Later that day, Raphael stood with two heavy bags in hand, his shoulders slumped slightly under the weight. Grandpa, empty-handed, chuckled heartily beside him. Sora and I stood nearby with Lily, who was clinging to Sora's arm as they said their goodbyes.
"Why do I have to carry your bags, Grandpa?" Raphael asked, exasperated.
Grandpa threw his head back and laughed. "What kind of grandson would let an old man carry his own luggage? Shame on you!"
Raphael scowled. "You're not old."
"Ah, my boy, that's where you're wrong. These bones are ancient," Grandpa said, cracking his knuckles dramatically. "The weight of wisdom makes them brittle. Be kind to your elderly grandpa."
Sora folded her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Wisdom doesn't make bones brittle."
"It does when you've had as much of it as I have," Grandpa shot back with a wink.
I watched them banter, a faint smile playing on my lips. It felt warm. Familiar. Like family.
Sora turned to Raphael with a small smile. "It won't be a long journey. Take care of yourself."
"I will," Raphael replied with a nod. "And you too, Sora. I promise I'll come back." He shifted his gaze to Lily. "And you, Lily, behave yourself."
Lily puffed her cheeks, a playful frown on her face. "What do you mean? I always behave myself!"
Raphael chuckled softly. "Yes, you do. But Big Brother won't be here to remind you."
"I know," Lily said, her voice quieter this time. "But your little sister is going to miss you."
I stood a short distance away, watching their exchange. I didn't want to interrupt. These moments didn't come often.
Ignis, however, had no such consideration.
"Oh, for the love of everything unholy, are you just going to stand there and mope like a lost puppy?" his voice cut through my thoughts, sharp and unimpressed.
I sighed internally. "Let them have their moment. They might not know when they'll see each other again."
"Oh, how poetic," Ignis drawled sarcastically. "Too bad you're ruining the moment by standing there like a statue. If you stare any harder, you'll bore holes through them."
"Ignis, must you always—"
"Yes," he interrupted, smug. "I must."
I rolled my eyes. "Are you sure you weren't meant to be a jester instead of a spirit?"
"Oh? And are you sure you weren't meant to be a disappointment instead of a human?"
I nearly choked on air. "You—"
Grandpa suddenly appeared beside me, his large hand ruffling my hair like I was a toddler. "My dear grandson."
I sighed, fixing my hair as I looked up at him. "When are we going to see each other again?"
Grandpa chuckled. "When the time is right." His tone was light, but his eyes held something deeper. "And you don't seem too bothered about not coming along."
I shrugged. "Why would I be? You have your reasons. I don't mind."
Grandpa grinned. "Sometimes, I wonder if you're more mature than your age."
I thought to myself, Yeah, if only you knew my real age. Then, aloud, I replied, "Not so sure about that."
Grandpa smiled, his expression soft. "Your dear grandpa will miss you. Take care of Lily and listen to Sora."
"I will," I replied with a nod.
"And remember," Grandpa added, his tone suddenly serious, "when entering the kingdom…"
"I should always change my appearance," I finished for him. "I won't forget."
Grandpa laughed. "Good. I don't need to say more. But tell me, Kibo—why do you want power?"
I blinked, caught off guard. "Why do you ask, Grandpa?"
Grandpa's voice lowered as he explained, "Some seek power for glory, others for revenge or greed, to trample on those they despise. A few, however, want it to protect their loved ones."
I remained silent, listening.
"All I want," Grandpa continued, "is for you to know why you want power. To understand what drives you. Being at the top is a lonely place, Kibo. It makes people fear you, pretend to like you, all the while hiding their true intentions. So tell me, why do you need power?"
I met Grandpa's gaze. "For my own selfish reasons," I admitted.
Grandpa laughed heartily, his deep, resonant voice carrying warmth. "Well, at least you know why. That clarity will serve you well, Kibo. Be a good boy and follow what's right—always."
Ignis scoffed. "Right. Because humans are so good at following what's right."
I ignored him.
Grandpa tousled my hair one last time before turning toward Raphael, who had finished his farewells.
Raphael adjusted the straps of his bags, his frown thoughtful. "I'm ready, Grandpa."
Grandpa turned to me once more, a rare softness in his emerald eyes. "Take care, my boy. Look after yourself and those around you."
"I will, Grandpa," I said, my voice steady, though something unspoken lingered in the air.
As Grandpa and Raphael started walking away, Raphael glanced back over his shoulder, curiosity flickering in his expression. "Wouldn't it have been better to bring Kibo along?"
Grandpa paused for a moment, a small smile playing on his lips. "It's not his time yet," he said, his tone resolute but warm. "This journey isn't just about the destination. For now, you're the best choice, Raphael. Trust me."
Raphael frowned but nodded. "If you say so, Grandpa."
Grandpa chuckled, his laugh light and reassuring. "I do say so. And you'll understand why soon enough."
With that, the pair continued their march forward, the rhythmic sound of their footsteps fading into the distance, leaving behind a sense of anticipation for what lay ahead.
Lily waved enthusiastically as they disappeared from sight, her small voice carrying on the breeze.
Sora sighed, brushing her hands on her apron as she turned to me and Lily. Her voice was calm but firm. "Alright, let's get things set for the night. Lily, gather the laundry; it should be dry by now. Kibo, help her out while I prepare dinner."
"Okay!" we replied in unison, our voices bright.
As Sora stepped inside, Lily ran off to fetch the laundry basket, her energy never seeming to run out. Meanwhile, I stayed behind for a moment, watching the horizon, where the last light of the sun painted the sky in warm hues of gold and orange.
And then, as expected, the peace was ruined.
"Finally," Ignis drawled in my mind, his voice dripping with exaggerated relief. "I thought I was going to choke on all that sentimental drivel. 'Oh, Big Brother, I'll miss you so much!' 'Oh, Grandpa, take care!' Ugh. The amount of sap in that conversation could drown an entire kingdom."
I smirked, crossing my arms. "For a dragon, your disdain for emotions isn't surprising. Aren't you supposed to be above such 'petty' things?"
"Don't get smart with me, brat," Ignis snapped. "You're one to talk, standing there like a lost puppy while the world moves on without you. Pathetic."
I rolled my eyes. "And yet, you're the one who won't stop talking about it. Sounds like you care more than you claim to."
"Care?" Ignis scoffed so hard I could practically feel the fire in his breath. "You insignificant, walking disappointment. If I had a heart, it wouldn't waste a single beat on your meaningless existence. The only reason I even acknowledge you is because I have no choice. Fate, in its infinite cruelty, has shackled me to the most unimpressive, clueless excuse for a human I have ever encountered."
"Wow," I said, blinking. "That one almost hurt."
"Almost?" Ignis growled. "Then let me correct that—I've seen dust particles with more presence than you. Your very existence is a stain on the concept of power. The day you become someone worth my attention is the day the sun freezes over."
I let out a low chuckle. "You know, for someone who finds me so 'insignificant,' you sure spend a lot of time thinking about me."
"I do not think about you, brat." Ignis sounded disgusted. "If I ever do, it's only to wonder what kind of divine punishment I'm suffering to be trapped inside your feeble, overwhelming form."
"Trapped? Please." I scoffed. "You sit around all day doing nothing but throwing insults. If anything, I'm the one suffering."
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Is the little brat feeling bullied?" Ignis sneered. "Do you need a hug? Maybe your lover can hold your hand and whisper sweet reassurances to your fragile soul."
I nearly choked. "She is not my lover."
Ignis hummed in fake consideration. "Oh? But the way you stare at her, so protective, so admiring—what else could it be?"
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I stare at her the same way I stare at you—annoyed."
"You wound me, brat," Ignis mocked. "But fine, keep denying it. It won't change the fact that your lover is heading back over here right now, probably looking to confess her eternal devotion."
Before I could fire back, Lily came bounding back outside, hugging the empty laundry basket as if it were a treasured possession. Her smile was bright as ever, her excitement untouched by the world's worries.
Watching her, I felt something settle in me—something Ignis would probably mock if I gave it words.
"Well, Ignis," I murmured, more to myself than him, "maybe emotions aren't so trivial after all."
"Ugh, shut up, brat. I swear, you get more nauseating by the second. Hurry up and do your chores before I decide to find a way to incinerate your soul from the inside out."
"Whatever you say," I replied with a faint smile, before heading off to help Lily.
The evening air carried a gentle calm, a rare moment of peace before the world stirred again.
.
.
.
StageAct.
Kibo: Well, that took longer than I expected.
Ignis: Took longer? You move slower than a drunk snail on valium. I've seen maggots on a rotting corpse with more motivation than you.
Kibo: Sure, sure. Whatever you say.
Ignis: Tch. Typical. And to you miserable little gremlins reading this, why haven't you dragged your worthless friends into this mess yet? What, too busy pretending to have standards? Humans can't do a single damn thing right without screwing it up.
Kibo: But you're stuck with me.
Ignis: Yeah, like a fungal infection that won't quit. I swear, I curse the day I ever met your mother.