Now six years later, it was a memory that flooded his dreams. Everyone was saved once again by the Flash Guardians, especially by the Dragonslayer. The adults had stories to tell and children to play as part of the epic tale. The world of Enchanteria was still trying to fix itself while it still could for it was the time of rebuilding.

A time when the reign of terror of Devastrigon had ended and the slayer returning to his resting place. As for the Darken clan, they were retreated and never heard of again as far as everyone knew. Certainly, the Flash Guardians were still doing their best to search and, better yet, monitor them. the Darken clan must be somewhere out there… hiding in the shadows.

But years had passed and still no news of them, thus the public just put their focus on other important matters in their daily lives, just like sixteen-year-old Maxabiere, who woke up from the morning's greeting, telling him to start his new day.

In a lovely two-storied house lived none other than the Berrygrewd family. It was built in a quiet and peaceful area between the stretching trees and away from the large, prosperous town of Yardsville- one of the largest towns in the landmass of Etheron- almost as if it was a city.

On the white kitchen island, Elise, the caring mother, was making chicken sausage, portions of bacon, and eggs in the cooking area- what a way to start craving in the morning.

Holly, the typical responsible elder sister, was preparing their plates, cups, and silverware on the table layered with white cloth knitted with blue butterflies dancing above the red, pink, and blue aster flowers.

Rose and Pansy, the opposite twins, were doing one of their habits on the table: Rose, on the right side, was reading her favorite kids’ book, Quacky Ducky, while Pansy, on the left side, was indulging in a nice hot chocolate on her favorite white mug with a typography Absolute mood.

After coming downstairs, MaXabiere stretched his arms high as he entered the kitchen island. He immediately went into the sink beside Elise to wash the sleepiness away.

Pansy looked at the book her twin was reading. "Um, Rose, why are you reading that?"

"Well, duh." Rose tilted her head. "I want to read this to the kids when it's their bedtime story later."

Pansy gave her twin the look. "Isn't that where the cute duckling gets brutally murdered by the wolves?" There was a short pause when Rose exchanged looks between Pansy and the children’s book.

"Almost you mean… Quacky did survive at the end of the story, though. And they lived happily ever after." There was a short pause again. Pansy may be somewhat chaotic, but even she wasn't sure about this as a nice way to tell the children. "What? It's not like they won't sleep after this,” Rose continued, “Besides, it's more kid-friendly and less graphic, unlike the time when you told the story about the Slender person. Also, Quacky's friends are super adorable too."

Pansy sipped her hot chocolate aggressively. "It was Halloween, Rose! Those orphans were asking for a spooky story." Absolute mood indeed.

"Which wasn't for kids!" retorted Rose.

Elise held two plates. Chicken sausages and bacon on the left plate and sunny side up on the right. "Girls, please, you both tell stories that always have spooky and graphical elements in them." The mother placed the plates on the table.

Pansy sipped her drink aggressively again with her loud sipping sounds. "Mom, all children's tales have spooky and graphical elements in them."

Rose stopped reading from her own gagged reaction. "What? Not all of them."

"I was referring to the original tales, silly." Pansy teased by poking her twin's cheek.

After MaXabiere finished wiping his face with a white towel hanging at the side of their fridge, he opened it to take out a glass pitcher full of water before joining in with his sisters. The same went with Holly after she set the table. After that, she and Xabe sat together, facing the twins.

Lastly, Elise sat on the head chair. "Xabe, do you still have the list for the day?"

"Uh-huh." MaXabiere pulled out the folded note from the right pocket of his white pajamas. "And my Elowah, it's like a freaking food pyramid."

Holly sliced the sausage with her knife. "It's the essentials."

It became natural to call him Xabe for short over the past six years. Unlike his sisters, their parents didn't give him a name of a flower, or any plant for that matter, not even from a spice. Instead, the name simply came from a legendary Viking leader in the Thonderhart clan, MaXabeard The Destined One, or MaXabeard Ragnirson, one of the great heroes in The Epic sagas.

As the old prophecy had stated, MaXabeard did live up to his name and brought unity and prosperity to both his clan and the other kingdoms when he settled in the landmass of Etheron. In The Epic sagas, a certain religious church even renamed him as MaXabiere, derived from the name Xabiere, which means 'chosen one'.

It was as if metaphorically speaking, Xabe was chosen to live up to his day. Much like what the Viking leader did- minus learning about the universe, the true purpose of the mortal beings, and the hidden power of the enchanted world, began questioning his gods, and lastly having an existential crisis of course.

"Mom," asked Pansy. "How long are we going to stay in the Meadow Orphanage again?"

"For a week, dear Pansy." Elise poured her glass of water. "So both of you will do more than just read stories to the children."

Rose chewed on the bacon. "Those kids were like angels when they're about to sleep, but when it comes to playing in the hallways, they’re like demons."

"Yeah, I know right," chuckled Pansy. "That's why I like them- playful young beasties."

"While the twins handle the children." Elise turned to Xabe who was munching bacon. "MaXabiere, I want you to make sure you made it before lunchtime, so Holly can prepare lunch and dinner with the cooks. I'll assist Nurse Joy and Doctor Walden if they need anything. After that, I'll prepare some lessons for the kids later."

"Oh, nice! What are you going to teach them, Mom?" Pansy leaned on the table with a bright smile. "Self-defense. How to arm themselves with real weapons? Can I join?"

Rose leaned on as well. "Or teach them how to pet cute animals?"

Elise let out a chuckle. "By teaching them safety, silly."

"Oooooooooooooh…" The twins reacted in unison.

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Once breakfast was over, it was time for the anticipated departure from their home to the orphanage. Xabe was wearing his usual olive jacket, gray shirt, brown pants, and beige slippers. He carried his seven-foot backpack as he stepped outside. He strapped it behind him and not surprisingly with ease. Not only that, but he also carried both his and his mother’s luggage, even carrying his red mommy bike.

The driver of the carriage named Mr. Carry came to help the boy by hoisting the things inside the trunk. As always, he was wearing his favorite violet coat, mustard pants, top black hat, and his pointy, red shoes. He fashionably combed his short black hair backward and curled his mustache.

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“Off to the Marketplace again, eh Xabe?” asked Mr. Carry. As usual, the nice man greeted the boy with a grin.

“You guessed right, Mr. Carry,” Xabe smiled back.

Mr. Carry looked back inside the open door before leaning close to him in a whisper. “Food pyramid?”

Xabe nodded, “Yeah, food pyramid.”

Mr. Carry couldn’t help but let out a laugh. “Not too surprised. Watch yourself now, kid. See you at the orphanage.” The driver patted the boy’s back before returning to the driver’s seat.

Xabe nodded again, “Same with you, Mr. Carry.” He then glanced at his mother as she approached.

Elise scanned her son’s seven-foot backpack. "You don't always need to bring that with you, Xabe."

Rose came out of the door to put her bag in the carriage that was waiting for them. "Mom, he's always bringing that ever since Holly's food pyramid grocery list."

"It's essential!" Holly shouted from inside the house.

Pansy later followed to put their other things too. "Holly, come on, you are always the last because of your sorry ass. We still got laundry to do!"

Holly was in time to lock the door and got dressed for the occasion. "You dare mention my sorry ass, Pansy?" The three daughters were all set inside the carriage while the mother stayed a bit longer.

"And remember-" Before Elise said everything, Xabe interjected, "Yeah, yeah, 'Get things done'. I know. Just like what Dad used to say."

Elise gave him a weak smile. "Alright, make sure you always have your bike at your side. And don’t let the budget be stolen, okay?"

"Yes, ma’am."

Behind her smiling expression, though, there was a hint of pain in Elise.

The boy had to watch his family as they get inside the carriage.

“Watch over my laundry, please?” begged Xabe. “I don’t want the kids to play with my clothes and dripped them in mud again.”

Pansy rolled her eyes as she popped her head out of the window. “Not my fault they want to wear your attire, they couldn’t help but act out as their big brother, MaXabiere.”

Rose popped out next. “Especially the red scarf.”

“Yeah, especially that,” Pansy chuckled.

Xabe raised his voice. “Please tell me they didn’t play with that?”

“Oh, they did,” Rosie smiled. She sounded so innocent. “They wore it like a cape and even dance while they twirl it around like a ribbon.”

Pansy laughed, “Your scarf is so durable, they even played tug of war.”

Xabe scoffed, “No wonder it became so long!”

“Girls,” called Holly. “Put your asses in the seats. We’re leaving.”

In the driver’s seat, Mr. Carry shook his head. “Girls these days. Let’s go, Brenda, kids are waiting.” Brenda the loyal brown horse neighed before starting onward. She was a marvelous horse- very strong in fact, she even outlasted most of the horses from Yardsville. Now on to the Meadow Orphanage, they go, which was located in the colorful meadows away from town.

And on to Xabe’s quest to the neighborhood of Yardsville. He sat on his mommy bike and started pedaling away from his house. At first, his pace was competent to feel the morning ambiance of the trees. Then, as the road began to lower a bit, he started to stay focused on his cadence as he left the rushing wind.

Xabe could hear the loud sound of the bicycle wheels rolling on the road as he began to quickly pass the houses. And just like that, he reached the entrance of the neighborhood.

Just a normal, busy Monday for Yardsville. People on carriages, riding mommy bikes, and workers from bakeries, cafés, eateries, and even the small stalls were grinding to earn a living.

Oh, how Xabe could imagine a monster hunter bringing a tied or a dead monster- it would be a sight to see. But never mind that. He slowly rode his way to the Yard's Marketplace. A yes, even there's a franchise that made him remember the unforgettable event six years ago.

Xabe looked down at the list to see which ones to buy first. Pretty straight forward to be honest: vegetables, fruits, beef, pork, chicken, loaves of bread, and dairy. Typical, Holly's list will never get old.

But what else could he say, the best reason why she would list such things was that Yardsville had grown to become a sanctuary for homes, businesses, and farms. For years, even Flash guardians came to hang out from their quests. Despite that, the more Xabe spends his time here, he couldn't be more thankful than ever. A simple life.

As he explored the Yard’s Marketplace to begin his shopping, the boy couldn't help but remember the time when he and his sisters were playing on the streets while his mother and father were happily watching them. That was before the time their father, Wayde Berrygrewd, hurriedly left their home that one night.

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"I have to go. This is extremely urgent." The voice came into Xabe’s mind. It was in the living room where he packed his notebooks inside a seven-foot backpack. His shoulder-length dark red hair was brushed back. His emerald eyes looked at his wife with his furrowed expression. Xabe remembered that the man looked bigger with his long, black coat, brown gloves, and thick boots.

Despite what was happening, Elise looked at him calmly. She was always wearing her light blue nightgown and was holding her velvet short blanket that lay on her shoulders. Her dark brown hair was slightly longer than Wayde's. "I understand." She was the only one who knew her husband’s true intention.

The father glanced at the corner of the room, where he saw his children quickly backing away. Wayde came closer to his beloved and muttered, "I'll go to them." He slowly walked to the corner and peeked to see his children standing there. Holly was tugging her siblings, Rose and Pansy came closer together, and Xabe, his dear boy, looked puzzled.

"Hey,” he said in a gentle voice. Wayde slowly came to them.

"When will you come back?" Holly asked.

Wayde bit his lips and sighed, "Things are getting out of hand. I'm afraid I may take a while. The research team made a huge discovery regarding the recent studies of Devastrigon. I am needed by them."

With a short pause, it was followed by Rose saying, "What?"

Wayde chuckled a bit and slightly lowered himself to match the small level of the triplets. "You don't have to worry about me. You must look after each other and your mother. Luckily for you, kids, you have a nice home to stay in. Yardsville finally has a Marketplace so you don’t have to go to a far-away place just to shop. Devastrigon’s defeat is a sign of a greater study."

Pansy's eyes widened and clenched her fists. "Dad, are you a Flash Guardian?"

Wayde responded by widening his smile and started rubbing her head. "I'm a researcher, silly." He looked at Xabe, who hadn't blinked. The boy could already sense something but didn’t want to speak it out.

"Xabe, listen to me, okay?" As his son nodded, Wayde took a deep breath "You're the man in the house for now. You have a gift that one day can guard and support this family."

Xabe dropped his eyelids. "Sounds like foreshadowing."

Holly gave him the look. "Xabe."

"What, it's in every epic story." Xabe lifted his hands.

"We named you MaXabiere for a reason, you know. I’ll send letters of my whereabouts and what I have been doing. So remember what I taught you, okay, promise me?" Wayde looked Xabe in the eyes. The young boy couldn't care more than trying to fulfill his father's words. He simply nodded. As he stood up, Wayde looked at his children possibly one last time. "When I come back, get things done, I'll tell you everything. I promise."

And just like that, six years later, he hasn't come back yet. Xabe became more curious. Perhaps he had a dark discovery regarding Devastrigon with the research team, so it must be incredibly important. The only thing Wayde could interact with them was by writing them letters, particularly praying that his family is fine after all these years.

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Finally, that was the last one on his list as he put a bag of bread in his seven-foot backpack. "Thank you." Xabe slightly bowed and gave two ten current gold coins to the baker. Some groceries were put in his mommy bike’s big basket.

Luckily, the Yard's Marketplace branch had a clock on a tall post in the plaza. He left when it was around seven in the morning. He finished his grocery at around nine. Thanks to his strong senses, he knew which ones had the best edible food. Thanks to his speed, he made it earlier than expected. And thanks to his big basket and seven-foot backpack, organizing and putting the groceries became more convenient.

Xabe thought that doing chores for years made him stronger, but there lay a hidden power within him… waiting to be awakened. Wayde may have a lot of explaining to do by the time of his return.

Double-checking everything from groceries to spare change, it's time to leave before it gets more crowded. There was a shortcut that, for years, he traveled there to the Meadow Orphanage. And it was more peaceful and closer to nature when it comes to walking in the Wooded forest- yes, that's what it was called.

He hopped onto his mommy bike and rode to the rural area. Hopefully, things won't get wrong… or weird.