Chapter 3 : Family outing

In the hushed stillness of the dimly lit room, illuminated by the soft glow of a candle lantern, two children stood clasping hands tightly. Their eyes fixated on the shadowy silhouette before them. When Ezra caught sight of the figure, his eyes widened, but it was Zara who moved first.

"Dad!" she exclaimed, darting forward to envelop the figure in an embrace. It was, Of course, their father, Adonis Artemis. He welcomed Zara's hug, lifting her up and twirling her around playfully. Then, he motioned for Ezra to join them.

Adonis Artemis, their father, was a tall man with jet-black hair and intense, penetrating black eyes. In his late twenties, he was undeniably handsome, boasting a sharp jawline and a well-defined physique. Yet, beneath his striking appearance, the dark circles under his eyes hinted at his exhaustion, betraying numerous sleepless nights.

"Dad, when did you get home?" Zara inquired, her curiosity mingled with joy at his unexpected presence, as he was seldom seen at home. "I just arrived," their father replied. "But what are you two doing here at this hour?", he questioned, his tone carrying a hint of reproach.

Zara's smile faltered, morphing into a sheepish grin. "We were just exploring, Dad. We didn't touch anything, right, Ezzie?" she glanced at Ezra, seeking his affirmation. He nodded vigorously. "Yes, we were just looking for candies," he chimed in, advocating their innocence.

"Candies?" Adonis chuckled, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Let's head upstairs first." With that, he led them upstairs. As they reached the hallway, they spotted their mother emerging from the kitchen.

"Addy, you're home?" she queried, her tone filled with surprise. "Yes, I just got back. And when I went to my study to put away my luggage, I found two little racoons sneaking around," Adonis recounted, with a playful smile.

Their mother's gaze shifted towards them, and they both flinched under her scolding glare. "Zara, we told you not to go in there, didn't we?" she said, her tone laced with rebuke. "But we were just looking around," Zara defended herself. "Even if you were curious, it's not an excuse to disobey your parents."

"But why can't we go there?" Zara asked, her voice tinged with injustice. With a sigh, their mother explained, "There are dangerous crafting tools and materials of your dad's in there. If you touch the wrong thing, you could get hurt."

'Crafting materials?' Ezra thought, recalling the bottles of mysterious liquids and powders in the basement. 'And what about those pen-like objects?' He remembered the metallic-tipped objects that resembled pens but were clearly not meant for writing on paper.

'And also, I thought he was a researcher. Why does he need crafting tools?' Ezra thought. He still only knew a little about his father's job. 'But if he is a crafter, what is he even crafting anyway?' He lacked so much information. 'But who cares? I just want to play and do kids stuff, like running and... more running?' he pondered, pushing the thoughts to the back of his mind.

"Those are not that dangerous, Cathy. Besides, they're just curious," Adonis said with a condoning smile. Acantha's gaze flared as she shifted her attention to her husband. "Addy! You can't always spoil them like this. You know those tools can be dangerous."

Seeing something in his wife's gaze, Adonis flinched and said, "Yes, listen to your mother, children. She is right, and that place is no good," he added with deadpan seriousness. Seeing her husband retract wisely, Acantha smiled amusedly. Then, she noticed the dark circles under his eyes and frowned. "Addy, when was the last time you slept?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry and anger.

"I slept enough," he replied, adding, "I just got a little excited with the relic those explorers brought yesterday." he said with some lingering excitement. hearing that Acantha's gaze flared again then with a calmed fury she said "I understand your excitement, but it feels like you're always working. When was the last time you took a break?" she asked, but he didn't answer.

Seeing her silent husband, Acantha said "Addy, I'm worried about you. You're not getting enough rest, and it's starting to affect your health. You need to prioritize your well-being.", Adonis sighed, feeling a pang of guilt. "I know, I know. I'll try to take it easy, I promise."

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Acantha nodded, but her concern lingered. "It's not just about your health, Addy. It's about us too. We hardly spend any time together as a family," she said, then added, "And Ezzie and Zara are at the age where they need their father." Her words hung in the air for a moment.

Breaking the awkwardness, Adonis suddenly said, "How about this? Tomorrow morning, we all go out as a family," he proposed. Sensing his wife's gaze still on him, he added, "And we'll do some shopping and eat outside."

Acantha stared for a moment, then her face softened. "Okay," she said. "You must be tired. Go wash yourself, and I'll prepare dinner." She turned to her children. "You two, come and help me with setting the table."

Ezra and Zara followed their mother without question, knowing they had narrowly escaped a scolding because their parents got distracted with some adult stuff. However, they couldn't help but feel a surge of joy at the prospect of going out together as a family tomorrow.

******

"Ezzie, wake up."

In the next morning, Ezra woke up to someone shaking him and calling him to wake up. When he opened his hazy eyes with his dizzy mind, he could see his sister Zara near him.

"Ezzie, wake up, it's morning already! Don't you remember? We are all going out today. Wake up!" Zara said with excitement.

Ezra rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep as he listened to his sister Zara's excited voice. Her words about going out filled him with anticipation, awakening a curiosity that had been growing inside him for some time. His experiences beyond the confines of their home were limited to a few cautious outings with his mother, mostly within the familiar surroundings near their house.

The world outside seemed like a mysterious realm waiting to be discovered. His thoughts raced with questions about the village, its people, and their way of life compared to his own family. He was a little confused about something in his house; overall, it seemed like a large house from the medieval period, but there were oddities that intrigued him.

The presence of clocks ticking away the moments, the mirrors, colorful crayons, and the faint scent of perfumes and soaps all added to his wonder. The furniture with its intricate designs and advanced kitchenware compared to what he had imagined. But it was the clothing that surprised him the most; the rich shades of colors, styles and designs were unlike anything he had envisioned from his questionable medieval knowledge.

And then there were the lights — rectangular objects emitting a soft glow from crystal-like cubes inside. Even though there were only a few of these 'light-things', they still amazed him, casting a warm radiance that defied his understanding of illumination.

He also noticed a few more such things, some of which he couldn't even identify. They contrasted sharply with his typical idea of the medieval theme. Although he had a vague awareness that things would be different, he wasn't expecting this.

As Ezra fully woke up, the excitement of the day ahead began to overpower his sleepiness. He could hear the bustling sounds of morning activity downstairs, indicating that everyone was getting ready for their family outing.

Bounding out of bed, Ezra quickly dressed in his usual simple attire, a loose tunic and trousers that were comfortable for exploring. He hurried downstairs where the aroma of breakfast greeted him warmly. Acantha, their mother, was busy in the kitchen, preparing a hearty meal to start the day.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," she greeted Ezra with a smile as he entered the kitchen. "Are you excited about today?" she asked, flipping a pancake expertly.

Ezra nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Mom! Where are we going?" he inquired, unable to contain his curiosity.

Acantha chuckled softly. "It's a surprise," she teased, ruffling his hair affectionately. "But first, let's have breakfast. Your father and Zara are already at the table."

The family gathered around the wooden table in the cozy dining area, adorned with freshly picked wildflowers in a vase at its center. Adonis sat at the head of the table, looking more rested than the previous night. Zara beamed at Ezra, her excitement palpable as they discussed plans for the day.

After a leisurely breakfast filled with laughter and chatter, Adonis finally revealed their destination. "First, we're going to visit the village market," he announced with a smile. "Then we will visit the Gaia Tree."

Ezra's eyes widened with delight. He had seen the magnificent tree many times, as anyone could see it from afar, but he couldn't imagine how big the tree actually was. He was excited to see it up close. As they finished their breakfast, the Artemis family prepared to depart.

When Ezra left the house, he took in the sights and sounds around him. He could see familiar houses in the distance, their stone buildings with thatched roofs seeming to greet them warmly under the morning sun. There were a dozen houses within his view, each spaced apart with enough land around them, some of them have small farms and fields . It was a vast mountain valley, so everyone had enough land for themselves.

As they walked towards the village market, they greeted some neighbors along the way, exchanging friendly waves and cheerful good mornings. The path to the market was lined with wildflowers in full bloom, and the distant murmur of a brook added a serene background melody to their journey. Children played in the yards, their laughter echoing through the valley.

When they reached the market, it was bustling with activity, teeming with vendors and shoppers exploring the array of goods on display. Stalls were filled with vibrant fruits, vegetables, and handmade crafts, creating a lively and colorful scene. However, despite the lively atmosphere, Ezra couldn't shake the feeling,

'There's something off about this place.'