'What the hell...'
His mind ran back through his memories as he thought when this could have happened. The answer was very clear though.
Resol hadn't returned since the day Aric first saw him—and that same day, he had dragged Lilia into the bedroom.
Aric's little knuckles turned white.
'Bastard.'
He looked at Lilia with pity.
In another five months, if pregnancy worked here the same way, she would have to care for 3 children.
And he was sure Resol was only going to make it worse.
"Wow! Mom, look at Aric! His face is all red!" Nessa chided as Lilia chuckled, "That's because you bullied him so much." She smiled, "And I can tell how you're trying to divert the topic."
Nessa clicked her tongue. "So, what do you want me to do?" Lilia kept up her smile as she reached for a weathered basket, "I am going outside the Thorp for a bit. Could you complete the Maiws' house chores while I'm gone?"
Nessa's eyes sparkled, "The Maiws?! Really?"
Lilia nodded, "Well, yes—"
Nessa already began to run around as she began putting on her best clothes while Lilia simply stood in the middle.
"Oh, and take Aric with you."
—THACK!
Whatever Nessa was holding slipped from her hands and hit the floor.
She slowly turned, her face blank.
"I can't exactly take Aric outside Durvarn," Lilia continued calmly. "And we can't leave him alone. So you'll have to bring him."
Nessa's shoulders dropped instantly. "But if I take him, I can't play with Elian…"
Lilia only smiled, already pulling aside the ragged red curtain. "Stop being childish. You can play with Elian anytime. Be quick with your cursing and make your way to their house."
Like that, she left.
Nessa stood there for a moment, her fist clenching as she stared at the doorway.
"…Curse it all."
She bent down with a sigh, hoisting Aric onto her back and securing him in place. As she adjusted the knot, her fingers brushed against his ear. She paused.
"Hey, Aric…" She carefully inspected Aric's ears. "Aren't your ears a bit pointy?"
They were, in fact, pointy. Barely visible but regardless, they were. Aric bit Nessa's arm as she winced in pain.
"You feral snapper."
After a while, she gritted her teeth as she stormed out of the house, straight into the grove. She soon found herself on an empty rural street, sighing as she looked at the sun.
"About 10 o' clock..." She grinned, "My timing seemed to be spot on like always."
Aric tilted his head, catching a distant sound.
Wheels.
Something large approaching.
Soon, a carriage came into view—its body made of polished spruce, rolling steadily down the road. But it wasn't the carriage that caught his attention.
It was what pulled it.
A bird.
It was the size of an ostrich, with big, bulging yellow eyes and its body covered with red and blue feathers. Its legs had yellow talons but the most weird part was its beak.
The upper beak was yellow, while the lower beak resembled a human lower lip.
"The fuck…" Aric mumbled in english as Nessa interpreted it in gibberish. "Weird right. I was scared as hell of these things when I was a child. Surprised you aren't crying yet."
Aric looked at Nessa, sighing.
Aric, at this point, could control his tongue enough to speak. The only problem now was the language barrier.
A strange smile found its way to his face as he imagined what Nessa's reaction would be hearing a nearly new born old swear.
"Babies are so weird." Nessa grimaced, looking at the strange smile as she put her hand in the air, telling the carriage to stop.
A man in his mid 40s with a bald head smiled as the bird-creature came to a halt, its talons scraping lightly against the dirt.
"Ah, Nessa," he greeted warmly. "Heading to the Maiws' again, I assume?"
Nessa climbed onto the carriage with a small huff, adjusting Aric on her back as she settled in. "Looks like I've become part of your weekly schedule, old man Ines."
Ines chuckled, flicking the reins as the bird lurched forward into a steady trot. "Well, when someone shows up at the same place, same time, every week… it's hard not to notice." His eyes flickered briefly toward her back. "Though I must say… I don't recall you bringing a baby before."
Nessa glanced at her back as she saw Aric curiously looking around. She thought for a moment before sighing and shaking her head. "This little devil is my… brother."
Ines' smile faltered, just for a second, before he turned his gaze forward again. "I didn't know Lilia had another child."
Nessa's grip tightened slightly on the strap across her chest. "There's another one coming too."
The reins creaked softly in Ines' hands.
For a few moments, the only sound was the rhythmic thud of talons against the road. Then he spoke again, more quietly this time.
"She has my sympathy… You know, everyone in this village hates that fiend, Resol—"
"It's fine."
Nessa cut him off before he could finish.
"She's already accepted it. So have I." She paused, her eyes looking down. "You don't need to make me feel better."
Ines glanced back at her briefly, his jaw tightening as his fingers curled around the reins. Then he turned forward again.
The rest of the ride passed in silence.
By the time the carriage slowed again, the landscape had shifted. Aric stared front as he spotted a modest but well-kept mansion.
Nessa hopped off the carriage, adjusting her footing before reaching into her pouch.
"Here old man."
She handed him a few coins as the Ines looked at them with a conflicted expression. "Nessa, actually, I don't need payment today." Nessa turned around, "Are you saying that this ride was free?"
Ines nodded with a small smile as he offered the coins back, extending his open arm.
Nessa looked at the man for a second, before she spoke, "Are you sure old man? You know I can't repay your kindness later. And I won't reject money." Ines simply nodded.
Nessa took the coins back without hesitation, slipping them into her pouch. "Thanks."
Ines gave a small wave before snapping the reins lightly. The bird surged forward, carrying the carriage away in a trail of dust.
Nessa turned toward the mansion and began walking.
Two guards stood at the entrance gate.
Aric narrowed his eyes.
The guards looked at Nessa as they smiled and let her in. Aric was caught off guard. This is nothing like how Lilia was treated at the gate. 'Guess not all the guards are the same.'
That was when one of the guards pointed at Aric while saying something. Nessa chuckled as she seemingly explained the situation, causing the guards to shift uncomfortably.
'Again.'
Aric couldn't understand their language but the body language spoke a lot.
It seemed as if every time he became a topic, everyone had an uncomfortable expression. 'It was the same when I was Ethan.' Aric mused as unpleasant thoughts entered his mind.
'Forget it.'
Aric nuzzled himself into Nessa's back as she entered the mansion. Walking up to the heavy wooden doors, she knocked.
Soon, the door opened as a withered old man smiled at her. From the looks of it, he was certainly the butler.
He smiled politely. "Welcome back, Nessa."
"Good morning Sir." Nessa greeted as she bowed at the old man
A wide entrance hall opened up immediately, with two staircases curving upward toward the second floor. Beneath them sat a cozy fireplace, already lit, its warmth spreading through the room. Around it were elegant chairs and a round, dark oak table.
It felt… like a different world.
"Nessa!"
A voice rang out, echoing through the house.
A girl—slightly younger than Nessa—rushed down the stairs, her long black hair swaying behind her. Her eyes were just as dark, bright with energy as she closed the distance quickly.
Nessa froze.
"…Shit. Wrong sibling."
She inhaled sharply, bracing herself as if preparing for impact.
_______
[A/N: Extra chapter when we hit 60 collections!]