'Thoughts' - thoughts / "" - speech
** - actions / - flashbacks/dreams
() - Writers info
I remade the second half of this chapter due to bad pacing. Hopefully I've fixed it and please don't be afraid to say if there's something missing or wrong with the story.
10 years later in a village NorthEast of the royal capital.
Kenny walked downstairs where his wife was cooking. "Hey Eve, do you know where Mila is?"
His wife turned around. "She went with Syrus" His wife had ginger hair in a single braid and green eyes.
Kenny looked around and saw that his boar was missing too. "Even Boe is gone… Where did they go?" ("Boe" is the name of Syrus' Boar)
"I think he said he was going fishing".
"Fishing? You mean in the woods?" Kenny's voice became worried.
"I'm sure they'll be fine, I mean who'd mess with a caveman with a grimoire" Eve giggled to herself.
Meanwhile with Syrus.
Syrus was jumping through the trees, "Where'd those two go?"
Syrus's hair flowed down to his shoulders and he wore an outfit that resembled a caveman fashion, he was shirtless showing his monster tooth necklace, he had black monster pelt wrapped around his waist and forearms, dark blue trousers and no shoes.
Syrus stopped jumping and looked around. "They just snuck away while I was fishing. They couldn't have gone too far."
*Mumble~ mumble~*
Syrus turned to where the mumble was coming from. "Over there, maybe?" Syrus started to jump towards the noise.
When he got close enough to the noise he stopped jumping and looked down to a patch of flowers where a young girl with two ginger braided pigtails and green eyes was picking flowers with Boe watching over her.
Even Boe has changed, he's now too big for someone to carry him and his fur has gone dark red, his tusks grew in and are as big as Mila.
"There they are" Syrus was about to jump down before stopping after he heard Mila speak.
"I have to finish his birthday present soon".
"My birthday?" Syrus never really understood why birthdays were a big thing to people.
"I heard from dad that he would be leaving for the capital when he turned 15. So I don't have long." Mila kept picking the flowers and Boe helped her.
Syrus smiled to himself. "I guess I'll face the other way for now" he turned his back and sat on the branch facing away.
A few minutes passed as Mila and Boe picked the flowers.
Syrus was laying down on the branch looking at the sky through the leaves. "I'm starting to get hungry, we should head back soon". Syrus took a peak over at Mila, she wasn't picking the flowers but twisting them together.
He then heard the sounds of a group of teenagers approaching and watched as they walked into the patch of flowers. "Well look at what we have here" The man turned to the two behind him.
"A commoner girl all the way in the forest" One of the other two said.
Mila looked up at them, Boe stepped in front of her to protect her from them.
"And look the commoner tamed a monster, I guess it's time for a bit of target practice" One of the three pulled out their grimoire.
"She's just a child" The last of the three tried to stop them.
"And why do you care? You're a noble so act like it!" The guy in front punched the nice guy down to the ground and opened his grimoire.
"Stained Spear!" A spare made from stained glass shot out from the guy's grimoire.
"No! Don't!" The nice guy screamed out.
Mila closed her eyes and Boe jumped in front of the spear trying to protect her.
Everything felt as if time had stopped, Syrus appeared as if he moved with the wind and stopped the spear just by grabbing it.
"Brother…" Mila looked up at Syrus.
Syrus slightly turned his head. "Boe" Boe knew what he meant and picked Mila up and ran to escape the battlefield. Syrus looked at the two men that just tried to hurt Mila with an angered look in his eyes.
"I'm a noble, which means I'm your superior!" The noble's grimoire flipped its page.
Syrus strengthened his grip on the glass spear making it shatter, the spear head and handle fell to the floor and disappeared.
The noble watched the broken spear fall and disappear then looked back at Syrus' eyes. The look they gave off was like a beast found its prey.
"Shattering Shower!" Shards of stained glass flew towards Syrus.
The only part of Syrus that moved was his grimoire as it left its make-shift holster and opened in front of him. "Tyrant's roar" A giant bipedal lizard showed up behind Syrus, it roared with all of its might sending the shards back towards the noble.
The noble managed to dispel the magic before it could hit him. "What is that thing!?" The noble turned to the other two. "Attack him!" The nice guy didn't move but the other noble opened his grimoire.
"Copper Blender!" Floating disks with sharp edges made from copper shot out at Syrus.
Syrus watched as the disks swirled around him and kept bashing into each other launching themselves at Syrus who dodged each one as if it were choreographed.
"H-how!?" The other noble was confused at how a commoner dodged every single one.
"My turn" Syrus bent his knee and got into a position to lunge himself at his enemy, his grimoire floated next to his hands and flipped its page. "Bone Armoury: Bone Batons" two batons made from bones appeared from his grimoire, Syrus grabbed them both and pushed off his leg making cracks in the ground beneath him.
He was too quick for the two nobles to keep track and just as quickly hit the other noble in the gut sending him into a tree, knocking him out, Syrus stood up straight and looked over to the first noble.
"Stay back!" The noble yelled as his grimoire flipped its pages. "Stained Guards!" Two tall knights made from stained glass appeared in front of the noble both holding a glass shield.
"First you try to hurt an innocent little girl…" Syrus took slow steps towards the noble. "Then you try to attack me…" He bent his knee once again, the noble's stained guards ran at Syrus. "And then you have the nerve to tell me to stop when I fight back!" Syrus once again pushed off his leg and swung both of his batons into the stained guards, smashing them to pieces in a blink of an eye.
As stained glass rained down from above, Syrus gave the noble an eye of pure anger and the image of the giant bipedal lizard once again appeared behind Syrus giving the noble a terrifying look. "Come near my family again and we'll see who's at the top of the food chain".
"Y-You're not a human, you're a beast! A monster in disguise!" The noble shouted as he ran away leaving the nice guy and the other noble behind.
Syrus stood up straight as he watched the noble run away. The nice guy looked at Syrus and took a step back thinking it was his turn next.
Syrus looked over to the nice guy. "You have no need to fear me, you somewhat tried to stop him" Syrus turned and walked away.
"Huh?" The nice guy watched Syrus walk away, fell to his knees and took deep breaths. "I think it's time to find new friends".
As Syrus walked through the woods he kept finding more and more cuts around his body, they were small but there were still quite a few.
The noise of footsteps getting closer alerted Syrus then a familiar voice.
"Syrus!" Mila was on Boe's back running towards him.
"I thought you guys would have run home to get Kenny?"
"We were about to." Mila noticed Syrus had blood running down his arms and torso. "You're bleeding".
"They're small, I'll be fine by tomorrow"
"Even that one?" Mila pointed to the piece of glass sticking out of Syrus' hip.
"That one might take a day or two" Syrus took the piece of glass out and dropped it, then covered the wound with the pelt he had wrapped around his forearms for a make-shift bandage.
"We should get Mom to look at it" Mila said and Boe made an oink in agreement.
"Alright" Syrus went along with it to not worry Mila.
The walk home wasn't long, they lived right next to the woods on top of a little hill overlooking a small village.
As they exited the woods they could see Eve hanging clothes up outside.
"Mom!" Mila shouted to alert her mother.
Eve turned around and saw Mila and Boe and Syrus with blood running down him. "Not again!".
Syrus gave a guilty look.
"Again?" Mila questioned.
"Syrus used to go into the woods and "train" against monsters in the woods". Eve walked over to see the state of the wounds.
Kenny walked out of the house to see what the commotion was and saw Syrus covered in cuts. "*Whistle~* Quite the damage, what were you fighting this time?"
"A noble" Syrus' his answer shocked both Eve and Kenny.
"I see… I guess it was time for them to get their grimoires and some do get extremely cocky afterwards".
Eve took the make-shift bandage off to see the wound. "What kind of magic did that noble have?"
"I don't know but it was colourful and easy to break"
"C'mon we'll get you patched up inside" Eve grabbed Syrus' hand and dragged him inside.
Eve sat Syrus down on a chair and went into the cupboards to search for the first aid kit.
"Will you be okay Syrus?" Mila asked.
"No need to worry Mila, if he came home with an arm missing he'd heal in a night knowing him" Kenny laughed to himself.
Mila and Eve looked at him with a straight face.
"I'll go make sure Boe's okay…" Kenny slowly walked away.
Eve put the first aid kit on the table. "Mila dear can you go and sit with your dad in the other room, you won't want to see this at your age" Eve asked.
"Okay…" Mila walked away.
"Lay down!, I need to sow this wound closed".
Syrus wanted to say that he'd be alright but the look in Eve's eyes made him think differently and he "happily" obliged.
After patching Syrus up they all sat down in the living room until it got dark and Mila was playing with Boe.
Syrus had badges all over his torso and back and was forced to wear more "modern" clothing by Eve.
"So Syrus, tomorrow's your birthday are you excited?" Kenny asked.
"It's tomorrow? I thought it was a couple days from now" Syrus said.
"No it's tomorrow and you'll be heading to the magic knight exam soon after" Kenny said.
"Magic knight exam?" Mila asked.
"It's an exam for people to become part of a magic knight squad like your father was and Rebecca, Eddie and Arlo still are" Eve answered her question.
"So you're going to be like dad?" Mila asked.
"Yeah, though I'm not really sure what they do?".
"Magic knights protect all the people in the clover kingdom against invasions or dangers within the kingdom" Kenny explained.
"Your father was quite well known in the magic knights before he retired early to look after his family-" Eve said.
Kenny got all embarrassed thinking back on who he was in the magic knights and stopped Eve from saying anymore.
"I want to hear more about how dad was as a magic knight," Mila said.
"Nope, time for bed both of you".
"Me too?" Syrus said.
"Especially you~" Kenny said in a jokey voice.
Syrus took Mila to her room before going to his, with Boe by his side of course.
Eve and Kenny were left in the living room.
"I wonder how the other magic knights will treat him" Eve said.
"Most magic knights are nobles with exceptionary magic and they always treated commoners as if they're bugs under their foot but Syrus is different than a regular commoner, he has a magic that can make a noble run away and the strength of 10 men" Anyone could tell Kenny was proud of how Syrus turned out.
"10 might be a bit much," Eve said.
"Maybe… but still Syrus is different and stronger, he's not worried about some hierarchical system that pushes him down".
"How do you know he doesn't?" Eve asked.
"Noelle Silva and him have been friends for a long time, since they first met they got along great" kenny said.
"That's certainly true," Eve said.
The night passed as they talked all about how Syrus has grown and how he'll be in the magic knights.
Syrus yawned as he walked down the stairs to the living room. "Morning~" Syrus was dressed in his regular clothes.
"Morning Syrus" Kenny was sitting alone on the couch drinking a cup of tea.
"Where's Mila and Eve?"
"Out and Boe went with them, they'll be back any second now" Kenny looked at his cup.
"Something the matter?" Syrus asked.
"Close your eyes for a second" Kenny asked.
"Why?"
"Just do it" Kenny had a smile.
"Alright?" Syrus closed his eyes.
Kenny got up and wrapped something around his waist. "You can open them now"
Syrus looked to his waist and saw a new holster for his grimoire. It was white with dark green detailing and his grimoire fit perfectly into it. "Hm?" Syrus looked at Kenny who had a giant grin on his face.
"My father gave that to me when I turned 15 and took the magic knights exam, and it suits you better than it did me" Kenny was a little jealous of that.
"Thanks, the make-shift one was starting to break," Syrus said, testing the flexibility of it.
"And every Cindred who wore it has passed the exam with flying colours"
(Cindred is Kenny's family name)
"How many generations?"
"You would make it three in a row"
"Where here!" Eddie said, bursting through the door.
"Uncle Eddie?" Syrus watched as the three walked in with Mila and Eve.
"You didn't think we'd miss your birthday, did you Syrus?" Rebecca said.
"Indeed we could not live with ourselves if we did," Arlo said.
"Here's a gift from the three of us" Eddie passed the wrapped gift to Syrus.
"Thanks…"
"Go on, open it up" Kenny said.
"Sure" Syrus slowly unwrapped it and inside was a wooden carving of them and a 5 year old Syrus and Boe, it was when they first met him.
"This way we can always watch over you" Rebecca said.
"And you'll never forget about the time we met," Arlo said.
"There's even a little Boe by your feet" Eddie pointed out.
"Wait…" Kenny realised something. "Where am I?"
"Is that how Syrus looked when he was 5?" Mila asked.
"Yeah, he was quite cute as a child wasn't he?" Eve said.
"It makes me want a little brother," Mila said.
Eve and Kenny looked at each other with blank stares.
"Thanks you guys" Syrus said with a sincere face.
"Aww" The three hugged him tight, after they let go Eddie spoke up.
"So Syrus you'll be taking the magic knights exam right?"
"I'm not sure when it starts but yeah".
"I'm pretty sure it's in two days if I'm correct," Arlo said.
"Isn't it next week?" Kenny asked.
"No, it's definitely in two days," Arlo said.
"And it's a day and a half day walk to the capital right?" Rebecca asked.
"Yeah, so if he doesn't leave by tomorrow he won't get there on time" Arlo said.
"Really?" Kenny asked.
"Yes I'm afraid so," Arlo said.
"Oh… Dear" Eve said to herself, she looked down to Mila who was holding something. "What is that dear?"
"A gift… for Syrus," Mila said quietly.
"Why don't you give it to him?"
"I'm not sure he'd like it," Mila said, tightening her grasp on the gift.
"There's only one way to find out" Eve pushed her from behind knowing Syrus would like it.
Mila fell onto Syrus's leg and Syrus looked down at her. "What is it Mila?" Syrus knelt down to her level.
Mila gulped before she held the gift out to Syrus. "Happy birthday" Mila spoke quietly.
Syrus took the gift and realised what it was. "A jacket and boots?" Mila's gift to Syrus was a dark brown jacket with white fur inside and on the openings and dark brown boots to match, without the fur of course. 'What was with the flowers then?' Syrus looked at her flustered face and his brotherly instincts knew what he had to do. Even though he hated wearing shoes he put the boots on and tightened them up. "Thanks, my feet were starting to hurt from the ground, these are great".
Mila looked up at Syrus with a grin growing across her face. "And the jacket?"
Syrus put the jacket on and realised it didn't have a way to close the front so it revealed the buff torso and the monster tooth necklace. But the jacket fit him perfectly even the boots were a perfect fit. "Hey Mila, can I ask you a question?".
Mila looked up with a worried face.
"Don't worry I like the gifts really, it's just how did you get these? Last I heard we didn't get an allowance or at least I didn't" Syrus looked at Kenny and Eve and they both shrugged.
"I sold flowers to people in the village and got them personally made at the clothes store in the village" Mila looked proud of herself.
'So that's what the flowers were for' Syrus patted her on the head. "Thank you, these mean alot to me" Mila gave Syrus a big hug and walked back to Eve.
"Oh and a present from me." Eve walked up to Boe and put a cloak with the Cindred family crest on him. "This is so he'll be allowed into the Capital and won't be attacked"
"If Syrus and Boe are leaving tomorrow let's give him a farewell party" Kenny said.
Everyone erupted in cheer except for Syrus and Boe.
The day was filled with games, food, laughter and all out fun and when the kids went to bed the adults brought the alcohol out and drank remembering the old days where Syrus was cute and innocent. Until morning came.
Everyone was gathered out the front of the house.
"Ugh my head hurts… I should not have drank that much last night" Eddie said, grasping his head.
"You had one shot," Rebecca said.
Eve gave them a glare and they both stopped talking about the alcohol.
"Do you have everything Syrus?" Eve asked.
"You packed my bag, not me".
"Then I'm sure you do"
"So this is it, you're finally growing up on me" Kenny said as he put his hand on Syrus's shoulder and Boe's head. "You both are".
"Be well now," Rebecca said.
"If you see us around don't be afraid to say hi" Eddie said, still grasping his head.
"If you have any problems, don't be afraid to ask for us, we're in the Aqua Deer squad"
Syrus pretended to know what the "Aqua Deer" is and nodded.
"We'll miss you," Eve said.
"Same here right Boe… Boe?" Syrus looked around for Boe and saw him running down the trail towards the village.
"Looks like he's gotten a head start," Kenny said.
"I guess I'll see you all later" Syrus slowly walked backwards before turning and running after Boe.
"Bye!" They all shouted.
As Kenny watched Syrus and Boe run off into the distance, he remembered the smiles Syrus and Boe had when they were younger. "Go, my son," Kenny whispered to himself.
Thank you to (KenosDC1) for the name, the more I thought of it the more I liked it and as always thank you for reading.