A World With/Out Home

Chapter 26: A Brief respite. (Part 1)

Chapter 26: A Brief respite.

Sleeping soundly Kyle was disturbed by a sudden presence and on instinct snapped out of the way. The result, a wet pillow as the splash of cold water missed its target.

"Really?" Kyle looked at his father unimpressed.

"I was right to think that wouldn't work, though at the same time it did. Good morning," Arvel waved towards him. "Up you get, you might as well help me with the morning work."

Kyle couldn't help but smile at the normalcy of the situation, "Fine, I'll come down in a bit."

"You do that," his father smiled and headed downstairs leaving Kyle to his own devices.

It was a nostalgic feeling as Kyle went to his wardrobe and took out his everyday wear from what felt like so long ago. His wardrobe in the garden was 90% uniform, but here it was the perfect representation of a village boy. As he pulled on the clothes his eyes couldn't help linger at the reflection of himself in the mirror. Like the day before, his body was changing and the curves of his body becoming further than that of a standard male. For a moment his heart shook, but remembering Lillia and all she had said, he smiled once more. Whatever happened she would always accept him for who he was.

As Kyle came down the stairs, his father couldn't help but widen his eyes, commenting, "And here I thought you didn't like those clothes."

Kyle pulled at the fabric that clung to his body, revealing more of its shape, "Well I didn't and I still kind of don't, but you can't say it doesn't look good on me."

"It makes you look like, well, you." Arvel smiled, "If you fixed up your hair, it would be hard not to be convinced who you were."

"I think I'm a long way from looking like Estile." Kyle touched his body, "My proportions aren't the same, though if they were I think my clothes wouldn't fit properly. Then again I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be if they were."

"It is a strange experience, and one that I never look forward to but it'll get better." Arvel waived him over, "Now come on, these loafs aren't going to bake themselves."

"Right," Kyle rolled up his sleeves and equipped his apron, assuming his usual position beside his father.

For a long while they worked in silence as the two passed between each other. Their movements were clean and practiced as if Kyle had never left at all. It was a therapeutic experience and one that the two enjoyed more than they could put into words.

Finally as a break came, Arvel smirked, "While all this feels the same, the context has me a little perplexed."

"Why's that?" Kyle questioned innocently.

"Because you, Estile, were a terrible cook," he chuckled. "No matter how you tried to spin it, your food would be barely decent and honestly it was a flaw that the rest of us saw as humanising considering how good you were at other things. But look at you now. I mean I do take more than just partial credit for it, there were quite a few long days of teaching till you got it right."

"Well so far it's been my biggest asset," Kyle grinned. The fact that it was his own hard work and not something he had received from Estile lifted his spirits.

"Yes, things certainly have changed...." Arvel paused and looked at Kyle seriously, "I'll be heading to the Capital."

"R-really?" though he wasn't really surprised it was hard not to react.