Chapter 150 - It Has Been A Year!
A/N: Okay, guys! I'll go easy with my Catatism from now on! Oh, it is true, I am a Catatist. You already know that though.
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Life went on for the next day, I was watching my clan starting to send requests to the College of Winterhold and the other Hidden Clans to send any Mage Sentry cats they can give up for Adoption. The Mage Sentry cats are one of the best breeds as they are sensitive to motions and can detect Magicka and the beings that came from another realm. It is a great talent for security and a lot of people adopt them for that reason.
One of the reasons there is a rarity in the appearance of the Dragon Guardian in the Firemane Clan was that there is no dragons or any beast related to them around the Firemanes. With cats around, that may change for the next generation of the Firemanes.
No one was expecting to see results in the next year or the one after it but it would be a good sign of hope to produce more gifted children with the acknowledgment of the Dragon Guardian.
Anyway, for the time being, I decided to stay for a few days and help around the clan. Grandpa gave me the task of teaching combat to the children.
It was fun to be surrounded by my young cousins. I was fairly popular among children anyway.
I must admit that I had a really good time.
The kids were not really easy to deal with but the universal rule of showing the kids how awesome you are, always works. I went into a mock battle with Jull and started showing our skills with wooden weapons and unarmed techniques. The kids were shooting laser beams from their eyes but they really got disappointed when I told them they would learn the basics. I had to promise them to pass down a certain technique as a reward to make them get attached though.
The next day was more of the same. I also took Jull on a date at the small town outside the clan's fort. There was actually some fun stuff going on there and due to my red hair, I was treated as a Firemane on the go. Kinda felt like a treatment of a noble. But Hilda's orders, I am to be Jon Dare in that village even though I got announced as an adopted Firemane. It was all to leak news about my survival as Jonhild Firemane.
Still, I got to enjoy honey treats and sweet rolls during the tour, Jull was also so happy that she wolfed everything she found on the spot.
My head somehow started thinking about Alina who will leave tomorrow to her clan and get to meet us later in Winterhold. This Sigurd was really pissing me off.
"Wanna go home?" I asked Jull as there was already nothing to see in the town.
"Hm? No, let's go hang out for a bit. I also promised Freyja to meet at the fort and bring you along.
Bring me?
"You know I don't like having appointments without an earlier notice."
It was one of my iron rules! Don't put stuff in my schedule that I haven't approved of… really pisses me off.
"Come on, just some drinking with the guys. The love of your life will be there too."
I got tensed up from that 'love of your life'... Was that Alina or herself she is talking about?
Jull laughed playfully.
"Look at your face, I bet you were thinking 'is it her or Alina?'."
Sigh!
Am I that easy to figure out?
"I actually meant Wulfur."
Jull said something and started laughing like a maniac.
Well, it is all good and fine… I don't feel like being ridiculed anyway.
I don't!
ᕕ(˵•̀෴•́˵)ᕗ
Humph!
Anyway, I had to follow her in the end while thinking of a comeback at her.
Strange enough, when we entered the fort, all the guards outside greeted Jull wish smiles. I had to glare at them so they keep it to themselves.
Seriously, this Jull! She can make friends with stones by now.
It has been a year and now, look at how popular she can get on her own. I was feeling proud in my heart though.
When we reached that fort, the area inside was a bit dim. It seemed like this is my first time to come and the mead hall is closed so the place was a bit desolate in the hallway leading to it.
Once we reached the gate, I felt a faint presence but it disappeared right away.
'Huh?'
I halted my steps and looked around.
"Jull, did you feel that?"
"What?"
"Someone is around that corner yet they are really good at hiding."
"It must have been your imagination. No one comes here now. Or maybe some of the beasts."
"..."
"Let's go!"
I decided it's as Jull said and followed her, but just as I was about to take a step, I heard a 'Phew!'.
"Jull, wait!"
"What is it?"
"Someone is really there… they are so skilled to the point that they can hide from my detection."
"R, Really? We shouldn't tangle with that then!"
"Huh? What are you talking about? You would be the first one to aim for the killing in a situation like that."
Jull raised her brows and smiled idiotically.
"Oh! Of course, but I am sure it is nothing to worry about. The place is super safe."
"That's what worries me. Why would anyone hide in such a peaceful place? I have a bad premonition."
I evoked magic and walked towards the corner I am suspecting.
"Wait, can't it be someone who is doing something private!" Jull said.
"In the hallway?"
"Let's just not be late! Oh, look over there is that a bat?"
I looked where she pointed but I felt no presence. One the other direction, the presence I locked on before started moving.
"Got you!"
I ran like a ghost and charged in a second at the figure that appeared in the dark hall before me.
"Wait, Jon." Jull spoke but I can't let go of that sneaky person right now. They fell for it.
Once I held the target and pinned him to a wall, I could finally see his face.
"Ragnar?"
"Jonhild?"
That my cousin!
"What are you doing here, bro?"
I let go of him immediately.
"Nah! I was just… was about to… you know… I really need to leave."
He walked towards the door that led to the fort's balcony.
The fort has a balcony that connects some halls with the mead hall.
"Wait, what are you doing here at night?"
I was really worried.
Jull who caught up stood beside me.
"Oh, if it is not Ragnar!"
"Hey, Jullanar."
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"I was just… was just…" He seemed a bit troubled.
"Oh! I remember now." Jull said and made an understanding face.
"Remember what?"
"Lela told me that Ragnar sleepwalks from time to time."
Sleepwalks?
Lela is Ragnar's sister. She is fourteen and always dresses like some sort of ninja.
But to think Ragnar sleepwalks, I am sad for him.
"Hey, I know this potion that can help with that, If you want it…"
"Oh, no need, no need. I am already the best in sleepwalking, no one can sleep and walk like me. Haha! I am leaving!"
He said and ran to the balcony.
But, the best in sleepwalking? This guy sleepwalks without knowing he has that problem.
Poor Ragnar!
"Phew! Anyway, let's head to the meeting place."
"Okay!"
I walked with Jull to the mead hall and wasn't really expecting anything at the moment.
Once Jull reached the door, she pushed and it didn't open.
"Hey, Jon. A hand here please!"
"Okay!"
I pushed the door open and was about to look in but a lot of presences were felt around me.
I was shocked about how did this number managed to get concealed and was about to evoke magic and ready myself for battle but…
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JON!"
It turned out like that.
***
It is my birthday!
And I am the only one who forgot about it here…
How nice of them! Truly!
Since the day I graduated from the orphanage, it has been a year.
It seemed that Ragnar from a while ago was to notify everyone with my arrival and make sure I get surprised.
"Surprising me is a bad idea, guys. I was about to use the Thu'um to warn the whole fort from intruders." I said.
"How mean!" Freyja didn't seem to like my reaction to the surprise.
"You guys don't know how keen his senses are, if it wasn't for Lady Nurina to hide us with magic, nothing would have passed his senses." Jullanar said.
"Yeah! He really gave me a scare back there." Ragnar was still having a hard time dealing with what happened.
"But sleepwalking! Pffft, nice pull off, Jull. Here, drink." Hafthor was amused by the story.
The mood was nice. It was around ten in the evening and we Firemanes tend to sleep early so it is nice of them to make a small party like this in that our.
Well, it wasn't that big. Just us the young adults and some of the older ones and some elders. Nurina, Hilda, and Jonrad were also present.
Nurina, signaled for me and I stood up and walked to her.
"Happy birthday, brat…"
"Still with the 'brat'?"
"Well, you have been a brat around me for fifteen years. It is hard to think that you are sixteen already."
"Yeah! Sixteen…"
The party started getting quieter and everyone started to take their leave. Only a few remained and they were Nurina, Hilda, Jonrad, Alina, Jull, and me.
"Jonhild, I have heard about something strange from your mother. It is about your Mind Realm." Jonrad opened a topic out of the blue.
"Oh, that? I wanted to pick the right time to ask but it seemed everyone was busy the past few days." Hilda followed up.
So, that question, huh?
To tell the truth! I have prepared a lot of answers throughout my life.
The situation is simple, no one can accept the idea of losing their child to another stranger that uses its body. It is an unbearable thought.
I, who got reincarnated in this body of their son, is like a hijacker. That's what they may think…
I know that Jonhild the original is still there and has a lot of influence on me as a whole person. Also, my two halves are accepting each other to the point they can't be separated anymore. I think Shadow made sure of that.
"Sigh! Where should I begin…"