Chapter 31: Returning Home
Several hours later...
"What was that story about you wanted to tell me about?" Hugo said as he looked in the direction of the island, "The one about your practice and your past life."
"Ha ha ha, yeah," He said, "Back before I came to Terruna, I lived in Runatra, the sister realm of Terruna. It was some 330 years ago, when I came to the aid of a small village, the Shinogo village, if I remember well, my parents had died when I was a child and so I roamed around, looking for something to do," He paused and took a drink, "I offered my help as a monster hunter to protect the village from the Lagiacrus."
"What's a Lagiacrus?"
"A large alligator like beast that conducts electricity through it's body, it was the beast that was responsible for the death of my parents and the destruction of my village. I tracked it down and killed it," He laughed, "The news spread fast and I soon became a 'legendary' hunter. That is how I met my wife."
"Mother?"
"No, I was married before I met Sona, she had come to seek help for her village, well it was more of a city, it was the Capital of Runatra, the Poro City. On that trip to the city was also the first time I met Jarvan the Third, he was just a human with very little powers," He laughed, "But that would be too long to explain so to make it short, after helping several other cities I found the Maiden of the Mist, she corrupted me and showed me my demonborn form, I went crazy and nearly killed my wife, but her and my other travel companions stopped me and from then on I have this curse on my body, I am a demonborn who can't use a metal weapon, it would crumble in my hands."
"Really? Do you still have it?"
"Oh, sorry, my bad, with the creator's blessing, I don't have the curse now," He said, "Then I came here, well, not here but I was a Demacian Elite, the Noxian slayer, the Noxian Nightmare, whatever you want to call it, that is where I met Sona."
"You were Demacian?"
"Not exactly, but we had a war similar to this one and we defeated the Noxians, but then I returned to Runatra with Sona and we began to show feelings for each other but, to interrupt it, enter Jarvan the Third."
"Wait, I thought, I thought he wasn't allowed to intervene in the realms, and he attacked you?"
"He kidnapped Sona and hit me with an angelic arrow, paralysing me for enough time to take Sona away," A tear came to his eye, "I never forgave myself for that, she has but I haven't, I found her nearly dead after he tortured her and returned to Terruna to challenge the creator and take his spot."
"Wait, so he tried to kill the creator and now he is a god?"
"The god of evil," He said, "I killed him as a mortal killing an immortal being, in the battle I lost my left arm, to his demonborn form, but the blade I carried, would use my dying breath to finish off my opponent, and it did."
"Wait, you mean you, you died?"
"The creator gave me my life once again and I returned to Sona's side."
"But that doesn't explain the monsters."
"Oh, I got carried away, I was a monster hunter in Runatra," He shrugged, "I fought any beast, all of them fell," he laughed as he took a drink, "How long has it been since we left?"
"349 days," Hugo sighed, "349 days to long."
"Yeah, we should be there by tomorrow noon or morning, if the winds are in our favor, hey, did Jarvan show himself recently?"
"No, he came when I decided to attack the Noxians, happy about the future bloodshed," Hugo shook his head, "If we win, we will be at peace and Terruna's war will stop."
"Do you feel capable to control all the people of Terruna?"
"I think we can."
"Who is 'we'?"
"Me, Cass, you and Sona."
"For advice?"
"Probably, I hope that we don't lose too many men though"
"Don't worry, it will be fine, be a little confident, you seem so depressed recently, what's up?"
"I don't know, it's just that, I don't know," He pulled out his gun and spun the chamber, "I don't know, I am just tired of this war, we should try to end it on the next campaign."
"Just think of returning to Cassidy, and to Nami," He smiled as he lit a cigarette, "That is what I do."
"I guess you are right. Look over there."
"Where? I don't see anything."
"There you see the dot on the horizon?"
"No, still don't, but I guess it is Bilgewater," He said leaning back, "We should be there by early morning."
"I can't wait, it's been too long since we left."
A knock came to the door.
"Who is it?"
"My lady, Capt'n returned," The man called out of breathe, "They are docking now."
"Thank you," She said as she got up, "Come on, Nami, father is here. Let me help you get dressed."
She left the house, holding Nami's hand. They walked together down the path and onto the empty streets of the capital. The families of the soldiers who were returning from their tours at the war front were waiting for them to descend from the ship. Cassidy and Nami joined them. Nami tugged on Cassidy's sleeve. Cassidy lifted her into her arms, so that she could see the ship. Cassidy sat her down on her shoulder, they both waited for the ship to stop. Her tail was still, her ears were rigid and her eyes were focused on the ship, she hadn't spotted Hugo or Omega near the railings of the deck. A terrible scenario played in her mind as the soldiers descended one by one and the flow of soldiers slowed, death. Nami was still on her shoulder. Her sighed in relief as she saw the two of them walked off of the ship.
"Hello Cassidy."
"Oh, hello Sona, I didn't notice you," She said a little startled. Hugo and Omega walked towards them. Cassidy put Nami back on the floor and she ran towards Hugo. She jumped into his arms and he picked her up. They walked over to Sona and Cassidy.
"How are you my dear?" He leaned over and kissed Cassidy. Omega walked over to Sona's side.
"It's been fine, why haven't you been sending us more letters?" Cassidy asked, "Sorry, that is a weird way to start, how has it been for you two?"
"Sorry about that, I just didn't get much time, with the planning and I was exhausted in the evening so I fell asleep when I was writing them," He said scratching the back of his head, "How long was Nami sick?"
"A few days, but she returned to school yesterday, she should probably be getting there soon today, it starts in an hour, but she has been doing fine," Cassidy said rubbing her head and smiling, "She is learning fast, she doesn't seem to have been affected from being sick."
"Aren't you resistant," He kissed Nami's cheek, "Just like your mother."
"How was the campaign?" Cassidy asked, "How was it?"
"Maybe we should let them rest, don't you think Cassidy?" Sona said placing her hand on her shoulder, "They just got back, tonight we will eat together, we can talk more in detail then, what do you think?"
"Okay, let's go Hugo," Cassidy said, "Nami has to get to school."
"Okay," He said as he put her down, she grabbed his hand, "Let's go then. See you later."
"See you later," Sona and Omega called back, "Have fun at school, Nami!"
Cassidy, Hugo and Nami walked together towards the school. It had been set up two years before after Hugo had decided on the reform he wanted to make three years before, but with the first election he couldn't implement it and had to wait. He won with a 99% of the votes and held his first promise he had made, implement an education system for all with no favoritism. They arrived in front of the school, the headmaster was greeting the parents and the children. She noticed Cassidy.
"Good morning, Cassidy," She said bowing her head, "How are you? How is Nami?"
"She is fine, thank you," She answered as Hugo knelt down and kissed Nami's cheek.
"Have fun at school," Hugo said as he rubbed her head, "See you later," She smiled at him and skipped into the school.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't see you, Captain," She said, looking surprised, "I didn't know you returned."
"Don't worry, I just returned this morning," Hugo laughed, "I decided to bring Nami to school, I never had the time to do so. Does she behave?"
"She is great girl, she is a little shy with the others but that will probably pass with time, but she is a treat to have in class," The headmaster smiled, "You can come get her at three this afternoon."
"Okay, thank you," He said as they left, "Have a good day."
"You too, Captain."
They walked back up to the house. Cassidy unlocked the door and they walked in. Everything was neat, everything but Cassidy's book was put away, Nami's little bed had been installed and took the spot of the self that had been next to the bed.
"I see you have been keeping this place clean," Hugo said as he sat down on the bed, "Is it lonely without me?"
"A little," She said as she removed the bow in her hair and undid her braid, "When are you leaving for another tour?"
"Probably in a month or two, I don't know yet, but I am trying to finish this war as fast as I can," He said as he noticed that she sighed, "I should be able to finish it on the next tour, then I will come back, maybe I will stay for Nami's birthday this time, it is only in two weeks."
"You remembered, did you remember mine?"
"Yours was the 5th of Meyao, why would I forget?"
"Yeah," She sat down next to him and laid her head on his shoulder, "I don't know, you aren't really here often, but I don't blame you," There was a pause that lasted a few seconds before Cassidy broke it again, "How many this time?"
"What do you mean, how many?" She looked at him with a you-know-what-I-mean look, "Oh, the last raid killed 15, because they were spotted, but in total, 32 died, don't make me think of that, I don't enjoy thinking of my men dying, I did my best to keep them alive, but, yeah."
"Sorry," She said as she kissed him, "I thought I had so much to say, but not really, I only dealt with a few problems during the time you were gone, nothing much."
"Like what?"
"A few drunken brawls in the tavern, the main reason of the problems, nothing much else."
"I am glad to hear that the Noxians didn't go for an attack," He said as he put a cigarette to his lips, "Want one?"
"I stopped, the doctor said that it would be better for Nami if I stopped," She shrugged, "So I did, but I don't mind if you do."
"If you stopped, maybe I should as well," He said as he put it back in the box, "Did you stop drinking as well?"
"No, but I haven't drank alcohol since you left, I don't think that I should drink it in front of Nami and Sona doesn't drink much."
"I guess, but would you want some tonight at dinner?"
"What are you offering?"
"Maybe I could get some Riverwood?"
"You read me like a book, I would like some."
"What do you want to do?"
"I don't know, are you tired?"
"Not really, I didn't really sleep much in the camps and I kinda learned to deal with the small amount of sleep, does Nami sleep much?"
"She does, but she takes a long time to fall asleep, she is only four," She yawned, "Last night she didn't sleep much, and neither did I, but I am fine."
"Maybe we could go down to the beach, I don't know, whatever you want."
"I think that would be fine, let me get changed, I wouldn't want to ruin this dress," She said as she got up and walked over to the closet. He laid back and sighed. He looked up at the ceiling, his body ached, he hadn't noticed it until now. The conditions of the war had taken their toll on his body.
"Let's go?"
"Sure," He said as he sat up, "Is that a new dress?"
"Yeah, you like it? I had it made recently, it is my beach outfit."
"Then let's go."
They walked in out of the house, Hugo cracked his back. She moved her hand towards him. Hugo grabbed it and they walked together down the path. Her tail swayed as she walked and her ears stood up on her head and move gently because of the wind. The street was filled with people, mainly women. Some of them saluted Hugo but most just waved or said hello. They often greeted Cassidy before him. They stopped at a stand before arriving on the path to the beach. Cassidy bought a small basket of food.
"How much do I owe you?" Hugo asked.
"One coin," He said as Hugo handed him a coin, "Thank you Capt'n, have a good day!"
"Thank you, you too," He said as they walked away, he turned to Cassidy, "I see you are well known in the city."
"Well, I do live here, and I have to take care of myself and Nami, so the merchants known me," She said smiling, "And you are gone most of the year, so you know, they see me more often than you, but you are still popular."
"I am glad to hear it, I wouldn't sacrifice the amount of time I use for the war if there wasn't a counterpart, but if I could spend more time here, I would, do many people go to the beach?"
"No, most of the rich live in the countryside and the people here go on the weekend, but not during the week."
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