Enris and his mom embraced in a hug for a long while, Hyro started to feel uncomfortable just standing there. Finally, after some time passed, Enris’s mom stepped back and looked at Hurly and Hyro, tears still in her eyes but more composure in her voice, “Hurly, it is nice to see you again, thank you for ensuring my son's safety back home. Enris, who else did you bring with you?” That last part she more directed at Enris, to which he replied, “Mom, this is Hyro, he’s my friend, I asked him to be here with me. Hyro, this is my mom, Harper.” Hyro stepped up to shake her hand, but to his surprise she hugged him instead and spoke as she did, “Thank you for being there for my Enris.”

  Her hug with Hyro was just a quick one, to Hyro’s relief. Afterwards she invited everyone inside. Their home was what Hyro assumed an average worker's home would look like, a sitting area, a kitchen area, there were stairs to a second floor and a few closed doors. Hyro was curious but was not about to go snooping. Harper invited everyone to have a seat and brought out tea for everyone. As she handed out the last cup she spoke to Hurly, “I must insist that you and Hyro stay with us while you are here. You will have to share a room, but it is better than paying for the inn.” Hurley responded for the both of them, “While we appreciate the offer the academy has already secured us a room at the inn here in town.” Harper and Hurly continued back and forth for a bit with Harper trying to change Hurly’s mind. Enris motioned for Hyro to follow him upstairs and Hyro did just that.

  Walking up stairs, most of the doors were closed, but Enris led right to one and opened it up, “This is my room, I haven’t really seen it in a year.” As he opened the door he paused where he was for a moment, “They haven’t changed a thing.” Hyro looked around and noticed a plain looking bed, a desk and a chair in the room, but on the desk were a few different figurines, toys that Hyro saw other kids have while he was growing up. Enris took a seat on the bed and motioned for Hyro to sit at the desk. “Thanks for coming Hyro, I know you had to work hard to get to level five this fast.” Hyro was looking at one of the figures on the desk, it was a weasel like creature with large triangular ears. He replied while fidgeting with the toy, “It wasn’t a big deal, I wanted to be here for you. Why don’t you tell me a bit about your dad.” Enris thought for a bit and then replied, “My dad, Stephanus, was an amazing man, he had to leave a lot for work, I actually used to get angry with him for not being there, I hope he knows I am sorry for that.”

  “I am sure that he knows Enris,” Hyro responded, “I’m sure even when you were mad with him at the time, he knew you still cared.” The two talked for a long time, Hyro told Enris about his family and Enris told Hyro more about his, as they talked more they realized how similar their two stories were, both of their parents were from up north near Ryse, both fled to the south to get away from the oppression in that area. Enris continued talking about his past, “I only wish my uncle Fay could make it. He was a respected doctor up near Ryse, I never actually met him, but my Mom and Dad would tell me all the time about how it was thanks to him that we have the life we do, he sent us down here to his friend, Garry, who has helped take care of us. I have never met him but I know it would mean a lot to my Mom to have her brother here.” Hyro thought he was missing something, so asked a follow up question, “I know it is a long trip but there are plenty of means to get here quick, why doesn’t he come down?” Enris replied with an answer that sent chills down Hyro’s spine, “Less than a year after he helped us flee to the south my mom received a message from one of her friends back up north, Faysal helped another family with a newborn move down south and apparently something was weird with the newborns magic. Since then he has been in the dungeon in Ryse.”

  Hyro was at a loss for words. Up near Ryse, a kid with weird magic, a family that had to flee south… Am I the reason Enris’s uncle is in prison? Is this why my spell told me to trust Enris, should I trust him with my magic, should I tell him I think I am the reason his uncle is in the dungeon. Now might not be the best time. “Enris,” Hyro said after a moment of silence, “Let’s go get something to eat, it is getting late and we should get some rest. I have to find out what Hurly ended up deciding on for where we would be staying.”

  The two walked back down stairs to rejoin Harper and Hurly who were still sitting and talking. “Aye lads, we were about to come get you, we are going to go grab a bite to eat at the inn, then Hyro, if ye would like ye can stay here, Harper has graciously invited ye to stay, I will be staying at the inn tonight. Let’s get going.” Hurly said as the boys arrived downstairs. After that they all went to eat. The Inn was the only building taller than the others and it was not much taller, just one story. Upon entering the main eating area was very lively, a musician was playing a guitar in the corner as many conversations were going on all around the room. They sat and ate, sharing a plate of pork, potatoes and carrots. When they finished, Hyro decided to stay with Harper and Enris for the evening, while he liked Hurly he thought it would be weird sharing a room with him, and there was a spare room at Enris’s. Not much more happened that evening as they all headed to bed, Hyro did send a good night message to Cynthia and she responded with the same.

  The next morning was the day of Stephanus’s memorial service. Tradition of this area was to have a small ceremony and then send the deceased out on a small boat that was then set on fire. There was a similar tradition in Aquarine, as both were near the sea. Normally there is time to view the body as well, but due to the accident that was not possible in this case. Hyro stayed back, but close enough that if Enris needed him he would be there. Hyro had not been to any funerals in his life, but he has seen them happening in passing but this was one of the nicest funerals he has ever seen. The ceremony did not last long, Harper, Enris and Garry all spoke about Stephanus’s life and memorialized his accomplishments. When it was time to send the body out to sea, Enris and Harper were the ones to push it out. Right before the flame arrows were sent out the wind started to pick up. The cloth that was covering the body started to lift up. Oh no! Hyro thought, I need to do something! This wind will ruin everything! Just then Hyro felt the familiar tingle of power coursing through his veins, as he looked down he saw a line of power that he wasn't familiar with, so he quickly opened his character sheet.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Character Sheet:

  At a cost? Well I don’t have time to worry about that now. Hyro traced the new line and said, “Temperiem Regere.” Calm weather. As Hyro felt the magic activate and thought the calm the wind died down. Hyro got a few looks as he spoke Temperiem Regere out loud, but he could not care about that, he needed to focus on keeping the spell active. Hyro was focusing, waiting to see the arrows sent out and make contact with the boat. Sweat poured down his face, he could feel the spell starting to slip, as the archers finally drew their arrows. Hyro was shaking now and a popup came through.

  After a few moments there was another popup that Hyro quickly dismissed without reading as he finally saw the arrows arch in the air and meet their mark. The ceremony was complete and the flames grew, just as Hyro dropped the spell the flames rose even higher as the wind started picking up. Everyone was in awe watching the display of wind affecting the fire on the boat at sea, and then suddenly a bolt of lightning dropped from the sky, striking the boat. Immediately after that display rain poured from the sky.

  Hyro rushed with everyone to get under some cover. Watching the rain from under an awning on what was a beautiful day, it seemed awkward. Is this because I changed the weather so quickly? Hyro wasn’t sure what to think at this point, I have to stop messing with powers beyond my control. As he thought that he opened his character sheet again to notice that his intelligence had dropped by one point down to twenty one. Well crap.

  Hyro returned with Enris back to his house, rushing through the streets in the rain. Once they returned Enris looked at Hyro, gave him a hug and spoke up, “I do not know what you did, but thank you. I saw the wind, my mom and I almost had to see what those hogtork’s and Barbarians did to my dad, but then I heard you say something. When I looked back at you, you were glowing and looked like you were about to pass out. So I do not know what you did, but thank you.” Enris seemed more resolved to Hyro as he continued speaking, “When I saw that, almost saw my dad I decided something. I was not sure if I was strong enough to keep going as an adventurer, now I am sure, I need to not just be stronger. I will avenge my dad, end the hogtork lair and stop the barbarians. I can not continue if I don’t do it.” Hyro thought for a moment. He was already planning to go back to that area as it was closer to his home, and he needed to visit his parents, but the hogtork lair and barbarians was a large task, almost a suicide mission. Well, if trying to take that on isn’t giving in to my chaotic nature, I don’t know what is. He then let his face curl up to a small smile, “I was hoping you would say that, so when are we going?”