Without another word, she turned and strode away.

Her mirrored perspectives saw him watch her go.

By his movements, even though he didnt reach after her, he seemed to want to.

Finally, he bowed at her back and muttered too low for him to have thought she could hear, Goodbye, Tala. Goodbye, my daughter. I love you.

She didnt change her pace or give any indication that she had heard.

She did flex her will, rolling her iron over her eyes before the building tears could break free.

That rusting man. Why cant he act like the monster I knew?

-Would you really want him to be that man to your siblings?-

Tala growled internally. How are you so calm?

-While I am you, I am not you. While he is my father on a soul level, that is all the connection I have ever had to him. Everything else has just been through you and your memories. Because of that, I dont have the emotional weight surrounding him that you do.-

That makes no sense.

-We can debate my nature later. Do you really want him to be who he was?-

Tala made it out through the southern gate of Marliweather before she answered, Alat giving her the long minutes of silence that she needed in order to start to organize her tumbling thoughts and emotions. No. I am glad that he is not that man to them.

-But its not enough.- Alat guessed.

Enough? That has nothing to do with it. He was that man to me. He misused our connection to the point of breaking it, and I dont trust him enough to allow it to be rebuilt.

-There is a difference between rebuilding a father-daughter relationship and having civil interactions.-

I dont want civil interactions with him.

Alat sighed. -No, you want him to be your dad, but he broke that.-

Rusting right he broke that.

-And you are so broken over that loss that you cant let anything exist in that space?-

Why should I?

-Isnt that like having a one of a kind piece of art that gets shredded; then, instead of finding something to fill that space on your wall, you just leave it blank and grumble about the shredding every time you pass by? Maybe even leaving up the irreparably damaged piece in place as a monument to what was lost?-

Tala didnt seem to have a response to that, and Alat was wise enough to not press the issue further.

Thus, Talas mind was unusually quiet, overtop her turbulent and unsettled emotions as she began her run back to Bandfast.