Author's Preface
Blue looked back one last time on Silent Edge, as he stepped forward through the gate, the travel was instant. In a flash of golden light that blinded Blue momentarily he had traveled from Murim to Earth. The golden gate spit him out where it he first encountered it... the pizza place. Blue stumbled forward and caught himself. He opened his eyes slowly, took a deep breath. Surrounding the entire block of the pizza shop were fifty foot high walls.
"The air is lighter than i remember. I guess a year in Murim where qi is everywhere does make a difference." He muttered, then Blue gathered his qi and sent it in every direction, he scanned his surroundings. Blue turned to the north. Two massive metal doors marked his exit. On the other side were 4 men standing guard. Blue approached the doors and placed his hand on them. "Not very thick." He sighed. "But this is going to be a problem isn't it?" Blue looked to the top of the walls. Barbed wire lined the top. "I could jump over, but I don't know what's on the other side." Blue shrugged his shoulders. "Time to do my best Mu Jang impression. Blue took a step back, gathered his qi into his right leg. He took one step forward and kicked the metal doors. They flew off their hinges. One flew right, one flew left, both missed hitting the men on the other side. Blue stepped through whete the doors just were and saw the shocked looks on the men's faces. He laughed. "So that's how we all looked to him. No wonder he made a habit of it. That felt good."
Blue walked through the dust and debris and walked past the 4 guards. "I'm sorry gentlemen, I really do have to get home."
One of the guards stepped forward, he started to reach for Blue, the others grabbed him and forced him back. As Blue walked away, they looked at the guard who reached for Blue. "Are you insane? You could've got us killed. He has to be at least B-rank to do that to the doors. We wouldn't have stood a chance."
One guard turned and looked at Blue as he walked away. "What did he mean home? Did you guys see his clothes. Is there a comic-con or something happening that I don't know about?"
The lead guard stepped forward. "I'm going to the Buckeye Guild to report this, you three stay here and make sure no one else enters or leaves. Understood?"
"Yes sir." The three men sang out in unison.
Blue walked away smiling. He continued down the streets of Columbus, past demolished building, new ones that had been constructed. New housing complexes, massive apartments, new stores. The walk took longer than it should as Blue realized how much Columbus has changed in just a year.
Hours later Blue finally made it to his childhood home. He stopped at the edge of the driveway. "A year and it still looks the same." He smiled. "I've missed this." Blue walked up the driveway, he looked at the bushes perfectly trimmed into squares like David liked. The driveway edged perfectly, the grass three inches tall. The American flag hung on one side of the garage, a flag of the United States Army hung on the opposite side. In all the chaos of gates and monsters, David always made sure to keep some resemblance of normalcy. Blue grabbed his sword and hid it in one of the bushes as he reached the front porch. Through the window he saw them and hesitated. Mary sat on the couch, to his shock Eve was beside her. David stood in the kitchen cooking like he always did. Everything seemed normal. Blue approached the door, his hand hung inches from the doorknob. "Do I knock? Just walk in?" He exhaled deeply. He turned the doorknob. The door swung open slowly. David, Mary, and Eve's eyes shifted to the entrance. The world stopped for everyone as Blue stepped inside.
David's knife slipped from his hand and bounced off the counter onto the floor. CLANG. Mary's knitting unraveled as it fell from her lap. Eve didn't move, she just stared. Blue stood there looking between the three of them. Silence filled the air. No one spoke. Not a muscle moved. Disbelief, shock, hope, fear. All of it hung in the air at once. Blue didn't know what to say. So he went with the only thing he could muster. "...Hi."
Mary was the first to move. "Oh my god." She rushed forward and pulled him into a tight embrace. Tears ran down her face onto Blue's shoulder. Her voice trembled as she spoke. "Hello my son. We've missed you so much." Her grip tightened around Blue. "We looked everywhere for you. Where have you been? Why didn't you text me after I replied to your cryptic text. We were so worried."
David stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. "A happy moment, yes... but you're smothering him sweetheart."
Mary loosened her grip and took a step back. She wiped her nose. "You're right."
Blue looked at Mary and stepped forward to hug her one more time. "I missed you too mom." Mary broke down completely. David put his hand on Blue's head. "Welcome home, son." Blue exhaled once more. He let Mary go and looked at David. "Thanks, dad. I'm glad to back."
David tugged at Blue's robe and gave him an odd look. Blue smiled. "I'll explain everything... I promise."
On the couch, Eve still hadn't moved. Tears streamed down her face silently. Mary leaned into Blue's ear. "She's been here everyday... waiting. Pretending it was for our sake." She pulled back. "Go."
Blue walked toward Eve, she stood from the couch. They stood but a few feet apart, both staring at each other without a word. Eve reached out with her hand and touched Blue's face. It hit her then, this was real. She wrapped her arms around Blue. He whispered in her ear. "I've missed you the most." He chuckled. "I heard you were a star on Thalorin." That was all it took. Eve broke. A raw and uncontrolled cry tore out of her. Every bit of pain, regret, loneliness, spilled out all at once. She gripped his robes tightly and cried into his shoulder. Blue held her, steady. "It's okay... I'm here now." Neither of them let go until David's voice cut through the moment. "You're just in time, dinner is ready."
Blue took a step back with a huge smile on his face. "Oh, I've been waiting for this day!" He grabbed Eve's hand and Mary's hand and guided them to the table.
The four of them sat around the table, a sunday roast. Steam rose from the pot in the center ofnthe table. Blue looked at David. "Glad to see you haven't missed a beat."
David nodded. "Change is never a good thing. So, we kept doing the same things even after you disappeared." The moment the words left his mouth he regretted them. Mary cut him a sharp look. David looked at Blue. "I-I didn't mean it like that."
Blue didn't react. He simply grabbed a heap of the roast and some potatoes and loaded his mouth full. "I've missed your cooking." He said with his mouth full. Everyone watched in silence as Blue devoured his plate. No one wanted to break the moment or interrupt. David cut his roast methodically. Mary kept glancing at Blue then back at her plate between every bite. Eve moved food around with her fork more than she ate it. Everyone had questions, but like some silent agreement. No one wanted to be the reason to disrupt this moment they've all been waiting for.
Then a buzz vibrated the table. Eve glanced at her phone and sighed. "...Of course." She stood. "I have to go to the guild." She stood and hugged David and Mary, then leaned down and kissed Blue on the cheek. "I'll be back later, and I want an explanation for that outfit of yours Blue."
Mary frowned. "Do you have to go? Can't you stay?"
Eve hesistated. "I wish I could, it's an emergency. I'll bring back some desert." Eve walked toward the door, she grabbed the doorknob and turned back to Blue. "Don't go anywhere this time while I'm gone okay?"
Blue nodded with his cheeks stuffed with roast and potatoes. The three continued eating in silence as Eve left.
David finally patted his belly and pushed back from the table and looked at Blue and Mary's empty plates. "Well." He stood and collected their plates and put them in the sink. He reached for cabinet and grabbed a bag of popcorn. "How about popcorn and a movie?" No one disagreed. It was easier than talking about the events of the past year. Blue sat with David and Mary the rest of the night. They didn’t discuss where he had been, or what happened. They sat on the couch watching movies. David finally stood and stretched, he reached down and picked up Mary who had fallen asleep. "It really is good to have you back, but it is past your mother's bedtime. Goodnight son."
"Goodnight, dad." Blue smiled as David walked upstairs with Mary in his arms. Blue leaned back and kicked his feet onto the couch. "Too bad things can't stay like this." Blue looked at the door. "I wonder why Eve didn't come back? She sure did leave in a hurry." Blue shrugged his shoulders and grabbed the remote to flip through channels. "Oh well, for now it's not my concern." Blue watched tv through the night. The comfort of the house and being home relaxed him like he hadn't been since he left. Blue dozed off with the remote in his hand dangling off the couch, ending his first night back on Earth.