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The sky was gray. It’s been a miserable pall ever since that day his wings were finally clipped. Just what was a bird of prey without its wings? Useless. That’s what. Just a miserable bird who lost its entire purpose for living. A failure.
Mihaly felt trapped. Cornered within the walls that surrounded him. He loathed it. But, he would be lying if he said he didn’t deserve it. A fitting end for a failure like him. He once was called king by those who looked up to him like he was some sort of savior, an archangel, but their faith was misguided. He was an old fool who was desperate to own the skies for himself. The punishment being his wings forever clipped felt too perfect.
Then again, he also did this to himself. He was the one who pushed his body past its limits time and time again. However, not once did he regret pushing as far as he did. The sky, the outer atmosphere, was his true home. That endless blue that’s been covered by gray since has felt so far out of his grasp.
Even getting up wasn’t possible for him anymore. The use of his legs by himself was prohibited for the time being. There was only one other time he was forced to eject from his plane and that was at the beginning of his career. With his age, the ejection from his Wyvern was too much. Not only was he clipped from the air, but from the ground beneath as well. What an utter embarrassment for what was once a tall king.
“Grandfather! May we come in?” Came the chipper voice of his youngest granddaughter. His only reply was a gruff affirmative and both of his granddaughters came in. Alma and Ionela both wore holiday themed dresses with matching accessories. It would look very cute if Mihaly hadn’t thought of the holidays to be a dreadful time. It was supposed to be a time for families and joy, but all he felt was regret and utter loneliness that was deserved. Even having his granddaughters look after him felt like too much. Like he was weighing them down with his inability to do anything for them. Truly a worthless guardian as well.
Alma opened the curtains to the room to let the sun in and smiled at Mihaly. It amazed him that even after everything she still managed to bounce right back. She seemed a bit older, but that’s what war did with everything. A part of him was happy he could see her smile, but he swallowed that pride down quickly. He didn’t deserve her sunny disposition. He deserved nothing but what Ionela gave him, which was silence and contemplation. Hell, the girl couldn’t even look his way half the time. Ionela was his first grandchild and it only served him right that he would lose her faith in him. He was a hurt man. He knew of betrayals and heartbreak from those closest; the scar on his face a sign of that. However, the pain of her avoidance to his gaze hurt him more than that old scar ever did.
As usual, the two girls made sure that Mihaly was provided with the care he needed. They helped him stand up to move his muscles a bit and to clean himself up. The utter embarrassment of needing his grandchildren to do basic necessities for him when it was his job to was the utmost shame to himself. For more higher needed tasks he always had someone else help him, but the girls were adamant about helping him themselves. He hated it. Why couldn’t they just let him wither away like he wanted to? Why did they focus their energy on him when he was nothing but a selfish old man to them?
It was the middle of the day when the bell that a visitor had wanted to see them was chimed. Ionela quickly excused herself to see who that could be leaving Alma and Mihaly alone. Alma smiled at him as she was often known to do and poured him another glass of water. She knew by now that she wouldn’t get the reply she often hoped for but she still said it anyway.
“I love you, grandpa.” Mihaly didn’t say anything, yet Alma still had that bright smile on her cheeks. She wore love like it would never go out of style.
Then Ionela came back and held the door open so the guests could fit inside the room.
Wit and Seymour came in. Despite everything, they were still loyal to Mihaly for reasons even he couldn’t comprehend. Hell, Wit was almost killed because of those damn birds he was responsible for giving brains and ruthlessness to. If it wasn’t for Three Strikes he would have just been another casualty of that accursed war.
Wit removed the hat from his head and held it in his hands as he regarded Mihaly with that same reverence he had from day one. Mihaly could just sigh in annoyance.
“You can put your hat back on. I’m not someone you need to be respectful of.”
Wit gave him a frown and instead kept his hat in his hands.
“No offense, sir, but I disagree. No matter what happened those months ago we still hold you in the highest regard. You’re still a king to me,” he replied. Another irritated sigh.
Ionela could tell that the atmosphere was getting stiff so she gently elbowed Alma.
“We’ll be back. We have to check on the cookies.” Alma’s eyes widened as she nodded and the two left the adults to talk. After a moment, Mihaly got to the point.
“Why are you two here? Don’t you have families to be with?”
“We wanted to check on you, sir,” Wit replied immediately. “Our families are okay. We just didn’t want you to be alone for the holidays.”
“I have my granddaughters,” gruffed Mihaly. Wit was about to say something more when Seymour interrupted.
“We also have mail for you. We didn’t open it yet despite it being addressed to all of us.” He handed Mihaly the white envelope. The sender had a stamp from Osea on it. Mihaly’s face remained stoic as he stared at it. Not wanting to read it, he placed it down beside him. A letter from an old enemy. How quaint.
Seymour and Wit shared a look with each other before talking again.
“It’s been some nice weather, huh? Not as much snow as last year. Perhaps it will come later?”
“You two,” Mihaly interrupted. His voice was harsh. Like he was about to scold them for missing drills like in the past. “Why are you doing this? I don’t want you here pitying me. Just leave me to rot. That’s the punishment I deserve.”
“Sir…” Seymour’s eyes were downcast. Meanwhile, Wit’s hand that was holding his hat clenched.
“We didn’t come to pity you!” He suddenly exclaimed. Seymour looked shocked that Wit would have an outburst like that, but the blond continued. “We came because we were worried. We care about you and-”
“You shouldn’t care about me. I don’t deserve it.”
“Ugh! Listen to yourself! The Mihaly I knew wouldn’t talk like that!”
“The Mihaly you knew was always a damn fool. He wasn’t this hero you kids made up in your heads growing up. He was a flawed human who only cared about his own wants and desires. He didn’t care about his people or anything else. Just the endless call of the blue above.”
Another silence.
.
.
“That’s bullshit and you know it. We all know how much care and love you put into Shilage despite the revolutions and revolts. You stayed true to us and-”
“And it wasn’t enough. When my people needed me the most I lost because of my pride.” He gripped his bedsheets until the knuckles of his hands turned ghost white. “Everyone suffered because of me. I caused the deaths of so many and what do I have to show for it? Nothing. Even my own granddaughters hate me. Just as they should.”
Seymour and Wit were at an impasse with Mihaly. They wanted their old leader to feel better, but it was hard when what he said wasn’t exactly wrong. Still, there had to be something. Right?
“Wait. What do you mean by that your granddaughters hate you?” Seymour asked.
“It’s exactly as I said. Ionela doesn’t look at me anymore and Alma plays more with her bear. It’s only right seeing as what I’ve put them through.”
“So you think they hate you? Did you even ask them if they do?”
“Of course I didn’t. I didn’t need to. It’s written on their faces. If you saw it, you would know.” There was a knowing look between Wit and Seymour. Perhaps this is what they needed.
“You know they’d never hate you. They love you. They care for you so much.”
“They feel obligated to, since I’m family.”
“Not true. They talk about you all the time. They were always so happy when they mentioned how they got to see you fly.”
“That was before they knew the real me.” Okay. New tactic.
“You know Ionela and Alma were in the drone factory in the space elevator, right?”
“I heard about that. What a terrible thing they had to see.”
“Then you are aware that it was Ionela who prevented your information from getting copied to every drone. Yes?” Mihaly’s eyes slightly widened. His grip on the sheet getting impossibly harsher.
“What?”
“Yes. She was there confronting Dr. Schroeder with a few Oseans. She’s the one who led the confrontation. No one wanted to tell you because so much was happening, but she took a gun and shot the drive containing your flight data. She couldn’t bear having you used anymore.”
This was news to Mihaly. All he heard was that his granddaughters were there in the elevator and that somehow his training for the AI program was taken out. No one dared tell him that it was Ionela who was responsible for that. She never let on that she did that either. Just what was she thinking…?
“Get out of my room.” Mihaly ordered.
“But sir…”
“I said out.”
Wit and Seymour were out of the room unable to fully process what just happened. All they wanted to do was support their old leader, but he wasn’t having it. He was, quite frankly, too stubborn for his own good. They wandered into the kitchen to help the girls out with preparing dinner when an idea came to Wit.
“Ionela,” he began.
“Yes?” she replied.
“You know how your grandfather is with his stubbornness. When I was in his room I noticed that his water pitcher was nearly empty. I was going to refill it for him, but he barked at me not to touch it. I know he won’t complain if you were to do it so…” She sighed.
“I’ll get him some more. Just help Alma decorate the cookies please.” Wit nodded while Seymour looked at him with a look of confusion. All Wit could do was reply to him with a shrug of his shoulders.
Ionela stepped into the room. Dust particles were seen from the sunlight poking through the curtains. There was an awkward silence as she quietly stepped over to Mihaly’s bedside table to grab the water pitcher. As she lifted it up her lips pursed when she felt it over half full. Mihaly could only look at her with a silent question that turned into a knowing sigh. Of course his old teammates would do this.. Perhaps he should say something. Not for himself. No, of course not. But for his dearest granddaughter. Even if she hated him, he had to say something now when it was just the two of them.
“Ionela…” He paused unsure of what to say. That doubled when he noticed how her shoulders went stiff from hearing him address her. He knew he had to try again.
“Ionela.. You, are one of my greatest treasures. No. You’re one of the greatest treasures of Shilage. I know it means nothing, coming from a useless old fool like me, but…I’m sorry for what I’ve done to you. You deserved better than the burdens I bestowed on someone as young as you. Thank you for stopping me.”
“Grandfather…”
“You must have been burdened by the things I’ve done. You’ve been worrying about me so much and I… There’s no forgiving the neglect I did to you and your sister during the war. I was too preoccupied with my wants when I should have been watching over the two of you. I was selfish and I don’t expect you to ever forgive me. Nor would I ask you to.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen to our homeland still. Erusea is in shambles and with communication being as slow as it is, I still don’t know if Shilage is still allowed to call itself a nation within. However, I know the people here and everywhere are grateful for your service. You truly would be a more fit ruler than me if we are to somehow regain our once seen independence.”
There’s a thick silence in the room as Mihaly’s words went through Ionela. She thought about them for a moment until she turned to look at him. Her lips were in a thin line and her eyebrows were furrowed. Mihaly had never seen her so upset before. Especially not to him.
“You think I care about some dumb titles or something like that?! Do you truly believe I did everything just for our homeland?! No!”
“I did it for you!” Her words took the breath from him. Did he misunderstand everything like the fool he knew himself to be? She continued on her too long held within rant.
“I did everything I could to help you! I care about you so much! You’re my grandfather! I know you and I know how kind you can be. Of course, you’re stern when you need to be, but you always watched over Alma and me. We hated watching that man manipulate your love of the skies for his own agenda. His own selfish goals. I had to do something! I couldn’t let him keep manipulating you like so! I-I…!” She started to break down into a harsh array of tears. The tears brought more even as she tried in a desperate attempt to wipe them away.
Mihaly’s scarred over resilient heart shattered. Finally he understood everything. He was solely responsible for the tears shed over him. As his beloved granddaughter cried, he took a deep breath in. Regrets poured out on the exhale and he knew he needed to be better. Ionela was the adult in the room for too long.
A large scarred and old hand came up to Ionela’s cheeks. She leaned into the warmth and opened her eyes to see her grandfather wipe her tears away. There was a small smile on his face. It reminded her of days gone when her mother was still around.
“My dearest granddaughter, how foolish I’ve been. I’ve been a fool for years, but this is my greatest blunder. It was my duty as you and your sister’s protector to do the one job I should have done, but instead I was selfish. I saw the sky above and couldn’t bring myself to enjoy the lovely flowers on the ground below.”
“I know my words might come off as hollow, but I promise you now that things will change. I will be there for you and your sister forever. As your grandfather, I promise this to you.”
“You better!” She cried and then for the first time in months, she hugged him. She fully embraced his battleworn body and he felt his heart warm. He wasn’t aware of how much he missed this. Yes, he was once King of the Skies, but here in this house he was all but a simple grandfather. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her in. “You better!” She continued to sob and it was here that his heart finally shed a tear. All the achievements in his life meant nothing compared to the joy he felt now. He still had a long way to go on the road to recovery, but he knew his precious granddaughters would be there for him and truly, what more could he possibly want?
Alma came in next with a plate full of cookies. They were of various wintry and holiday shapes and iced. Of course, the perfectly decorated ones were done by her while it was plainly obvious what the mismatched coloring of the other cookies were decorated by.
Wit and Seymour smiled at each other knowing that their plan worked. Ionela quickly wiped all her remaining tears away and shot the three a look that said if they quesitned why her nose was red that she’d have them executed via nutcracker firing squad. As they began to enjoy the company and warmth of family and friends Ionela couldn’t help but spot a white letter on the bedside table.
“Huh? What’s this?” She quickly grabbed it and saw who the senders were. “Oh! The LRSSG! Grandfather can we open it? Please?” Alma heard that and also got closer. Together both of the girls gave Mihaly a very pleading look. One he was always weak to and they knew it.
“Fine. I’ll let you open it. Use my letter opener. I don’t want you getting a papercut.”
“Yay!” Both girls cheered as they grabbed the letter opener which was decorated to look like an old family relic; a ceremonial sword passed down through generations. They quickly tore open the top of the envelope and pulled out a simple holiday card. It was of the LRSSG posed up wearing matching pajamas. The girls loved it and immediately showed Wit and Seymour before handing it to Mihaly who read the inside.
“”Wishing You Blue Skies and a Happy New Year.” Cute,” Mihaly couldn’t help the small upwards curl at the corners of his mouth. Everyone surrounding him also nodded and smiled at the card. Within the card was also a signature from everyone in their handwriting. This was the first time Ionela and Alma saw their names.
“Which one is Three Strikes?” Alma couldn’t help but wonder as she tried to figure out the names with each person. Seymour jumped in with enthusiasm as he pointed to the guy in the middle.
“That’s Three Strikes, otherwise known by his actual name, Trigger.” Alma ooh’d at that. Ionela looked at him and frowned.
“He’s a lot younger than I thought he’d be. I was picturing someone older and more experienced.”
“Don’t let his appearance fool you. Three Strikes is not to be underestimated. I believe we all learned that firsthand,” Wit sighed. Everyone silently agreed with the statement.
“I don’t know, he’s kind of cute,” Alma giggled. “He did save us from those drones. Remember Nela?”
“I remember. I don’t want to, but I do.”
After that, Wit and Seymour helped the two girls identify the rest of the pilots with their callsigns. It was fun seeing their expressions as they told stories and impressions of meeting them. All in all the girls agreed that Huxian seemed the most interesting and the coolest while Count was discredited by everyone in the room. All was kind in the world.
As Mihaly watched his family talk he held both of his granddaughters closely as they fed him one of their cookies. The taste was better than anything he’s had in a long time. The sweetness coating his tongue with a welcome aftertaste. He basked in the warmth of laughter and felt the sun’s rays on his face as the birds outside flew into the bright skies that stretched on infinitely. Perhaps retirement won't be so bad.