Finally having been allowed to do as I pleased for the day, I thought to show off a certain spot to Cecily and Cene and maybe even hold a little family picnic while we're there. Granted, after this roasted pork we filled up on for breakfast, we probably won't be able to eat that much, but we'll stop by some place that sells cakes and have ourselves a sweet brunch. That being said, Cecily still wasn't done with that thing mom and her are doing, as knocking on the door to ask if she's interested only gave me a hasty postponement reply. Cene too, after having filled up his energy gauge to the max, only wanted to run around in the yard and climb the giant tree in the front yard.
The tree was towering over even the house and barn, probably due to the fact it's apparently been planted over two centuries ago by my ancestors. Well, that's what dad told me, but who knows if that's actually the case or if he's just hyping this house up in the hopes that we get enamored enough to one day take over the family business. He's never gonna let that go, is he?
"But this tree..." I inspected it as I plopped Cene onto a lower down branch that was safe enough for him to be on, "Is it an oak tree? An apple tree?"
"Daddy, daddy! Help me climb to the top!" Cene's Eyes glimmered.
"Maybe later." I chuckled, "But you know, if I get you up there, I'm afraid you're gonna have to get down by yourself."
"No pwoblem!" He carelessly tossed me a thumbs up, "I can do it! Chwis taught me how to climb on top of the twee by the playgwound."
"When did that happen?" I worriedly asked, "Does your mom know that?"
"Yeah, she helped too!" He giggled.
Dammit Cecily, aren't you supposed to be worrying about our kid's safety? What the hell, does she think it's normal to not only allow, but also teach kids how to climb up high places? What if Cene fell, or Gods forbid some of the other kids? Then we'd be held accountable, obviously. Geez, sometimes I wonder if she thinks all kids should be as wild as she and Carter were...
"Hewe, like this!" Cene began climbing up like a squirrel.
"No! Get back down here!" I ordered.
"Nuh-uh, it's okay, I'm fine!" He smiled, "Look dad, no hands! Ehe!"
Gah! My son's a daredevil at four years old! He can probably already see the roof of the house from this high up! Crap, Materialize cushions, Materialize mattresses...! Hold on a second, what the heck is he even trying to prove to his dear papa with this!? Is he not scared when he glances down at me!?
"Haha! I can see the wagon lady fwom hewe!" Cene looked on beyond the trees at the bazaar, "Hi~!"
"Beth's still here...?" I furrowed my brows before shaking it off, "Never mind that! Cene, if you get down from here right now, I'll buy you a cake!"
"Cake!?" Cene immediately swerved back around with a happy grin, though the situation soon turned dire when he slipped on the branch and fell, "Oop-"
"Gah!" I ran into position to hopefully catch him, only to slip on the mattress I myself Materialized, "Cene!"
"Hup!" A nearby heroic teen swooped in at the last second to catch him just mere centimeters before Cene hit the ground, "Idiot, you would've gone splat if I wasn't there to catch you."
"Hmph." Cene crossed his arms and stuck his tongue out instead of thanking the boy, "I didn't need youw help!"
Obviously, the only person Cene would show this level of negative response to being saved is none other than my brother. But where did he come from, I wonder? I last saw him when he ran away after my prank, but that was before breakfast. Who cares though, he saved Cene and that's all that matters.
"T-Thank y-"
"Shut it." Latham scowled back at me, "I just heard this brat calling out to some girl in the distance and ran here to check what was up. I didn't save him so you would thank me."
"Still, I would've been back to just one kid had you not shown up in time." I remarked, "Seriously, you name it and it's yours. You didn't have any reason to jump in to save Cene and yet you did, so I'll stop with the pranks as well."
"Hm, how boring." He smirked as his Eyes glanced down at my feet for a second, "You're raising the White flag already? The prank war hasn't even properly heated up, y'know?"
"Oh, so you're not mad about me scaring you all the time?" I chuckled, "You're way less of a brat than I originally thought. Latham, you're actually kinda... cool."
I really am an ass, it seems. The kid gave me a bad first impression, but apart from that shaky start, he really did only give off the vibes of a gentle and kind person who enjoys helping our parents around the house and barn. Well, there's that, but there's also the fact that Latham literally just spared my idiot son from turning into a pancake. Still, I think I'll tone down the pranks from now on. He said he doesn't want me to give up, but I just don't feel it's appropriate anymore to prank my son's savior.
"But well, you're really offering anything in return?" Latham smirked as he finally put Cene down, "Show me how you made all those things appear, and that Fireball too. That's enough for me."
"That's all?" I returned a light chuckle, "Well, first you gotta become a skinwalker..."
"Hey, is that the only prank you got in you?!" He jokingly shoved me to the side as we walked back inside the house, "I know you're not a skinwalker, dammit! Think of something else next, please!"
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Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
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Well, after that little fiasco, it seems Cecily finally finished up her secret hobby for the day and came out of the room. She happily agreed to the idea of a family picnic date, but was even a tad dejected to hear it was only going to be the three of us.
"You're not gonna invite your brother and parents?" She asked, "How are you ever gonna see Eye to Eye if you keep avoiding them?"
"Don't worry, I've learned from a recent encounter that my plan's going swimmingly so far." I thought of Latham in that moment, "Taking my time and just going with the flow is enough for us to eventually reconcile, but I still don't want you and Cene to feel left out."
"Hrm..." She still looked uncertain.
"Come on, we haven't gotten any peace and quiet since we came here." I chuckled, "What's a single outing with just the three of us?"
"Alright, I trust you know what you're doing then." She finally caved, "But do you have any spot in mind? We're surrounded by a forest, but that doesn't mean that just going anywhere and plopping down a blanket is fine. There's also the food to think about."
"I was actually thinking we grab some confectioneries from the cake shop nearby." I smiled, "As for the location, I got this one place in mind, but you're just gonna have to trust me on this."
Shrugging, it appears she doesn't mind a surprise when it comes to that. In reality, I'm sure she's just happy enough that we're spoiling ourselves with a sweet brunch so much so that she wouldn't care even if I chose a damp cave to set up camp in. Of course, that isn't the plan, because I have a way better place in mind. A way more secretive location that, hopefully, is still the same as I remember it.
"Then, I'll go get dressed for the occasion and we can head out immediately." Cecily nodded.
"Yeah, Cene and I'll wait for you outside."
With that, it didn't take even a couple minutes of waiting before a most dazzling lady appeared in front of our Eyes, clad in an adorably stylish Yellow sundress. Witness objective beauty with our very Eyes, Cene and I couldn't help but clap for her, which in turn made her crack a bashful smile. Mom and dad were actually sitting outside in that moment and, upon inspecting our cheery moods, couldn't help but ask where we were headed.
"I'd like to show Cecily around the village." I explained.
"Oh dear, then you shouldn't go in such a fancy dress, Cily." Mom addressed her by the same nickname I sometimes use for her.
"How come?" Cecily tilted her head.
"Tch, we know our son." Dad clicked his tongue, "When he says he's gonna show you around the village, he sure as hell ain't talking about the actual 'village' part."
"Yes, Lune's never been one to explore the populated part of the village too often in his youth." Mom recalled, "Usually, him and Ed would go a bit farther off the path to find something unique and hidden away."
"Did they get it right?" Cecily giggled over to me.
"Bullseye..." I sighed, "But still, the place we're going doesn't have a difficult path leading up to it. Well, not that Cecily would have any issues traversing this terrain."
She's a parkour master, after all. Years of training from a young age to be a quick and nimble assassin/thief that lurks in the shadows surely haven't worn off, even after all these years. Eh, even then, I'd feel bad if I made her walk through mud or made her climb a giant rock to get to where we need to go, hence why I specifically chose to go to the place we're going to now. And that place is of course...!
"A hideout!" I told her and Cene as we walked through the forest leading up to it, "Well, kinda."
"You and Ed made a hideout all the way out here?" She asked, "Sick!"
"Haha, I knew you'd get it!" I gave her a proud high five.
"What's that?" Cene yet again learned a new word.
"It's like a secret base only you know of." Cecily explained.
"Yeah, but in reality it's just an abandoned house that had to stop construction midway." I scratched my beard with a chuckle, "Actually, I think we had to fight a snair last time we went there."
"Then don't take us to such a dangerous place!" Cecily worried for Cene's safety.
"Now now, it's nothing to fret over. The hunters usually deal with all the nearby beasts, that was just a one off occurrence." I reassured her, "Which reminds me, since when are you worried about Cene's safety?"
"What kind of a stupid question is that?" Cecily nuzzled Cene in her embrace, as he got tired of having to walk for so long, "He's my precious babyboy. Of course I care about his wellbeing."
"Hmm, that's not what I heard..." I looked up and away, "A little bird told me you actually busied yourself with teaching him and his friends back in the playground how to climb up high places."
"T-That...!" She bit her tongue before sulkenly glancing down at her son, "Cene, I told you not to tell daddy about that..."
"Sowwy, mommy." He didn't seem apologetic in the slightest, "Can we eat cake now?"
"Soon, but not yet." I pointed in front of us, "We should be at our destination in just a few more minutes. Hold on until then."
Glooming in his mother's embrace, Cene's Eyes were staring a hole directly through my hand, or rather, the box of sweets and cakes I was holding in it. The kid should be happy to even be alive after the stunt he pulled today, but no, it seems the only thing on his mind is what the colorful pink sprinkled donut we bought tastes like. Seriously, it's like he's the opposite of his sister when it comes to dealing with traumatic experiences.