"Long-lived races are known to place great importance on familial bonds. This is most likely because of their low fertility, hence the extra emphasis on family, for one would only cherish what one has a difficult time achieving." - Garth Wainwrought, socioeconomics professor at the Levain Institute of Higher Learning.
As a city, Cal had to admit that Levain was definitely built with more planning and foresight in its construction compared to the anarchic layout Paradise had. The city was neatly divided into neat, rectangular blocks of buildings, with roads that mostly formed straights and crossed each other perpendicularly. That said, the city felt a bit cold to her, unlike Paradise that made her feel welcomed. The city of Levain just felt indifferent instead.
A quick query with the mage-guards that had welcomed her to town allowed Cal to find out that they were familiar with Vark Greentusk. Orc-Elf hybrids are a relative rarity after all, and there were not many of them even in big cities like Levain. The guard politely informed her that Vark worked as an instructor at the Institute, and that she could likely find him there.
When Cal made her way to the Levain Institute of Higher Learning and asked the gate guard about Vark, he politely informed her that as a member of the faculty he would still be at work. After she explained that she was related to Vark and had brought correspondence from his parents though, the guard offered her direction to Vark's abode, so that she could wait for him there.
A half-human, half-elven woman probably around her own age opened the door at Vark's house when Cal knocked, and bid her to come in. She seated herself on the plush sofas in their living room as the woman poured her a cup of tea and brought a plate of sweets for her.
"Nice to meet you!" Said the woman cheerfully. "News from father-in-law I take it? Been a while since we last heard from them."
"You can say that." Cal said as she shook the woman's proffered hand. "My name's Celeysria, and technically speaking… Vark's my half-nephew."
"Oh my! Krystal's my name." Introduced the woman. "Err… Should I call you aunt then?"
"Please don't!" Interjected Cal with a laugh. "Vark's probably older than me anyway. Just call me by name."
"Don't mind if I do then, Celeysria." Said Krystal. "No offense, but I didn't know Vark had an aunt before."
"I found out that I had a half brother just recently myself." Explained Cal. "What can I say? My father has been around."
"Vark probably won't be back for another few hours still. Can you tell me how father and mother-in-law are doing in the meantime?"
"Sure, might as well."
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Cal trades stories with Krystal while they nibbled on the platter of dried fruits and sipped some tea. A small interruption presented itself not half an hour after she arrived when a toddler, who Krystal introduced as her second child with Vark, named Ilena, woke up and toddled her way to her mother.
Their stories were temporarily forgotten while the two women played with the adorable child and made her laugh cheerfully. To Cal's surprise, the toddler seemed to be fond of her, which was unusual, as most little children tended to find her scary instead. She played with Ilena as she talked to Krystal until the toddler yawned and ended up asleep with her head on Cal's lap.
"Sorry about her." Said Krystal apologetically.
"No worries." Cal said. Her left hand absent-mindedly stroked the toddler's hair as she lightly snored and drooled on her lap. "She's an adorable one."
"It helps ease the loneliness with her around, with Vark at work all day, and Leila enrolled the past three years."
"Students don't return to their homes from the institute?" Asked Cal with some doubt.
"They live in the dorms for the duration of their tutelage, and generally only comes home on holidays." Explained Krystal. "She only gets to come back twice a year."
"That's quite strict."
"They have their reasons." Said Krystal. "Tell me a bit more about yourself, Celeysria. You said you met father-in-law two years ago. Where did you live before then?"
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"Al-Shan." Cal answered. She saw understanding dawned on Krystal's face at her words. "Retired after the war ended, but yes, I fought for most of the war."
"Those must have been horrible times."
"They were. But I guess, it was necessary in the end." Said Cal as she reminiscenced about the past. "They're rebuilding back home, hopefully to a better future."
Cal made more small talk with Krystal until the sun started to set, at which time the door was unlocked and opened. One look at Vark Greentusk made Cal realize that she would have never missed the man, since he looked remarkably similar to his father, other than his darker skin tone and pale brown hair. His hybrid features combined to give the man an elegant face that had elements of savagery, much like his father.
"We have guests, Krys?" He asked his wife when he noticed Cal in the living room, with his youngest daughter snoring on her lap.
"Welcome home, honey." Said Krystal as she welcomed her husband home with a kiss. "This is Celeysria. She brings news from father-in-law."
"She's also your aunt." Added Krystal teasingly after Vark seated himself and shook hands with Cal. That last bit of information had him choke on his tea for a bit.
"Aunt?" He asked after he coughed to clear his airways.
"Well, Half-aunt technically. Your father and I are half-siblings." Cal explained once again. "Your grandpa got around quite a bit, Vark."
"That said, just call me by name. We're likely the same age anyway." She added as she sipped her tea.
The package Khal-Est has asked her to carry turned out to contain a letter, as well as a pair of embroidered shawls for the couple. Vark also complained that his parents always thought of him as a child even after all this time when he found a leather bag filled with hard candies made from the dried, fermented sap of a tree that grew in the Greentusk's forest. The sort he loved as a child.
Cal smiled as he popped one of the candies into his mouth despite his complaints.
It turned out that Vark worked as an instructor for practical applications of magic in combat at the Institute. He was an earth magus of quite good talent, from what Cal could tell. His wife Krystal was of the fire affinity, and their eldest daughter had inherited both affinities, born with the Magma affinity.
Ilena woke up from her nap shortly after her father returned home, and the three adults talked while they entertained the active toddler. Cal watched warmly when Vark fed one of the candies he just got to his little daughter fondly.
"What kind of trouble, specifically?" Cal asked after Vark complained that some new students had difficulties in his class.
"We got three Blood mages this year all at once." Vark explained. "They are rare to begin with, and our curriculum did not have much suggestion on how to best train them. I haven't dealt with any myself either during my tenure so far."
"I'm one." Said Cal simply. "I can offer you some tips on that at least, I reckon."
"Wait. If you don't mind, maybe you'd like to come with me on the morrow instead?" Vark interjected. "I have the authority to bring in guest lecturers if I felt the need. That's exactly how most of us handle affinities we have little experience with, actually."
"I don't see why not." Said Cal with a smile.
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