Triiffic-Soul: Can I Be In Control?

Chapter 22 – Over a Year

Some say time goes by fast when you're having fun. 

Or in Anlesa’s case–who still preferred being called Anna in most situations–the wild ride that was having a new life shared between three people made life feel simultaneously slow and fast.

“Syrus, can you pass me the basket?”

“Yeah, I got it” Syrus (Red) answered the call and ran up the field carrying a basket over her head.

The weather cooled and so Jen and George felt it was time to finally let Anna help them on the farm

She only had to help twice a week and she got to choose the days.

Only George and Anna were handling this field at the current time of day, which was why George felt comfortable calling her individual names out loud.

It wasn’t always like this, but today it was, so George took the opportunity to communicate openly with Syrus. Where normally the only time he got to use that name was in the confines of their own home.

Unsurprisingly Syrus (Red), was the one mainly helping their father. Luna (White) and Eva (Lilly) did help. Luna more so than Lilly, Lilly had a habit of getting distracted on the job.

“Thanks.” George placed a large deformed and greatly discoloured vegetable in the basket. Clearly, something was wrong with it. They were supposed to be a dark green but this one, and the rest that George had picked had large purple spots all over them.

They continued for another hour, picking up a few more of these misshapen veggies before finally finishing checking every plant growing in this field.

“Argh that is everything.” George sighed, and he stretched his back and arms into the air, “Thanks for the help sweetie.”

“You’re welcome, Dad.”

Normalcy had finally arrived, and it only took a bunch of beasts breaking into the village, a potentially near-death experience for someone, and an emotional argument to make it happen.

It wasn’t perfect, but comparing what was there before, they were now at least consistently happy with their new life.

The months following the incident calmed down relatively quickly. Parents were on guard consistently for the month following, but after no change, they assumed everything had returned to normal. Besides the deaths, no one was seriously injured. However, many children were scared shitless and while understandable, it had been causing trouble for some parents. 

“Anna is helping you again today? Mine still doesn’t want to leave the house…”

As the father-daughter walked home, they passed another farmer who looked up from his field when he heard footsteps walk by.

“Yeah, she’s such a great help.” George pulled Anna’s arm, Syrus (Red), realising what he wanted to do, took a step back and swung her body forward when George tugged her strongly upwards a moment later.

Together, George swung Anna into the air, and with a little midair adjustment, Anlesa landed on George’s shoulder. Not without a small ‘oomph’ on George’s part.

“But I’m sure yours will come back around soon, it was a tough moment for them after all.”

“Yeah…” The farmer scratched his head. 

There was a little bit of jealousy between some of the other parents with Anna. She was the only young kid to not be deathly afraid after the incident, even after being in the most danger. Anna was even more willing to help out her parents after it, even when they said she didn’t have to.

While some parents might’ve only been slightly jealous, none were going to have any real negative feelings about their neighbours. Anlesa's recent behaviour though was something that Jen was all too willing to be smug about. Any chance she got, it was about her daughter’s bravery, cuteness, and adorableness–keeping it slightly censored to not reveal she had three.

One big thing that happened during the incident was Anna’s reveal of her Fire attribute. 

Jen and George both just assumed it awakened because of the stressful situation, which wasn’t a crazy idea at all. The event was also what made the trio learn that George’s attribute was also Fire, which in Lilly’s words ‘fit him’, and Jen also told the trio after the event that her’s was Earth. Both were commonly seen attributes. 

The duo finally reached the door of their home, where George crouched down to let Anna off his shoulder. 

George asked, “When you see your mother, make sure to remind her to take a break, Dad will do the cooking tonight.” 

“Okay.” A quiet Lilly nodded before Luna (White) waved goodbye and they entered their house alone.

First, they got cleaned up and then they walked into their room.

“It’s been a little over a year since everything began hasn’t it…?” Luna mumbled and she walked to and rummaged through the pile of books that sat next to their bed. Books that were read to them over a year ago, well the only ones that remained from that long ago were the few their Mum actually owned. The rest were returned. 

“What do you mean, ‘A little over a year?’” Lilly jokingly snarked, “We awoke around the start of last year, and our birthday was at the end of it. Now it’s already autumn, you're a couple of months off.”  

Luna decided to reply back through the mind, [...That’s basically a little bit over a year.]

Lilly picked up a book and started flipping through it.

[I guess you’re right.] (Lilly) 

[Eva’s just having fun Luna, but yeah you’re a bit off with your dates.] (Syrus)

[....] (Luna)

[Why’d you even bring it up?] (Syrus)

[No need to analyse it, I’m just reminiscing. A lot has changed over the year.] Luna internally sighed.

[Definitely. You used to talk in weird people’s speak, and now look at you, you only occasionally do it.] Syrus spoke as seriously as she could before adding, [But honestly, the most amazing thing in this last year was that in a one in three chance, Mother managed to name the person with the Moonlight attribute Luna.]

[Hey! There was meaning to the names! She just thought it was a good fit for my personality.] (Luna)

Then during their conversation. Jen slammed through the front door with an unnecessarily loud scream, “I’m HOME!”

“Yes, we can hear you,” Syrus (Red) replied. She placed down the book they were holding and turned to go to the door of their room.

Anna walked out of their room to see their mum already in the kitchen area of the house after dumping her small basket on the table.

Jen gleaned over her shoulder, “What do you want for dinner?”

“Dad actually told me, to tell you, not to cook tonight. He was going to do it.”Jen’s jaw dropped, and Anna heard a quiet, “That bastard.” Which caused her to quietly laugh. 

Jen would always admit George was a better cook, but to her, every dinner was a challenge to improve and one day defeat the mountain that was in front of her. On the other hand, George’s tastebuds were not good so everything he and Jen made and tasted the same to him.

“You’ve been up since four Mum. Let Dad cook tonight.”

“I know…” Jen slumped down knowing she was completely in the wrong, “But today was the day…”

“Nope. No, it wasn’t Mum.”

“Syrus, Luna….” She slumped further down, her head and body completely resting on the bench. In a desperate attempt, she asked once more, “Eva…?”

Lilly paused for a moment, and then looked away, “I’ll… choose not to comment.”

…

It may only have been a year, but in the end, it only took one day for the family to truly form.

“Fine… I’ll give up today.” Jen slowly stood, “But I’m going to make the best breakfast ever tomorrow.”

George eventually came home and made dinner.

Where everyone scoffed down their entire plate and laughed the night away.