The party, including Ruby, steps out into the warm sunlight, the fog around them not as thick as the night before. A bird flutters down to the ground, stopping just a few feet away from them and hopping across the ground to nab up a worm before darting back into the air to a tree. Anna watches it go, taking in a breath and soaking in the small amount of light. "I never imagined there was such beauty to the world above."

"So you're from Subterra, then?" Ruby asks as they walk along the path, hands clasped behind her.

Anna gasps softly, covering her mouth for a moment. "Well, yes. I'm surprised you know about it."

"I wasn't always a farmer, dear. I used to be a well read girl. Then I met Soren."

"What kind of man is Amadeo's father, anyway?" Anna eyes Ruby curiously as Amadeo smirks.

"He's strong of heart and mind. He didn't get a proper education like I did, but he's knowledgable about the land and how to work it. Gentle, but firm, a man made for working hard and playing easy. You wouldn't think it to look at him, but he was so tender with the children when they were younger. He'd hold them both, one in each arm, and just relax for hours, talking to these two tiny toddlers, carrying on a whole conversation with them." Ruby sighs, lost in her memories for a moment before she chuckles. "Soren is a good man. He sees people for their actions. If you're honest with him, he's honest with you. I think you'll get along just fine."

"And what of our resident pitchfork user?" Tyrion chuckles.

"Kira's tough like her old man." Ruby laughs, looking out toward the lake as they proceed onward along the dirt path. "She doesn't show it, but there's a will of iron in there. No one tells her to move if she doesn't want to. Oddly enough, she's 'one of the guys', got boys from all over the village askin` after her."

"I'm sorry, what?" Amadeo raises an eyebrow, folding his arms. "They'd better not be. She ain't gettin` hitched until I die."

"Why's she got to wait so long? You and Hope got married after only a week." Anna chimes in with a giggle, and Ruby stops dead in her tracks. Her face turns to her son, who lowers his arms and looks about ready to run. The stone glare she fixes him with turns to a wide grin, like that of a predator that knows its prey has nowhere to hide. "Is that so, dear? You got married to a girl you barely know? No offense, sweetheart." Ruby bows her head lightly to Hope. "But you'd better have a good reason for engaging in such behavior."

"I-In my defense, it was a fake ceremony and, uh, we were d-doing it for a job. Bandits robbing people, mostly married couples traveling through the Arboria Hills to get to Whitemorrow." He flinches as the woman takes a step toward him, her eyes darting to Hope. Despite being a head shorter and not nearly as built, Ruby seems to tower over the devilkin for a moment.

Hope backs up a bit, the hazel eyed woman narrowing her gaze. A brief fear fills the devilkin's face before Ruby let's out a small snort, which cracks into a loud and hearty laugh as she drags the two of them into a deep and warm hug. "Calm yourselves, there's no need for fright. If it was a fake wedding as part of a plan, I guess there's no harm in it." Amadeo and Hope share a look before silently deciding to perhaps not tell her they couldn't actually have a truly 'fake' wedding.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The fog parts some as the sun climbs a little higher towards its seat, and Amadeo sighs when the village begins to come into view. Though it's smaller than Mysthaven and Kaina, the settlement is still somewhat spread out along the lake and the surrounding fields, one long street with roads jutting out here and there along the south side like branches of a dead tree.

"Just as I remember it." Amadeo takes in the scents around them; earth and dirt, freshly baked bread and cooked meats. Then his eyes settle on a woman approaching them, starting at a steady walk before breaking into a sprint. A brown dirt covered coat over a patchwork red shirt and dirty white trousers, feet bare as red curls blow past her shoulders. He manages to see the minty color of her eyes before she tackles him to the ground, taking the breath from his lungs.

Sitting atop the wizard, the tan-skinned woman looks down at him and grins. "Brother! You're finally home!"

He groans and nods his head slowly. "I missed you too, you little brat."

She leaps to her feet and helps him up, grabbing the poor man in a tight hug. "You're here to stay, right?"

"It's complicated, Kira. My friends and I came after hearing about Dad." Amadeo pats her head, the woman being only a bit shorter than himself, and slightly taller than Ruby.

Hope tilts her head, looking Kira over. Her facial structure, her musculature, and those lips...She holds up a finger. "Your sister's a half-orc? Did the family genes skip you?"

Kira looks over to the devilkin, raising an eyebrow and huffing. "I guess they're sticking out again, then?" She pokes the little nubs of tusks sticking out between her lips, then stops and eyes Hope and Anna curiously. "Wait...Did you bring girls back? Like, actual women?" Holding a hand to her mouth, she snickers. "My big brother's turnin` into a ladies' man!"

"It's not like that! These are my friends!" Amadeo shakes his head, gesturing to the tusk-toothed young woman. "Hope, Anna, Tyrion, this is my sister Kira."

Kira steps back to get a look at the group as a whole. "Ah, I see. You brought a child too."

"I'm not a child, lass. I'm a full grown halfling, I'll have you know." Tyrion beams proudly.

Hope snorts. "Full grown is still half size for you, little man."

Kira laughs. "I like this one! She's spunky! Kinda cute, too."

Hope blinks and turns. "Wait, what was that last part?!"

The half-orc does a little curtsy to the party. "Pleasure to meet you all. Kira Ravenwood, at your service."

"We can skip the fancy introductions. We're gonna check on Dad, then take a swing at seeing if Mister Ondra will just back off, preferrably without violence." Amadeo starts moving onward, turning down another street.

"Wait, the old landlord? Are you sure that's a good idea? He's wanted that land for ages since Mom and Dad made it their own."

"Ain't got much choice. We don't have a whole lotta time till he sends his goons again." Hope pipes up, eyes shifting back and forth to look over those walking the road.

"Relax, Miss Kira. We're not gonna let anything happen to your brother or anyone else." Anna stretches, adjusting her dress and looking about. "First landlord guy, then miss spooky ghosty."

"What, you think you can beat her? She's a ghost! They don't feel physical pain like you and me, how do you plan to-?"

"They're still working on that, Kira." Ruby pats her daughter's head. "Just let them figure it out. Everything's going to be alright."

The half-orc sighs. "Yeah, fine, ok...Oh gods, what is he doing?!" She rushes toward the front porch of a small house near the end of the street, a man leaning on a cane as he stands waiting.

"Soren, why are you out of bed?" Ruby asks as they approach, seemingly unsurprised. The man, a bald orc huffs, tanned brown skin rising and falling with heavy breaths as he examines the group with piercing yellow eyes.

His voice comes out deep, but ragged as he leans on Kira. "I wanted to be out here to greet our boy. I heard from your master that you would be coming home. You didn't need to check on me, Amadeo."

"Looks to me like I very much did. You can barely stand." The wizard steps up, wrapping an arm around the old orc. "Come on, Dad, let's get inside and talk."

The group files into the house one after the other. From around the corner of another house, the beady eyes of a tiny figure peer at them before darting down the street at top speed.