Awaiting The Dawn

25: [Side] Manifest

Kaya remembered that afternoon very clearly.

The sun was bright and unusually warm.

They played in what could be called her yard, a small clearing with woven baskets, jugs of water, and trees.

Thunk.

"Mama, Auntie! Look! Look!" Her little daughter jumped up and down, pointing to where her blade landed on the bark of a marked tree.

Kaya stood behind her, patting her head with pride. "Well done, Hisa. You hit the target."

"Not bad for a beginner." Hana, a friend of Kaya's, had a smirk on her face as she went to pick up the weapon. "For an eight year old, she's a natural at throwing knives. Makes me wonder if I should give her some lessons in archery too."

As soon as the little girl got the throwing knife back, she shifted her stance and flung it.

Thunk.

"Mama, look! I hit the tree again!" Hisa yelled, bursting into giggles.

"I see that. Now try aiming closer to the center." Kaya said as she nudged her friend. "Why don't you train your own daughter instead of stealing mine?"

"Don't even get me started." Hana groaned, a grin still visible as she went up to grab the knife again. "Ever since Eun-ae turned seventeen, she won't even touch the bow. She'd rather carve wood than hunt with me."

Kaya and Hana had both seen Eun-ae's work, and the girl definitely showed some skill. Seemed she'd been practicing behind Hana's back for some time.

Thunk!

"Mama, Auntie! Look look look!!!!! I did it!" Little Hisa ran to the tree and pointed to the knife that stabbed the center.

"Lucky shot, kid." Hana scooped her up to ride on her shoulder. "Wanna learn archery with me?"

Her daughter laughed with the joy of feeling so tall, throwing her hands up high. "Yes! Training is fun!"

"Let's...stop for today." Kaya stole her back, playfully bickering with her friend as they walked back home.

.

Once at the house, Hisa wiggled to get down from Kaya's hold.

"Can I go play with Daichi and Eun-ae?" She still held the new set of throwing knives in her hands, probably looking to show off what she learned.

Or take revenge.

"Come back before lunch." Kaya bent down to redo Hisa's ponytail, leaving it loose enough that she wouldn't whine about it being too tight. "And don't throw knives at Kichi."

Definitely revenge.

"Aw." She looked down at her weapons, choosing to leave them behind before running off. "Bye-bye Mama! Bye-bye Auntie!"

As soon as she was gone, Hana took to snooping around the house, eyebrows rising as she noticed something unusual. "Mister Husband isn't home today."

"Are you ever going to stop calling him that?" Kaya rolled her eyes, knowing there was no point in asking her to stop.

"He left to collect another present for Hisa." She touched her hair, removing a leaf and flicking it away. "After today's lesson, he wants to surprise her with a new toy. She's been reading at a good pace."

"Wow, that stick-in-the-mud is spoiling his kid with more than one gift? Willingly? Without any blackmail?" Hana laughed, smacking her leg in amusement. "He's even calling it a reward for studying! That's just like him!"