Docked and resupplying for the next stage in their trip, the crew of the Trader's Delight had no time to spare for their extra passenger that had asked, and paid for, a ride to this backwater town, merely a spot to pick up some specific items on the way to the Far East. Still, he smiled and warmly waved off the crew once they had finished their loading and resupplying. It would have been rude not to.
Kellach had finally returned. As he expected, nothing had changed in the hamlet's harbor. Even if he wasn't wearing as much lip paint and powder, his hair had grown so long and sultry that scarcely anyone recognized him. Granted, he hadn't been seen in town for months, and he'd spent more time working on the farm than in the actual town. Still, he'd drop by the merchant's stall, needing a few things for a proper visit to his father's Tree, as required by the rites that their people followed.
Growing up, he always saw the road separating the farm from the town as a long and arduous trek. These days, it was merely the matter of walking for an hour, and with all of his adventures lately, he'd grown into someone who would find this walk child's play. He began the last stretch of his temporary return, the sea breeze soon replaced by an in-land wind that he welcomed with a smile. Wind loved smiles, it seemed, as his hair was gently caressed by the breeze.
When his childhood home came into view, he was astonished by how it hadn't changed much, just showing minor signs of maintenance not met. Einrich had to do this all on his own, after all. He sighed - he'd hoped that his mother would have finished grieving, but it seemed not so. After all, she was the most skilled carpenter in the family, and would never leave the fences in such a state.
Kellach took the time to appreciate a scenery he'd not seen in months - The cows slowly eating grass, the sheep doing the same a bit further. A figure afar getting the earth ready to accept the beginning of a new harvest season, and the gentle sounds of birds chattering among themselves, a few of them seeking to steal a few seeds for a change in their diet. He sighed happily, the past few months being particularly hectic.
Not seeing his mother in the fields, he could only surmise that she was holed up inside and thus he walked up to the door and knocked. Taking the few seconds it took for his mother to answer the door, he'd clear his throat and put on the best smile he could muster.
As she opened the door and realized who was standing before her, she ran into his arms for a sturdy hug and kisses on her son's cheeks. She's forgotten how long it'd been since his gentle face had been around the house. She knew why he was here, and while this was making tears well up in her eyes, the joy of seeing her son again overcame her grief for a brief moment.
"Hello, mother." Kellach said gently, making sure to not hug his mother too powerfully. She did not expect him to stay up with the weight she threw behind that hug, but was pleasantly surprised that he did... and that he was not even winded from that long walk!
"My Kell. My sweet little Kell... welcome home! Come in! Come in!" she cried out, her voice creaking under the emotion. "I can tell you've grown strong in those few months. Einrich will be glad to see you, too! I'd hoped that Karle would still be with us when you first visited, but... Let's not dwell on his death. Tonight we should celebrate... but first we need to do something about that hair! By Fire's radiant heat, you should know better than to not take care of your hair!"
Kellach could do nothing but comply, even if he had taken the utmost care of his hair while in Eorzea. His mother had her image of the perfect little boy, and she would get her way so long as he was there. He owed her that much.
Awhile later, while Kellach was sitting, exchanging little stories of his time in Eorzea to his mother while she replied of farmtales. Einrich stepped inside the house. Einrich was a comparatively short man to Kellach, though built in a much more stocky manner. His hair was disheveled somewhat, but in such a way that showed the results of hard work, rather than being unkempt from neglect.
"Mother, I've moved the cattle, so you should be able to work on the fences without bothering the her... By the Earth's ample bounty, is that you Kellach!? I know I said you should visit father's Tree but I never thought it'd be that fast!"
The family, as reunited as they could be, shared a small moment together, for mother and brother needed to work on the farm, and Kellach needed to return home, but not before offering gifts to both the living and the dead.
Kellach had finally returned. As he expected, nothing had changed in the hamlet's harbor. Even if he wasn't wearing as much lip paint and powder, his hair had grown so long and sultry that scarcely anyone recognized him. Granted, he hadn't been seen in town for months, and he'd spent more time working on the farm than in the actual town. Still, he'd drop by the merchant's stall, needing a few things for a proper visit to his father's Tree, as required by the rites that their people followed.
Growing up, he always saw the road separating the farm from the town as a long and arduous trek. These days, it was merely the matter of walking for an hour, and with all of his adventures lately, he'd grown into someone who would find this walk child's play. He began the last stretch of his temporary return, the sea breeze soon replaced by an in-land wind that he welcomed with a smile. Wind loved smiles, it seemed, as his hair was gently caressed by the breeze.
When his childhood home came into view, he was astonished by how it hadn't changed much, just showing minor signs of maintenance not met. Einrich had to do this all on his own, after all. He sighed - he'd hoped that his mother would have finished grieving, but it seemed not so. After all, she was the most skilled carpenter in the family, and would never leave the fences in such a state.
Kellach took the time to appreciate a scenery he'd not seen in months - The cows slowly eating grass, the sheep doing the same a bit further. A figure afar getting the earth ready to accept the beginning of a new harvest season, and the gentle sounds of birds chattering among themselves, a few of them seeking to steal a few seeds for a change in their diet. He sighed happily, the past few months being particularly hectic.
Not seeing his mother in the fields, he could only surmise that she was holed up inside and thus he walked up to the door and knocked. Taking the few seconds it took for his mother to answer the door, he'd clear his throat and put on the best smile he could muster.
As she opened the door and realized who was standing before her, she ran into his arms for a sturdy hug and kisses on her son's cheeks. She's forgotten how long it'd been since his gentle face had been around the house. She knew why he was here, and while this was making tears well up in her eyes, the joy of seeing her son again overcame her grief for a brief moment.
"Hello, mother." Kellach said gently, making sure to not hug his mother too powerfully. She did not expect him to stay up with the weight she threw behind that hug, but was pleasantly surprised that he did... and that he was not even winded from that long walk!
"My Kell. My sweet little Kell... welcome home! Come in! Come in!" she cried out, her voice creaking under the emotion. "I can tell you've grown strong in those few months. Einrich will be glad to see you, too! I'd hoped that Karle would still be with us when you first visited, but... Let's not dwell on his death. Tonight we should celebrate... but first we need to do something about that hair! By Fire's radiant heat, you should know better than to not take care of your hair!"
Kellach could do nothing but comply, even if he had taken the utmost care of his hair while in Eorzea. His mother had her image of the perfect little boy, and she would get her way so long as he was there. He owed her that much.
Awhile later, while Kellach was sitting, exchanging little stories of his time in Eorzea to his mother while she replied of farmtales. Einrich stepped inside the house. Einrich was a comparatively short man to Kellach, though built in a much more stocky manner. His hair was disheveled somewhat, but in such a way that showed the results of hard work, rather than being unkempt from neglect.
"Mother, I've moved the cattle, so you should be able to work on the fences without bothering the her... By the Earth's ample bounty, is that you Kellach!? I know I said you should visit father's Tree but I never thought it'd be that fast!"
The family, as reunited as they could be, shared a small moment together, for mother and brother needed to work on the farm, and Kellach needed to return home, but not before offering gifts to both the living and the dead.
