HUMAN - The Son

Chapter 6

Amaury

"Is this really what you want?" Amaury's father kneaded the dough for the new loaves. It was still early, but there was already a lot of hustle and bustle in the small bakery.

Amaury brushed some flour off his white apron. "Yes. I think so."

"And the bakery?" Paul sighed and shook his head. "I need you here. As an employee. As my successors, boy. But I won't stop you if that's what you really want. But the academy? Witches and wizards can be very snooty."

"Aunt Lea works there. She is the headmistress. What do I have to fear?" Amaury sprinkled some flour on the big table and began to look for all the ingredients for cookies. "Maybe they won't hire me in the bakery either. But I would regret it if I didn't at least try. Aleidis could help you here. She likes flour."

Paul snorted. "Your sister likes to throw flour. She's not a baker."

"Did you ever offer it to her?"

"Of course. She refused."

"And Ava?" Amaury asked.

"Ava doesn't speak. How is she supposed to work with others?" Paul began to form large loaves of bread and placed them in warm storage next to the wood-burning stove, in which one of the employees was already lighting the first fire. In addition to the warmth of the oven, the loaves could rest for a while.

"Maybe she'd like it. And you'd have some help."

"I would have a new apprentice! Amaury? I don't need another apprentice. Tomorrow a young girl will start here, as you know. She's fresh out of school. That's why I need you in the bakery. She needs to learn everything. I need someone to keep the place running for the first few days. I'm going to have to take care of my new apprentice a lot." Paul sighed dejectedly. "I need you. This comes so suddenly. And inconvenient."

"I know." A young werewolf wanted to be apprenticed to his father. One of the first werewolves who dared to build a new life for themselves outside their mountains, after suffering for a long time under the rule of a tyrant. "Dad? I'll have to try. I want to see more of the world than just our bakery. I want to gain experience."

"I'm sure Lea is glad to see you", his father said now. "The academy needs good bakers. When do you plan to leave? How long can I count on your help?"

"The day after tomorrow."

"Already?" Paul nodded. "So early? At least I'll have you here tomorrow. Day after tomorrow... Then, tomorrow, we should invite our neighbors to dinner. What do you think of a small barbecue? After work?"

"We don't know if I'm going to be hired!", protested Amaury. "Maybe I'll be back in a few days."

"See it as a good luck charm!" His father winked at him. "I'm sure Lea is committed to getting you hired. And as far as I know, your cousin Chloe runs the kitchen as well as the bakery. Why shouldn't she take you?"

"Chloe? Really?"

"Did I never tell you that? I was sure I did..."

"No." Amaury rolled out the finished cookie dough and fetched small cookie cutters in the shape of a star and sweet jam with which he wanted to spread the biscuits. "And Benjamin? Does he also work at the academy? Or is he still at home? With the kids?"

Benjamin lived with his wife and children in a small house next to the large property of the academy, as he could not move far from Leah due to the binding spell. Lea had the house built for him so that he would have more privacy for himself and his family. He initially protested against his adoptive mother's plans, but Lea won in the end.

"No. But his wife has been in charge of the post office there since last year. Benjamin has written a letter. He asks if we're coming for his daughter's fourth birthday. His son is six now." Paul shook his head. "They're growing up so fast! You just don't look at them for one second and they want to go to the academy!"

"Dad!" Amaury jokingly jostled his father.

"What? It's true!" Paul laughed softly. "I know that from experience!"

"Dad!" Amaury laughed.

In the evening, Amaury already packed up some clothes. Everything he wanted to take with him. Ethan sat on his bed and watched him. From the next room, the twins' room, he heard Aleidis and Adaliz playing cards. Ava, on the other hand, stood at his room door and watched him as well.

"Will you bring me something?" Ethan asked.

"What do you want?"

"Hm." Ethan stood up and started hopping on Amaury's bed. "A new book, a stuffed bear, and something magical!"

Amaury raised his eyebrows. "Something magical?"

"Yes! Mom says there's a fabric whose patterns are moving!", said Ethan. "She says the fabric is beautiful!"

"And guaranteed to be expensive." Of course, Amaury knew about the fabric. The making of the magic patterns was an ancient tradition that the queen (his aunt) had revived. The kingdom traded with it. And the fabric was highly sought after and very expensive. Amaury couldn't afford the fabric. "You'd better ask Aunt Julia for that."

Ethan pouted. "But Aunt Julia lives in the castle! She almost never visits us!"

"You could write her a letter. Ava is sure to help you, right?" He looked at her. His sister nodded. "See?"

Ethan plopped down on the bed. "Can I get your room? It's bigger than mine!"

Immediately, Ava shook her head, making Amaury laugh. "I think Ava wants my room too." Now she nodded. "But where am I supposed to sleep when I come home for the holidays?"

"In my room!" Ethan announced. Ava shook her head again.

"You'd better discuss that with Mom and Dad", he murmured with a grin. He didn't mind swapping rooms with Ethan. Ethan's room was only half the size of his. And if Amaury only came home once in a while, then he didn't need a big room. "Ava? Do you want me to bring you something?" he asked his sister.

Again she replied with a nod. And with a very rare smile too.

"We want something too!" Adaliz and Aleidis stood next to Ava with their arms crossed. Adaliz looked at Amaury reproachfully. "I want a stuffed bear too! And beautiful pens! Oh! And a diary!"

"So much?" Amaury shook his head. "Hopefully I'll be paid enough to be able to buy all this. And what do you wish for? Aleidis?"

Aleidis thought about it for a moment. "An encyclopedia. About medicinal plants", she finally replied. "Ava wants something that glitters." Ava nodded. She never did much more than nod or shake her head.

"When are you coming back?", Ethan asked. "Are you going to stay away for a long time?"

"I don't know yet." Amaury sat down next to Ethan and pressed a kiss on his forehead. "But I write you many letters. That's a promise."

"If you get the job!", Adaliz reminded him. "Maybe they don't like you! Or Chloe doesn't want to work with relatives! Mom says Cousin Chloe is a little difficult!"

Ethan chuckled softly. "Mom also says you're difficult!"

"Ha! Ha!" Adaliz stuck her tongue out at him.

(c: sasi)