The next morning came. There was a heavy downpour that morning. Nathaniel opened his eyes wryly. His head was pounding.
"What a bad way to start a day" he said out loud.
He turned to his bedside to see Seren lying there.
"This boy, he hasn't learnt to sleep alone" He said as he stood up from the bed. He looked around only to discover the room had more belongings in it.
"Don't tell me--"
He turned and tapped Seren.
"Hey, wake up already"
"Must you be brutal this early morning?" Seren said, not opening his eyes.
"Did you pack your stuffs in here?" Nathaniel asked.
Seren opened his eyes.
"Oh that, We're having guests in our house and they might stay long so for the meantime we would use your room since they're in mine" Seren explained.
"Whaat??"
"Yep, you'll have to keep up with that" Seren said with his hands akimbo.
"There's no problem at all, just that this happened overnight and I had no slight clue about this"
"It seems they're here for you" Seren said
"What makes you say that?" Nathaniel asked
"I knew you'd not remember last night"
"What happened last night, and who are they anyway?" Nathaniel asked.
"Well, they claim to be your father's colleagues back at Ente something and they came to see you. I think they were planning on taking you away because I heard dad's voice yesterday and it didn't sound good" Seren explained.
"Whatever, I'm not going with them. I mean, I have a family here and I'm okay" Nathaniel said before leaving the room.
"I knew he'd say that" Seren said to himself as he gave a smile.
Nathaniel went to the kitchen and started preparing the meal.
"So today we're having scorched egg and bread cheese, my favorite to start a morning" Nathaniel said as he laid the pan on the fire he had prepared using his magic ability, oh yes, he was a flame user.
He walked to the cupboard and took out the oil.
"Oh yeah, the persimmon oil that enriches the food to obtain enjoyment at its peak" He said smiling before pouring the oil into the hot pan.
He took out the spice.
"Oh yes, barley leaves to enrich the taste and healthy nutrition"
He poured it into the hot oil and began breaking cabbage vegetable inside the pan. He took the eggs and broke them inside the pan.
"All combined" he began stirring.
"Hey Nath, don't let that egg burn or dad will roast you like houch beef" Seren said from the room.
"Dad won't know" Nathaniel replied.
"Who said I won't know?"
Nathaniel heard the voice loud and clear. Xander was around.
"D-dad, I thought you slept at the palace?"
"Well I didn't, I wanted to see how you guys take care of my house and it seems my intuition was right after all" Xander said as he took over the cooking.
"Wow, what enticing aroma" Chiad said as he entered the kitchen
"My specialty, scorched egg and bread" Nathaniel replied as he took of his apron and handed it over to Xander.
"Your dad always loved cooking, just that he has a flaw" Chiad said.
"Wait, Xenox could cook??" Xander said with bewilderment.
"Yeah, just that the food always got burnt" Lorainne said as she entered the kitchen.
"Like father like son" Xander said as he continued stirring.
"Dad, that's not fair, I don't burn food"
"But Seren was giving you a warning not to burn the food. Maybe because I wasn't always at home when you cook that made me not to know"
"Let's go to the table to eat, the food is ready" Lorainne said as they all moved to the table.
"Wait Nath, have you washed your hands?" Xander asked."C'mon dad, I did that as I handed the apron to you"
"You sure?"
"With all my chest" Nathaniel defended.
"Seren, breakfast is served!!" Nathaniel called out to Seren
"Coming!!"
Seren dashed to the kitchen to was his hands and joined them at the table, sitting next to Nathaniel.
Lorainne took a bite of the scorched egg.
"Wow, it's been long since I ate a meal close to Xenox's, but it's not there yet" Lorainne said.
"Seems my dad was a great cook" Nathaniel said not looking up but glued to his food.
"What was my dad like?"
"No talking!" Xander said. Apparently it was clear Xander didn't want to hear anything concerning Xenox.
"Calm down Sir Xander, we just want to talk" Chiad said.
"Then I'm out of here" Xander stood up and took the umbrella hanging on the wall and dashed out.
"There you have it, he's furious" Nathaniel whispered to Seren's ears.
"I heard I'm the reason you guys are here, so spill it out" Nathaniel said as he raised his eyes and set his gaze on them.
"You're finally interested in us" Chiad said with a smile.
"The main reason why we're here is to recruit you among the mages of Ente Isla" Lorainne said.
"And why is that?"
"We want you to become a mage just like your father"
Nathaniel cleared his throat.
"You want me to become like a man I never knew, interesting" Nathaniel said as he gulped another bite of bread.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead "
"What was my dad like?"
Lorainne dropped the piece of bread that was about to be devoured by her.
"Hmm, Xenox Fauster. He was a fine mage although he had many flaws. He was clumsy, annoying to a fault, always joking about things even when others were being serious, he even caused problems for the heads at Ente Isla. But there was one thing that overshadowed all these flaws, his kind heart. He always put his comrades before himself. He usually had this strong conviction "I'll never let my comrades die". I used to detest him but along the way I fell for him, only to be heartbroken when he told me he's already started a family. Chiad here used to follow him blindly, always believing in his crooked ethics about life"
"You know that's not true" Chiad said almost immediately.
"No you followed him blindly. Remember that okapi adventure we went on when you two git swallowed by that carnivorous plant "
"And you always tagged along with us no matter how stupid it seemed " Chiad said mockingly.
"Of course I had to tag along cuz there are many occasions you two would have died if not for me" Lorainne said
"No that's not true, most times you were always the one who got into the trouble and we had to save you. Admit it, you always followed us because of him" Chiad said teasingly.
"Thanks for letting me know how awesome my dad was. Now I know he would've made a great dad if he was alive. About your proposal, I haven't made up my mind yet." Nathaniel said.
"We'll give you as much time as you want, we'll be staying for 6 months remember" Chiad said.
"Meaning you'll celebrate Bel Tine with us" Seren said.
"Bel Tine? What's that?" Lorainne asked.
"It's a ceremony and it's 2 weeks from now" Seren said.
"Well why not, let's celebrate Bel Tine together" Chiad said.
"You're welcome then"