Three weeks had passed since the attack of the demon army scouts. There was a somber mood in the air amongst the village people. They were reasonably apprehensive of the situation. Demon scouts usually preceded the eventual arrival of the demon army. They could take refuge in the fort to the west or leave towards the east, away from the approaching demons. Staying was not an option. Mere scouts had caused such damage and they had only gotten out of it by sheer luck.

Axel and the other men were likewise worried about the current situation. They had decided to leave in a week’s time and were slowly getting their things together and planning to abandon the village. Others had similar ideas and were getting ready. Axel would lead the first group of fifteen families out the village and head east. Paden asked where they were going but got a “you’ll know soon” from Axel.

Paden was fixing up the wood crates and chests in preparation for their move. His possessions were originally very little so it ended up in a small wooden trunk. The crates and boxes contained several pelts and various cloths Axel’s eldest girls, Mary and Beatrice made as they worked at the loom. They were made from wool taken from sheep they raised near their home along with chickens and pigs.

Paden was stacking everything up near the door as it would be put in the cart a day or two before they leave. He was feeling appreciative of Axel and his family’s actions as they were not obligated to care for him in any way. When Leanna heard that Axel allowed Paden to fight alongside the other men she tore him a new one. She and the other women were absolutely livid they allowed the child to get so close to the action. Paden could only smile wryly at their actions as he observed the scene a safe distance away.

Paden sat down and spoke with Leanna and the twins, Carol and Cheryl, while the four were folding up several quilts and organizing several rolls of cloth. The twins were running their mouths at a speed that made the little goblins seem to stand still.

“So where do you think we’re going? Dad wouldn’t tell us and Mom isn’t saying anything. Even Mary and Bea have no clue. You know don’t you? You’ll tell us right?” – Carol.

“I hope we get far away from the demons. Even crying didn’t work. I bet you know where we’re going. Speak or I will tell Mary about the time you peeked on her,” said Cheryl mischievously.

Leanna sat at the side of the table as she watched her daughters bombard Paden with question after question with a faint smile. Paden was feeling at a loss. The twins were initially quiet but the last year they seemed to have found their tongues finally and would not stop talking. He shuddered to think if all that energy was collected in a single child and thanked the gods for giving Axel and Leanna twins.

Axel walked in through the doorway with a solemn expression on his face that did not go unnoticed by his wife. She started to get up but he shook his head at her as he looked at the back of Paden who was still being pestered by the twins.

“Paden.” Paden looked at Axel quizzically. “Need your help at the lord’s manor. Mind coming with me?”

Paden nodded and got up as the twins booed and told him to return back soon and tell them some stories. The walk back was met with heavy silence which gave Paden an unnerving feeling. He could tell something was off but could not place his finger on it and decided not to press Axel and wait for the man to tell him on his own. They continued their silent walk up until the entrance of the inner village where they were greeted by the guards on station.

As they walked, Paden heard the villagers talking to one another. The lord was being visited by someone of some import. They had come with several personal guards in an intricate carriage. This surprised Paden as the only visitors they had were merchants and not anyone of nobility like the rumors suggested.

Paden and Axel approached the hill the city lord’s manor was situated upon. Paden looked at the defensive logs of iron wood around the manor. It would be the first time he had visited the lord’s manor and he was slightly excited.

They were respectfully met at the gate and let in. Paden saw a group of soldiers adorned in a mix of plate and mail armor. The cost of that armor baffled Paden who was only used to seeing leather and cheaper mail on the guards of their village. These were obviously the guards of the visiting noble. He looked at the wooden carriages of the noble that actually had glass panes on its windows. He had never seen such clear glass before.

The servants led Axel and a confused Paden into a sitting room where three men and a woman were sitting. Their conversation dropped in an instant as all eyes fell on their group, more specifically, Paden. Paden felt unnerved by the sudden situation and looked at Axel who had an unreadable expression on his face.

“It seems they have arrived,” commented the lord with a smile. Paden had seen the affable man several times in the village. He was popular as a laid back lord who did not overly burden his people.

Paden glanced at the others. One of the men was rigidly standing with his back to a wall while observing the whole room. The man was solidly built at six feet. He had brown hair and black eyes. Along with his trimmed bear, sharp features and sharper gaze, he had a wild look that Paden envied. The man looked to be in his late twenties.

The other man, who was sitting, slowly stood up. He likewise appeared to be in his late twenties, early thirties with blond hair and blue eyes. He had sharp features paired with a soft expression and calm smile that made him appear to be easy to get along with. He looked solidly built like the man Paden assumed was a personal guard.

The woman was gorgeous. She was in late twenties and had a gentle look about her. She had black hair and brown eyes, possessing a fair complexion and soft features that stimulated one’s desire to protect the beautiful woman. She was skinny, making Paden wonder if she was fed properly as he resisted the urge to ogle her rather ample breasts. He saw the elegant dress she wore and wondered how it would look on Lily shyly.

“I see young Paden is confused so I will explain. I am your uncle and this is my wife, your aunt,” said the man casually as the others looked at him dumbfounded. His straight forward explanation completely went off the script the set earlier. The plan was to ease into explaining things to Paden and was completely ruined.

Paden looked at him as the words slowly seeped in. Uncle? Aunt? He was confused. These people were nobility, how could they be his family? He looked to Axel wondering if the words he heard were real. Axel looked solemn as he returned Paden’s look.

Questions raced through Paden’s mind. Why were he and his mother here? Why did she need to die? Where were they when the two were working to scrape a meager living? Where were they when his mother was sick and died? Where were they when he was alone in the world? Aunt? Uncle? So what?!

The people looked worriedly at Paden, whose face was an unreadable mix of different emotions. However, the drained color from his face needed no interpretation and spoke to his inner turmoil. He closed his eyes as he tried to think, to regain his composure. He failed.

The world slowly spun for Paden. His thoughts raced and turned in his mind. The walls seemed to close in to him and the air became thin as his breathing raced to take in more air. Axel seeing this approached Paden only to see the boy hold up a shaky hand making him worried.

Paden left without word abruptly. The people gathered were utterly stunned for moments before they came too. Axel and the Paden’s aunt wanted to give chase but were held back by Paden’s uncle who asked them to wait while he alone chased at Paden’s receding figure.

Paden’s mind was fuzzy as he walked through the village. He heard the garbled voices of the people around him and understood some tried to talk to him but he did not stop, he could not stop. He didn’t even notice when he crossed the bridge over the river into the woods. He didn’t stop until he reached a familiar patch of grass surrounded by stones he and the other boys played at as children.

He sunk onto the earth and reeled from the unexpected information he was given. He wondered so much about who his father was as a child but came to resent the man as he grew. He did nothing for him and his mother as far as he was concerned, so why should he care about the absent man? So why now? Why did his ‘family’ appear now, so long after his mother’s death?

Paden quietly sat on the forest floor as he tried to calm his mind, berating himself for behaving so immaturely. He just left. He didn’t even let them explain. He hung his head down and sighed loudly dreading having to return. He recalled the worried and solemn expression of Axel and his heart ached.

The silence of the forest was broken by the rustle of a bush across from Paden. He looked and saw a goblin climb out of the bush. He was stunned. He was so stupid. It was barely a month since the scout attack and he went into the forest alone. Of all things, he did so without bringing a single weapon on him.

The goblin looked menacingly at Paden as a twisted grin appeared on its face. Paden felt around for a rock or branch he could use as a weapon. This action alerted the goblin who screeched and charged for Paden. It swiped its rusty sword and Paden narrowly dodged as he ran for the village. However, as he was running he tripped and fell down. He turned and looked at the slowly approaching sword in utter terror.

Was his life to die like this? He had just met his family. He still needed to tell the twins stories when he got back. Get back. Yes, he had to get back. His chest swarmed with the familiar heat as his will to fight rekindled. The atmosphere in the air changed as a force silently moved with him at the center.

The goblin was feet from him as this change was taking place. He felt hot, terrifyingly hot. His chest felt like it was a river of lava as it burned to get out. He looked at the goblin and jumped up, swinging his fist. A river of black charged from his fist and hit the goblin square in its chest. The creature screeched in pain and finally grew silent as it fell to the ground. Its body turned black and slowly broke down. Paden looked at the phenomenon as the creature decomposed into black ash and disappeared into the air.

“Magic,” said a voice calmly behind Paden. He looked behind at his uncle. “A meager form of miasma is the most basic form of dark magic but it is still passable,” said the man lightly. He looked at Paden. “We should go back. The villagers would have heard the goblin and your family will worry, both my wife and Axel’s I assume,” said the man with a chuckle.

Paden stood still. That’s right. Their presence doesn’t change his relationship with Axel and his family. They were also his family and he a part of theirs. Hadn’t they told him this, shown it through their actions these four years? A weight seemed to lift from his mind as he looked at his uncle’s receding figure. Had those words been to remind him of this simple fact? A place in Paden’s heart was made for his uncle that day.