I was intrigued by the revelation that my mum was a mage. I mean… I knew that she knew some healing magic from when I hurt myself as a child… but I never saw her use any offensive spells. It occurs to me that I have always been so focussed on my dad’s adventures and the quests in his journals that I have never asked my mum about her past.

  While Kiyui was finishing milking the cows, my mother was feeding me lunch. I took the opportunity to ask her about it. Turns out that my parents met as adventurers back in the day.

  Indira: “I was what’s known as a combat mage. I wore armour, wielded a sword, and fought up front, but had a limited arsenal of offensive spells as well as some minor healing spells at my disposal. I was mostly there to deal major damage while your father got the enemies attention and took most of the hits.”

  Dwynfel: “So why did you give it up? Adventuring is so exciting.”

  Indira: “It was certainly exciting. But there is more to life than excitement. Adventuring is very dangerous, as you yourself are very aware of. I fell in love with your father and I wanted somewhere for us to call home, for us to raise a family. So, we bought this place, of course soon after we bought this place your father brought you home… and we had the family that we were looking for. Of course, your father could never truly give up the adventuring. The farm was my dream, not his. I could always see how happy he was telling you about his adventures… making those journals of his most recent trips for you to read in his absence. It’s his fault that you wanted to become an adventure really. I could see that same desire in your eyes as I could see in his… and I love you both for it.”

  It was lovely to find out more about my mum. She spoke of how she first met my dad in a pub when they were very young. She told me about their first kiss by firelight after they defeated a dread wraith. She told me about their wedding over in a wooded clearing by Vardan. It was a small romantic gathering apparently. She said my father had scattered rose petals everywhere. I never knew my father was such a romantic.

  My mum talked to me for hours about her past. It was amazing. I really should have talked to her about all of this stuff much earlier than now. I have always been so focussed on my dad and his adventures that I never really concerned myself with what the rest of their lives were like before. My mum is such a fascinating person… and I feel like in the few hours that we spoke, she only revealed the tip of the iceberg.

  The next morning, Kiyui came bursting into my room with the same enthusiasm as the day before. Only this time he had modified the dungarees. He had tightened them so they were no longer baggy. He had shortened the legs so that they were very short shorts and he had sown a flower with pink thread onto the chest.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Dwynfel: “I didn’t know you could sew.”

  Kiyui: “Oh, being able to fix clothes comes in very handy when you work where I used to. Honestly, the amount of clothes that get torn and damaged. What do you think of my new look?”

  He picked a piece of straw out of his pocket and placed it in in between his teeth, smiling at me. I couldn’t help but laugh again.

  Dwynfel: “You look lovely… it definitely suits you better.”

  Kiyui: “Why thank you. I do try.”

  The next few days continued with much of the same… without the home invasion, fortunately. Kiyui continued to look after me, feeding me, helping me use the privy, etc. He kept his eyes shut the whole time. I never even needed to remind him. Just me asking him that first time was enough. He’s so compliant that I find it genuinely strange… if I were in his shoes, I would have sneaked a peak several times.

  At the end of the week, Agaroth & Phoenix had agreed to escort my mum to Vardan to help her set up a stall and sell her goods there, leaving Kiyui and I alone.

  Literally the second they left, Kiyui came bursting into my room.

  Kiyui: “I’ve got a surprise for you!”

  He said it with such excitement and enthusiasm… and honestly, I dread to think what he has in mind.

  Dwynfel: “I’m going to regret this… but… go on.”

  Kiyui: “Close your eyes.”

  I closed my eyes and he took me by the hand and guided me through into the bathing room. Even with my eyes closed, I know where I am in my own house.

  Kiyui: “Open them.”

  I opened my eyes and could see that he had filled the bathtub with hot water… it was also full of bubbles. Bubbles in a bath are not something that I am used to. That is something that wealthy people have. I looked to the side of the bath where he had placed all sorts of potions and lotions.

  I looked at Kiyui and he started removing the bandage from his arm.

  Dwynfel: “Please tell me you didn’t spend your money on this stuff for me.”

  Kiyui: “Don’t be silly. This is all my stuff. In my old job it was always important to look after yourself. I thought you could share in some pampering with me while everyone else is away.”

  Dwynfel: “You really don’t have to do this. I’m fine with just staying in bed until I’m healed.”

  I tried to leave but he held my shoulders and turned me back towards the bath.

  Kiyui: “I’m not doing this because I have to. I’m doing this because I want to. Everyone deserves a nice bath from time to time. And your bath is a good size, so it’ll be easy. Now come on… it’ll be fun.”

  I looked at his arm… there wasn’t a mark on it.

  Dwynfel: “Your arm? It’s healed?”

  Kiyui: “Mmhmm”

  Dwynfel: “But… it’s completely healed… there isn’t even a scar or anything… how?”

  Kiyui: “My kind heal fast.”

  Dwynfel: “But… not even a scar?”

  Kiyui laughed as he started to undress himself. Which didn’t take him long… he had nothing on apart from that ridiculous pair of dungarees. He looked at me and closed his eyes.

  Kiyui: “You ready?”