chapter 3: be safe

There was no early sunshine the next morning. The birds were hiding in their nest and harsh rain was falling on the roof.

These kinds of days would make most people annoyed or bothered. Just going outside would mean wet clothing

Even an umbrella wouldn't save you in these circumstances.

But Caelus was in very high spirit. Jonathan on the other hand was having a hard time getting out of bed.

Knockknock

"Wake up, I made breakfast" Caelus yelled behind Jonathan's bedroom door.

"Could you leave me alone, I have a headache" his dad responded.

Bambam

Caelus started slamming on the door.

"You said that we needed to clean the house. That means me AND YOU".

"Allright, allright. I am on my way, cut me some slack, will you".

Jonathan slowely got out of bed. He had one or two glasses of wine to many before going to sleep, and now he was reaping the benefits from it.

Caelus heard his father move and so he didn't need to press him any further.

...

After breakfast the two had started cleaning the house. It wasn't the most luxurious house in the village but it was far from being shabby.

The ground floor has five rooms in total. If you entered the front door you would enter the main hall, here was a coat hanger where the inhabitants and guest could put their jackets and hats. Their were also a few paintings of the village on the wall wich made it easy for people to understand that a painter lived in this house.

At the end of the hall was the door towards the living room. It had a big round table in the middle with 6 chairs around it. The walls were filled with planks that carried all kinds of beautiful plants. The most spectacular part was the single window, it had an amazing view on a big field, filled with wheat. The living room was connected to the kitchen, a guest room and the workspace.

The kitchen was a bit smaller but it had everything a family needs, a good storage, a good stove and enough space to cut meat or vegetables.

"Okay the kitchen is clean, did you manage to finish the guest room?" Caelus asked while walking inside the room in question.

"Almost, you have to take a look at this. It's an old famely heirloom that your mother got from her dad. It's quite the impressive item".

Jonathan said while putting a simple box in Caelus hands.

" ohw wow what an amazing looking box dad, I can't believe you hid it here from me." Caelus respondet sarcastically.

"It's in the box you doofus. Open it, I am sure that you dont know what it is".

Caelus now a bit more interested opend the box and saw a small dark yellow looking cup inside.

"So our family heirloom is a simple cup. Dad, I know that I joke a lot about your art but your paintings are way more fit to be a heirloom than this little thing." Caelus reacted with disappointment written all over his face.

Jonathan than started to smile. " that is also what I thought the first time I saw it. I can still remember that day clearly, it was our first date together."

Caelus was suprised, his dad normally avoided talking about his mum and he would never have such a smile while he did talk.

'He is in a good mood I gues.'

"I had asked her out for dinner in a small restaurant in Orthel, its specialty was stew so it fitted right in my alley. Your mom didn't like the food that much".

Cough

"Well she told me that after we got married so I had no clue back than."

He than started scratching his head.

"Weren't you going to tell me about this 'not a cup?" Caelus asked while holding the said item a bit higher.

"O yeah ofcourse. Well on that day, she got that thing out of her bag and put it on the table. My first thoughts were that she was a clean freak or that she came from a noble family that needed to fulfill certain standards. But both my suspicions were wrong. She didn't allow the 'not so cup' to be filled and she did drink out of the cups provided by the restaurant".

Jonathan took the item from Caelus and started holding it on his eye level.

"So I asked why she had this, but she wouldn't tell me. That date went fine, the dates after that, were great and soon enough we were engaged. So at some point we were reminiscing about the past and the mysterious cup came to mind. At that point I hadn't seen it in ages so I asked again what it was."

Jonathan now pointed the cups opening towards Caelus and his smile widened even more.

"My question made her laugh so much that her belly started hurting, I was so confused and asked why she thought it was funny. She told me to wait while she grabbed the cup, than she pointed it towards me, like I am doing now."

Caelus than noticed a faint light that started to form inside the cup. The light quickly became more oppressive until it started to look like a blue ball.

Swoooooshffff

Boom

Caelus felt a sudden force hit his belly wich pushed him back. He wasn't prepared for this and stumbled backwards. He now was on the floor.

"Hahahahah, ahhw you should look at your face." Jonathan laughed while helping his son back up.

"She shot me just like I shot you now. Aparantly this thing is called 'be safe', its an artifact that her family gave to their daughters when they went on dates."

Caelus still bewildered by what just happend collected his thoughts.

"It uses mana right?"

His dad nodded. " yeah, the more mana you put into it the bigger the push."

Caelus shook his head in annoyance. "You could have told me that, instead of doing this."

"And miss the opportunity to mess with you, absolutely not. But don't worry I didn't put to much mana in it so I have enough energy to continue cleaning."

Jonathan replied. He than put 'be safe' back in its box while moving it in a cabinet in the living room.

Caelus was deep in thought.

' I wish that priest would come over sooner. I can't wait being able to use mana, and get my revenge.'

Caelus now walked towards the workplace, this was the last room that needed to be cleaned.

' being able to use my gift would help me a lot to'.

But than Caelus heard somthing before reaching the workspace.

Bonk

' ah that should be the news paper. I wonder why it's so late, it is already noon.'

"I will get it, you can start cleaning the workspace" Caelus dad yelled from the guest room.

"Don't go and read the news paper before finishing the guest room, or I will rip it apart".

Caelus replied.

He than heard some mumbling and the opening of the front door.

' Well lets get started than'

~

After an hour of cleaning paint of the ground and putting utensils in the right place's, Caelus was finally finished.

He walked towards the living room and saw his dad sitting on one of the chairs around the round table, he was reading the newspaper.

"I hope that you finished the guest room".

His dad didn't reply he was to focused.

"Since when are you such a focused reader".

Caelus than noticed that there was a letter on the newspaper. Jonathan had put it on top of it and was reading it with a concerned look on his face.

Caelus walked a bit closer and touched his dad's shoulder.

"Dad what are you reading".

Jonathan than noticed that his son was next to him.

"It's here" He anwserd with a sigh. He pressed the letter in Caelus hands, who instantly started reading."

'Dear Caelus Dawn

We hereby inform you that your country needs your help. King Leon Farmus has requested every battle capable man between the age of 18 and 40 to register in Orthel, here you will be trained to a worthy knight of the Farmus kingdom.

Food, gear and accommodation will be provided by our king, so dont bring to many personal belongings.

Time is of the essence, but that also means the time with your loved ones. So our benevolent king gives you two months. Anyone who fails to register before the first of July will be seen as an deserter and gets punished accordingly.

You, your fellow country man and the king will be fighting for our countries existence. The fools of the United nations will never have a chance to step in our nation with your help.

We will await you in Orthel.'

'It's finnaly here' Caelus thought.

'Well there is no escaping it now, war is on us'.

" Well atleast they gave me some time to say goodbye" Caelus said in a somber tone. His left hand held the letter while the right one was going through his messy blond hair.

"So that bastard of a king doesn't want to yield to save his people. What a great king." Jonathan murmured while hitting the table.

"Well he is saving a big group from enslavement" Caelus replied.

"Those higher ups don't give a rats ass about demi-humans. They only gave them rights to secure a good trading network with other countries. No no, this is only happening cause our dear king doesn't want to share".

Jonathan stood up and walked towards the window. "Those poor things should leave while they can, they won't be safe here. You should also leave. I am sorry to tell you, but you aren't made for war."

Caelus sat down on the chair his father just moved from.

"No its to late already. They probably check the borders for deserters and even if I manage to escape, who do you think they are going to ask about my whereabouts. They will punish you for my crimes."

Silence filled the room for a bit. Both of them knew this day was coming but they weren't prepared at all.

Questions, annoyance, anger and sadness filled their hearts like a waterfall filled a river.

This war ofcourse didn't mean certain death but everyone knew that the chances of winning against the the United nations were low.

"I will be allright dad, I will try and join the infirmary squadron. They have the lowe..."

Knock knock

"I will open it" Jonathan said while walking towards the front door.

Caelus heard some mumbling at the front door and knew exactly who just entered their house.

He put up a fake smile to hide his concerns.

'A great timing as always'

He stood up and walked towards the main hall.

"Hello Edith, I am glad you made it."