The day Dad comes back is an absolute whirlwind! There's a commotion at the village entrance, then hurried footsteps rushing toward our house. The door bursts open, and there he is—Garen. My dad.
He looks a bit thinner, maybe, with a few new lines of exhaustion around his eyes, but when he sees Mom, his smile is huge. And then he sees me, standing beside her, staring straight at him.
"Lexo!" he roars, and in two strides, he's scooped me up, lifting me high as he bursts into laughter.
"Papa! Papa!" I yell back, my voice still small but clear. "You… stayin'?"
He hugs me tight. "You've grown so much, champ! And you're talking!" He sets me down and looks at me, then pulls Mom into a hug with a tenderness that makes my little heart (and my almost-complete core) hum.
Behind him, Borin, Lyra, and Kael tumble in, louder and dustier than ever, all grinning from ear to ear.
That night, the house is buzzing with life. Mom cooks up an incredible feast (with some "logistical" help from Borin, who seems capable of carrying an entire table by himself). We eat, we laugh, and we listen to stories from the border.
Dad and his crew didn't just fend off raids—they helped fortify a key pass. Apparently, Garen even had a "friendly" duel with a cunning orc commander that ended with the monster asking him for training tips. (Kael swears it's true, though Lyra just rolls her eyes.)
Then the blond giant grumbles about how there wasn't enough decent mead to keep the bugs away, so he had to dig out an underground cave just to get some sleep. Meanwhile, Lyra describes—with elven precision—how she took down three goblin scouts with a single, perfectly aimed steam arrow.
Hearing it all firsthand is fascinating, my [Fast Learner] skill soaking up every tactical detail and description of the outside world.
Dad confirms that, for now, his "mission" is over. General Valerius has granted him extended leave.
"My place is here," he says, looking at Mom, then at me. "I'll go back to the guard. It's quiet work, but necessary."
Just then, the mayor (who was invited to the feast as a family friend, thanks to my friendship with Lila) clears his throat.
"Garen, old friend… about that. The Captain of the Guard position has been vacant for way too long. And frankly, after hearing all this… no one's more qualified. The village would be honored if you'd accept."
Dad blinks, surprised. He looks at Mom, who gives him an encouraging smile.
"Well… Captain, huh? I suppose that means I'll have to make sure Kael isn't sneaking coins off the villagers."
Kael protests indignantly, which only makes everyone laugh harder.
Dad scratches his chin, looking a bit nervous, but in the end, he accepts. We cheer him on with a big round of applause.
My dad is the Captain of the Village Guard now!
With Dad back and his friends staying "a few more days" (which I suspect will turn into weeks), my routine shifts.
Dad returns to his morning training in the yard, but now he sometimes lets me "help" him—handing him a towel or just sitting nearby, watching. I try to sense his Fire energy, that contained, powerful vibration.
I also start interacting more with the others. My growing vocabulary lets me ask simple questions.
"Borin… big axe?" I ask, pointing at the massive weapon leaning against the wall.
He lets out a booming laugh and explains (with lots of hand gestures) how it's made of "mountain steel" and enchanted to "cut down bad guys."
"Lyra… arrow fly?" I ask while she checks her bow.
She nods with her usual seriousness and shows me the proper way to hold an arrow (though my fingers barely wrap around it).
"Kael… coin go?" I ask when I catch him doing his sleight-of-hand tricks.
He grins mischievously and makes a coin disappear right before my eyes—only to pull it out from behind my ear.
They even let me tag along on small errands around the village.
Mom is strict: "No leaving the village, no going near the forest, and if Borin starts yelling at someone, bring him straight back."
They all nod solemnly (though I see a mischievous glint in Kael's eyes).
Walking with them feels different. People greet Dad with respect ("Captain"), and they regard his friends with a mix of awe and wariness. I see the village from a new perspective—not just from Mom's backpack or playing in the park. I see the blacksmith's shop, the guard post, the farms on the outskirts… and I soak it all in.
My magic is still a secret.
I practice Air magic by making leaves rustle or making a clothesline string vibrate when no one's looking. Then I try Light magic, attempting to heal tiny scrapes from falling (with very little success and a high MP cost).
Meanwhile, my core remains firm at that 90%.