I walked out of the huge crystal door into the inner courtyard. Algo was almost completely blocked by the ever-prevailing storm clouds. The air was cold and brisk, so I put up the hood of my Phanta-Robe to cover my head. My eyes scanned the yard for the family, but I could not see them. I started walking slowly around the small building that held Lutz's Room to cross over to the other side of the courtyard, when I saw a cloud of smoke rise from behind the complex.
I gathered up the bottom of my robes and ran in the direction of the smoke. As I rounded the small building, the kids, Rune, and the tree that was engulfed in flames came into view. Araliya was rolling on the ground in a hysterical fit of laughter as I approached. Just then, with a stroke of his right arm and one word, Giwat, Rune had extinguished the flaming tree. When Araliya noticed me, she sat up and said, "Mommy! Look, Joaquin blew up the tree!" She then resumed her laughing fit. Joaquin looked at her with an angry scowl, and picked up a wad of snow to throw at his sister, only to be stopped short by Rune playfully tugging on his long ponytail. Joaquin then realized that his father would be a much better target for his frozen weapon, and launched it at his father.
I walked over and started to dust the snow off my tiny daughter. I looked towards the guys and asked, "What happened?" Rune patted Joaquin on the back and laughed, "My boy still needs to work on his control." Joaquin smirked and said, "I'll get it right someday." We all sat in the courtyard for a good hour. Araliya and Joaquin had a snowball fight that ended rather abruptly when Joaquin cheated by using Wat to make super snowballs. He argued that it technically wasn't using techniques on his sister, and decided that it wasn't the best answer when Rune cast a small burst of Foi at his feet, making him jump in the air. Rune and Araliya built a snowman and then allowed Joaquin to use it as Flaeli target practice. As Algo started to set, Rune and I decided that it was time to go in and get ready for dinner. The children objected, but were soon coaxed in by Rune's suggestion of Dezolisian Gola. We got the kids inside just as the constant snow started to turn back into a blizzard.
We walked into the family chambers and met up with Rune's companions, who were sitting by the fire, sipping Gola. Araliya, when she got her small cup of the hot and spicy drink, went and plopped herself down next to the mighty Wren. She was fascinated by him, and started to ask him all sorts of questions. Wren found it very amusing, and answered all her inquiries so that a 7-year-old could easily understand. Joaquin sat down right next to his father and started to tell him about all his new skills and techniques.
Rika leaned in and whispered to me, "He sure is the spitting image of his father." I smiled and told her that at one time, Joaquin's hair was sea-green, like his sister's, and that all the Espers used to joke that he was not truly Rune's child. It was starting to get close to dinnertime, and we all retired to the meal chambers.
After eating dinner, Rune and I excused ourselves for a while to get the children into bed. While Araliya and Joaquin were getting into their nightclothes, Rune and I brought his gear into our bedroom. We then went first to Joaquin's chambers, where we found him fast asleep. Rune kissed him on the forehead and extinguished the lone lamp left lit. As we made our way to our daughter's room, Rune stopped me in the hallway and gave me a quick kiss. "What was that for?" I asked him. "Because I love you, that's what," he replied back. He grasped my hand and we continued down the hallway.
When we reached Araliya's room, we found her jumping on her bed, her long sea-green hair bouncing with every leap she took. "Look Daddy Lutz!" she screeched. "I'm flyin' just like a Skytiara!" She then started to caw like a Tiara, and took one last leap before plopping down on the fluffy bed. As Rune approached her, she started to get under the lace covers. Rune tucked her in and kissed her on the cheek. As he started to walk back away from her, she grabbed the sleeve of his robe and tugged it to get he attention. "Come back here for a second, Daddy. 'Wanna tell ya a secret!" she chimed. She motioned for him to come in closer and...gave him a raspberry. Rune let out an "ACK!" and screamed, "You little sneak!" "Gotcha' Daddy Lutz!" Araliya laughed. Rune put out the lamp as she closed her eyes. We made our way back to the family chambers and stayed and talked to the party for a while. Soon after, his companions retired to their rooms for the night. Rune and I were finally alone.
