Kite smiled as he woke up. This was his second morning in Eldoria. He wondered what else of this world he would discover today. At the very least he wanted to learn more about Ald Town. It reminded him a lot of the towns in books he read back in his original world.
He hummed. His situation itself was similar to that of some of the protagonists. They would die somehow and get reborn in another body. Some got to experience being a baby, while other woke up as a child like he had. Never did Kite think something like that could actually happen. Especially not to him.
With a slight chuckle, he strode out of the room.
"Kite!" Liliana yelled, tackling him from behind.
He chuckled nervously. She sure was a playful girl. To think he thought she was mature for her age. Which side was dominant? Would she lose her playful side like he had?
Kite steadied himself as Liliana's laughter filled the hallway. "Good morning to you too, Liliana," he said, turning to face the energetic blond girl.
Liliana beamed up at him, her earlier mischief replaced by a bright smile. "You're going to explore more of Ald Town today, right? Can I come with you?"
Kite considered her request. It might be helpful to have a local guide, and Liliana's enthusiasm was certainly contagious. "Sure, why not? You can show me your favorite places."
Elara appeared at the end of the hallway, a knowing smile on her face. "Morning kids. Mind helping me with breakfast?"
Liliana sighed. "Okay, Mommy..."
A slight smile crossed Kite's face. He felt a sense of sadness wash over him. Was his mom crying for him? Was she even alive? And his dad, friends, and siblings too... He couldn't help but wonder what had happened to them.
Kite sighed. For better or worse, this was his new life now. He had to make the most of it.
"Sure, I'll help," Kite said. It was nice to help with mundane tasks rather than violent ones.
"You have such great manners, Kite. Wish Lilia was more like you. She took after her dad."
Liliana pouted.
"Hey! I heard that!" Darian said, leering at his wife as he stepped out of their bedroom.
Elara smirked. "It's not slanderous if it's true."
He huffed as he turned away.
She hugged him and kissed his cheek. "But that childishness of yours is why I fell for you, my big oaf."
Kite smiled. When he was a kid in his other life, he would find such moments between his parents as gross. But now that he was mentally more mature, he found two adults being so cheesy to be kinda cute.
Liliana giggled at her parents.
"Mommy, Daddy," Tomas said, poking his little head out of his room. His face was red and looked as if he had just done something bad. He must've peed his bed.
While blurry, Kite remembered he did something similar when he was five too. It was such an embarrassing moment that he wished he had forgotten it alongside some of his other past life childhood memories.
"What's wrong, champ?" Darian asked, walking over.
"I wet the bed," he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.
His dad lifted him up and saw his damp pajamas. "Yeah, you sure did."
"Oh, sweetheart, it's okay," she reassured him gently. "This happens to everyone at some point. Let's get you cleaned up." She took him from her husband's arms and walked inside Tomas's room to pick out some clothes for her youngest child.
Liliana hummed. "I don't recall wetting my bed."
"Well, it seems to happen to us guys more often. Why, I don't know," her dad said.
I nodded.
"Well, while your mom gets Tomas cleaned up, let's go make breakfast," Darian said, grinning at his daughter.
Liliana nodded.
Kite smiled and followed them to the kitchen. He helped Darian and Liliana with breakfast, the scent of fresh bread and the sizzle of eggs on the skillet filled the kitchen with warmth.
Elara, with Tomas now dressed and clean, joined them at the table.
Darian smiled and ruffled his son's hair affectionately. "All set, champ?" he asked.
Tomas nodded, a shy smile creeping onto his face as he took his seat.
Kite watched the family interact, the same bittersweet feeling from before tugged at his heart. He missed his own family, yet he was grateful for the kindness and love this adopted family had given him in the short time he'd been with them.
Elder Marrin walked in and chuckled. "It smells good in here."
His son grinned. "Thanks, Pops!"
"Eh? You cooked?"
Why was he surprised? Had Darian not cooked before? It seemed like he knew what he was doing. Kite hadn't seen any eggshells get tossed into the omelets at least.
Elder Marrin's surprise hung in the air, a playful accusation that seemed to challenge the norm of the household.
Darian, with a mock offense taken, placed a hand over his heart. "Of course, I cook! Though, I must admit, Kite's been a great help. He has a knack for it," Darian said, winking at Kite.
Kite felt a swell of pride at the compliment. It was a simple thing, but in this world, every small achievement felt monumental. He glanced at the omelets, golden and fluffy, and the bread, perfectly toasted. It was a far cry from his first attempt at cooking back in his old world, which had resulted in a charred mess.
Liliana piped up, "Dad's being modest. He's the best at making breakfast. Right, Tomas?"
Tomas, now fully recovered from his earlier embarrassment, nodded vigorously. "Yeah! Daddy makes the best pancakes!"
The family settled into a comfortable rhythm, passing dishes and sharing stories. Kite listened, learning more about the customs and tales of Eldoria. He shared a few stories of his own, carefully edited to fit this world's understanding.
As they ate, plans for the day began to take shape. Liliana was eager to show Kite the wonders of Ald Town, and Elder Marrin mentioned more about the festival happening at the town square. It was a celebration of the end of harvest, and it promised to be a day filled with joy and discovery - the food kind. Which Kite didn't mind. He loved trying new food.
Kite felt a sense of anticipation. This world, with all its similarities and differences to his own, was becoming a place he could call home. And as he looked around the table at the faces of his new family, he realized that home wasn't just a place—it was where you made connections, where you found a sense of belonging.
With breakfast coming to an end, Kite helped clear the table, his thoughts on how the future would unfold. He took a deep breath and shook his head. Instead of planning everything, he should take the time to enjoy it. Having gone through childhood once already, he knew it didn't last long.