Irwin's Journey 412: Long overdue reunions

Daubutim shot up from his seated position, his natural calm shattered as he stared in wide-eyed disbelief at Lisbeth. It lasted for only a moment before he let out a calm sigh.

"So… he is back," he said, looking around the stacks of neatly arranged papers on the table. 

He had a lot left to do and to decide, and as the sounds from outside seemed to slow down, he quickly made plans for how to catch up later. From his perspective, it took a few minutes, but when he finished and looked at Lisbeth again, she hadn't even taken a single step forward.

"Where are the children?" Daubutim asked.

Lisbeth smiled. "Ludica is in the forrest somewhere, I'll send someone to find her. Dozker is probably still watching the guards practice."

"No need. I will find her. While I'm gone, have Destir return from the Academy for the next week. With Irwin returning, that is going to turn into a busy place, and I doubt there will be classes for that long," Daubutim said, feeling his lips curl up.

Irwin is back… 

He wondered how much his friend had changed. He'd been gone for eleven years, nine months, and seven days, Portal Merchant time. Although he'd had many conversations with Scintilla, hearing about what his friend had been up to would be better if he told it himself.

"Do you think Irwin will take over the Academy?" Lisbeth asked as the two of them strode through the stone and wooden halls of their home.

Daubutim noticed the slight worry in his wife's eyes.

"No," he said, his calm quickly returning. "Taking what Scintilla has told me, he hasn't changed in that regard. He would prefer having someone else do that. My best guess is that he will first take some time to be with his family and then start teaching."

Lisbeth was quiet for a while, likely pondering the implications. When she looked at him again, they were already outside in the courtyard. A loud murmur was going around the grounds as Guards stood together, chatting excitedly. A blur of black hair and blue eyes rushed towards them.

“Mom-dad-mom!” 

Daubutim hid a wide grin as his youngest son reached him at a dead sprint, the three-year-old with his chubby cheeks scrambling up his leg. He grabbed him below the arms and hoisted him up.

“Is-it-true?” Dozker said in a single breath. “Irwin-is-back?”

"Dozker! Breathe," Daubutim said, raising an eyebrow.

Dozker blinked, then rolled his eyes. Still adorable, except Daubutim knew he'd learned it from his older sister, Ludica, and if he was doing this already, it probably meant a turbulent future.

“Dad… is… Irwin… back?" Dozker asked, his eyes gleaming as he spoke far too slowly.

"Yes… Dozk… he… is…” Daubutim replied, causing his son to giggle.

"Love, can you send a message to the Academy? Ask Clarish to bring Destir here. We are heading to Portal Keep City as soon as they return."

"Alright," Lisbeth said before looking at their youngest. "And…"

Daubutim raised his youngest up and looked into Dozker's eyes.

"Want to go and find your sister?" he asked in a serious voice.

"Lightning?!" Dozker asked, his eyes gleaming.

“Yes,” Daubutim said.

“Yes-yes-yes!” Dozker screamed for joy.

Daubutim smiled at his wife before looking at the forest.

Now, where are you this time? he thought, a map of his surroundings appearing in his mind's eye, filled with likely locations his rebellious daughter might be at.

--

Esmee Roddington's long legs carried her toward the building she'd been to many times over the last year. 

"Mum, calm down!"

Esmee didn't even bother to respond, instead increasing her speed. She could vividly remember how it had been before she'd gotten her new cards. Walking had hurt, she'd be out of breath within minutes, and she'd always been tired. Now, with five new cards, her body felt like it did when she was in her thirties. As she dashed past two male guards, one with a graying beard, the other with fine smile lines, she noticed both glancing at her in a way that had been happening a lot after her new cards had started to rewind the damage the years had done to her. It had taken her a while to get used to it again.

"Lady Roddington," the guard at the entrance said, bowing slightly.

Esmee's eyebrows lowered, and she almost snapped at the man that she wasn't a lady. The annoyance was enough to lower her desire to rush forward and see her youngest son. A few years ago, she would have, and it was only because Bronwyn had asked her to just accept the way people treated her now that she'd begun ignoring the treatment.

She didn't have to like it, though.

"Lord Daubutim is waiting for you inside, and we have had word that Grandmaster Trimdir will be arriving soon," the guard said, stepping away from the door that led into the most heavily guarded building in the entire world. 

Grandmaster, huh? Esmee thought, holding back a snort. They had better not say that when that cranky old man was around. He'd scold them for hours.

"Thank you," she said, wondering what Whyrdin would think of how she was treated. 

She sighed as he image of her long-dead husband played through her mind. Ever since her cards had turned her young-ish again, and some of the men had started showing their interest once more, she'd been thinking about him a lot.  

The guard bowed and opened the door for her.

By now, Bronwyn and the rest of her family had caught up, and Drum fell in line with her. The boy was growing as much as his father had. Thirteen and already half a head taller than she was!

She noticed the conflicted look in the boy's eyes, and she grabbed his arm, causing him to walk in lockstep with her.

"Don't worry," she said, smiling at her oldest grandson. "It's normal that you don't know what to think of an uncle you haven't seen in ten years. You two will get along, I promise you."

Drum kept his deep brown eyes focused ahead, his bushy eyes, so much like his father's, almost touching as he frowned. Although he was closing in on becoming an adult, he still had a bit of the gangliness she remembered that Bronwyn had, and at these moments, she clearly saw how young he still was. Uncertain. Worried.

"It's so weird. You and Dad have told me so much about him that I almost feel like I know him," Drum muttered. "But all I remember is this giant that would let me climb him and could play the most beautiful music."

Esmee smiled, reaching out with her other hand to stroke her grandson's cheek. 

"That's enough, Drum. You are only young, and I'm sure Irwin will be staying longer this time. In ten years, you will feel different."

As she spoke, Esmee turned forward, a deep fear bubbling to the surface. How true were her words? Would Irwin stay this time? What if there was another horrible thing going on that needed her son to fix? 

He has Scintilla and his children here, she told herself. He won't leave again unless there's no other choice.

She held back a shiver at her own thoughts. That was the problem, wasn't it? What if there was another situation that he'd have no other choice…

They rushed past lines of guards, and she barely noticed as another opened the final door. As she walked into the central room of the building, she saw the group of people waiting at the hovering portal.

Daubutim, stoic, with his deep black hair and eyes of swirling red lightning, was grinning at his youngest son in a way she knew he only did when he felt safe. A tall girl with curly hair tied into a ponytail and a short bow on her shoulder was standing nearby, arms crossed and looking annoyed. A taller boy who looked like a young copy of Daubutim stood beside her, whispering to her, while Lady Lisbeth stood behind them, shaking her head, clearly annoyed at something.

"Lord Daubutim!"

Bronwyn paced past her, his much longer legs carrying him forward with a supple grace that belied the power her son had.

Daubutim turned to them, his eyes lighting up with tiny arcs of red lightning. "Lord Bronwyn. It is good to see you." 

The two men clasped hands, both almost the same height, but one was burly and bearded, and the other was smooth-shaven and leaner. For a moment, they looked calm and composed, then their faces lit up with a smile.

"He's finally back," Bronwyn said. "I bet he's going to have some insane stories to tell."

"Undoubtedly, but he isn't the only one," Daubutim said before his smile faded. "Did you hear from the Leafarit?"

"Yes, I-"

"Talk business and walk later," Esmee exclaimed as she glared at the two men. 

Years ago, she'd have never imagined she could glare down a lord like Daubutim, but by now, she almost saw him as one of her own. They saw each other weekly, their children playing together, and as she walked to Lisbeth, she gave the younger woman a quick hug.

"Now, let's go," she said, glancing around before walking to the portal.

I've missed him long enough, she thought, stepping into the now familiar portal.

A moment later, she was racing through the corridor, staring at the distant end. Normally, she didn't mind the calm and the wait, but knowing that Irwin was there, she wished it would just be a bit faster.

The second time I feel like this in here, she thought, shaking her head as she recalled the first time.

It had been when news had arrived that Scintilla, Irwin's wife, and her six grandchildren had arrived. Alone.

That time had been worse… and as she flung through the corridor, her mind flowed back to that moment.

--

Why isn't he with them? Esmee thought for the hundredth time.

Ahead of her, the exit of the portal corridor closed in. Had it been any other time, she might have been afraid, the trip through the corridor only her second and something she very much disliked. 

Now, she didn't care.

She slammed into it, and the world changed. She was moving again before she'd had a chance to look around.

"Lady-"

"Where are they?" she asked, interrupting the guard. 

The guard didn't seem taken aback, instead bowing slowly and turning around. "This way, Lady Roddington! I'll take you there."

She felt a faint gratitude at that, but it faded within moments. 

Six? How did he… why didn't he return earlier? 

She felt her mind try to catch up, still struggling to understand what was going on. Clarish had appeared a short while earlier, told her son that Irwin had returned, and she'd all but forced the teleporter to bring her here. She'd not even given Bronwyn the time he needed to finish up talking with the other city leaders, and now he'd have to race after her. 

He will understand, she thought as she almost ran along with the guard. 

She barely noticed the incredible growth that the harbor had gone through, going from a single enormous tree filled with buildings to dozens, their canopies interlocked, and the enormous docks attached to the central one. At another time, she'd have snorted at it. So many docks, for the handful of ships they had? Did they seriously think Irwin would bring a fleet along?

As soon as she thought of Irwin, she tried to increase her speed.

Why isn't he with them?!

They rushed toward the Giard's Legacy, the busiest of the taverns in the harbor. Guards and crew from the ships stood outside, talking loudly. As soon as they appeared, they moved aside, clearing a path for her. 

A few murmured "Lady Roddington's" didn't manage to draw the annoyance she usually felt by the title. Instead, she ran through the open doors into the hallway, ignoring two startled guards. 

Children's voices trickled out from the main entrance into the tavern proper, and she ran forward, pushing the doors open with enough force for them to slam into the sides.

Instantly, the chatter from inside fell still.

Esmee didn't even care. All she could see was the group of people standing inside. 

A few were familiar, though greatly changed. Zender, now a tall, silvery man, stood with his sister, Earilla. She also recognized the bald, onyx-skinned, loud man, Boohm, whose eyes were wrapped with pale cloth.

Another day, she'd have worried and rushed forward, asking if he was fine.

Now, her attention was on the group of people she didn't know.

Most were women, and they had fiery red hair, just like Irwin had told her. She knew who they were, Ignizians, and one stood out. Beautiful in a fiery, aggressive way, her hair partially tied up with what looked like a metal cord, the rest dropping across a shoulder. She had a sword on her hip and eyes a brilliant silver. She was holding two small girls while four other children stood around her, for a total of three girls and three boys. 

Esmee stared at them, instantly recognizing lines of their faces, the set of their jaws. Two of the boys and one of the girls looked like fiery versions of what Irwin had looked like when he was young. Though not thin or weak…  All of them looked healthy, though they were looking at her with evident worry.

She was saved from having to explain who she was when Zender walked forward, a massive smile on his face.

"Lady Roddington! The Captain said you'd probably be the first to show up," he said, causing Esmee's undivided attention to go to him. "He also told me to start with this. Captain Irwin is fine, but he, Greldo, and some of the others had to continue onward to finish something important. They will follow us as soon as they can, though it might be another year or more."

Esmee felt an enormous weight slide from his shoulders. He wasn't dead. He was fine and would come here as soon as he could.

She heard soft footsteps approach her, and looking down, she saw that one of the children -her grandchildren!- had moved near her. The little girl's face was incredibly similar to what Irwin had looked like at that age, though gleaming with health as if he'd been mixed with a torch. Eyes fiery red, hair that literally burned, and a skin ruddy as if the girl had been in the sun for a long time, but then with an orange-red glow to it.

"Are you Dad's heatmother?" the girl asked, staring at her curiously.

Heatmother? Esmee thought, slightly confused. Then she shoved the confusion away and lowered herself to her haunches, her face at the same height as the girl.

"If you mean if I'm Irwin's mother, then yes," she said softly. 

The girl frowned, examining her slowly. "Dad told us about you. But he said you were old?!"

Esmee held back from grumbling at that ungrateful son of hers and then rolled her eyes.

"Irwin helped me with my cards," she said. "One of them had an odd secondary effect, and it rejuvenated my body a bit."

"You are still old," the girl said with a nod, but her eyes began sparkling. "If you are Dad's heatmother, you are our family!"

Esmee wanted to grab the cute little girl and hug her, but she wasn't sure how the other would react. 

"Yes, I am," she said, smiling widely. Then she waved at the others who had been quietly watching. "Those are you brothers and sisters?"

"Yes! I'm Mia, and-"

There was a loud cough from behind, and the girl winced. Then she sniffed.

"I'm Miamore," she said, sounding unhappy about it. "That's my given name," she added. "I'm supposed to use it now."

"Well, Mia," Esmee said, getting a wide smile from the girl. "My name is Esmee, but you can call me grandmother if you would like."

The girl nodded happily.

"Now, why don't you introduce me to your brothers?"

Mia grinned and began waving the others over. 

Esmee saw that the two of the boys that had stood with her rushed over instantly, wide grins on their excited faces. One of them looked more like Irwin than any of the others, and Mia introduced him as Glow.

"So, Flux and Glow?" she asked.

"Halflux and Gallowil," Flux said as he glanced over his shoulder at what Esmee knew had to be Scintilla.

Scintilla was looking back, a smile on her face as she put the other children on the ground.

"Good, Flux," Scintilla said as she followed her children. "It's important to atleast tell people your full name, even if you let family and friends call you by your ember name."

Esmee smiled at the six children, wanting nothing more than to hug them all. 

Soon, she decided, getting up and looking at Scintilla.

She felt… slightly conflicted. Irwin had told her what had happened, but the woman was still the mother of her grandchildren. 

"I'm Scintilla," the fire-haired warrior said, reaching out her hand. "Irwin told me a lot about you, and after we get everyone situated, I'd like to tell you a few things. Irwin said… it would be best if I did that as soon as I met you."

Esmee raised her eyebrows. First Zender, now her daughter-in-law? What had Irwin told his friends about her?

"Sounds like a good plan," she said. "Besides, the others should arrive here soon enough, and I'm sure they will want answers."

She saw a look of worry pass across Scintilla's face, and she smiled, motioning to a nearby table.

"Come, I'm sure there's plenty to talk about!"

--

Esmee barely noticed the end of the corridor as she was lost in her memories, only jolting out when the world turned black and she stumbled forward.

They are here, and now he is back, she thought. Even if things went bad again, they were entitled to some calm family time now.

Pushing away some lingering worries, she looked around, then quickly walked forward. Guards stood around the world, two at the entrance. Usually, she chatted with them a few times to ask how they were doing, but not now. 

She reached the door when the others came out behind her, but she didn't stop. They would follow, and each had cards able to catch up if they wanted. 

It took her a few minutes to navigate through the maze to the enormous central hallway, an idea of Daubutim. She'd wondered how she was going to find Irwin, but as her gaze headed to the wall.

A deep voice boomed from a group of people in the center of the hall, and she saw a head poke out from its midst. Familiar yet different. The familiar lines in the face, an almost hesitant smile that sometimes broke fully and lit up the room, were now combined with eyes that seemed to glow from within and hair from which thin tendrils of black smoke drifted up. 

Scintilla was right, he did grow, she thought as she rushed forward.

Someone must have seen her approach as the people ahead of her began splitting apart, and a moment later, she stood in front of her son, only now noticing he was carrying all of his six children. 

"Grandma!"

"He's back!"

"Look!"

All of them began shouting in unison, but for one, Esmee didn't hear them. 

"You are back," she said, only to be smothered in a massive embrace. 

He didn't even let his children jump off, she thought as she felt Mia and Zan touch her face and shoulders while cheering.

The hug lasted both too long and too short, and as she felt herself be pushed out by hands that seemed almost immovable, Esmee saw Irwin examine her with a wide smile.

"You slotted the cards."

"What did you expect?" Esmee asked, knowing full well how much of a hard time she'd given him years ago.

"Mom, shouldn't you look older…?"

Esmee raised an eyebrow and tapped her foot on the ground. "Excuse me?"

She held back a laugh when she saw Irwin look like he used to when he'd done something she didn't like. It only lasted for a moment, though, then his eyes sparkled.

"You look younger than I remember from when I was small," he said. "I can sense the resonance in your cards… I don't know how I missed it when I made them, but there's something very interesting with your fourth and sixth card."

Resonance… He's just like Trimdir, Esmee thought, staring at her son. He looked healthy, though different. His skin... It wasn't as gleaming as it had been, and he seemed wider and more muscular, something she'd not thought was possible. How her weak little son had grown to be the mountain of a man before her now still made her confused. 

"Now, how about you explain why you didn't return earlier," she said, tapping her foot.

"Let's wait for the others," Irwin said, seemingly unbothered by her mock anger.  "I'm sure they all want to hear it."

He's growing up, Esmee thought, holding his hand and feeling a burden on her shoulders lessen ever so slightly. She knew she'd always worry about him, but staring at him now, feeling the enormous pressure he seemed to exude, she instinctively knew that he could take care of himself.

--

Daubutim waited as he saw Irwin laugh and talk with his mother, hugging her while carrying his six children as if they weighed nothing.

"He got bigger again," Bronwyn muttered. "If this continues, he is going to make everyone look like children."

Daubutim nodded, but Irwin's size wasn't what had drawn his eye, nor the other physical differences. It was something else entirely. Irwin had become more… mature. He'd known it would likely happen; it had happened to everyone else in the world, after all, but they had twelve years to grow. Irwin had only had a fourth of that, a bit more if he added the time Scintilla had told him Irwin and the others had been on Mudball, but even then, it was evident to Daubutim that his friend had gone through a lot.

There was more depth in his eyes, a hardness to his face, even as he laughed with his mother—a hardness Daubutim recognized from his own reflection—one born from hardship and mental anguish.

He pulled up the memories of Irwin before he'd left, and as he overlaid it, the giant of a man before him now, he realized it had already been there back then, just… fainter. Now it was clear as day for anyone who knew what to look for.

"Let's go, I think they are done," Bronwyn said, sounding excited.

Daubutim followed him but a bit slower, and Lisbeth stepped up beside him.

"Is everything alright?" she whispered.

“Yes,” Daubutim said. "I'll explain later."

Lisbeth didn't ask anymore, which was one of the things he loved about her. 

As they reached Irwin, who was hugging his brother, Daubutim felt the pressure his friend was exuding. It reminded him of being beside one of the Chaos Whales… An unbridled power that seemed to press down on his soulcard.

"Daub!"

Daubutim stepped forward, his mind emptying for a moment as he clasped hands with his friend. He'd not seen him for a decade, but as they locked gazes, he felt the connection they had had ever since surviving the Gallub world together. He also saw the barely hidden worry.

Something happened, Daubutim knew, and he felt his mind speed up.

"Let's go to our house," he said.

Irwin raised his eyebrow, smirking.

"Yeah, well, before that, we need to discuss something else."

Daubutim waited, curious.

"Let's say, just hypothetically, that I would need housing, food, and places to stay for about twenty thousand people. How would we go about that?"

Dautubim stared at him, knowing instantly that there was no hypothetical about this question. His mind raced along, and within a second, he had come to the only… logical… conclusion. One that left him stunned.

How much did he grow if he can hold that many people in his soulscape?!

He pushed the question to the side and focused on the logistical nightmare his friend was suggesting.

We have only six hundred and thirty-eight thousand, four hundred and seventeen people after the last census, he thought, frowning. Adding twenty thousand people across all towns might work, but-

"Oh, before I forget. About a quarter of those are Yuurindi. Did you ever manage to find them a world?"

Daubutim blinked, closed his eyes, and took a calming breath before adding the issues to the problem.

"We have, but it's not safe yet," he said. "We have found three more portals to other worlds, but they are all on the other continents. We can discuss this later, but even if those worlds are there, it will take time before they are ready for habitation, and that's without taking into account the problematic wildlife."

Irwin hummed though his eyes had brightened. "Three? That means there are still dozens left to find."

Daubutim sighed. "Yes, and we will start searching for them, but Eluathar's main-"

"Boys… how about we not do this now?"

Daubutim turned to Esmee, who was glaring at him and Irwin.

"My son just came back, and I want him back home… So, go deal with those people somehow so we can head back."

Daubutim shared a look with Irwin, who was grinning.

"Glad to see some things never change," his friend said. "Alright, so I can keep those people safe for a while longer, but they really need normal surroundings."

Daubutim nodded slowly, pondering the best plan.

"Are they all from the same world?" he asked, frowning. "Like we were?"

"No," Irwin said, and his joy faded for a moment. "I'll explain what is going on soon, but they are from many different places."

Daubutim watched him for a moment before nodding slowly. "Alright, let's say I split them up across the many small towns we have. That should be fine?"

Irwin nodded.

Daubutim turned to Lisbeth. "Love, after we are done here, can you return and have all wood and stone shapers currently working across our lands move to the towns and have them create more housing while informing the mayors that they are getting more people?"

"I will, and I'll also make sure Bron and the others know," Lisbeth.

Daubutim nodded gratefully, knowing she would notice the tiny cues on his otherwise impassive face. Then he turned to Irwin. One look told him there was more, and he just waited.

"So… I also brought some ships," Irwin said.

There was a soft chatter from behind them, Bronwyn clearly excited.

"Can I put them anywhere?" Irwin continued, waving at the empty docks around The Docktree.

"Leave the top one," Daubutim said while he turned and pointed at a distant guard. "Get Basil here!" he shouted.

The guard thudded his hand against his chest in a two-finger salute before turning and sprinting away.

Irwin hummed as he looked at the docks before turning to his mother. "I'll be right back."

Daubutim saw Esmee hesitate before releasing his hand, staring at him intently.

"Not too long!"

Irwin grinned and clicked his tongue, disappearing in a blur that Daubutim could barely follow. 

"Showoff."

Daubutim almost jumped, and he heard some startled curses as they all saw Greldo stand beside them, arms crossed.

"Greldo!"

Before the hairy, bearded man could even think of dodging, Irwin's mother had wrapped him in a hug.

"I was afraid something had happened to you when I didn't see you just now! Why were you hiding?"

Serves you right for startling us, Daubutim thought, his mind calm.

It lasted for all but ten seconds as gasps began coming from the others, including Lisbeth.

He quickly looked up at the docks. A dozen ships now hung there, and as he watched, more began appearing. It continued for over a minute, and when Irwin reappeared beside them, over a hundred ships were slowly being attached to the docks.

Daubutim looked at Irwin, seeing from his peripheral vision that the others were all in shock.

"I see what you mean," he said, turning to Greldo, shaking his head ruefully. "He really is a showoff."