Familial Interlude: Keala Kan

(Before the 2 Year Time Skip)

Keala gazed at her twin children that quietly sat and read. Ever since their big brother left the two become less playful and took their training more serious and it broke Keala’s heart to see their childhood quickly evaporating. Hopefully time away from their homeland would change that. Nani refilled her teacup and Keala took a few sips to calm her nerves. She hadn’t come back home in… in… well since she ran away and agreed to marry Vasu after losing the battle for the throne. The Hukku Clan oversaw one of the Middle Kingdoms after all.

She hoped her sister wouldn’t hold it against her for long. Keala snapped her fingers and the children’s books were replaced with toys.

“It’s either that or you come cuddle with mommy,” Keala said holding her arms open.

The twins looked at one another in silent communication before jumping in her lap. Keala could read them like an open book however and knew that they wanted to comfort her after her fight with Vasu. She pulled them close and gave them a kiss that lulled them to sleep. They were far too young to worry about their relationship. Besides Vasu was hooked around her little finger. He wasn’t going anywhere.

They could have teleported to a border city of the Hukku Clans domain, but Keala decided against it. She wanted her and her children to spend as much time away from home as possible to let them escape the mentality that they were like the soldiers. They were her children and she’d like to keep it that way for as long as possible even with the Magi Humans short childhood. Like this days passed then weeks as the airship flew towards the Middle Kingdoms. The Hukku where on the far north of the Middle Kingdoms domain and they would cross over several kingdoms and principalities.

As the weeks passed and her children grew less tense, and the smile and playfulness returned with the twins even acting out scenes they used to do with their older brother with her.

“Raaaawr I am the mighty witch, Rose of the Fallen Petals.” Keala said with a flourish and black small petals began to fall around her a simple illusion that she conjured.

“Villain you will not harm the fair maiden.”

“Have no fear for I am here!”

The two said and posed and Nani who was pretending to be tied up clapped and cheered out.

“Have at thee!” The twins said in unison and charged.

Keala fended off their attacks for a few moments before pretending to parish.

“Fair maiden are you alright?” Tara asked as she released Nani from her ‘bonds. Akash was busy watching their mother as their older brother had like to say that villains always have multiple phases and never die the first time their defeated. Sure, enough Keala rose from the ground preparing to strike only for Akash to strike quicker slaying her once again.

“I… will… RETURN!” With a popping noise Keala disappeared.

Keala smiled as she tucked the twins in to sleep. Tomorrow the airship would be arriving, tomorrow she would be home.

***

Keala stare at the towering peaks of the mountain range that surrounded the kingdom a natural defense which also isolate the Hukku from the outside world. A massive valley spread out before her, and she breathe in the familiar air at high altitudes. She was home.

A blur spread towards their ship and the guards and captains activated their defensives and already the airship was taking defensive maneuvers. Only for Keala’s voice to ring out.

“No need, its only my sister.”

She teleported outside on top of the airship and a moment later a figure slammed into her. Squeezing her tight and planting kisses all over her face.

“KEALA! I’VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH! If I didn’t have the clan to run, I’d have long since visit you. What took you so long to come back anyway. You know you’re always welcome here. Are you still mad about our fight? I’ve had enough of ruling you can have the position if you still want it. GODS ABOVE AND BELOW IS THAT THE TWINS I’VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT!”

In an instant her sister disappeared and Keala sighed following a moment later as she found her very confused children being hugged by a similar looking woman to their mom.

“Tara, Akash, this is your aunty and my elder sister Mahina. If she smothers you too much just punch her.”

Irritation was clear in their mother’s voice and the twins looked at each other as they never saw this side of their mother. She almost appeared like a little girl to them.

“We greet Aunty Mahina!” The twins said in union. They had been getting more in sync as they grew older, but Keala wasn’t too concerned about it.

Mahina planted kisses all over the twins face and Nani came into the room with other servants to spread a layout of breakfast. Mahina squealed once again, and this time Nani was being smothered while holding back an irritated expression while trying to push the Hukku Matriarch away while simultaneously setting up the table. They were still a few hours from the capital and Mahina was either waiting at the edge of the territory or had flown here in the time it took for her aura to brush against the magic barrier surrounding the country. Nothing goes in or out of the Hukku clan without it being known.

“Mother is going to be so happy to see you. Father has already left to the boundary, but you know how mother is always a worrywart. Are you still mad? I’m sorry please don’t be mad! When are you going to bring your first born for a visit. I’ve heard so much about him.”

“That’s the reason I’m here. We need to scry his presence.”

In an instant Mahina face harden and her aura leaked out causing phenomena to appear in the sky. Apparitions of beast and men clashing against them while a figure in the Stars watched over. Before she settled her mind, body, and soul.

***

“So, someone thinks they can mess with a member of the Hukku family and walk away scot free?”

“That’s what I’m saying!” Keala responded to her sister taking another sip of the strong wine brewed from the grapes of an Arccuron vine and guarded by beast with similar power to their own.

“Just because we remain in the Middle Kingdoms those necromancers have forgotten our might. I think it’s time we remind them but only after finding my son.

If you think the twins are geniuses just wait until you see my little shield.”

Mahina suddenly stood up. “There’s no time like the present. We will be using the Starconfication.”

Keala looked at her sister in alarm. “Are you sure? That takes 10 years or longer to recharge I don’t think that much power is necessary.”

“Nonsense that is my first nephew you’re speaking about! His safety must be assured, or my heart will not rest easy.”

She grabbed Keala’s hand, and they appeared in the highest tower in the kingdom maybe even in Nia itself.

Mahina entered a series of runic passwords and phrases before entering dragging a still half drunk Keala behind. Runic symbols lit up as the passed and the tower began to activate starting from the very first floor to the 100th the highest. A soft green glow encompassed each floor, and a shriek rang out as the hit the 90th floor.

“Did you not tell mother?”

Mahina avoided her eyes and Keala suddenly expelled the alcohol that was affecting her mind.

“Well, you’re the ruler so I’ll be fine. Good luck though!”

Mahina grabbed her before she could leave a wicked grin on her face.

“You’re not bringing me down with you to face punishment.”

“Come on it’ll be just like when we were children!”

The last level lit up and the soft green glow turned stable for a moment before blinking slowly then faster and faster a humming noise accompanied the blinking rising in crescendo with the blinking. Just as Keala felt like her eardrums may burst the green glow shot into the sky. Before disappearing out of sight. A green glow erupted from Mahina’s eyes, then Keala’s then every guard of the Hukku clan. Then every man, woman, and child with the Hukku bloodline. In various kingdoms pandemonium erupted as one moment someone would be talking and in the next their eyes would glow and release a soft green light.

“Mahina you must focus the energy and look for your target. Keala assist her.” A mature woman with obsidian features said as she appeared on the 100th floor.

Together Mahina and Keala used the power of their very bloodline as their eyes swept over Nia. The bloodline of a God. Nothing could hide from their vision, and it focused on the Catacombs. Keala described her son’s characteristics to Mahina.

“I see him. The Wild Jungle in level 3 next to some white hair pretty girl. Isn’t that zone off limits because of… Rashkin? He’s looking directly at me. Hold on I think I can seal him off for a time. Maybe 5 years max before he can break out probably shorter. He’s going to be so mad when he wakes up. This should give your son plenty of time to escape the jungle. Although with no clear hierarchy the beast of the area will go wild with attacks. It should be fine. The boy is fine. Strong and so young. Amazing. The Hukku family is truly blessed.”

That was the last thing Keala heard before she knocked out.