Alex Roth slowly peeled himself off the golem when Claygon finally broke their hug.

His knees felt like jelly, but it was worth it, he would have been a pretty bad father if he’d denied his son a hug. And he’d seen enough bad fatherhood lately.

“It’s good…” he wheezed as the golem helped him stay upright. “It’s good to see you too, buddy.”

“You…are…home!” Claygon cheered, lifting Alex up as though he weighed no more than a down-filled pillow. With laughter booming from his voice box, the golem tossed his father high in the air.

Alex screamed, his legs and arms flailing. Clutched tightly in his hand, the aeld staff gave off feelings of shock, surprise, and terror.

“Claygon! No! No!” the young wizard shouted.

He fell back into his golem’s grip, Claygon tossed him high in the air again, laughing merrily.

“Aaaaaargh!” Alex’s screams soared through the twilight.

Claygon reached up, catching him one more time, and hugging him close.

“Father…I will never let you go again!” his voice was that of an excited child.

“Claygon, my bones! My poor bones!” Alex groaned, his body making unhealthy popping and cracking noises. “Your father is going to be a bag of blood and bone dust!”

“Oh! I am sorry…father…” The golem finally put him down. “I just…missed you…so much!”

Alex rubbed his aching sides. “Yeah, I missed you too, buddy and—Argh!”

As soon as Claygon put him down, Selina threw her arms around her brother again.

“You're both trying to kill me, I know it,” he groaned.

They seemed too happy to hear him.

“I’m so glad you’re back home,” his little sister said. “Theresa and Brutus came back a while ago, and I've been waiting by the front door ever since, watching for when you got here.”

“Me…too!” Claygon said.

“Really?”Alex laughed. “You didn't think I’d just teleport here?”

“I thought you might,” she said. “But if you took the road, I wanted to see you coming.”

“Well, you saw me,” Alex said, holding her shoulders, trying to see her face clearly. With a twitch and a single syllable, he conjured a forceball, its crimson light shone on his sister’s face. “Let me get a good look at you. Look at you, look how much you’ve grown!”

She had indeed.

In the months Alex had been gone, Selina had shot up by inches. Her face looked different, older, some of its child-like features were gone. Her profile was now more angular, her cheeks less full, and her jawline a little more defined. She was leaner, more of her baby fat was gone.

He could see the beginnings of the Roth build, tall, skinny, typical of their family. He’d inherited the same frame, until he changed it with blood magic and the Mark, turning himself into the hulking young man that he now was.

His eyes narrowed. Maybe ‘Operation Giant Selina’ still had some legs to it.

Her eyes narrowed, drilling into him. “Why are you looking at me like that? Are you planning something weird? You look funny.”

“N-no!” he protested, lying as easily as he breathed. “I was just thinking about how much you've changed. You're growing up…listen, I'm sorry I couldn’t be here for all those months.”

“You should be,” she said, frowning. “I know you had a lot to do, but Claygon and I missed you. We all did.”

She suddenly paused, her cheeks reddening. “I can't believe I jumped on you like a little kid. Ugh, that's embarrassing.”

“It is alright Selina…we both missed him…besides…you didn't almost smash him into jam…” Claygon pointed out, a touch of shame in his voice.

“We're just happy to see each other, that’s all,” Alex said. “Nothing wrong with that, even if your greeting did almost turn me into a red smear… But, only a bit!”

“So what’s been happening?” Selina asked, suddenly serious. “Theresa wouldn’t say much—no matter how much I asked—but she did say a lot has changed, but then she wouldn't tell us anymore than that.”

Alex exhaled loudly. “There’s a lot to talk about, but why don't we go inside first. Have you had supper?”

She shook her head. “No, we haven't. We were waiting for you.”

“I…definitely…haven’t…father…” Claygon said.

“Yeah, well then we’d better get you both fed—” Alex paused, slowly looking up at the golem. “Really? Really?”

“I learned…my sense of humour…from my father…” Claygon said.

“It really did sound like one of your jokes, Alex,” Selina added.

Stolen story; please report.

He rolled his eyes. “I almost wish I was fighting the church again, they were less brutal. Come on, why don't I make us some supper? We can talk about everything that’s happened over dinner.”

“Okay,” she said.

“That sounds good…” Claygon agreed.

“Is everyone home?” Alex asked, as the trio walked to the villa.

“Yup,” Selina said. “And Thundar and Khalik are here too. Theresa said Isolde will be coming by once she finishes up some work.”

“Really?” he said excitedly, quickening his pace.

“Yes…” Claygon said. “They are very excited…to see—”

“Alex, you rangy jerk! There you are!” Thundar’s voice boomed from the villa.

“You have returned intact!” Khalik called.

Alex looked up to see Thundar, Khalik, Najyah, Theresa, Mr. Lu, Mrs. Lu, Brutus and Theresa’s brothers coming from the villa.

“Helloooo everybody!” he shouted. “I’m back! I’m actually back!”

The General of Thameland smiled as his family and friends came to embrace him.

###

There were a lot of things that Alex Roth had missed in his time away from home. His family, his lab, his routines; he’d thought about them every day as he searched for Kelda’s sanctum, worked on changing the Mark of the Fool, and thought of ways to get rid of the hunters from the secret church and the fae.

There were other things too, though, simple things he hadn't realised how much he’d missed until he had them again.

A well-stocked kitchen was one of them.

It was after dark now, and the villa’s kitchen was lit by forceballs and firelight. Humming to himself—more relaxed than he had been in ages—Alex bustled around among an army of Wizard’s Hands.

Working near the stove, some chopped venison, pork, and beef into cubes.

On another surface, others diced apples, onions, garlic, and sweet peppers.

Wizard’s Hands stoked the fire. Others made a sauce from various herbs, spices and oils, beating them together slowly. Alex was busy whipping eggs in a large ceramic bowl.

He looked up at his audience, they were crowded together, talking and laughing at one end of the kitchen.

“I hope you don't mind something simple,” he said cheerily, letting the aromas fill his nostrils. He felt right at home. “It's a little late to do anything fancy, so I'm afraid omelettes, dinner rolls, and skewers will have to do.”

“Sounds like a feast to me,” Mr. Lu said, wiping tears from his eyes. “You could feed me dirt and I'd be happy: it's just so good that you’re back.”

“Were you not eating properly, Alex?” A worried Mrs. Lu asked, looking him up and down. “You look a little thin.”

“No, Mrs. Lu,” he laughed. “I'm not any thinner. Kelda’s pantry was well-stocked, even if the food was pretty basic. But now, I get to really cook again.” “Well, I'm glad I get to eat your cooking again!” Thundar grinned, licking his lips. “You're so good around the kitchen, you make everything else taste like dirt!”

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” Khalik said. “But it is good to be in your company.”

“Yeah, likewise,” Alex grinned. “How have things been?”

The wizard looked from Mr. and Mrs. Lu to their sons. “Were you all comfortable here?”

“Comfortable? Hah!” Mr. Lu scoffed. “Spoiled is more like it. I feel like I died and reincarnated as a king somewhere.”

“You've ruined him, Alex, he's never going to be able to run the inn back home now,” Mrs. Lu said. “But, I've also been very comfortable, we all have. The only way our stay could've been better is if you were here with us.”

“Well, I'm glad I'm back,” Alex said. “I really, really am.”

Mrs. Lu smiled sweetly. “But yes, things have been quiet in the Rhinean Empire. It's been strange hearing how word of our Saint from little Alric is spreading around, even in this big city.”

“Yes, it seems so odd,” Mr. Lu agreed. “But the good kind, not the bad kind.”

“Hopefully, word about her keeps growin’ and so does her power,” Thundar said, glancing at Theresa. “Theresa said that we've got a lot to talk about over dinner, right?”

“Yeah,” Alex said. “A lot.”

The young wizard considered whether or not to tell Theresa's family everything they’d learned about Uldar. On the one hand, he didn't want to upset them or risk the secret spreading. But, on the other hand, they’d kept the information about him being the Fool to themselves, so he knew he could trust them.

He didn't like the idea of close family praying to a dead god that had no problem with killing his people. He nodded to himself: first, he’d see how Theresa felt about it, then—if she thought they should know the truth about Uldar—he’d tell everyone what they’d learned.

For now, though, he focused on the food.

He let the scents wash over him.

It was very good to be home.

###

“By my ancestors, I missed this cooking.” Thundar moaned, biting into a skewer of grilled meats and vegetables. “This meat’s so good! So juicy! By my ancestors, I've gotta have you cooking for me for the rest of my life!”

Theresa laughed. “That sounds like a proposal, Thundar.”

“With cooking like this? It might be,” the minotaur laughed.

Alex's family and cabal—including Isolde, who’d arrived when Alex was nearly finished cooking—were seated around the table in the main dining hall of the villa.

Najyah was perched on the back of Khalik’s chair—watching everyone shovel food from plate to mouth. Brutus was by Theresa’s feet, begging.

Claygon stood behind Alex's chair at the head of the table.

Glasses tinkled.

Forks and knives clinked against china.

A flame roared in the fireplace.

And Alex had a dreamy smile on his face.

The sight of friends, the sound of their voices, the scent of food…this was home. And he’d missed it. Even if they weren't in their true home that was part of the bakery, the presence of family and friends made it home all the same.

Besides…

He looked around the villa’s dining room, taking in its stonewalls and fine paintings.

…he liked this place.

Alex looked at the Lu family. Really looked at them. Theresa's mother, father, and brothers were all chatting and sharing a meal with his cabal. Watching them was like watching his old life meet his new one.

He found that he didn't want to let go of either.

Again, Professor Jules’ words about thinking about his future came back to him.

When the war was over—if they won—Theresa's family would be going back to Alric to run their inn.

They'd be far away—many weeks’ travel by ship and wagon—and while Alex could teleport himself and Theresa there to visit whenever they wanted, there was a part of him that felt it wouldn’t be enough.

Life in Alric, without the Ravener, had been peaceful, so was life in Generasi…if one didn't count the demon invasions…or the mana vampires…or the monsters in the countryside…or the monsters from the Barrens…or magical accidents…or—

He shook his head.

‘It's still pretty peaceful in the countryside,’ he thought. ‘I've just lived a pretty wild life here. Sinope and the dryads live in peace, mostly…the Lus could have a nice, calm life here as easily as they could in Alric. It'd be good having them closer—they could enjoy a more comfortable life here in Generasi, and we could see each other whenever we wanted. It wouldn't just be up to us to teleport to Alric to see them.’

“What are you thinking so deeply about?” Theresa’s voice broke through his thoughts.

“Who me?” Alex asked, before looking around the table. Everyone's eyes were on him. “Just the future.”

“In what way?” Mr. Lu asked.

He took a deep breath, deciding on what to say next. “Mr. and Mrs. Lu, I'm going to marry your daughter, and I was wondering if maybe you'd like to live here in Generasi. You said you really liked it here, well…you don't have to go back to Alric if you don't want to.”

The table went quiet.

“That's…a lovely thought, Alex,” Mrs. Lu said. “But we've run our inn for a long time…it doesn't feel right to just abandon it.”

The young wizard smiled, an idea forming in his mind.

He remembered the Cave of the Traveller, with its many portals.

Its permanent portals.

“What if you didn't have to abandon it?” he asked.