Rudy and Eris brought me to the living area as Rudy's children began to introduce themselves to me.
"I'm Lucy (Age: 14) ... It's nice to meet you" She began to look me over. "Hey mister, have we met before"
"Ummm I don't know what you talking about Miss"
"I'm Lara (Age: 11) ... Mister you look like a Scaredy Cat"
"Ehhhh"
"I'm Sieghart (Age:8) but you can call me Sieg" The young boy with green hair and eyes drew attention to my scar on my forehead. "Hey Uncle, how did you get that scar?" His eyes began to sparkle "it's so cool"
"Oh this? ... It nothing really?"
Uncle? ... I'm not that old ... Sure I don't know my exact age .. but I'm pretty sure I'm in my mid twenties.
"Lilly" (Age:6) Lilly just gave a simple bow.
I simply bowed back
"I-I'm Chris" (Age:6) She says timidly as she hid behind her papa's leg. "Nice to met you Uncle"
"H-hello"
Uncle again ... What have Rudy been telling his kids about me?
"See aren't my children so precious" Rudy had a wide grin on his face.
"Hehe .... Um ... Hehe ... Um, yes" I was fidgeting as I was getting nervous.
Eris gave a slap to my back. "Come now Arty, why are you acting so scared ... They are just children"
Lucy approaches me again, her eyes narrowed in concentration as she tries to place where she might have seen me before. Her gaze flicks between me and Rudy, as if comparing features.
"Papa, I feel like I've seen Uncle Arthur before, but I can't quite remember from where" Lucy says, her tinged with curiosity.
Uncle again ... I'm starting to think it's about to stick ... Dam
Rudy chuckles, placing a hand on Lucy's shoulder. "Well Lucy, Arthur here has been a friend of the family for a long time. You might have seen him a couple of times when you were younger"
"Uncle Arthur! Did that mean you fought alongside Papa? Can you show us some of your skills?" Seig said as he was getting excited.
"Oh um I'm nothing special like that" Why are these kids begin to crowd me now? I gotta do something. Ummm.
In my nervousness I decided to do a party trick. I struck a pose as I cast Water Shield on each hand and near my mouth. Of course I lowered the output so that it spouts out like a fountain. Hehehe I call this Water Fountain Arthur
. . . . .
Hmmm the results seems to mixed. Who knew kids could be a though crowd.
Both Lara and Lilly seems to be unimpressed.
Lucy seems to not want to let go of her recognition of me that she just ignored my little party trick and remained staring at me.
Seig just clapped his hands as he enjoyed the mist I created
"Hehehe" Christina began to giggle. She got the courage to leave her father's leg as she approached me as well. Oh success ... 2 of 6 children.
"Hmm Hey Arty where is your sword ... Don't tell me you lost it again" Eris was beginning to radiate anger. Back when we were kids she would always beat me up whenever I would misplace my sword.
I would be laying on the ground beaten to a pulp as she sat on top of me. With each punch she gave a statement lecture. She would say stuff like: "a swordman sword is his pride how can you misplace it. A sword is a part of the swordman"
Etc .. etc ... Whatever ... For the longest time I never consider myself a swordman ... I just pick it up as a tool to help me survive. After I met Rudy I asked him to teach me some of his spells I found useful in a fight. He also taught me how to cast chantless magic.
But what always shocked me about Eris beatings was that both Ruijerd and Rudy wouldn't stop her. It seemed that they agreed with Eris harsh treatment over my lax behavior over my sword.
As they would lecture me as well, Ruijerd especially would touch his Trident, saying a warrior's weapon is their partner as they face battles together. Rudy just nodded along saying they should have sentimental value to them.
I looked at each of my friends weapons. Apparent the Superd Tribe signature weapon was the Tridents which came from their fallen off tail. And here is the kicker for Ruijerd, apparently his Trident was not his, but of his deceased son. Poor Ruijerd, I felt a little bad when I found out.
Rudy's magic staff was a present from Eris on his 10th birthday. And Eris sword was a gift from the Roxy's dad when we stopped by the Migurd Village.
It seemed my weapon was the odd man out. I just pick it from a dead adventurer that was trying to kill me. How odd ... I remember that party well, there was a mage too, and a warrior with two axes, along with a rouge with daggers. So what made me take the sword with me.
Was it because it looked cool? ... Hmmm maybe not.
Was it because I had a talent for it? ... No no nothing like that
Convenience? ... Maybe
I guess the more I think about, the more I question why I picked this path.
"No no Eris ... I left my sword with that Treant at the front gate" I raised my hands up as I cowered infront of her, begging her not to beat me.
"Oh you mean Beat? Arty you didn't have to do that"
"Go get it!"
"Yes Ma'am" I quickly ran off as I went to go get my sword back from Beat
I came back moments later as I showed my sword to Eris. The sword itself looks like Eris's current sword, but the first difference would be the sliver pendant like ornament with a leather string, tied to the end of the handle of the sword "See I still have it ... See"
I presented my sword like I was some knight giving my sword to the princess. Eris had her arms crossed as it seems she was about to say something when ...
"Hmmm Red-Mama ... Uncle Arthur is a swordsman too" Seig diverted Eris attention to himself.
Lara walked up to her Papa "Ohhh but he was clearly using magic ... Papa is Uncle Arthur what you would call a magic knight.
Uncle huh ... I'm guessing it is sticking now ... Great, now I'm feeling more old
"Not exactly, a magic knight is a knight who learned swordmanship that can also cast spells and vice versa but Arty here is a little different"
Lilly joined Lara side as she adds "What do you mean?"
"Hmmm I guess if I had give it a name I would call him an 'Arcane Swordsman'. He is first and foremost a swordman but he learn some spells that he uses to increase his sword play."
Both Lara and Lilly tilted their head, they didn't understand their father explanation and how it differs from a magic knight.
"Hmmm how to explain this?" Rudy brought his hand to his chin as he thinks. "A while back I asked Blue-mama to teach me the King Ranked Water spell 'Lightening'. Arty just so happens to be here as well and for some reason he wanted to learn that spell too. It took a while ... Especially since he had no talent for magic, but he was stubborn and eventually learned it. I wondered for a while why he wanted to learn it, at his level as a mage he shouldnt be able to put it into practice"
Rudy looked at me as Lucy was interrogated me with some questions. Eris was checking out the condition of my sword, making sure I was taking care of it.
"But then we had a mission from Orsted to help out Pax and keep him safe during a civil war in his kingdom. During that war, I found out why he wanted to learn that spell, on the battle field he imbued the 'Lightening' spell onto his body and onto his sword. You should have seen him he zip and zap all throughout his part of the battlefield"
"Ohhh" Lara said in amazement
"Interesting so he used his body and sword as a magic tool" Lilly theorized
"So cool" Seig seems the most impressed out of all of Rudy children as he had sparkles in his eyes.
"Ummm Lucy-chan ... Please stop I'm not good with those types of questions"
"Ummm excuse me Uncle Arthur" Chris got the courage to tug on my pants as she wanted to ask me something.
"Can you show us another trick ... Please" Chris said with an innocent smile.
"Ah!" I couldn't stop a slight blush from forming at how adorable she was.
Just then I stopped my fidgeting as I got on my hands as I began to do a 'windmill' like motion. I kept spinning and spinning.
Seig ran over to me as he cheered me on, while Chris claps excitedly.
As the scene unfold, Ars and Aisha came into the living room after taking their bath. Aisha gave an annoyed look at me. What does he think he is, a child or something?
Ars gave a conflicted look towards me but for a completely different reason.
"Oh Ars ... Good timing come and introduce yourself properly to Arty here"
I struck a pose after spinning for a while as Chris and Seig both cheered for me to do more.
"Arty come here for a second and meet Ars"
Oh, the red head I met at the front door. I walked towards Ars as he gave me his introduction.
"Ars" (Age:10) Ars gave a surprising cold response, not like his usual self.
". . . . . " Umm did I do something to him?
"Hello Ars-kun ... Nice to meet you?"
Ars simply looked down as he doesn't want to talk to me. I simply rubbed the back of my head at this awkward silence "Hehehe"
"I remember now!" Lucy exclaims. "Your the one who ..."
"Dinners ready!" Both Sylphy and Roxy came to the living area to announce that dinner is ready.
Thanks to the outburst, Lucy caught herself as she had both hands to her mouth.
* * * * *
This is how the sitting arrangement went during dinner.
I was seated in the middle of the dinning table which they usually reserved for a guest. Ok I got that logic what shocked me a bit was my next door neighbors seem to be a bit off. To my left was Seig as he seemed to take a liking to me. And to my right was Lara to my surprise, she just started to give me a stare as if she wanted to ask me something.
Hey what's up with these two?
Rudy was at one end of the table with Sylphy on one side and Chris on the other asking for her Papa to feed her. Ars was across from me as you looked down at his food, he occasionally looked up to give me a look.
Seriously what's up with this kid, did I do something?
Aisha and Lucy sat next to Ars. Lucy was eating normally, but when our eyes met she would give me a smile.
It seems the only two children that didn't seem to care were Lilly and Chris. Lilly was next to Zenith who was on the other end of the table been fed by Lilia.
The dinner table buzzed with activity. It was a very normal dinner meal until ...
"Hey" it was Lara as she tugged on my sleeve. "Hey when will he be born, you have to hurry before it's ruined"
Huh? What is this kid on about? I do recall from Rudy's letters about his children that Lara would randomly speak in cryptic messages as if she was having a vision.
As I continued to blink in confusion at Lara's question. "Born?, What would be ruined?"
Wait, what is with that question? Did I get drunk and do stuff to an innocent girl ... Oh no ...gulp
Just then, I felt a excited tug on my other sleeve, I turned my face, my view changed from Lara stoic face expecting an answer to the sparkling eyes of Seig.
"Uncle Arthur! How did you get that cool scar? Was it in a big battle?"
Hey, it looks like I got myself a fan on this side of the table.
Across the table, Ars scrowls slightly, his eyes darting between me and Aisha.
Rudy couldn't help but chuckle as he took notice of the commotion. "Now now children. Let's not overwhelm your Uncle now"
Grrrrr ... You too Rudy.
"Arty, how about you tell us about you recent travels? It's been a while since we caught up properly"
"Yes, I'd love to hear what you been up to. You haven't visited in so long" Eris nods in agreement.
Gulp
"Well, I haven't gotten into much"
Lara kept looking at me as if she wanted an answer to her question. Well I don't know what you want me to say kid, I'm not married, heck I didn't even do the deed yet ... Maybe ... I'm pretty sure ... Ok the way she is staring at me makes me feel like I did and I forgotten along the way.
"Just been traveling from place to place, seeing where the wind takes me" it looks like it wasn't the answer Eris and especially Rudy wanted to hear.
But it seemed to satisfied one kid. "That's so cool! I want to be a traveling hero too when I grow up!" Seig said as he had sparkles in his eyes with a wide grin on his face.
Seriously Rudy ... He is too easily impressed.
Lara tugs on my sleeve again,drawing my attention to her as she leans forward to whisper: "The heroic child of destiny, Uncle Arthur. When will he be born?"
Huh ... Again what is this kid on about? Rudy I think you children have a few screws loose.
Ars, still eyeing me judgely, mumbles under his breath "I bet I could protect Aisha-nee better . . ."
I wasn't sure who started the subject, maybe it was a misunderstanding from Lara's weird question, but the conversation began to shifted to if I am planning to settled down and start a family.
I just filmzy dropped my spoon into my bowl at the start of the question being directed at me and I began to cough
"Oh I don't know"
"You should Arty, children are great to have"
"Ohhh I simply think that stuff not for ..." I tried to dodge the question but Lara tugs on my sleeve again and gave me a nod.
Ok seriously what's up with this kid. She seems more interested in my love life than I am.
Seig then pipes up excitedly "Uncle Arthur, can you teach me how to be a cool wandering hero like you?"
And then we have this kid ... Look kid I don't know how to tell you but I ain't no hero ... Atofe only granted the title of hero to your father ... Yes I admit I helped out but he did most of the work in that battle
At my confusion I felt another tug on my right arm. Ugh what does Lara want right ... Now?
Huh? A girl that looks like her but younger than Lara was playing with my arm, well not my arm exactly but my magic gauntlet I use as a arm guard. What was her name again?
"Ummm Lily-chan can I help you?"
Lilly examines the magical gauntlet with wide-eyed fascination. Well this is a different reaction to the others. Rudy caught his daughter's interest with a fond smile.
"Oh don't mind Lilly, she just loves magic tools, always trying to tinker away." Rudy puffed out his chest "She takes after her old man in that regard"
"Ummm would you like to hold it" I completely forgot I had this on as I removed it and handed it to her. She walks back to her seat.
"Thank you, Uncle"
Well that was ... Odd? .... Sigh that's 5 out of 6 now ... I guess I should get use to this uncle stuff
We continued this back and forth as we enjoyed our meal. But there was one thing that was still brother me. Each of the children gave me a stare some good, some bad, some out of pure curiosity. But there was one stare I refused to met for some reason.
Stop staring at me like that? ... Is she gonna tell, no she shouldnt be able to ... I know if I look at her she will react ... Just like last time.
It was the glare of Zenith Greyrat, Rudy's mother who, after we rescued from that dungeon oh so long ago, was in a dream like state. It looks like she wanted to say something to me but can't, she was on the opposite end of the table from Rudy, being fed by Lilia, Aisha's mother.
I had a feeling if I looked at her, she will react the same way she did oh so long ago in Millishion. And that scared me. I just looked down as I continued eating my food.
I kept on trying to avoid eye contact with Zenith, the tension in my shoulders is noticeable. Sylphie, ever observant, picks up on my discomfort.
"Arthur, is everything alright? You seem ... On edge ... Is the food not to your liking? Sylphie said, her voice full of concern.
"It's nothing ... It's just ... Zenith-san ..."
Lilia, who has been quietly tending to Zenith, pauses in her ministrations. She began to give me a curious look, it was as if she was trying to decipher my behavior.
"Ummm I don't know why ... But she just keep staring ... At me"
Zenith, oblivious to the awkwardness she is causing, continued to just stare in my direction with her blank expression. Her gaze bore into me, despite how much I try to avoid it.
I looked straight into my bowl as I can't get the courage to meet her eyes. "S-Sorry Rudy, it's kind of freaking me out"
Rudy just chuckled softly at my timidness, memories of the youngest of 'Dead End' that would follow either of them like a duckling. His expression was full of nostalgia and understanding.
"Ah, I see. I guess some things never change, do they, Arty?"
Rudy turns to Lilia and Zenith with a gentle smile. "Lilia, it seems Mother is making our guest uncomfortable. Maybe we should ..."
Before he can finish, Lara interjects, her voice quite but firm as she whispers to me. "Grandmother sees what we cannot"
My heart stop. As I dropped my spoon into my last remaining food.
"She knows"
I freaked out as stood up, I scarfed down the last remaining bits of my food.
"Mmmm! ... Man that food was good! ... Yup! Really good ... Man I'm stuffed so stuffed!" My face was in a cold sweat from this kid's comment. I gotta got out of this scenario ... Fast.
"I-I think I'm gonna hit the hey .... Yes yes I'll do that"
"Oh if that's the case. Then how about we go take a bath, just like old times. In my house we practiced communal bathing"
"Oh ... I'll come too then"
"Ehhh b-but but Eris, things are different now, your Rudy's wife, it's would be improper"
"Oh don't be like that, we know each other for so long" Rudy says as he seems unbothered in a reassuring smile and he chuckles at my discomfort.
"Yea I basically view you as my younger brother anyway" Eris said like it was the most natural thing.
Ack Ugh!
My heart twitch at the sentiment as I made comedic tears come out of my eyes and held my chest ... But then ...
"Come now ...not a moment to waste" Eris grabbed me by my collar as she dragged me into the bath room with Rudy in tow.
"Ehhhhhhh"
And that was how my first dinner with the Greyrats concluded.