Good day, everyone. All promised donator chaps will be live today with the public post. The squeaks and vol.9 cover commission have started and will be posted when they are completed. The Kaladin artwork I was going to do is going to take a bit longer, so I will probably have it commissioned in January. Either way, it's good to be back. We are starting out with the usual slow burn at the start of Vol.9 as we race into the end. I have a feeling people may enjoy this one a lot :D
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The summer sun continued to bathe the mourners. The funeral was small, and only those closest to the departed joined the joint event at the Royal Cemetery. It was obvious that an official War God of Luminar would be buried in such a place, but even Grandpa was given the honors for coming to the defense of the students and staff of Forward University.
It was to no one's surprise that neither of the two major religious orders participated in the funerals. Instead, an official directly from the cemetery took the role upon him self. He gave a short but sincere recount of the deceased's actions and their accomplishments. It was hardly grand, but then again, neither of them would have wanted such a thing.
As the sun basked down on the two empty wooden caskets, the official closed his book as he nodded solemnly and said, "Those who wish to give their final words to the departed may do so now."
For Ms.Taurus, the first was an ancient man who hobbled up with a hunched back, her father, a low-ranking noble and long-retired civil official. He slowly used his cane to move up the small steps and shakily rested a hand on the empty casket. Tears rolled down his wrinkly face as his lips moved without words.
After a passing moment, he let his head drop and slowly shuffled away for Bowen and Rosemary as Cerila went to Grandpa first. Tears and sniffles flowed out from Rosemary as she cried in front of the casket. Bowen placed his only hand upon the wood with a sedated gaze that tried to bore through the wood.
Cerila was struggling, as she cried and shook her head in a mixture of frustration and sadness. Out of all of us, she was undoubtedly the closest to Grandpa, with only Dallin being a close second. Perhaps the closest thing to a child he had was in Cerila.
My heart tightened as she resigned herself and walked away, as more people began to flow up. Professor Garrison, Bella, and a few others I didn't recognize. Mom and Dad had hardened, sad expressions as Dallin cried beside them. I felt a squeeze of my hand and looked down.
A pair of bright blue, redened eyes looked up at me and squeezed Mila's hand in return. Out of all the children, she seemed to be taking it the best. But it was not for a lack of feelings that was for sure. Her reaction was born from familiarity with deep loss. Soft murmurs and conversation went around, no one daring to raise their voices above a whisper in the grim atmosphere.
Padraic was next. He sauntered up with his hands on his hips as he shook his head with a wane smile and chuckled bitterly to himself. But he choked on his weak laugh and clenched his jaw and closed his red eyes as he placed a hand on the casket. He nodded to himself a few times before walking away.
I motioned for Mila and Sylvia for us to go next. The short walk to the casket felt like an eternity. Mila sniffled to herself as she muttered, "Grandpa…"
I choked up slightly as I rested my palm on the warm, white wood. The casket was draped with a flag of Luminar and had a small plaque of gold nailed to its lid with the short inscription.
"An unsuspecting hero at a dire time who laid his life down for those in need. May his deeds remain immortalized in history and his sacrifice never forgotten, for here lies Dr. Jacobs, hero, teacher, and grandfather."
Why didn't you tell anyone, old man? That you were suffering in silence…
Did you know your end was here? What else did you have to tell me, to us? And what, and how did you do what you did at the end?
"I guess we'll never know…" I whispered.
I felt a gaze look down at me and looked up into the red visor. Kronos rested a hand on the coffin in silence.
"A good man, born into a harsh world. His rage turned into a weapon. In a way, he was not so different from us," he said after a moment.
Perhaps.
Surprisingly enough, I could feel the reverence and even sadness emanating from our link.
I didn't expect this from you.
"He was good to us, despite not having to. It was by his hands that we were brought into this world. And he taught us a great deal without ever asking for anything in return. We owe him a great deal. And I made sure to make good on that," he said cryptically as he disappeared.
I see...good.
Even Sylvia silently paid her respects, and with that, we funneled off and back into the crowd. The loss of the last few months was too significant. There was much to dwell on.
After the line for Ms. Taurus dwindled down, I made sure to pay my respects to her. In truth, I didn't know the woman very well. But it didn't make it any easier to see her gone.
She was always kind to my family and me. And an invaluable ally to call upon. The hole she was leaving would not be easily filled, if ever. And I was worried about the family she left behind.
However, time waited for no one, and my restful days were coming to an end.
—
Padraic Whithelms POV.
"So today is your last day, huh?" I asked.
Kaladin nodded as he watched Mila run around the room. "It is. I've enjoyed the moment of rest, but there is much to do and not nearly enough time to do it," he said.
I nodded at his solemn words. "Then I take it you won't be going back to the school?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"Indeed. I'll be having a conversation with Bowen about it tomorrow. But I've already decided what to do," he answered.
Mila sprinted over, and Kaladin smiled slightly as he suddenly rolled off the couch and planted himself face-first into the floor. Mila arrived and dived onto his back, jumping up and down.
"Daddy, get up!" she giggled.
"Nope."
Mila crawled to his side and tried flipping him over. With a mixture of grunts and giggles, she was obviously unsuccessful. Eventually, she gave up and grabbed his arm and tried pulling that instead. Kaladin at least gave her the arm, but pulling him up would be a tall task for her.
Honestly, it was a surreal sight. If someone had asked me if Kaladin would have an adoptive daughter and be playing around with her like that, I would have told them that person was insane. Not because I never imagined that he would have a child one day, but that he would do so so soon.
Adorable, maybe having a kid isn't so—uh, wait, what?
Mila swiftly gave up on the arm as she begged Kaladin to roll over. She knelt down with her hands on his ribs, and my eyes widened in shock. Mila's arms and legs bulged with power as the veins popped out from the skin. She let out a low growl and lifted, and actually managed to lift Kaladin slightly.
It must have shocked him just as much as me, as he twitched and forced himself back down. Mila let go and fell back onto the ground and immediately turned to me. I had expected her to be angry, but she just had a smile on her face instead.
Huh…maybe children can be scary sometimes. Daughter like father and all that?
"Don't look at me. I didn't do anything," I said playfully with a shrug.
She immediately jumped into my lap and, with strength that shouldn't belong to such a small child, pushed down on my shoulders. "Uncle Paddy! Daddy won't listen to me!" Mila giggled.
"Maybe if you asked nicely?" I suggested with a chuckle.
"No! I need your help!" she said.
Kid, I couldn't lift him if I tried! You'll be taller and stronger than me in a few years…damn.
"Well, what do you need help with, huh?" I asked.
Her blue eyes lit up as she asked, "I want to learn how to cut wood!"
…
Huh?
"You…want to learn how to cut wood?" I asked, confused.
"Yeah!" she said excitedly.
I shook my head free of the confusion and asked, "Okay, why do you want to learn to cut wood? And what do you want to make?"
Mila got very animated as she took her hands and started to make motions like she was craving. "I want to make a cat for Aunt Lin for her birthday! I saw Mr. Fuzzy head doing it, but he wouldn't let me because I wasn't old enough!"
Some understanding came to me. I was still confused about this unknown Mr. Fuzzy head, which also seemed to grab Kaladin's attention as he stared daggers at me but remained silent.
"I see…you don't want to cut wood necessarily. You want to learn how to carve and whittle?" I asked to confirm.
"Yeah, widdle and carve!" she said with excitement.
"Whittle," I corrected.
"Whittle…" she repeated slowly.
I gave her a pat on the head and stroked my beard in thought. I could get behind the reasoning. After all, doing such a noble deed for my little niece and Lin was just perfect. I could make something as well.
And I had done a little carving and whittling in my days. I was far from an expert, but I could teach a kid to whittle a cat in a few hours. And even though I would start slaving away in the forges again with Master Squeaks, I still did get some time to myself.
But…
"Well, this Mr. Fuzzyhead or whatever was indeed correct. Whittling and carving use sharp tools that are not suitable for children. You'll have to ask your father for permission first," I said sternly with a nod of my head.
Mila instantly jumped off me and back onto the floor with ease as she crouched over her father and poked him. "Daddy…please?" she begged.
Kaladin turned his head slightly. "Mmm…you'll have to listen to everything Uncle Padraic tells you to do. And if you are a bad girl, he won't teach you anything anymore, understood?"
Mila's head bounced up and down furiously. She seemed dead set on learning. Whether it was because she found interest in the craft or for the sake of the gift, I wasn't sure. But why not give a child a chance to learn something new?
"I'll listen to everything he says!" Mila said proudly.
"Good, now make sure it's okay with your mother as well. She's right there," Kaladin said while rolling up to his feet with a hop.
I turned my head around and saw a pair of red eyes watching us from the hallway. Sylvia chuckled awkwardly and walked in with a smile.
"Looks like I've been caught…" she said.
Mila bounded over and hugged Sylvia's leg as she looked up at her with pleading eyes. Sylvia giggled to herself and nodded.
"Sure, you can learn from Uncle Padraic," she said, running a hand through her orange hair.
"Yes! Thank you!" Mila shouted.
Sylvia's smile grew as she looked over at me. "Thank you, Padraic," she said softly.
I waved a hand at her. "It's nothing. Just doing the job of the world's best uncle. It's to be expected, even," I said with a playful shrug.
"When can we start?" Mila asked.
"Your schooling is starting tomorrow. So perhaps after that? Tomorrow evening should give me enough time to get everything ready," I said.
"There you have it. Now, come with me, Dear. It's time for lunch. Let Daddy and Uncle Padraic have some time," Sylvia said.
As the pair left, I turned to Kaladin, who nodded with a smile. "Thanks for saying you'll teach her. She's never really shown interest in something like this before," Kal said.
"It's fine. It's not a big deal. I know enough to teach the basics, and I know enough people who could spare some old tools. Even if she grows disinterested in the end, she's just a kid. It's good for her to try some new things, you know?" I said with a shrug.
Kaladin's smile faded and turned pensive for a moment. I understood the look well. There was a lot to think about these days. And I know it weighed heavily on his shoulders, even if he shouldn't be bearing the burden alone.
A smile crept on my lips as I said, "Mila, she's real adorable, you know? I wonder if Sable is as cute as she is now."
Kaladin raised an eyebrow. "Sable? Whose Sable?" he asked.
"My little sister," I said nonchalantly.
I chuckled as Kal went through a myriad of emotions, from surprise to confusion, and even a hint of frustration. He sighed deeply and rested his head in his hands.
"Any reason you never mentioned you had a sister?" he asked through his fingers.
"You never asked?" I said playfully.
Kaladin shook his head as he slowly looked up. His eyes darted around as he mumbled, "If identical twins had the same…does that make the two children half-siblings? No…wait? Does it? Are they closer than normal blood siblings then? Is that even possible? How does that even work?"
Instead of wracking his brain further, he just shrugged and slumped into the couch. The same pensive look was plastered on his face.
"I take it since Sylvia didn't ask us to go to lunch, you have a little more to talk about? Something you didn't want Mila to overhear," I inferred.
"Yeah…I do," Kaladin said after a moment.
"Does it have to do with your parents? Did something happen between you guys? I can practically see the invisible tension," I said.
Kaladin's eyes darkened and looked elsewhere in the room for a moment before shaking his head. "Yeah, it does. Doesn't feel right not to tell you, especially since you're the only one not in the know since Grandpa is gone," he said.
Oh? Something even the old man didn't know? And why am I last to hear about it!
I trudged halfway across the continent to help find this bastard, and he can't even bother to share a single secret with me? Honestly, if he weren't so torn up about it, I'd give him a piece of my mind…but it's clearly not the time.
"Buckle up, it's going to be a long one," he said.
"I've got time. And besides, what is there to be surprised about with you anymore, huh? Killing Dragons and fighting ancient gods? Can't be that bad," I chuckled.
—
Oh. That is something else…
Kaladin finished his lengthy explanation about his past, not as Kaladin, but as this man named Kronos. Honestly, most of it went over my head. How in the world was I supposed to visualize flying ships and wars on the scale of entire worlds? A super soldier, a person not born but created with science?
I didn't even know it was possible to leave a world, let alone thousands. And to think there is some tall, dark, brooding figure standing in the corner I can't see? Well, at least that explained a lot about why he was the way that he was. It brought that one day with Cerila's sister some clarity. No child should have had that kind of conviction and malice in them.
I asked a few questions about some things, but only ended up with more. Eventually, I just had to let the story ride out. A part of me thought all my teasing had caught up to me, and Kaladin was about to lay the biggest one at my feet, but that was dashed away very quickly.
I could tell the man was deadly serious, and I could also tell how much it bothered him. The whole was he Kaladin or was he Kronos, or was he both at the same time stuff? Real confusing stuff. I'm just a Dwarf that makes stuff, I'll leave all the big thinking to the book guys.
Am I the weird one for not caring all that much? I guess this is what I get for hanging around those two at such an age…
So in the end, it doesn't really change much, does it?
So I stroked my beard and shrugged. "Well, whatever, I guess? I always knew you two were the oddest ones in the village. I'm just lying in the bed I made," I said.
"You seem…very non-chalant about this," he said, disheartened.
"Because it doesn't change anything, Kal. I get why your parents might be upset. I understand that, pretty sure if I were in their shoes I'd be conflicted too. Pretty sure they'll come around, though. Anyway, I didn't give birth to you, so between you and me? It's all the same as it was yesterday, man. The past is the past, and today is today, and all that. Everything you did, I never saw a problem with it."
I stood up and looked down at him. "And if I could go back in time, I'd do it all over again. I'd be friends with the sulky Dark Elf kid in the back of the class who made friends with the deaf girl nobody liked. I chose to stand by your side. And because of it, I got a lot more out of life," I said.
I extended a fist to him and said firmly, "So, even if everyone turns against you. You'll always have a brother in me, Kal. That's another promise I'll take to the grave."
Kaladin's eyes went wide as his brows shot up. But eventually they smoothed out into a thin smile. He stood up and bumped my fist.
"Thanks, Padraic," he said softly.
"Don't mention it, pal," I said.
I let the moment go on until something floated into my mind, and I just couldn't help myself. I let out a loud laugh as Kaladin looked concerned.
"What?" he asked.
"Oh…it's nothing. Just sucked that you had to die to meet me. Most people aren't so unlucky. They get to be graced by my presence in just one lifetime," I said.
Kaladin shook his head as he snorted with laughter. "You said we were the weird ones, but maybe the insane one was you all along," Kal said, chuckling in between.
"Might be right on that one…takes a fool to befriend one, right? Takes a madman to do two," I admitted.
Kaladin smiled as he rested a hand on my shoulder. A spark of interest crossed his eyes. "Say…wanna help me make something that will irrevocably alter the course of this entire planet forever?"
"Well…hot damn. What man doesn't want to change the world at least once in their life?"