50 Ayanni

Once Ayanni and Paroppe were back in his house, they split up to go to their families to talk to them.

He was so excited for this opportunity. Being able to go to different worlds and learn was something that excited him a bunch. He wanted to learn, to grow, to ask questions that would lead to more and more. Being able to learn was what he really wanted in life.

As he was running towards the castle, he removed his tech pad. He couldn't, didn't want anyone other than his parents to see it. Let alone ask questions about it. Now that he thought about it, he was going to need to wait for them to get off work. It was going to be tricky, but he would need to force them if they were busy. He and Paroppe said they would wait a week, but he didn't want to wait that long. If he talked to Lera, he could get her to speed things up for Paroppe to decide so he wouldn't have to wait.

'I'm doing it again…'

Ayanni stopped running. He wasn't out of breath, but he was too excited. He needed to wait. He needed to calm down. He needed to control himself. Forcing his parents to talk to him, instead of working, that would lead him down the same path as when he took Ziv. He didn't want a repeat of that.

---

After being let in the castle, he walked along the halls with the guard. He had two of them escorting him. He didn't know the two guards walking beside him, but he had his id. That let him pass the gates and towards his home.

Since his family was a part of the Counsel, their home was on the castle grounds. He hadn't been there since the last break he had in school. Sometime around half a year ago, maybe a bit more.

One he arrived he went inside. The guards left him and he was alone. Well not completely alone.

"It's been a while Daqev."

"Ayanni it's nice to see you. How have you been?"

Daqev is a short dwarf. He wears casual clothing around the house. Though he is the butler and god-father of Ayanni. They always had a great relationship. At this moment, they hugged, for a moment, then stepped back.

"I've been well and you?"

"Keeping myself busy. I found a wonderful book last week. It was the first in a series, so I plan going through them all. What have you been up to?"

"It's a bit of a long story. Do you know when mom and dad will be home?"

"Late tonight, but I can send a message letting them know you arrived. Will you be staying a while."

"Well I would love to leave right away, but I think I'll be staying a week."

"Good to have you back then. Want to talk over some tea?"

"That would be wonderful."

---

"Tell me what has been going on with you."

"Jev and his sister Paroppe, we all have been training after graduation. We spent some time training, going back and forth staying at inns. It was a simple time."

"You sure you didn't age a century or two when I wasn't looking? You sound like your grandfather."

"Well, I thought that it would be nice if I could be independent from mom and dad. I didn't want to stay at the home they bought for me. I feel silly thinking about that now."

Ayanni looked off to the side. He was in a big room with comfortable furniture. There was a tea set in front of him on a small table and Daqev was across from him. His hair was all white. Though for a dwarf, he never liked his beard. It was interesting to see him with a bit of stubble. He probably would shave in a day or two, if not tonight.

"At least you made use of their gift to you. Having fun there?"

"Ah well… I made a mistake, a big one. I hurt someone. It was all my fault."

"Your obsession?"

"Yes, but I have gotten better at controlling. Still learning, but looking back, I was a monster."

"It's easy to make a mistake. Trying to be better is much harder. You know that, don't you."

"Yes I know. Though because of that mistake I met this person. She was… is better now. I had questions for her, but I got my answers. Though recently Jev and Paroppe have separated because of that girl. I don't want to lose my best friends. I don't know what to do about that."

He took a big sip of tea. Once it was gone, he poured himself another cup.

"Friendship troubles, hrm. You still have feelings for Paroppe?"

"I do. I still do. I want to be better, but I don't know. I need to talk to Jev again, but he's clashing with Paroppe. I don't know who to side with. Should I even side with either of them and stay in the middle or… pick one over the other."

"That's tough."

"Thanks…"

"Hey, calm down now. I didn't mean it like that. Two friends, who have differing opinions, that is a tough nut to crack."

"Yea…"

"Tell me about the girl."

"Ha… She was broken. She went through something bad and we helped her get through it. It was a challenge, but because of her… I don't know what to do."

"Love triangle?"

"Daqev!"

"I read a lot ok! You're being so vague I need to guess here."

"Being vague is for the best right now. It isn't the easiest to talk about now that I know more information."

"The best I can suggest is to get Jev and Paroppe in the same room and have them talk it out. You said it yourself that you needed to talk to Jev again. So do that and then drag those siblings into a room and force them to work it out."

"I'm not going to drag people into a room and force them to do anything. I won't do that again."

"At least you are safe."

"Safe… I'm going to be leaving the city soon."

"Where are you going? Some type of escort?"

"No, I'm going to be leaving to go far away. This isn't a job. I'm just going to be travelling."

"How long are you going to be gone for?"

"I'm…"

Ayanni took a moment to think about it. He has a tech pad and if his mother has one too, then she can receive messages from him. Now if she wants to reply, so they can keep in touch, time needs to flow. He cannot ask Lera to stop time, because otherwise he couldn't talk to them. Does it really matter that he keeps in touch? Perhaps it is best to let time flow, otherwise if he aged, then his family would be worried when he comes back.

"I'll talk to my mother about it. Probably won't be for a couple months or so…"

"Just make sure, before you leave, that all your equipment is cleaned and sharpened."

"I will."

---

"Ayanni! It's good to see you again!"

"It's wonderful to see you again." He gave his mom a hug before turning to give one to his dad. "Dad!"

"I see you're taking wonderful care of yourself son!"

After their hug, they gave each other a high five, that linked into them grabbing hands as they pulled each other close and pushed off and came back close to hit their elbows together. Just a father and son 'handshake'.

As he stepped away, he took full view of his parents. "We need to talk."

"Of course."

They moved into the same room where he and Daqev talked. Ayanni already told Daqev that this was going to be a talk between his parents. So the three of them were alone.

"How have you been Ayanni?"

"Mom, I'm your son. You don't have to keep calling me by my name."

"I picked your name and I love it. Of course I'm going to say it."

"That's right son. You mother picked out that wonderful name for you."

"Yes, I know. You both told me that enough as it is." He took a deep breath before looking away, he grabbed out the tech pad in his bag at his side. "I need to talk to you both about this."

"Where did you get that?"

His mother got real serious and his father cast a silence spell around them.

"I got it from my friend."

"Who? I need their name."

"Lera… or her old name Kear."

His parents were stunned, but returned to being serious. He knew well enough that their jobs came with secrets and knowing what he knew was a problem. At least that was how they saw it. Knowing about Kear was a big deal, but even more was that he had a tech pad.

"What do you know?"

"I know that Kear is a very powerful being. These tech pads are from Kear. The fact that the Counsel has them, means that Kear has been around for a long time. I'm also aware of Kear's interaction with our family, though only minimal."

"Have you shown anyone else that tech pad?"

"Only Paroppe knows about it, but she might be telling Jev and/or her family right now."

"We need to stop her."

"You can't. Though that's because she has one of her own."

"What?"

His father was just on the sidelines. It was just his mother and him talking about this. After all, his father was just the secretary. He didn't need to be, he could just listen and it was better that way right now.

"It's ok mom. Since I have one of these we can keep in touch." He took a moment, before telling his parents he was leaving. "I'm going to be leaving with my friends. We're going to go on an adventure."

"Ayanni… Please tell me everything."

"I'm going to different worlds with them, different universes. You know how powerful Lera… Kear is right? There is so much to learn about, things we don't know or never could have found out. I want to find it all out."

He was getting a little out of control, so he took deep breaths. His mother quickly moved around the table to give him a hug.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay?" She asked him with a big smile, though she never expected him to say yes. She knew her son. He asked questions. He wanted answers to those questions, he would do whatever he could to get them. Not always the best ways, but nevertheless she loved her Ayanni.

"Be careful son. When are you leaving?"

"This week, but since we can stay in contact I can always come back if you need me."

"Try to come back for the Light Festival."

"I will mom!"

"I get everything set up so the day after tomorrow we can stay together as a family before you leave."

"Thank you dad!"

With that for the next week he stayed with his family. Tomorrow he would go talk to Paroppe and Jev. He needed to make sure they made up.