Rebirth Online World

Jasper entered the kitchen as if nothing was wrong and laid the two wooden swords near the stairs. He then joined his family on the dining table with Raya noticeably squirming in his seat. He’s so easy to read, Jasper inwardly mused as he maintained his seemingly innocent facade.

Raya and their father Raygus took glances at each other while Eruft was passively watching the scene unfold as usual. It was rather obvious that their mother had not been informed or she wouldn’t be calmly preparing dinner as usual. Raya ended up having the first say after being peered at intensely by their father.

“Uh… Quintus, have you seen the knife I left on the table this morning?”

The indirect curveball approach, is it now? Jasper was finding it rather amusing teasing this big brother of theirs.

“I don’t have it.” he said while looking away. Anyone who’s not blind could see that Jasper was trying to hide it. Or was he?

Raya looked at Quintus and then at Raygus and Eruft exasperatedly. Miriam quickly felt something was off and questioned her husband Raygus for an explanation. Winnie and Camellia were in turn questioning the passive Eruft, seeing how Raya had sent pleading glances at him as well.

“Quintus, I ask you to return the knife.” said Raygus in a stern tone.

Jasper then pouted and mumbled, “I don’t wanna! I want it.”

“Quintus. Listen to your father.” Miriam chided in. Jasper’s frown deepened, showing them his deep reluctance.

“Please.” Now it was Raya who joined in.

Inwardly, Jasper was thinking that people are really lenient towards children and feeling just a tad bit guilty of doing this to them. However, Jasper turned on the waterworks and started bawling anyway.

Now they weren’t quite sure what to do. This was the very first time Quintus had been so intent on something like this, so they started consoling him while explaining to him that knives are dangerous. To their relief, the sobs died down however Jasper still didn’t take the knife out.

“I promise… I’ll be… very careful.” Jasper said in between sobs and tears.

They couldn’t possibly wrest it away from him, out of fear that he injure himself because of the knife. The dinner table descended into awkward silence while Jasper was contemplating on the great liberties a child can take.

Miriam finally broke the silence like an expert mom. “The food’s going to get cold if you keep on arguing like this. Eat first. We can talk later.” she huffed.

Rather gratified for the distraction, the whole family went back to their meals quietly. Miriam pinched Raya’s arm while whispering, “you should’ve been more careful.”

The atmosphere continued to be delicate as muffled sobs could be heard softly, courtesy of the remorseless Jasper. In a desperate attempt to alleviate the tension and divert the topic, Raya charged in bravely and asked his youngest brother about his day.

“So… Quintus… what did you do today?”

Hearing the obvious pause there made Jasper snicker silently, while his face maintained his pouty expression. I feel like laughing so badly right now, but I can use this to further my cause, he thought to himself with an imaginary smirk on his face.

“I made a sword, like Raya’s!” Jasper beamed and showed them the freshly carved out sword, intently watching their reactions. Jasper could clearly feel that the only qualms his parents had for letting him keep the knife was the fear he cut himself, so now he need only prove them otherwise.

Raygus eyed the sword Jasper handed to Raya with mixed emotions, gesturing with his hand that he wanted a look as well. Taking it into his large hands, it looked small in comparison. Frowning silently as he thumbed the edges of the sword in concentration, he returned it to Jasper with a question.

“Did you make this today?”

“Yup, this afternoon. I’m going to make flowers for mom tomorrow! Big roses!” he gestured exaggeratedly, still showing an innocent and bright smile.

After finishing the meal, Jasper quickly hauled the two swords and disappeared into the bedroom like lightning. No further attempts to take the knife away from him had him sigh in relief inside the room. This is a nice family, he mused to himself.

——————

Downstairs, Raygus stayed seated on the dining table deep in thought. Miriam, eyeing his behaviour since he took the carved sword into his hands, sat down beside him quietly.

“What is it dear?” she had noticed his brooding demeanour had something to do with Quintus just now.

At this he turned his sight towards the second floor, to which their children had disappeared to. As he pensively stared at the stairs, he said to no one in particular.

“I don’t know, dear. I would never have believed that heaven sent gifts existed until today. That carved sword would’ve put any carpenter to shame.” Raygus sighed. Miriam said naught a word in reply when she saw the unwavering gaze in her husband’s eyes. He had decided what to do.

——————————

The next morning, two men set out of the house, one large one small. Raygus took his son’s hands in his and led him to a quiet glade at the edge of town which was a one hour walk away. A small cottage and a disproportionately large workshop stood at the end of their path. Here the cobblestones gave way to loamy dry dirt and pristine nature surrounded the area.

Raygus walked to the front door and knocked loudly. A cacophony of rustling paper and banging metal ensued before somebody finally opened the door.

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