Vin Gardner

August sat on a ledge in the garden, looking back on more of his memories with his father. He would give him a lot of attention, though sometimes overbearing. When the duke would put young August to bed, there were quite a few times where he would whisper ‘I’m so sorry, my son’. August would not respond as he was on the verge of falling asleep, though he would never know what he would be apologising for. Perhaps it was for how strict he would be, especially in the sword fighting aspect. 

The reason why he graduated early to join the army was because the duke was resolute that he should do so. The reason why he was extremely discouraged from alcohol. The reason why his moral compass was so rigid. It was all the duke, guiding August every step of the way.

~

“August.”

“Father!” August exclaimed, covered in dirt.

“What are you doing?” said the duke menacingly.

“I was making a castle,” August said.

In the garden was a mound of dirt, barely resembling anything.

“Why are you not training? Stop this nonsense.”

The corners of August’s mouth lowered.

The expression on the duke was not that mad, rather, it was filled with distress. “You must master your sword, August. You need to be strong enough to protect yourself and survive.”

~

August reminisced on those words. It felt familiar. It was the same thing he told Xander, in the same bittersweet tone. As if he had witnessed the future.

As August was dwelling on the matters involving his father, someone approached him. Smooth, teal hair flashed into August’s field of vision.

“August?”

August looked up to see someone resembling an angel, sapping all the negative emotions he had just moments before. After a few seconds, August snapped back into reality and wondered why Heilke was in his garden.

“Heilke? What are you doing here?”

Heilke responded with a slow blink. “I thought we were supposed to ask for permission from your parents together?”

“Oh.”

“...Should we go?”

“I already got permission,” August said.

“Oh,” Heilke said. She surveyed August’s body language. “Are you disappointed that you got permission?”

“Huh? Of course not!”

“Then why do you look so upset?”

August felt embarrassed. She noticed his mood from arguing with his father like a child. Though it could barely be called an argument.

“It’s nothing much.”

“Tell me. I might be able to help you.”

August averted his eyes. “My father and this duke are very different. I was just put off for the moment.”

Heilke searched for August’s gaze. “Would you like to tell me more?”

And so August did.

“I feel like he was the cause for the timeline I came from.”

“He does have the contract with my brother. It makes sense.”

August felt relieved that he had someone to share all of his concerns to.

“As a reward for dealing with all this, here.” Heilke took out a small chest embellished with gold swirls. “A gift.”

Elated, August opened the chest. In it, he found a brooch in the same cobalt blue as his eyes.

“Happy birthday, August.” Heilke hovered her hand over it, revealing a magic circle. “I cast a protective spell on it, just in case you run into some trouble.”

August’s eyes sparkled. “Thank you so much, Heilke.”

“No need to thank me when this is my thanks to you. Besides, I have more things to add to your trouble, so you won’t be appreciative for long.”

August grinned. “No worries. As long as I can be of use.”

Heilke knotted her eyebrows, though still had a smile on her.

“I’ve been trying to find my brother to have a talk with him, but it’s going to take a while to reach him. Instead, let’s focus on the next monster appearance.” Heilke sat down next to August. “I’ve tried to convince my father about removing the spell, or at least temporarily, but he was adamant about keeping it on for his progress… or whatever. For the most part, I prepared a protection spell on that area, so I’ll be travelling there to cast it.”

“You sound like you’re planning to go there alone.”

“I wasn’t sure if I should bring you.”

“I’m coming with.”

“Alright.” She smiled. “Thank you. We’re going in 4 days.”

*

August knocked on a different double door, three rooms down from the other one. This one was positioned at the end of the hallway, having more importance than most other rooms in the house.

“Come in,” a voice responded. This time it was in a higher pitch with a calm quality to it, though noticeably distracted.

“Mother, it’s August. I’m here to report that I’ve come home.”

The platinum blonde lady put down her pen onto the paper-filled desk and looked up. With a beam, she said, “Welcome back, August.” Getting out of her chair, she walked to August to give him a tight hug. “What happened to you this past year to have grown so well?

“I haven’t grown that much,” August said, smiling.

“Enough to finally know to greet your mother when you’ve come home,” she said laughing. “I’ve received less complaints about you getting into trouble recently.”

August took in the sensation of the warm squeeze. It had been too long since he last felt her warmth.

Observing the room, he noticed piles and piles of papers. The bookshelf seemed filled to the brim as well, with some stray sheets seeping out the gaps.

“How has work been?” August asked.

The duchess sighed with a frown. “As busy as always. There’s never any end to it, even with your dad helping.”

This was different. August never noticed his parents unable to get away from working, let alone having the office being packed with documents.

“Mother, since you’re so busy, I’ll be taking my leave,” August said, bowing. “I was just here to notify you that I came home, but I’m going out in 4 days.”

“Alright, August. Safe travels.”

Mother was the same as usual. Although she would be friendly and kind, she would not prioritise other things for her work. August understood. Making sure the dukedom was managed properly and the citizens were not having a bad time was quite important. Though he could not help feeling conflicted from his mother prioritising other families before her own.

He just had to do better than they did.