Chapter 250: Kinship

Chapter 250: Kinship

Despite the late hour, Alsantset woke her husband and shared the good news, Tursinai's Sending still fresh in her mind. Throwing on a silk robe, she crawled out the tent and into the neighbouring one to wake her babies, knowing they wouldnt want to miss Rains victorious return. Seeing their peaceful, sleeping faces filled her with a mixture of joy and sadness. How quickly time flew by. Why, it seemed only yesterday when shed brought her two little sweetlings home from the orphanage, crying as she watched Rain melt with joy as he held them in his arms. Now, her babies were almost eight years old while the foundling orphan was a man grown, having made a name for himself as the youngest Second Grade Warrant Officer in history.

Smiling so hard her cheeks ached, she stroked Tates sleek, unkempt, white hair. Her little man hated haircuts and only Rain could convince him to sit still long enough, meaning his last haircut had been over six months ago. All the same, his handsome looks would capture many a heart in the years to come, so long as he got over his dislike of grooming. In contrast, Talis long, silky locks lent her air of charm and elegance, showing hints of the beauty she would grow to become, a sweet, demure young lady with an iron will. Wake up, my sweetlings, Alsantset whispered, stifling the urge to snuggle in beside them. Your uncle Rain will be home soon, so lets go out and greet him.

Tiny fists rubbed squinting eyes while chubby cheeks puffed in opposition to waking. Then her words sank in and her babies jolted awake, thrilled to have their Rainy back. Tali was first to find her voice, letting out a shrill shriek of excitement as her face lit up in joy. Tates voice joined her a heartbeat later, leaping from his bedroll as he rushed towards the tentflap. Catching him in her grasp, Alsantset laughed and hugged him tight. Shush children, others are sleeping. Come, let Mama dress you up all nice and pretty, we cant have you greeting a hero of the Empire in your nightclothes.

Truth be told, Alsantset wanted nothing more than to rush out to see her little brother and make sure he was okay, but this wasnt the village. Almost every faction in the North was represented here at the Bridge, so appearances must be kept. This was the longest she'd ever been separated from Rain since they became a family and if the stories were to be believed, hed endured much to achieve his newfound fame. Theyd been trickling in for weeks now, and to hear her little brother featured prominently in the most popular stories filled her with pride. Hed brought great honour to the People and his family, Rain and his former cripples rising to glory. Arriving in the city with thousands of bandit prisoners and returning tens of thousands of gold in seized goods at once, Rain set a shining example of virtue and distinction. Discontent with his actions, the traitorous Coalition secretly marked this young hero for death and sent hundreds of assassins to take his life. While out for a stroll with his beloved betrothed, the young hero fought off the horde of assassins, decorating the city walls with their blood and single-handedly slaughtering them to the last man.

Were the story to end here, it would already have been enough to take pride in, but her little brother seemed guided by providence. Under Major Yuzhens instructions to defend a cluster of fishing villages, Rain defeated the Red Devil of Sanshus forces on the field of battle. While chasing the cowardly bandits away, he was swept up in the currents of Western Treasures Lake, a death sentence for any other man, but not for the Undying Falling Rain. After spending days floating across the lake, he defied all odds and drifted ashore on the western bank, battered and broken, but alive.

Recovering under the care of Ai Qing, a poor, orphaned village girl, Rain discovered and exposed the Defiled insurgent Gen, whose name would soon resound through the North as the most hated man alive. Still recovering from his injuries, Gen eluded Rains grasp and ran for reinforcements, bringing his traitorous ilk back for revenge against the people who raised him. Rain escaped with his saviour to warn the authorities of the Defiled threat, but not before defeating the infamous virtuous bandit Laughing Dragon in single combat. Evading capture at the hands of the Demon-led Defiled Firebrands, Rain successfully warned the Empire of this malignant threat, though at the steep cost of the heroines life.

How touching, though Alsantset worried Rain was courting far too many wives. How many did he hope to have? A man must know his limits.

The rest of the story was almost too outrageous to believe, even for her. At the tender age of eighteen, Falling Rain demonstrated his Purity and Condensed his Aura, becoming the indisputable number one talent of the North. Then, while riding to Sanshus aid, he took the head of notorious Butcher Bay captain, Hideous Helvend a murderous scoundrel whod plagued Sanshu for years. Full of heroic spirit and valiant courage, he entered the city ahead of Major Yuzhens reinforcements and showed the world his strength wasnt just a fluke, adding the legendary Black Heart Naziers head to his collection of achievements. He then played a key role in the Battle for Sanshu, volunteering to hold the flank with a mere one thousand soldiers. Against overwhelming odds, Rain and his fearless soldiers slaughtered the enemy forces at almost no cost, rejoining the army as they marched to close in around the traitorous Yo Lings forces and dealing the killing blow to a Demon. A Demon! There were even rumours he had a hand in Yo Lings death, distracting the legendary bandit so Bastard Liu could strike the killing blow.

Trying to separate truth from fiction had Alsantset twisting and turning in her sleep these past weeks, so much so her beloved husband unfurled a second bedroll for himself. Now, she could finally hear the truth from Rains own mouth. With a child under each arm, she strode out into the night where her husband sat waiting atop Pafu, Suret ready and harnessed beside them. Before riding off, she enticed the sleepy quin pups to follow, knowing her little brother loved the young animals almost as much as he loved her own children, a sweet, loving soul emerging from the trials and tribulations of his difficult past.

Due to her superior eyesight and because she was riding in from the dark, Alsantset saw Rain long before he could see her, and her heart ached at the sight. Tired bags hung beneath his amber eyes, dull and sombre as he stood before a grieving woman, sobbing as she clutched her two children close. His lean, angular frame lent an air of youth and innocence to him as his shoulders bore the weight of the world, Alsantsets cheer quickly souring as she noticed most of the Sentinels who left with Rain had not returned, replaced by a sea of unfamiliar faces.

Such was the price for glory, paid for in blood and tears. Rest easy in the arms of the Mother, heroes of the Empire.

Stopping just out of sight, Alsantset hugged her babies a little tighter and glanced at her husband, his comforting smile showing he knew her thoughts. Worry not, my beloved, he Sent, reaching out to squeeze her arm. Rain has returned and grown stronger in our absence. He will not shatter beneath these burdens, though I intend to help him shoulder them nonetheless. Her handsome husband glowed with exuberance, taking pride in their little brothers accomplishments. Dismounting from Pafu, he took Tali from her arms and kissed her cheek. Come, he said, helping Alsantset down. Let us go see Rain.

The moment he saw them, Rain lit up with joy. After offering his condolences, Rain left Rustram to console the widow and her family, running into Alsantsets outstretched arms. Choking back a sob, a single tear fell from her cheek as she held him tight, Tate, Tali, and her husband joining in the embrace. After a long silence filled only with the sounds of her children crying, she uttered, Welcome home, little brother.

Its good to be home, he replied, voice thick with emotion. Drawing back, he took the twins into his arms and held them close, grinning from ear to ear. Hello my babies. Did you miss your Uncle Rainy?

Tali nodded as she snuggled into his chest, but Tate grimaced and drew back. Im not a baby anymore Rainy, he insisted, lips set in a pout. Im almost eight years old!

Eyes wide in mock bewilderment, Rain replied, Eight years old? Wow, youre right, Im so sorry. Frowning, he continued, Oh no... if youre not a baby anymore, then what am I gonna do with all the toys I brought back?

While Rain teased the twins, Alsantset wrapped her arms around her husbands waist and watched as Rains fur babies reunited with their pack. A ridiculous term of endearment for wildcats, but the animals had grown more well-behaved than expected. Butting heads with the quin pups, Aurie and Jimjam reared up to embrace Suret and Pafu, treating the two adult quins like family. Joining the fray were two fuzzy black bear cubs, ambling about the periphery in hesitation, but ever the mothering soul, Suret soon took them into her arms for a vigorous snuggle. Tired and overjoyed, the little cubs smacked their lips and closed their eyes in satisfaction.

Seeing Rain smile as he played with the twins and animals, Alsantset knew her worries were all for naught. Her husband was right, Rain was stronger than before, but he was still her earnest, affectionate little brother, finally returned to them after his long, arduous journey.

Laughing in delight, the boy leaned in for a hug. Thank you, Grand-Mentor. Your praise means the world to me. There was no sarcasm or derision in his tone, only heartfelt sincerity, and her shoulders eased to hear it. Shed worried the boy would let fame get to his head, but he seemed the same as always, a kind-hearted child who meant well. That he infuriated her so often was merely accidental, though they would need to teach him manners soon now that he was a hero.

Glancing at the gathered dignitaries, Akanai raised her voice and said, Thank you all for coming to greet my Grand-Disciple, but his journey was long and the hour late. Most took her dismissal in stride and left, while the remaining flies were hustled away by Dastan, leaving them in peace and quiet. Once only trusted eyes and ears remained, Akanai turned to the boy and said, Show me your Aura.

Unwavering determination and daring courage filled her the second she finished speaking, the boy unleashing his Aura without delay. Wonderful, Condensed at the speed of thought and so robust and secure, Rains skills were above and beyond what shed expected. Barely able to keep herself from clapping in joy, Akanai hid her emotions and nodded. Acceptable, she said, but from the looks of it, the boy discerned her true feelings. Why else would he be so delighted by her words? Condensing her own Aura, she said, Take care, for I will now test it.

Turning her Aura against him, she pressured him with a twentieth of her strength. Gerel sent word that Rains Aura held some surprises, but he didnt elaborate in writing. Rather than ask him, it seemed better to test the boy herself, and he weathered it well. Of course, the boy withstood this much even without his own Aura, she neednt be so gentle. Slowly raising her strength, the boys Aura finally shifted beneath her own once she released half her might, but still it held. Delighted by his resilience, Akanai immediately struck out with all her strength, which only made the boy blink and focus, seeming unfazed by her assault.

How absurd, if this was his strength now, what would he be like after given time to grow?

Boy, she said after a moment of thought, try to break my Aura. Use everything you have.

Uh... Everything? The boy looked around in confusion, as if searching for something or someone.

Yes.

Have you spoken to Gerel yet?

No. I will speak with him in the morning. Enough hesitation, do as I say. She tried to sound gentle, but she was too eager to restrain herself.

Okay... but um... be careful, okay?

This time her smile slipped out. How endearing, a frog at the bottom of-

A raging storm of anger and despair crashed into her Aura from all sides, a whirling frenzy of emotions. Buckling beneath the pressure, Akanai focused everything on holding her Aura, unwilling to lose face before this preposterous grand-disciple. Everything from seething hatred to crippling misery, the depths of which shed never felt before today, threatened to pierce through her defences and render her vulnerable. In spite of her best efforts, her Aura diminished and ebbed before the boys aggression, the seconds passing ever so slowly as she weathered the onslaught.

Then, without warning, it all faded away as the boy reeled in his seat, sweating and panting as if hed just run a marathon. Grinning despite his weariness, he leaned against her and said, Thats my Grand-Mentor. Sturdier than a dozen Yo Lings. Barely even made you blink.

Swallowing hard, Akanai alternated between confusion and awe. By the Mother, even though he couldnt break her Aura, if he struck while she was distracted or in the midst of a duel, she shuddered to think of the consequences. In a battle between experts, a single moment's delay might as well be an eternity. Grabbing him by the arm, she Sent, Explain.

Full marks. She had to give him full marks. Though she could never say as much. Its not that he didnt deserve praise, but she didnt want his accomplishments turn him pig-headed and stupid. Arrogance and overconfidence killed more young talents than the Defiled ever could and the boy attracted danger like none other.

While listening to Rains disjointed explanation, Akanais smile grew until her cheeks ached with the strain. Given a little time and a lot of luck, this little son-in-law would soar into the Heavens.

She was certain of it.

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