The road stretched long and pale beneath the sun, dust lifting softly with each turn of the wheels.
The wagon rolled steadily eastward, its gentle rhythm lulling Yareach back into sleep. Bereshith sat beside her, one arm curved protectively around his sister's small body, his posture too careful for someone so young. Across from him, Levanah sat with her legs tucked close, eyes following the slow passage of fields and sky, curiosity bright but restrained.
Lucas guided the horses in silence. Not the empty kind—but the sort that waited, patient, until someone found the courage to speak.
"…Mister Lucas?" Bereshith said at last.
"Yes?"
The boy hesitated, fingers tightening briefly in the cloth near Yareach's shoulder."How old are you?"
Lucas blinked, caught off guard. He glanced back at the children, then allowed himself a faint smile.
"Twenty-one," he answered. "Though some days, it feels older."
Levanah tilted her head. "You don't look old."
Lucas let out a quiet breath—almost a laugh."Life has a way of leaving marks you can't always see."
She thought about that for a moment, then turned to Bereshith."How old are you?"
"Nine," he said, sitting a little straighter.
Her eyes widened. "Really? I'm eight."
Bereshith smiled, just slightly. "You're brave for eight."
She flushed and crossed her arms. "You're weird for nine."
Lucas shook his head, amused, the corners of his mouth lifting despite himself.
Levanah leaned closer to the sleeping baby. "And Yareach?"
"One year," Bereshith said quietly. "She just learned how to walk… before we left."
Something softened in Levanah's gaze."She's lucky you're her brother."
Bereshith looked down at Yareach, brushing a thumb gently over her tiny hand."I promised to protect her."
Lucas heard that.
He didn't turn. He didn't speak.
But his hands tightened on the reins—not from strain, but from resolve.
By midday, the land began to change. Stone markers lined the road. Paths grew neat. Rooftops glimmered faintly in the distance. Even the horses slowed, as if sensing sanctuary.
"We'll stop here," Lucas said. "You all need proper rest."
Levanah peeked over the wagon's edge. "Is this a town?"
"Yes," he replied. "Small. Quiet. Safe enough."
As they approaches the main gate of the said town, two guards stops them from entering.
"Halt!" One young guard said firm and loud.
Lucas made the horse stop.
"What brings you here?" The other guard spoke, well mannered and respectful.
Lucas answered the respectful old man and said: "We're passing by looking to have rest."
"Passing by? What are you, A merchant?!" The old guard answered shifted his tone from mannered and respectful tone to alert and stern.
Lucas sensing miunderstanding. He replied immediately: "Ahh, No, No! We're not merchant! We're mere serf! Me and my kids here to buy something and to take a rest for the night as well. Please don't misunderstand!"
Lucas voice was humble yet panicking as he showing to the guards he meant no trouble.
The young guard frown and asked suspiciously.
"Kids? You? Don't lie to us! What are your purpose coming here?!" said in shouted voice.
caught the attention of crowd before the gate, the old guard immediately silence his colleague.
"Silence, you! I am talking to him!" loud and firm the old man shouted as well, however it was directed towards to young guard instead of Lucas.
Lucas gulp, by then the old man glared at him.
"Young man..." The old man speak firmly as pause then continue. "As a law, we need to look at your cargo and everything else. So unless you have something inside that caravan tell me now, and go back."
Lucas looked at him, and tell him: "No, sir... We don't have one."
"Alright I understand. Then excuse me."
Then the old man went back of the caravan and look inside, and only to find out there only three person inside it, one boy, one girl, one baby, a sheep, a 2 barrel one filled of water, other fish that they caught.
As soon the old man open each barrel and found nothing suspicious, he went back to Lucas and spoke calm and respectfully once again.
"Are you new here? If so, we have rules and regulation. For travelers like you, we that doesn't registered here are obliged to pay 2 copper coin per person, since you have 3 kids and including yourself, that's 8 copper coin."
"I understand..."
Using the coin taken from the bandits, Lucas took 1 silver coin equivalent of 100 copper coins from the pouch and gave to old guard.
The old guard was surprise for a moment before he speaks.
"For a serf you do have a large enough money. Who are you."
Lucas smiled and replied: "I am a serf, but i am also warrior. I saved a lot of money for my kids to visit this place. I hope you would please help me to boost my image to my kids, sir."
Upon hearing it the old guard smiled and laugh.
"Hahahaha! No worries! I got it!" Then he pause and turned and look at his colleague. "Open the gate! Let this young warrior through!"
Then he taps Lucas back and give his him a thumbs up as Lucas caravan get through the gate.
As he get passed Lucas immediately guide his horse towards to the closes Inn to settle for the rest of the day.
Upon arriving Lucas secured rooms at an inn near the settlement's edge. He spoke with calm courtesy, his tone steady and respectful. The innkeeper's guarded expression softened quickly.
Within the hour, there was warm water, simple food, and a place to breathe.
Yareach slept deeply, her chest rising and falling in peaceful rhythm.
As they're done for the day Lucas stepped outside to tend the horses while the kids followed him from behind, the air behind him shifted.
Metal clinked.
Footsteps—heavy. Measured.
A man stood several paces away, fully clad in plate armor, spear resting at his side, its tip catching the light. He stared, unmoving.
Then—
"Are you Lucas?"
A pause.
"Lucas Redsun?"
Bereshith and Levanah stiffened instantly, their eyes snapping to Lucas.
Lucas turned slowly.
"Yes," he said. "I am."
The man's posture broke.
"Gods—It is you!" He lifted his visor, eyes wide. "It's me—Accy!"
Lucas' brow twitched.
"…Accy," he replied flatly.
Accy laughed, stepping closer, words tumbling out in excitement."This is incredible! Lady Maria's been searching for you for years! She's here—right at the manor!"
Then, carelessly,"I heard your family passed away not long ago."
Something shifted.
Not anger.
Not grief.
Peace.
"Yes," Lucas said evenly. "They did."
Accy blinked, unsettled by the calm.
"So," Lucas continued, voice level, "what do you want, Accy? Are you here to mock me—or do you have business?"
Accy scratched the back of his head, embarrassed."No—no, nothing like that! It's just… Lady Maria locked herself in her room again. She won't see anyone. Not even Lord Ascirick can reach her."
Lucas exhaled softly."And why does that concern me?"
"Because…" Accy hesitated. "You're the only one she ever listened to."
Silence lingered.
"…Fine," Lucas said at last. "But we aren't dressed for a manor visit."
Relief flooded Accy's face."That doesn't matter! I'll inform Lord Ascirick and Lady Maria immediately!"
As he turned to go, Lucas stopped him.
"The children are coming with me," he said firmly. "If Sir Ascirick or Lady Maria objects, we leave. Immediately. This isn't a request."
Accy froze, then finally noticed Bereshith, Levanah, and the sleeping child.
"…Are they yours?"
"No," Lucas said.
Then, quieter—but unyielding:"They are my family."
The excitement drained from Accy's face."I… I can't decide that. But I'll try. Please wait at the manor gates."
"We will," Lucas replied. "But not long."
Accy nodded and hurried away.
Lucas returned to the wagon along with the kids following, guiding the horses toward the manor without hesitation—clearly knowing the path by heart.
As the road curved uphill, Bereshith spoke again.
"Mister… who are you really? Why does that guard know you?"
Lucas drew a slow breath.
"When I was twelve," he said, "I was adopted. I served as a squire. I became a knight at sixteen. I served Sir Ascirick Redsun for six years."
Levanah listened intently.
"He gave me his name," Lucas continued. "Redsun. I earned it."
"And Lady Maria?" she asked gently.
"She grew fond of me," he said. "They helped me when I had nothing. I respected them."
A pause.
"But when I found someone I loved… when I told them I would be a father—Lady Maria dismissed me. My title was stripped. I was banished."
Levanah nodded slowly."She loved you."
"Yes," Lucas said. "But I could not return it."
Bereshith frowned."But you were a knight. Couldn't you just… love her back?"
Lucas smiled softly at the innocence in the question.
"You're right in spirit," he said. "But I already loved someone else. And for her… I broke every boundary."
The manor gates rose ahead.
And for the first time in many years—
Lucas returned not as a knight.
Not as a servant.
But as a man who had already found his home.