A bucket sat alone on cold stone floor, but the water within bubbled to insanity. A large black object was panted squarely in the bucket, but two black wings dove in and grabbed it as the water died down. What was pulled out was a hammer head, and the one to pull it was Ciaran.

Time had been kind to the boy and another year had come to a close in the blink of an eye. There wasn’t much that happened other than the drivel that was going back and forth from school. Ciaran enjoyed school, he enjoyed learning, but surely there could be a little less monotony in the journey.

Either way, boring roads be damned the boy survived the year. But what was he doing now? Making a hammer of course, but this wasn’t the forge in Mr Burton’s shop. This was more like a barn… and that’s because it was, just a very strange one. The barn had been converted to storage after the land became barren. Stone was laid and eventually Ciaran’s ancestors built a forge in order to rely more on themselves.

The forge however never saw much use after the drop in iron prices during the era of Ciaran’s grandpa. It was still cheap enough to buy nails and tools on the open market, but Ciaran was here not just to do odd jobs. He was here to gain experience… and do odd jobs. He was getting paid for his work at least.

On the bright side, Ciaran got to practice and gain more experience doing what he learned while earning a decent sum. On the other hand, he had plans that were now entirely ruined by his sudden lack of free time.

Anyway, back to Ciaran. The boy handed the hammer head to a bulky man that sat upon a stool. The man pulled out what looked to be a smooth stick and within seconds the handle was in, and he was pounding in a wedge. Ciaran knew full well that the man overqualified to be doing what he was, but the smile on the man’s face kept Ciaran from asking why he was there.

After fitting the handle, the man swung the new hammer around before uttering a single word.

“Decent.”

It was better than the “meh” he had been giving most of the week, but Ciaran wasn’t satisfied. Ciaran wanted to shock the old man and prove his worth. With Vigor spewing out of every orifice Ciaran went to start on the next order, but there was a problem… there wasn’t any new orders. Ciaran was done for the day, his arms felt relieved, but he was not.

Ciaran looked to ask the old man a question, but his absence left Ciaran’s question in the dust. The boy stood there, staring at a wall until his head started churning again and he decided to just go home.

When Ciaran came through the door, he saw the lanky figure known as his father. The boy’s eyes lit aflame with mischief, and he ran at the man grabbing onto his waist.

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Ciaran’s father responded in kind ruffling the boy’s hair as the two of them erupted in laughter. Alexander looked at Ciaran for a good few seconds, his smile failing to cease before he spoke.

“You just keep on getting taller, at this rate you’re going to be taller than your old man!”

“you’re not that old, and plus I’m planning on growing even taller than you, gonna be as tall as a tree.”

“if I’m not that old, then that means you are quite the young one indeed.”

“No! I’m plenty old!”

The man gave a sigh, his smile fighting off all fatigue as he teased the boy.

“Then why does it seem to be that you are clinging to me more and more if you are so old?”

Ciaran nestled his head into Alexander’s side and with his face hidden uttered:

“You’re warm.”

Alexander knew well the face that Ciaran was hiding, and he gave another sigh. The man also looked back to his father who sighed so often, and the man chuckled a little.

Ciaran looked up from his hold and at the face of his father. Confusion was written on his face, and he uttered.

“what’s so funny?”

“it’s nothing much, I just happened to realise something. you too one day will realise it, but not now.”

“Aww, come on! Tell meee.”

“Nope, not happening, now how about we go see the girls?”

Ciaran stood there for a while leaning on his father before finally falling to the temptation and freeing his father.

The two headed on up the stairs until they arrived at the parent’s room. opening the door revealed a second bed that hadn’t been there the year prior and Ciaran’s mother standing before it. moving closer the boys finally could see the newest addition to the family, a tiny baby girl.

Ciaran had never held his little sister, nor did he intend to. There were plenty of fears racking the boy’s brain from dropping her to scarring her into never liking him. He did want to hold her though, everyone else at the academy talked about caring for their younger siblings, and Ciaran had missed that with Solas.

Before he knew it Ciaran had stopped in his tracks staring at his little sister, and it was only when his father tapped him on the shoulder did he return. Looking at the man Ciaran found his father’s head to motion towards his mother where the boy found his mother to have a finger on her lips.

Quickly the boy gave a nod and despite not even opening his mouth yet, he sealed it shut.

Carefully the two approached further until they stood with Ciaran’s mother. Ciaran’s father wrapped one arm around Ciaran and Aerecura while he gave his lovely wife a peck on the forehead.

The three stood there standing around the crib until the door flung open with a Bang and Solas came racing in. immediately after he had done such the boy skidded to a stop and slowly backed up, but it was too late.

The small child that had once been sound asleep slowly opened it’s eyes exposing the boundless blue. The light seemed to look ike snowflakes in the girls eyes and it reminded Ciaran of winter. The cheerful days of playing in the snow, not the biting cold of the wooden desks of course.

Solas without even being prompted slumped at the crib and apologised to the girl.

“Sorry for waking you Nivia, please forgive me.”

This escapade sent Ciaran’s mother into a spiral of laughter bending over as she clutched her chest. Ciaran had no idea why she did this, all Ciaran thought was that both his siblings were lacking in the brains department while also being so damn CUTE it was unbelievable.

Nevertheless, Nivia was not one to worry, well other than her concern for what the fuck was going on. The girl was quiet but no one worried, it wasn’t the first time the family had experienced an odd child.

And like that the day disappeared, three confused, one hysterical and one apologetic.