Kingdom of Tales

Chapter 5 (An Estranged Reunion)

I walked in and found Deika sitting at the dinner table, heartbroken and slight anger in her eyes. She looked in my direction. "So you're really going..." I couldn't bear to hear her broken voice. "Yes. And, with your grandson." She stood up and made her way to me, making soft stomps with her feet.

"Please protect him. I can't bear to lose another piece of my family." She grabbed a hold of my hands and squeezed them as tightly as her weak body could. "What...? 'Another'?" I was confused by the sudden statement. Deika beckoned me closer. "He told you that everyone told him that his parents traveled, correct?" I nodded. Tears crept upon her eyes.

"They were lost at sea... Then a letter came one day. The ship was blown up." She whispered as quietly as she could. I stopped my breath and froze. "I-It was..." Deika broke down. I placed a hand on her back, comforting her. "Deika, stop. You've provided enough information while I stayed here. Even if it was heartbreaking to tell, you've done more than enough. Thank you." I smiled softly.

I started to head to the attic. As I stepped through the doorway into the hall, I turned back. "And I'm so sorry..." I continued walking. I climbed up the ladder to find Shiro looking at old relics in the back of the giant room.

"Oh, you were here..." I looked around and noticed the mattress was packed up to the back of the room, nearby a closed off window. He jumped up in surprise. "Y-Yeah, I was. Just cleaning up a little. I just need to pack up a few more things and we can leave by tomorrow morning." He turned to me, smiling sadly and looking down nostalgically at a dusty old doll in his hands.

"If you're feeling, well, guilty, you can always stay home instead..." I felt terrible for taking someone from their home; a home they've lived in for their entire life. Shiro shook his head. "No. I decided this on my own. I want to go, but..." He teared up. "...I'm scared to leave grandma alone."

"I understand that, but I can't help you, Shiro." I got up from the ladder and placed a hand on Shiro's shoulder. "I don't have much of a family. I never knew what it was like to leave them, or to see them heartbroken." I looked away, regrettably. "I was the heartbroken one..."

"I see..." Shiro put away the doll on a shelf behind him. "I can handle this, on my own. I promise." He put down my hand gently off of his shoulder, smiling and reassuring me. "Want me to help?" I asked, feeling a bit more cheerful. He made his way to the ladder and smiled once more. "Nah, I got this." With that, he went down carefully.

I decided to head down as well and head to the town's tavern. As I walked in, I felt pairs of eyes staring me down. I paid no mind and headed to the front counter. "May I help you?" The bartender asked, seemingly uninterested. "A cider, alcohol-free." He raised a brow at me before shrugging and heading off to get the drink.

I knew I couldn't drink alcohol. I had my morals, after all. I looked to the side and noticed a strange man in a forest green cloak sitting alone at the very end of the bar. I narrowed my eyes, attempting to get a closer look but quickly looked away to prevent suspicion.

"Here." The bartender slid a glass of cider to my direction. "Thanks..." I was still lost in thought as I glanced at the strange man. Suddenly, loud voices came from the entrance of the tavern.