Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Goodbyes

“That's ridiculous!” Sune cries in the nearly empty meadow with just the four children within it.

“You’re ridiculous!” Fang retorts.

“You’re literally fighting with me for fun!”

“I would never.” He puts a hand on his heart with a hurt look.

Sune glares at him, Oswin and Aelfsciene walking into the meadow with the children. Hollie looks up from where she sits in the field, lightly shaking the sleeping Kumiho who lays next to her.

“Hey everyone~” Aelfsciene’s soft voice is more subdued than usual, “Oswin has something he wants to ask you.”

The children stare at Oswin in curiosity, “I have to do some traveling up North.” He pauses for a long moment.

“Does that mean you'll be gone again?” Sune asks worriedly.

“If I go alone, yes. But after talking about it I've decided to give each of you a choice. And please realize this is an important choice, not something to be taken lightly or done for fun.” The children wait for him to continue, their soft eyes slowly turning steely, “You can either stay here until I get back, but you'll have no one guarding you and could possibly be in danger if the Church attacks. But that pendant should give you enough time to escape.” He points to the simple pendant hanging around Kumiho's neck and lying over her white cloak. “And your other choice is to come with me. It will be most certainly dangerous, hence why I wasn't going to bring you. But I also realize leaving a bunch of kids alone might not be the best plan either. Especially since the Church has so much power in this area. Once again, I preface: this choice is important and if you decide to come with me, it will be dangerous.”

The field goes quiet for a long time, the children looking at each other in silent understanding, Sune opens her mouth to speak, “I…” She stops and thinks for a small time, “I—” her tone slowly gains resolve, “I don't want to just sit around while you go out and I just have to sit here wondering if you'll ever come back. So I'll go with you.” Her resolute voice resounding through the quiet meadow, ringing in their ears like thunder.

“Sune you do—” Oswin begins but is cut off by Hollie's strangely loud voice, “I'll go too.”

“Wait but don't yo—” He barely gets a few words out before Kumiho cuts him off too and Oswin is left in a shocked daze, “I will go as well.”

Oswin's dazed eyes land on the only quiet child. The young boy lightly massaging his left wrist, “Well. Someone has to go to keep Sune in control.” He jokes lightly, Oswin standing stupefied in the field, his head jerkily turning to the silent Aelfsciene.

“You're not blind yet, right?” He questions quietly.

She lightly chuckles, “I'm not that old, and you don't have to be a true seer to know what these kids would choose.” She responds softly.

Oswin looks toward the small group, a small tremor in his eyes as he individually looks into the eyes of each child. His eyes shining a radiant, alien blue that would never be seen naturally in nature: a blue brighter than the sky and yet holds secrets darker than the depths of the ocean. And with them he sees things only his eyes can see, images and streams of energy only he can understand, a completely different world that only he has access to. And through this other world he sees something, something hidden deep within the children that causes him to subconsciously grin at the children, and tears to fall from his face that he quickly wipes away. His warm grin earning him the small smiles of all four children, even Kumiho and Hollie; the tears earning him worried looks.

“Well…” Oswin speaks distantly, “We’ll leave tomorrow towards the North. Say goodbye to everyone and give me all of your things to store in Jerry.” He slowly regains his zeal as he continues to speak.

“You named the spatial familiar I gave you, Jerry?” Osgar walks into the field, his voice filled with disbelief, his tone bordering on disgust.

“What's wrong with that? I know the name comes from more niche areas of the empire, but I quite like it.” Oswin says with a smile on his face, the blonde-haired man simply sighing in response, a dejected expression on his face.

The children awkwardly stand in the field, Oswin and Osgar turning and walking out the field while Oswin talks the other man’s ear off. Aelfsciene smiles at the children, “Go and say goodbye to everyone, the adults have some more to talk about while you're gone.” She waves at them and turns around, her gold hair flowing in the windy meadow.

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The children travel through the field and into town, first visiting Leah’s small plant filled shop.

“How long will you be gone?” the vine haired woman worriedly asks the children.

“We aren't sure, but at least a few months if I had to guess.” Fang lightly responds.

“Well, if you can, would you send letters?” She grabs Fang's arm lightly with her vine hand, the vines of her hand wrapping around his arm softly, “Please?”

The tanned woman's genuinely worried expression shocks Fang and causes a flustered response to leave his mouth, “I’ll t-try to keep you updated.” His smile small and strained

Fang leaves the shop with the other three children, Leah sending them prayers for a safe trip. Her hands clasped around a small glowing blue crystal while she prays at the front door of her shop.

Kumiho and Fang visit the grumpy blacksmith next, Sune and Hollie going to the tavern instead.

“An why woud I care where you goin?” The gruff man asks irritatedly.

“Well I thought you'd like to know since we're valued customers…?” Fang asks.

“You want free stuff, don't ya.” The rough man narrows his eyes at the two cubs.

“No…?” Fang speaks cautiously.

“I do.” Kumiho says indifferently.

Fang quickly turns to Kumiho in mild panic, desperately trying to cover her mouth with his hand while whispering, “Kumiho you can't just—” He tries to speak but is quickly interrupted by uproarious laughter.

“Ye really have no tact, fox.” The tall man leans over the counter and stares into Kumiho's green eyes, a vicious glint in his eyes. The red-haired girl refusing to yield under his cold grey eyes, her bright green eyes meeting his in a silent exchange.

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“...” Their silent stare down continues, Fang beginning to sweat profusely from simply watching the two.

The man after a long stare down leans back and grabs something from under the table, “You'll need this.” He places two smooth metal face masks on the counter, and then grabs a handful of green beetles with threaded metal having replaced their heads, “These masks and greenies help you breathe. If you evah have trouble breathin, for whatevah reason it is, put tat mask on and screw in a greenie. Might save yur life.” The man gruffly tells the two white cloaked kids.

“Could you give our friends some too?” Fang asks with a strained smile on his face, his smile straining even more under the man's dead grey eyes and expressionless face.

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“He acts tough but he's really a ray of sunshine!” Fang speaks happily to Kumiho as they walk out of the smithy with five metal masks hanging from their arms and a sack of the green beetles.

“Sure...”

The two kids walk into the bustling tavern filled with harsh laughter. Sune stands on a table with both hands towards the sky while yelling an Osfrith quote: "He who never tries to change shall stand stagnant for eternity, and he who is stagnant will never reach the Divine Palace!" While she yells her quote, Hollie stands off to the side and quietly talks with the waitress who cleaned their clothes before, Matilda.

Fang’s eyes sparkle with excitement, “Can you hold this?” He tosses all his masks into Kumiho’s hands before she can even respond, the young boy running towards Sune’s table and hopping on the table with her.

“...” The red-haired girl stands there in silent shock for a long time before walking over to Hollie and dumping the masks and bag of beetles on the confused black-haired girl and walks over to the nearby old woman.

“Oh, you two are finally here.” Edith speaks casually; her arms crossed over her stained white apron.

Kumiho nods, “They told you?”

“Mhm... And I’m not going to try and stop you—but, you can stay in this town. The townspeople quite like you all and everyone in this tavern practically adores you.” Edith stares at Kumiho with soft eyes, “Just... Think about it.”

Kumiho leans her back against the wall, “We know the risks. I know you worry for us, but is here much safer?”

“No one here will hurt yo—”

“And could you stop someone who will? Or would it just be the situation with Sune all over again?” Kumiho’s hard voice shocks the old woman, her face falling. Kumiho's cold facade slightly disappearing as she looks away from Edith to hide her frown, her eyes glancing at the downtrodden woman softly.

Edith looks down at the ground, “We couldn’t but—I don’t even know, Ha.” The old woman sighs loudly, “I’m not good at this. I guess what I’m trying to say is: I’m worried, and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happens to you all and I could’ve stopped it. I don't want to live with even more mistakes.”

Kumiho’s green eyes stare at the old woman, Edith’s eyes refusing to meet the stare, “Did you tell Sune this?”

“I did...” Her voice almost a whisper.

“And what did she say?”

“The same thing you did.” The woman sighs loudly again, her face staring at the floor. Both women entering a collective silence for a long time, their eyes simply watching Sune and Fang dance around with the drunkards; joyous expressions on all the men’s faces as they happily sing and dance around with the two children like there’s no tomorrow.

“I’m not good at this either.” Kumiho speaks softly, Edith looking at her in surprise, “But this is our decision, and it is up to us to live with it. Regardless of if it’s a mistake or not.” Kumiho doesn’t spare the woman another glance and goes to collect her scattered companions.

“But isn’t it the job of adults to make the right decision so you don’t have to make the wrong one?” Edith mutters under her breath sadly.

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“Thank you for everything Mrs. Edith!” Sune curtsies with her white cloak.

“We’ll be sure to visit again.” Fang grins.

“Uh-uhm, thank you...” Hollie trips over her words with an embarrassed smile.

“...” Kumiho stays quiet, the other three children bidding a few more goodbyes before turning to walk down the dirt roads and away from the tavern. Kumiho watches them slowly walk away, turning to stare at the somber old woman, “I’m sure we will be okay.” She speaks in a calm and measured manner.

“And how do you guarantee that?”

“Because I believe it will be, so it will.”

Edith laughs bitterly, “Sometimes I forget you’re still just a kid.”

“...” Kumiho turns to leave but stops after the first step, “Thank you for treating us so kindly. When we come back, and we will be back, I’ll pay back everything we owe.” She continues her walk.

“And I’ll accept none of it. You don’t treat people kindly while expecting something in return.” Edith watches the young girl walk away; her red hair tinged with a light orange softly fluttering through the air, her steps increasing in speed as she attempts to catch up with her departing companions.

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When they enter the wooden house the foxes' ears are instantly greeted by the light laughter of the adults in the living room, a foldable wooden table standing in the center of the room: cards litter the table haphazardly; green tinted glasses filled with liquid teeter on the edge of the table, so close to falling and yet they don't; a tall green bottle lays on its side atop the table, the drunks regaining just enough clarity to catch the rolling bottle just before it shatters on the floor, just to place it right back on its side again for it to roll off once more. A clear liquid resides within the green bottle and glasses; its distinct smell ousts it as not being water despite what the muddled adults may claim.

“Oh the kids are back—hic. Heya~” The blonde-haired woman hiccups, woozily waving at the cloaked children with a warm grin on her face.

“Hello.” Sune waves back at Aelfsciene, a cordial smile on her face.

“Oh hey. You guys should go upstairs and get—hic!... Packed, before bed. The adults have some more things to do down here for a while.” Oswin says with an equally woozy expression as Aelfsciene.

“Okay.” Kumiho responds calmly before corralling all the other children up the steps and to their rooms regardless of their disputes.

Kumiho looks around her small room for a short moment, the room almost identical to what it looked like all those months back with the only new addition being the messily stacked papers covering the wooden desk. She walks over to the desk, her fingers tracing the lines in the wood; a small notebook sits at the center of the desk, the many stacked papers surrounding it like protective walls. She picks up the notebook and looks at the open page with a small smile: The page is filled with math formulas and examples; small tips and tricks written in Osmund’s casual yet orderly handwriting placed off to the side of the notes. Some of the equations are circled or highlighted with different colors and little doodles of Osmund’s and Kumiho’s faces commonly take the place of the variables in the different equations. She skims through the book and just takes in all the information it presents to her, only stopping at a page with a small circle broken into four quadrants and filled with all sorts of fractions. The sight of the page causing her obvious and strong nausea, her revolted face slowly morphing into a smile once again as she chuckles: Honestly this thing is completely useless and he probably won’t mention it again after this, so just remember these parts and hope he puts nothing else on the quiz. Small red arrows point to a few of the different fractions in each quadrant. Seeing the page, she skims through the stacks of documents at the sides of the desk and pulls out a single page of paper. On the page is a familiar circle broken into four quadrants and some of the circle filled out in her messy handwriting, a prompt at the top of the page: Fill in the blanks. The originally blank spots filled in with rough ink splotches that loosely resemble fractions, the same fractions labeled as ‘important’ by Osmund; the boy predicting exactly what Osgar would test them on. Right next to the prompt is a simple three-digit number in bright red ink, the simple number bringing Kumiho a small amount of joy: 100.

She spends the rest of the night skimming through the stacks of paper and the small notebook, a thin smile on her face the entire time that occasionally morphs into more complex expressions or even outright disgust at the wide variety of assignments Osgar assigned to them.