Chapter 5: Chapter 4: Family

Chapter 4: Family

The next day, with the sun gleaming overhead, the trio ascends up a small hill. Resting atop the hill was a small wooden house, carved from light spruce wood. It overlooked the shopping district in the village, with the wonderful sight of Redville's mountains in the far east. A few chairs were still outside, surrounding the remnants of an old campfire, the firewood charred a light grey from the long extinguished flames.

Maru looks at the house up and down as she lets out a sigh of relief. “Feels good to be home,” she says, turning back around to look at Francis and Tianyu. The three of them were all extremely tired after helping the chieftain clean up after the ceremony. “I guess this is goodbye for now, yeah?”

They both nod. “Yes,” Tianyu says, “we will rendezvous after a few days of respite to head to the mountains.”

“Make sure you get some proper rest, girl!” Francis smiled and gave Maru gentle pats on the shoulder. “I know you like training and all, but rest is just as important. Take a few days off this time.”

“I will, I will. Mama will take good care of me – she’d scold me if I tried to do any training while I’m injured like this.”

“You better not – or I’ll scold you too. Take care now.” Francis smiles and waves at Maru as he and Tianyu turn around to take their leave.

Turning back to face the door of her humble home, Maru gently turns the handle and eases into the living room. “I’m home!” She says, looking around. The living room was empty, the silence only occasionally broken by a gust of wind rushing through the singular open window to her right side. A small couch was against the wall to her left, a little old and crusty, with a table just a few feet in front of it.

Maru peers past the couch and deeper into the house. Over by the kitchen counter, a tall middle-aged woman with curly black hair and a dark complexion looked back at her with a smile. “Hi honey,” she said, greeting Maru with a smile, “how was your little adventure?”

“Hi Mama! It went well. We got into a fight with some bandits. Fra-”

“A fight?!” Her mother said, appalled. Immediately, she drops her utensils into the sink and rushes over to Maru, placing both hands on her shoulders and softly gazing into her eyes. “Are you okay? Are you hurt? Let me see your hands sweetie,” she reaches down and gently holds Maru’s hands in her own.

“Mama… I’m alright.” Maru pulls her hands away and wraps her arms around her mother gently for a warm hug.

Her mother sighs, returning the hug. “Make sure you stop getting into so many fights,” she whispers, “I can’t have my baby getting roughed up so much…”

“Let her live a little,” a deep, husky voice bellows out from one of the rooms across from the kitchen. A tall and muscular figure with a dense beard and brown skin steps out from one of the rooms with a heartwarming smile. “It’s what she wants in life. What kid do you know that doesn’t dream of becoming an Adventurer?”

“Hi dad!” Maru smiles and waves at him as her father waves back.

Her mother looks over at him, “but it’s dangerous…”

“My job is dangerous too – and you let me get away with it!” He chuckles to himself, looking over at Maru afterwards. “You just have to trust her, I know she can do it. Besides, adventuring isn’t all about fighting. She’ll get to go out and see the world!”

“...As long as she promises to come back and see us every now and then!”

“I’ll always come back to see you,” Maru said enthusiastically, “and I’ll bring all my friends to come see you too.”

“Attagirl,” her father said, giving her some hefty pats on the pack. “Speaking of, I wanted to give you something, Maru.” He steps back into the bedroom for a moment, rummaging through some drawers as he steps back out. In his hands was a large black cabbie hat, its color slightly faded.

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Maru’s mother gasps quietly, “You found it? After all these years?”

“Mhm. I found your mother’s old cabbie,” he said while dusting it off. “She used to wear it a lot when she was your age.” Walking over to Maru, he places the hat onto her head. It was a little oversized, but didn’t fall off.

“It’s a little big,” he said, “but it’ll fit when you grow your hair out a little. It’s yours now, something to take with you on all your adventures so that you remember us.”

Maru straightens the hat with a warm smile on her face. “Thank you, dad.”

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A few days pass and Maru is well-rested. She spent most of her time at home in her room, writing in her journal and doodling away.

She’s woken from her nap at the sound of someone knocking on the door. Maru springs up out of her bed, walking out of her room and over to the front door. As she opens it, two familiar faces greet her with a smile.

“Hey Maru!” Francis generously waved as Tianyu nodded his head. “Did you have a good break over the past few days?”

“Mhm,” she said while nodding, “I spent some much needed time with my family, helping them cook and clean.”

“That’s a wonderful hat,” Tianyu said, “where did you get it?”

“Oh, it’s my mother’s old cabbie hat. My dad gave it to me. It’s actually quite old and a little faded, but that doesn’t bother me.”

“It’s so you can remember them, aye? I understand.” Francis gestures for the two to follow him as he starts to make his way down the hill. “C’mon, we need to hurry up to the mountains now. I got up late, so we’re a little behind schedule.”

Harsh and frosty winds send chills across their bodies as the trio makes their way into Redville’s mountain range. Redville was a mostly tropical climate, so Maru was unprepared for the harsh weather conditions at the higher parts of the mountains. “I’ve never been up this high before,” she mutters, crossing her arms and hugging herself to stay warm. If she’d known they were going this high up, she would’ve at least worn a shirt with long sleeves.

“You guys aren’t c-cold?” She asks, her teeth chattering.

Tianyu was wearing his lengthy navy robes like usual – they were likely dense enough to shield him from the chilling breeze. Francis, on the other hand, wore brown overalls that were similar to Maru’s. His arms were completely exposed, yet he didn’t seem to be bothered by the cold at all.

“You get used to it,” he says confidently, “I come up here every now and then. It’s quite nice actually. I thought you were a mountain climber, Maru. This cold new to you?”

“...It gets a little chilly, but I don’t think it’s ever gotten as cold as this.”

Tianyu looks over his shoulder at Maru. “I think you should make a pilgrimage to the peak of the mountain every now and then, both of you. Respite and reflection is an important part of our culture, and the gracefulness of a mountain summit is perfect for that.”

“Uh, sure,” Francis scoffs quietly, “once we put a definite stop to these bandits ransacking our home, then we can get to meditating or whatever.”

“So,” Maru interjects, “what were we looking for again?”

“This.” Tianyu said, putting his hand up as a gesture for the two of them to stop behind him. The trail they were following suddenly branches off to the left, leading into a small cave-like opening in the mountain that was covered partially by snow. “Chieftain Reoh went to capture and interrogate the bandits we subdued a few days ago. While searching their belongings, he found a map that had directions to this location. Not only that, but a few villagers spotted hooded figures going into this cave, and they just so happened to look very familiar to the bandits we see taking our crops every week.”

“Can you use your magic-sensing thing to see if anyone is in there?” Maru asked.

Tianyu briefly closes his eyes, “there’s a barrier,” he says as he opens them, “and it’s far from a novice spell. It’s dense and reinforced.”

Maru takes a few steps past Tianyu and heads towards the cave. Squinting her eyes, she couldn’t see anything except darkness inside. “I don’t see anything.”

“It’s magical,” Tianyu said. “It’s not meant to physically keep you out, but rather to block mages such as Francis and I from taking a look inside. Whoever cast this barrier is experienced, and they’re likely hiding more than just stolen crops.”

“You can turn back if you want to, Maru.” Francis looks at her, his gaze becoming soft.

Maru looks back over at Tianyu and Francis, a hint of fear in her eyes. Yet, behind that fear was a determined and courageous spark that was ripe with curiosity. If she truly wanted to become an Adventurer, venturing into the depths of the dangerous and unknown would become a commodity. Deep down, she was scared, but she wouldn’t let fear hold her back.

“She’s not turning around,” Francis said, a smile appearing across his face.

Tianyu nods gently, marching past Maru and into the cave. “Neither are we.”