It was mid afternoon when Kieren arrived at his family's estate in Baerin. He slowly climbed down off of his mount and stretched his legs once he approached the gate. He belonged to a minor noble house and this would be the first time he had been back in over three years. His father hadn't approved of his choice to become an adventurer, and Kieren hadn't left on good terms.

It didn't matter, though. When all was said and done, he would be welcomed back. One of the few house guards under the family's employment opened the heavy steel gates leading to the manor upon his approach. 

"Welcome home, Lord Kieren."

"No need to be so formal, James. You've known me since I was five years old. Is my father in?"

The kindly old guard gave him a smile with a twinkle in his eye at the comment. "As stubborn as always about accepting your place as a nobleman, I see. Yes, he's in."

"Thanks, James. Could you also take care of my horse for me? I can walk the rest of the way."

"Of course." James took the reigns of the horse and headed off towards the stables. 

Kieren remembered when the old guard had snuck candy to him here and there when he was little. It was good to see the man was still in good health. He had to be nearing sixty years old. They hadn't much need out here in the middle of nowhere for a lot of security. The guards were more like family than servants as far as Kieren was concerned.

His boots crunched against the gravel pathway leading to the main house and when he arrived at the front door he left his halberd leaning up against the side of the house before entering. The first thing he noticed when coming in was the delicious smell wafting his direction from the kitchen. Smells like I made it home just in time for dinner. 

One of the maids, Alyssa, came shooting out of the kitchen when the door closed. She gave him a wide grin when she saw him standing in the entryway.

"Young master! You're home? It's been so long. We've all missed you." She leaned in conspiratorially, "Even your father has."

"Is he in the house at the moment? I should tell him that I'm home. Where's mother and Nessa?"

"Your father is in his study, your mother and sister are in town picking up a new dress for Nessa from the seamstress."

"Thanks. I guess I should get this over with and go see him." 

"He's in one of his moods today, tread lightly, young master." The maid gave him a curtsy and a warm smile before heading back to the kitchen.

Kieren and his father hadn't ever gotten along. He simply wasn't the kind of man his father had envisioned; for one, he had no intention of taking over the mantle of city lord when his father passed someday and secondly, he had joined the Adventurer's Guild.

He sighed and went upstairs to the second floor. Kieren had really hoped that his mother and sister would be around to act as a buffer against his dad's inevitable nagging about his life choices. He slid his hand along the smooth banister as he took deliberate steps up the stairs. The polished walnut felt good against his hand. He remembered a time when he was young where he would climb on this and slide down; much to the disapproval of his minders. 

Their manor wasn't a huge one, but it still held a dozen rooms or so. His father's study was at the back of the house and overlooked the vineyard. The door was shut and he stepped up to it and knocked.

"What is it? I'm busy sorting out the taxes that need to be sent to the high lord. I said before that I didn't want to be disturbed," the gruff voice came from behind the door like a low rumble.

Great. He's already in one of his moods. May as well get this over with. I want to spend a little time here. What Megumi did to those miners... I need more time to process it.

Instead of answering, he opened the door and stepped inside. His father looked up from a stack of paperwork and he had a medium sized chest sitting next to him, full of coins.  

"You're back, eh? Did you finally see the error in what you have done? You've brought shame upon our house, you know? Your place is here not off adventuring like some common sell-sword."

Kieren frowned. He knew that was as close to a 'welcome home' that he would get out of his father. "I've come back to visit, not to stay. I am proud of the life I have chosen. By being an adventurer, I've been able to do a lot of good for a lot of people."

The response got the typical reaction from his father, whose face took on a sour look. The older man stood up and placed his hands flat on the desk before him. "Really? How about that mining village up north? Every person in that town is dead now, all to save some orphans?" 

Kieren's couldn't hide the look of shock on his face. 

"News travels fast, Kieren. A lot of nobles had their hands in that mining operation. You've cost some of our allies dearly for what you've done."

"The orphans were being abused and even killed in those mines! They were experimenting on those children and creating chimeras at the orphanage."

His father waved a hand dismissively. "They're orphans. Human trash. It's not wrong for them to work to earn the food and housing they are given. As for the 'experimentation,' no evidence has been proven about that. The entire city was burned to the ground."

Kieren's face grew hot and he remembered why he would never get along with this man. Three years had helped him sugar coat a lot of his memories, but this was ridiculous. Those kids did not deserve what had been done to them. Even if they were just being used as a child labor force, it wasn't right.

"Your heart is rotten, father. Those children are human beings! They deserve a fair chance at life. They were exploited and the town needed to be punished!"

"It is not against the law to do what they were doing. You could have taken the case to High Lady Undine instead of charging in like an idiot."

"You know full well that she wouldn't have lifted a finger. The guild was right in sending me to investigate claims of experimentation. It was an abomination! I can't stay here even for another minute. I'll be staying at the Adventurer's Guild in town for a couple days. Goodbye. I hope we never meet again."

His father pounded a fist on the table. "Fine then! Be gone! You're no son of mine if that's how you're going to talk! Consider yourself disinherited!"

Kieren shrugged and stomped out of the study, slamming the door behind him as he went. What was I thinking coming here? Of course he would see things that way. Talking to him only strengthens the feeling in me that Megumi was right. 

The town was complicit, as were the nobles who had their hands in the pie, justice would never have come for those kids and there would have been a new headmistress and more orphans in the place already if they hadn't done what they did. Instead, it would take months or even years for that operation to get going again; if it did at all.

He stomped down the stairs and went to the kitchens. "I'm leaving again. I will likely never return, thank you all for everything you did for me growing up. I fear that without the kindness you all showed me, I could have become like that monster sitting upstairs."

Yeari, the maid who had greeted him earlier, came over and gave him a warm hug. "We will miss you, young master. Take care out there, it's a dangerous world as you know."

He gave her a smile. "It will be okay. Thank you for everything, Yeari, you were always like a second mother to me." 

With that, he turned and left the kitchens. Kieren left the place that he had once called home for the second time a few minutes later, and this time, he didn't even look back. On the road to the town he saw a carriage rolling towards him. He was in luck, it was his mother and sister heading back to the estate.

The driver, who he recognized as Mortimer, pulled the vehicle to a stop as he approached. Kieren waved to the man and hopped down from his horse. The head of a sixteen year old girl with long brown hair that fell in ringlets around her face poked her head out of the carriage window. 

She had her mouth open to speak when she saw him and her eyes went wide with surprise. "Kieren!!" 

Nessa hopped out of the wagon and charged at him like a bull. She grabbed him tightly in an embrace and he couldn't help but smile. His little sister was the best thing about this place. "I've missed you. Look at how big you've gotten. You look like a proper lady now as well."

He poked her in the side. She was wearing a fancy dress and her hair smelled of lilac. She was still shorter than he was; about the same overall size as Megumi. She jumped a little at the poke; she had always been ticklish. "Are you home for good? I've missed you so!"

His mother climbed out of the carriage after hearing all the commotion. She came over and gave him a hug as well. "My little boy, look how filled out you've become. You've been eating okay out there in the world?"

"I've been fine, mother. The guild takes good care of me."

Unlike his father, his mother had supported his decision to take any path he chose in life. Nessa had always been more interested in acting proper and being a lady, she would marry some nice nobleman and take over the house. 

"Where are you going? Aren't you staying at the house if you're in town? Did you already get in another fight with father?" Nessa asked.

He smiled wryly. "Can't get anything past you, Nessa. I can't see eye to eye with that man. He may be my father, but he's wrong about so many things. He has his head buried in the sand. I can't stay there, I'm sorry to you both."

His mother frowned at the comment. "Your mind is set?"

He nodded.

"Where are you going to be staying? Will you be in town long? We should at least have a meal together."

"I'll be staying at the Adventurer's Guild. Not sure how long I'll stay, but at least a few days or so. How about we go out to one of the restaurants in town tomorrow?"

"Yes! That sounds really good! Eritoile's make's something called ice cream. It only recently came to this city and it's so good! Have you had it before? Everything comes here so slowly, I bet you have," Nessa jabbered excitedly.

Her love of sweets was definitely something that the girl had in common with Megumi. He laughed happily at her excitement. "I have. It's pretty good stuff. We can go to Eritoile's, then. Is that okay with you, mother?"

"Yes. We will meet you there at noon. We'd better get back to the manor, your father is probably fuming right now. Don't worry, I will smooth things over."

"Honestly, mother, I don't even want you to bother. I have nothing in common with him. He said some horrible things, that I won't be able to forget. I realize you two have to live with the man, so I'm sorry that he will be in one of his moods, but I won't be going back home again, not so long as he lives."

His mother sighed, she was used to this kind of thing. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and got back into the carriage. Nessa gave him another huge hug and he patted her on the head. "I'll see you tomorrow. Don't worry, I'll stick around for a bit."

She smiled up at him and then got into the carriage as well. Kieren nodded to the driver and got back on his own mount. He needed to get to town already. If he was in town already, maybe there were requests he could do to earn some money; he was getting a little low. 

An hour later, and he arrived at his destination. Baerin was small compared to places like Rivean or Oleander, but it was an average size city. The place was fairly far away from any other large towns, and was a hub for all the little villages in the region. The sun was beginning to set and he found that there were still quite a few people on the street. He put his horse into the guild stables before going in. The elderly guild master's eyes twinkled when he saw Kieren enter. 

"Kieren! It's been so long. News of all your good deeds has spread even down to here. Are you going to be in town for a while? If you're not busy, we have some requests you could take on. What am I saying? You've been gone so long, you probably want to spend your time with your family. What brings you to the guild today?"

"Actually... I think I'll be in town for a few days or so at least. I could use some work... and a place to stay, if you have the space for me."

"We always have space for you, Kieren. There aren't many adventurers staying here right now, so you can take your pick as far as rooms go."

"Thanks, Domino. I'm going to go get some rest if you don't mind, it's been a very long journey."

"Of course, of course. We can talk in the morning. I think I have just the request for you, there's a tribe of gnolls that has been causing trouble outside of Tristy. We could really use the help of an experienced adventurer to take care of the problem."

"That sounds interesting. I'll be glad to help. Goodnight, Domino."

"Goodnight."

Kieren made his way to the living quarters and chose a room. He got ready for bed and stared up at the ceiling for what felt like a long while. I wonder what Megumi and Hideki are up to now. Maybe when I'm done here, I'll go join them once more.

He turned onto his side and closed his weary eyes. He had come home, but it wasn't really home anymore. He didn't think he had a home anywhere, and that was okay.