A smell alerted Kenan. He was just leaving for physical training when he stopped at the door. Old leather and a faint bitter, but oddly welcoming scent. His ears twitched as he heard slight movements of wood and the motion of breathing. Someone was outside, and patiently waiting.. Noctis opened the door.

Sitting on the steps was his uncle. Doco barely looked back, simply getting confirmation. “Come sit with me, nephew.” Kenan did so, and Dion took the same action next to his master. As Noctis got closer, his eyes gathered more information. Doco had bags under his eyes, and his skin was sucked of vibrancy, replaced with exhaustion. In his idiosyncratic way, he somehow felt the slowed movements of Doco. Kenan didn't know if this was an early morning or late night for his uncle.

Doco looked his blood-kin up and down. A quizzical look on his face. “Did you get taller?” Kenan smiled. A deeper look of confusion. Then he saw Noctis’ claws. “Are you… is… what?”

“I bonded with Dion.”

“Oh.” Doco slowly nodded. He understood what bonds were, but wasn’t aware of their effects. His exhaustion prevented much caring, so he simply took the half explanation as is. He switched his gaze towards the town, actually past it. “Your days of rehab and leisure have come to a close.”

“Have you figured out what we're going to do next?”

“Yes, well, not exactly.” Doco yawned and stretched his back. “A messenger had come in the middle of night with word back from one of my army buddies. We are to go to Vland, and receive directions from there.”

“The capital. About a month's travel, right?” Noctis said.

“My teaching hasn’t led you astray. Tomorrow we will be collecting supplies. Take today to do what you must. I suggest getting some new clothing. Make sure they have enough protection. No telling what will happen on the way. The day after next we’ll be leaving.”

“How are we to travel? Horseback or carriage?”

“Horseback, we'll gain a few days that way. Have Sveige replace Jefned's shoes before we set out, make sure to take everything that you want. The fake blade too, especially that.” Doco stood and yawned. “It would be unwise for you to physically train during our journey. Techniques and magic are free reign. If I were you, I would get a better grip on combat with Dion. If he’s going to be by your side in battle, that is.” Dion gave a restricted bark. As if to say it was an obvious conclusion. Unexpectedly a small ball of fire shot out of the wolf's mouth and launched past Doco and into the air. “Did he just…” Vigorously he shook his head. “I need some sleep.” Doco turned on his heels and walked away.

Kenan looked at the dirus. “Dude.” Dion responded with an apathetic woof. Fire lurched from his throat, he then clawed his snout to force it to stop.

***

“I know what I’m doing.” Lucy said.

She marked the middle point of Noctis’ earlobes. “I never doubted you for a moment sis.”

“Well, I mean, I haven’t done this before.” She responded. Kenan looked towards Dion. Who was, like himself, sitting on a stool. Giving the dirus an odd effect of personalization. Noctis’ face said he was reconsidering the situation while Dion simply tilted his head in confusion. Kenan had been wanting to get his ears pierced. Solely for the purpose of the switch earrings. Lucy volunteered herself to be the piercer.

She then made another point on the upper part of Dion’s left ear. Then got a needle, and pushed it through the dirus’ flesh. He woofed in annoyance. Lucy then wiggled the earring through the makeshift hole. She moved on to her brother, and with a different needle, pierced him. On his right was the switching earring while the other was a simple, black, thin cylinder. “Are you done?” Noctis asked, she nodded. “Umm sis?”

“Yes brother dearest.” Lucy responded. Kenan stood, pulled out the two fire licked tomes, and handed them to her. Silence passed. Recognition came. She felt them for a while. Reminiscing. Tears started to form. Then she laughed. Noctis looked to Dion who gave something of a canine shrug. “Do you remember when Pa used to use his magic to get all the mud off of you and Dion. Then Mom would shoot you guys with a water jet to quickly wash you. I don't think I’ve ever laughed harder than when Dad made you stay in an earth cage for five hours when he found out you had been secretly keeping Dion.” Lucy stopped laughing. Hugged the books and began to bawl, her knees began to fail. Noctis lunged and caught his sister.

He wasn’t sure how long he stood there, letting Lucy cry into his shoulder. It didn’t matter. In her head, burning questions arouse. All of them ending the same. Why? Yet the scrutiny of recent events became obsolete under the torrent of emotion and the futility of contrived ignorance. She knew the answer, and it crushed her even more. Because utterly, no other concepts or thoughts to it. Tyris and Ava loved their children to the utmost heights.

Lucy gained her strength and senses back. As she took a step back she shoved the books into her brother's arm. “I think you're going to need these at some point.” Lucy wiped her eyes and collected herself. Hands went to the hips. “You come back. I mean it. I’ll personally drag you from the battlefield if I have to. Understood?”

Noctis smiled. “Yes sister dearest.”

***

“Vland?” Sveige said, stopping his fork mid-motion. “That’s a fortnight from here, I believe.”

“More like a month, love.” Hernie corrected. “What are you going to do once you arrive?”

“We don't know. However, I think I will have to speak about my experience with Roshu.” Noctis answered between shoveling mashed potatoes in his mouth. He gave a quizzical look towards Jorun. He could see the bard holding back his words and forcing excitement down.

Very candidly Jorun set down his fork. Wiped his mouth with his napkin. Then gave a little ahem. “Mother, father…”

“No.” Hernie said.

“Oh c’mon! I didn’t even ask a question!”

“The answer is still no, you're not going to the capital.” She responded.

“But…”

“The answer will not change.”

“What if…”

“I think we should let him.” Heads whipped to see a leaned back Sveige. A face of contemplation and thinned eyes.

“No! He is too immature! He can barely feed himself! Besides, what reason does he have for going!” Hernie snapped back. Noctis couldn’t tell if it was anger in her voice. For some reason, he didn’t think it was. Jorun sought his friend's gaze, and found it. They shared a look, the bard’s was worried. For all of his life his parents have never disagreed on a matter before, not openly at least.

“You cannot deny the boy has a talent for music. He can make a name for himself.” Sveige rebutted with a calm demeanor.

“But he is childish…” Tears started to form.

“And will continue being childish if he is hindered by his mothers wings. Love, he has a dream, and owns the ability to accomplish it. I don’t think we should stop him. Besides, he’ll have both Doco and Kenan to look after him.” Jorun started to open his mouth. Kenan stared at him. The bard shut his mouth.

Sveige continued. “Jorun will come back. The boy is not ready to stake a claim in the world just yet. When he is knee deep in stress, bumps into too many people to count, and his responsibilities start to rise. He’ll start to think of home, and come back to his mothers embrace. Then, and only then, will he go out on his own. I promise you.”

Hernie started to break down in a fit of tears. Sveige and Kenan understood and Jorun was starting to catch on. Geia on the other hand, was completely confused. Hernie didn’t want her child to leave the coop, no matter how much trouble he caused. Noctis gave another look to the bard. Now was the time.

Jorun stood, went over to his mother. Kneeled, and tried to get into her gaze. “I know that I’m not serious all the time, Mom. Doesn’t mean I can’t be. I just think that people all seem so… bored. Sad. Gray. If I can be a dummy just for a moment and make people smile at my stupidity, then it makes my troublemaking worth it. If I can strum a lute, and make people dance and be jolly for an afternoon, then I’ll do anything in the world.”

Hernie doubled her crying efforts. Threw herself in her son's arms. Sveige smiled. Kenan signaled to hug back. Jorun did. For a second she pulled away. “I knew that. I just never wanted my little lullaby to go away. Now that you're going to the capital…” She went back and started to cry even harder.

Jorun looked at his friend. Mouthed a question. Kenan nodded. The bard fist bumped the air.