Shades of the New World

Chapter 195: Reunion

The group first went towards Aran's house to drop Arza off. 

"We'll be leaving in ten days, but we have something to show you while we're here," Evin started: "We'll come back for you the day after tomorrow, so be ready for a little hike, alright?"

"Sure," Arza replied, not even bothering to ask what for. Evin, who wanted to tease him a bit for it, was a bit disappointed, but since it was going to be a surprise anyway, he wasn't really going to dwell on it.

Then they went to knock on Aran's door.

A few seconds later, sounds of footsteps came from inside and Liza opened the door. Evin could see the confusion in her eyes, seeing her four-year-old child looking like he was almost 10, even though he'd left for only half a year. But, in the end, she seemed to realize that it was her child.

"Arza?!" she bellowed and hugged her child. 

"I'm home, mom," Arza said from inside her mother's hands and hugged her back.

Evin, looking at what was happening, couldn't help but feel a bit giddy. But he needed to explain some stuff to Liza, so he had to focus up.

"What happened to you?" Liza then asked, looking more closely at her child.

"I'm sorry, Liza, something happened and the three of us became two years older," Evin said, trying his best to avoid saying anything more.

"Two years? But Arza looks like he's almost 10!" Liza shouted.

"He definitely aged for two years, it's just that Arza grows a bit fast," Rith said from the side: "Normally, he'd be as tall as Evin is."

"Why are you shouting, mom? It's just two years," Arza said as well. The boy obviously didn't care for such details.

It took a bit for Liza to digest the information and she apologized.

"Sorry for shouting, love. It's just a bit weird to wrap my head around. After all, you've only been gone for half a year after all"

"Don't worry, mom. I'm a lot stronger compared to that time. I'm probably even stronger than dad," Arza laughed loudly.

"Sure you are, dear," Liza smiled and coddled Arza.

"Speaking of the man, where is Aran?" Evin asked.

"He's coming back from the South. Should be here in the next few days, I think. Hehe, wonder how he'll react when he sees you like this?" Liza answered Evin, but inevitably, her attention was drawn back to Arza.

"We'll be here for ten days and the day after tomorrow, we have to go to the forest for something. But for the time being, we'll leave you to catch up," Evin smiled.

"Only ten days? Are you on a vacation? But why is the timing so weird?" Liza asked, dissatisfied with just having ten days to spend with Arza.

"We both learn under private instructors, so normal vacations don't apply to us, sadly," Evin explained.

"Alright, then I won't keep you three here. I'm sure Lora and the others will be overjoyed to see you," Liza said and saw them off.

Evin and the other two walked through the empty streets, occasionally meeting people who would recognize and greet them. Evin had almost forgotten every one of them, leaving him wondering where he had seen them.

"That worked rather well," Rith commented from the side, thinking of Liza's reaction.

"Well, it's not like the woman has any other choice other than accepting it, heheh. Our plan to turn Arza old enough so he doesn't bother us was a success," Evin laughed dryly and received a vindictive glare from Ssatsko and Rith.

"What? It's the truth. Or is it too soon to joke about it?" Evin protested.

"It's probably alright, but your joke has nothing funny in it and you're unironically serious about it," Ssatsko said.

"Yeah, it's like how someone says they have a dark sense if humor, but all they do is make racist remarks," Rith added.

"Whatever. By the way, what happened to the woman you were meeting. I thought you were going to bring her along," Evin asked suddenly.

"What woman?" Rith asked, eyes sparkling.

"Ugh, she's a coworker in the tribe. Don't worry about it," Ssatsko said, still defensive for whatever reason.

"I'm pretty sure I interrupted a special moment there, but I really didn't mean to. I'm sorry about that. Anyway, are you two considering marriage?" 

Ssatsko paused a bit after hearing about marriage.

"Wow, you're actually very serious about her," Evin said with some shock. Usually, non-serious people denied marriage almost instantly when they were asked about the topic suddenly. 

"What? When did this happen?" Rith was on the side, trying to piece together everything.

"I'll tell you later when I sort everything out," Ssatsko said impassively.

'Seriously, why is he being so shy?' Evin complained in his head.

Rith pestered him from the side to tell her some details and Evin explained everything in the most concise manner he could manage.

In any case, the group soon neared Evin's home, as they could start smelling the distinct scent of the bakery. A nostalgic feeling took over Evin, as he remembered waking up to this smell every morning, craving a cake and some buns.

"They seem to be doing really well, and the smell is great advertising," Rith mentioned from the side, noticing that a number of people were lining up in front of the bakery's gates. If Evin wasn't wrong, there were even some servants of 1st grade citizens in the mix.

"Alright, here's some of the new stuff ya'll been wanting. Tell me what you want for tomorrow and we'll prepare it for ya'll," Theor's muffled laugh came from inside the house. Evin activated his eagle eyes and could see Lora and Elina in the bakery as well. Only Sasha was missing, but Evin was sure she was just sleeping in her room. After all, it was pretty early in the morning.

[Is that your family?] Runa asked.

[Yep. Wait, you can see them from this distance?] Evin asked. Without his eagle vision, he wouldn't even be able to see the inside of the bakery, since it was too dark.

[Yeah, if I try hard enough,] Runa answered.

[That's very impressive,] Evin replied, wondering if it was something special to skinshifters.

Runa giggled happily and asked: [Are we going to meet them now?]

[Hmm, not yet, since there are so many people... But don't worry about it.]