Four days after the ogre's defeat Nina's room
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It was just another day—no more monster hunts, no obligation. She was free, so why was she so alone?
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All that time helping her brother run his shop and playing and adventuring together is now just gone.
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The fear subsided now that she had time to think more clearly; the ogre is dead, their past with it buried. Despite what they had been through, no, her pain is much deeper than that beast's physical blows, which she mostly tanked with her earth blessing.
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It was the loss of her brother.
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Not dead, gods no! That would kill her. No, this is more painful since he is alive and well, just… not with her.
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He forgave Teva easily enough, which was a cruelty that never stopped hurting even now, but even though he said he forgave her, he always felt distant since the day she returned broken seeking comfort. Two days of that was all she could handle of it.
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So she left.
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And even when she did, he did not bother trying to find her…
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Since she could find no comfort with her brother, she went yesterday to the inn with Len, seeking comfort to feel anything, and even Len felt detached…
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I suppose she had her own issues with the guild hall meeting, but when she came home, it all worked out. Their heroes even…
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Hooray for that, where heroes with nothing to celebrate…
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Rolling over in bed, staring at the same wall, wishing her brother would show up and demand she come back to the shop and be her old cheerful self was what she wanted—a return to normal. Let me be free…
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A light glow in the distance of the hall illuminated her path as she slowly got closer and sat beside me. Oh, now, you’re more comforting…
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“You ok?” Len asked, now sitting beside me. I wanted to be defiant and turn over, but I also did not want to be alone; even this small comfort was something…
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“He said he forgave me but is still distant…” I replied coolly.
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“Nina, you know everyone handles things differently; he just needs time.”
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“Then why did he forgive Teva with indifference…?”
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“That’s… different.” Len replied carefully, staring around the room as if she was holding something back.
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“Why?” Nina watched Len carefully for her reply; she missed her brother, so any insight would help…
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“Um… how do I say this…” Len started looking for the right words.
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“You love Brother, right?”
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“Of course?” What a stupid question….
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“Would you forgive him no matter what he does?”
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“Yeah?” This felt like a trap…
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“Well… Wolf loves Teva, so it was easier to forgive her for lying than us.”
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Her words were a cruelty. So she was saying Wolf did not love us? That if he had to choose, he would abandon us? No… He already did with indifference….
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“So he hates us…” Nina said with finality in her voice, her fears realized and tears gently falling with knowing the truth of why he never forgave me. The lie wasn't even that bad; it was done with love to protect him….
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A hand brushed over my head in gentle strokes, trying to soothe me.
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“No, that’s not what I said… or meant.”
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“As we will forgive Brother and love him, so does he love Teva and forgive her.”
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“But for him, and us?”
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“It’s a more personal breaking of trust. He wanted to know about us endangering ourselves when he maybe could help. I also don’t think it helped that Teva wanted to tell Wolf, and she lied for us, so it shifted all the blame on us.”
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Aha, now it made sense… Teva gets to play the victim and get Wolf’s love, while I was helping my sister. OUR family, and I’m wrong…
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“That’s not fair…” I whisper at the cruelty of that truth…
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“I know, but he just needs time; you see, this is new for all of us.”
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“Do you want to go with me to check on Terra and maybe Arlin?”
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She felt bad for the fire girl, Terra, who got beat up pretty bad, but she was a fiery one; she'll be fine… and I want to sulk, not comfort others, least of all Arlin…
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“No thanks, Len, I want to stay here and do nothing…” She rolled over, ears flat, not really enjoying the visit.
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“Maybe later I’ll help Mom around the house… at least she still loves me.” Nina said, still not liking how her sister seemed to be handling this so casually.
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“I love you too, Nina…”
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Nina turned around to face Len to clarify her point. Leena’s passive glow shone bright even now, making her seem like she was the light and always right…
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“I just meant our brother wolf. I know you do, Len. I love you too…” Now I’m trying to mope… Please don’t start in on me too with my word choices…
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“Ok, I’m going. You can find me around town. I don't want to train but do want to check on the others we have not seen in a bit to see how they're doing. Terra first, then Arlin.”
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“Ok, Len, thanks for believing in me.” I watched as she gently kissed my cheek and left me to my despair.
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I was happy it wasn't in vain that we defeated the ogre, and I did still have family that loved me, but I also felt the cost was not worth it, knowing things could have been different, so I wallowed in those thoughts, and even as I was free from all the pain, I wasn't…
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****
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Blacksmith shop. Terra home.
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The forge still burns hot with the flames, once a source of comfort and endless joy, now her burning shame… She watched the furnace embers glow.
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She wanted to slam her hammer down and beat it away to show she was still good enough, but she did not really feel that way; her hammer failed her, she lost her way….
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The couple of days were the hardest; when her dad tried to forge anything, it broke her calm, reminding her of the ogre fist. Since then, she has calmed a bit and gotten better, surprising her.98Please respect copyright.PENANAPxRBHIlZtw
Till randomly the hammer struck just the right angle, and she saw it again, the cruelty of its smile, and she could not handle the banging again….
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She wanted to enchant at least, since that was just feeding mana into a weapon or item, but even that eluded her grasp; she could not focus. Everything felt off and unresolved….
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She no longer wanted to fight, but she wanted to hit something. She wanted to chase Arlin, but he had his own issues. She wanted to be alone but randomly would fear the shadows….
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So once more she paced in her home between the different places and did… nothing. No moping, no forging, no fighting… no love.
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Nothing…
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“Stup pacing, daughter.” Her father's voice broke her from her stupor. When had he shown up? It was only now she noticed she was in the front of the shop, her dad tending the counter….
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They had many hopefuls rushing to buy their things since hearing Len the Hero won with their weapons, and it would have been comical if she was in better spirits watching their faces as they saw the prices and vowing to save up to buy them…
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Even if a fraction follow through and save for one, it would be a nice profit and would probably see them through for a few years even with no one else buying, and that would be plenty of time to worry about where to go from there.
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She ignored the looks; people finally got used to their size being bigger than normal humans and their red eyes. It was amusing what people don’t think much about when you see it more often.98Please respect copyright.PENANATmipKk3mC9
It was how she felt seeing beastkin more commonly and not hidden behind robes; her tribe rarely would see one of them not covered, and the only ones she really knew were from the desert palace visiting their smith, as all beastkin were looked down on in that city. It was partly why they left, beyond wanting change in their life after her mom's death.
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She felt the same way the beastkin did, seeing her giant form and red eyes as a new wonder to behold; all the different types of beastkin were a wonder in themselves. Now that they went around uncovered, she really got to see them. None she found interesting beyond cute as a species, but not her type.
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She noticed her dad still watching her even as her mind wandered with these thoughts, not sure what he was expecting as an answer…
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‘Come here, daughter.” She would defy him. She wasn't a pet that followed on command, but when he opened his arms, she knew he wanted a hug, and she no longer cared who knew as she went and embraced him.
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“I fught muny beasts, daughter. Even I lost member?” She did…
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“Aye, U gut a point.” She watched from the side of his chest; the few still browsing were mildly interested in their moment but at the same time trying to show respect, not wanting to be shooed away as they were still browsing weapons, so they tried to feign indifference while straining their ears to hear and understand their talk…
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“I bled and lost,” Da went on, indifferent to the crowd that watched two giants trying to bond.
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“Yut, I’m still here, and so are U, daughter. Be proud U fought and lived, nut thut U lost a fight.”
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The ogre face appeared with those words, smiling… Such power, such force... True, she did win, so was it really a loss? It's dead, and she's not…
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“Thanks, Da.” She walked away, let him tend the counter, and went to the back to take her hammer, to prove she did not lose… Holding it in her hand, remembering how it felt, she held it tight, still seeing the ogre smile, not caring it was dead; it still was mocking her wounded pride.
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She slammed the metal on the forge, the sound making her flinch, but she pulled at the flame and tried again, not really trying to make anything, just… letting go.
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Smash, smash, smash.
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Again and again she tried hitting the metal; the feel that was real could not replace the face that was not…
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Each strike brought the ogre closer to real; each closer-to-real image brought its fist coming down towards her with each strike she met on the metal…
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She lost.
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She dropped the hammer. She was not ready for this, not yet, but her dad did help her face the fear. She is not broken; she can do this; she just needed time….
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She went back to pacing to clear her mind and give her some space; the ringing echo from the forge still brought the ogre face-to-face with hers, and the blows long since gone still felt fresh on
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her flesh…
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She went to the back to enjoy some air and was surprised to see Len glowing there at the table… When did she get here?
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“Whut U doing here?”
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“I came to see you,” Len said, a slow smile forming but also mixed with something more… lonely?
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'It's good to see you doing better. I was worried.” Len said,
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“HAH, BUTTER, ME? U joking with me?” Annoyed, Len was sweeping this all away as no big deal, yet she wanted to do the same…
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“I heard you forging again, and I talked with your dad, and he said you’re a fighter just needing time to recover.”
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I tried staring at her to understand her better, and seeing that look of love and pity burned me up inside. Pity? As if I’m weak…
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I’m a fighter and did not need a wannabe daughter acting like she’s better. If anything, I’m the better daughter; she should be seeking comfort from me…
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“I dun need your pity.”
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“And we would nut be even feeling this if nut for U.”
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Len looked at me confused and was about to say so when I cut her off…
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“Oh please, princess, U go around waving your light, and we all blindly followed. Now look whut we gut?”
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“We all lost while U get to play hero and support us…”
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Terra hated her word choice; she was angry at herself, not Len, and she wanted to comfort her, not lash out, yet she could not back down. FIGHT ME if you don’t like it….
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Yet the words that followed were still said gently and cut more deeply.
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“Maybe I assumed too much; for that I’m sorry, but I am here for you, Terra. Your dad helped me, and you did too. It’s the only reason we won.“
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Even now she was carrying the blame and not lashing out back at me…
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How can we be a family if she won't even bond with me? Where is her fire? Where is that passion that trained for months without ever complaining? Where is the training that I did not do? Why
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is she just staring at me…?
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As if I’m the one who lost…
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I had no words, nothing that would bring us closer, just pull us apart, so I just stared defiant, hoping she would say anything to challenge me, to make me back down, submit. I already knew she was better; she just needed to say it….
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“Ok, Terra, you know I care. I’ll stop by another time when you’re feeling better. I’ll let Arlin know you said hi…”
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“Whutever U free to come and go as you like,” as I watched her get up and leave…
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Is this the life I want? No desire to chase love, no Leena around that I watched train and I love like family, no forge to make new things, and no victory… just defeat.
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She watched Len nod slowly, still glowing with her light, a pride that defied all who challenged her without saying a word, and she stepped proudly past her. No judgment, no need—she was the only winner of the King of the Hill, where we all fell…
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Maybe things will change in time, but not yet; it is still too fresh, and that burns her up inside. As she flared the flame within, it still offered no warmth; it just brought her closer to her shame, but she accepted it.
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It seemed like her father, who wore his scars proudly on his flesh to remember his faults, needed to do the same with the ones that hurt her inside. It just hurt too much right now, and she knew once more she was defeated…
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***
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Guild hall Arlin home
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He wasn’t sure what bothered him more: not knowing what happened or not knowing how others would treat his mother…
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He wanted to defend her and protect her from anyone touching her that would abuse this new foreign version of his mother. He also was torn between reaching out to whoever would listen to help and bringing her old self back…
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Leaving the church was simple enough, just bewildering; he feared it was the unknown environment making her think this way, and hoped him bringing her home would change that, but every step she walked just made it stranger and stranger for him and harder to maintain control of the neutral experience.
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“This is our home? Why are there so many people here?” his mom asked, full of wonder, as he grimaced at the random stare from the adventurers…
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“It’s also a guild hall, Mom. You were the leader, remember?”
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“Really? Why would we need such a place? Do we help people?”
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The confused glance from the guest was getting to be too much, and their concern was not fair; it wasn't their mother…
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“You all got a problem?”
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“It’s Tanya, the hidden blade, MY MOTHER, and guild master. She is recovering, so mind your own business…”
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“SON,” his mother’s voice yelled in shock as he saw her fanning her face. “Don’t be rude to our guest; they came seeking help. My issues are not their concern, but if they need help, we should at least listen.”
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“They don’t want help, Mom; they want to stare…”
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“You never gave them a chance, son. Be nice…” She looked to the guest and beyond to the staff at the counter, who did not know how to act seeing this fallout. “I’m sorry for my son; he’s been through a lot. He’s a hero!”
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“Do you know he defeated a monster ogre! It’s true he told me.” She had nothing but pride as she spoke, and he had nothing but shame as people watched her in wonderment and him with concern.
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Rosa was tending the guest, a bearkin that followed my mother for years; the tears in her eyes reflect my pain well, but her words surprised me.98Please respect copyright.PENANAgOazaFYbnX
“It’s good to see you well, mistress. Do you need anything?”
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Mom looked once more in wonderment at being addressed so formally. “Nonsense, you’re working; I should be helping you! Do you need anything?”98Please respect copyright.PENANA1PN1DecSRY
Flustered, Rosa, unsure how to respond, stuttered a reply, “Aha… n-n-no mistress, I’m fine.”
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“Let go, Mom. Sister is probably upstairs; she has been overseeing things while you were gone. She wants to see you too…
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She waves goodbye to the people, thanking them for their support of their home… I tried to explain how the guildhall worked, but she waved it off and said if they came here, they came for us, and they would be treated as guests, not objects.
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She had not used her shadow power since waking, which worried me. She could still control shadows, but she favored being normal, saying it reminded her too much of hiding, and she wanted the people to see her. It just made me use my shadows more for the same reason she did not….
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Ziala was in Mom's room. It was surprising she did not run down from the commotion before, but it seems she was deeply studying papers, taking the job seriously since replacing Mom.
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“My daughter a wolfkin? Amazing!” Ziala jerked at the sound of Mom's voice. I wanted to warn her, but I was slow in response, lost in my own thoughts, but watching Ziala cry and embrace her, I don't think she cared much….
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“Yeah, I forgot to tell you she was a wolfkin when I mentioned you adopted her, but she’s still your daughter.”
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“What?” Mom asked, confused, still holding Ziala, tears in her eyes freaking me out; she never showed anything like that to me…
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“Why would that make her any less a daughter to me?”
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“That’s not what I meant… just thought it would be weird since you have no memories…” Why did I have to explain this? It should be obvious…
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“You don’t remember me?” Ziala asked, still having tears in her eyes, ears going flat.
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“She doesn’t remember anything, not even me.” I interjected before Mom could speak…
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“It’s why she’s acting funny.”
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“ARLIN,” Mom shouted, holding Ziala still to her chest. “My lack of memories does not make me any less a mother. Be nice to your sister; she is suffering…”98Please respect copyright.PENANA8Ux5PR3xf1
God, why is she acting like this? And I’m not the bad guy; I was the one who stayed by your side for days…
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She saw my glare and reached out to me. “You are my son, and she is my daughter. I’m happy I’m home and you’re both safe. Isn’t that enough?”
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I held my ground despite her reach; I was moving no closer. This wasn't the mother I remembered, and it was too much… and it made no sense why everyone was just supporting her…
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turning to shadows and went to my room. She had Ziala; it would be enough. I need space and time to think…
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They left me alone, which gave me mixed feelings; at least that was more like my mother… I strained my hearing and could hear others checking up on her. Coby's dad apologizing and Wolf's dad doing the same, feeling they failed her, was interesting to overhear.
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It was only when the mayor showed up later that I could not just vaguely listen but needed to see. I heard they had a past as adventurers but never really believed it was odd…98Please respect copyright.PENANAD2e4q4TPi8
“Look at you, you’re so tiny!” Mom’s voice rang in the hall, making me worried she would do something…
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I rushed down to see, and it was worse than I believed, as the mayor was saddened trying to find the word to say how they failed her. She lifted him up and embraced him, causing all to see to freeze.
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She was holding the mayor like a doll and embracing him. It was only when she started twirling around with him that his stupor finally broke and he started demanding to be let down…
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Even then she did not, as he started blasting gusts of air in her face in retaliation, and it just encouraged more laughter and twirling him around; she had no shame….
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“I think it’s nice.” I jerk to see my sister beside me saying those words. When did she get there…?
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“What’s nice about her acting a fool and mocking everyone around her… She’s an adult; she should act like it…”
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Ziala looked over at him with a frown on her wolf face. “She was hurt, Arlin. She’s happy to be alive and surrounded by people who love her. Why is that wrong?”
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“Because it’s not, Mom…”
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“She hunted in shadows for years. She trained me with force and waited years before she even cared she had a son or even adopted you as a daughter, so this”—he pointed to his mom finally putting down the yelling mayor—“is not her…”
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“Maybe she wanted to change?” Ziala said quietly.
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“She has no memories; this is not her changing, just a stranger who says we’re family…”
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“She’s still my mom, and I’d rather have this version of her than nothing. Besides, she’s happy. Is that really wrong?” Ziala asked beside me, and I could not argue.
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“Maybe, but she still needs to grow up. You’re running the guild for her; she needs to do her job.”
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“Why? I can do it, and if it lets her be free and happy? I say keep it this way…”
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“It’s why I was studying the papers, their lot laws, and contract variables that need to be checked. You’d be surprised how much infrastructure regulation Mom oversaw in the background.”
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"All the more reasons she should be doing it…” Arlin retired. Watching Ziala, he hedid not like that she wasn't seeing my point, and she frowned right back at my stubbornness.
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“I’m fine, brother, and so is Mother. You’ll be happier when you acknowledge that…”
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“Why are you so accepting that Mom is gone…?” Arlin asked, annoyed at how carefree his sister was during Mom’s coma and now afterwards…. Did she even care?
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She stared. I could see the hurt in her eyes, but she did not lash out. No, she composed herself and made sure I said my piece before saying her view, replying calmly, “Brother, I have only ever known broken families.”
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“From birth I felt judged, not loved. Yet now? Mom is very loving and trying.”
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“I don’t want to lose that. If she goes back to her old ways, that’s fine; I will still love her, but I fear it will be the end of us.”
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“It’s why I’m trying so hard to run the guild hall and be better for us so you or Mom don’t have to.”
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“I just want to be loved and not have her or you abandon what’s left of us.”
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He wanted to say he would never, but that was a lie. He remembered he was no better than his mom when it was convenient, so maybe his mom was really trying… and his sister wasn't wrong…
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“Whatever, do what you want,” he snapped, not wanting to be among the people anymore.
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He retreated back to his room since nobody was listening and everyone seemed to be doing just fine… I was the only bad guy for wanting my old life back….
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An unknown amount of time passed; the walls told me nothing of what hour it was, and the laughter and wonder from Mom in the halls just annoyed me. I didn't care to know time was passing; beyond that, it slowly passed, and nothing good was coming of it.
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So it was a major surprise when the light's slow glow broke the darkness of my shadows engulfing the room.
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“Brooding, I see.” It was Leena looking around in my room. Any other time I would be panicking or lost with joy, thinking of something cool to say or even trying to sneak a kiss and see if she embraces it or slaps me away…
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Yet now?
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“Leave me alone. I got enough crap to deal with today…” I just felt drained, Mom. Recovery was no joy, and everyone embracing her new self just pushed me further away…
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Yet still she sat with me on my bed, a dream that lived in my head many nights, but not today.
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“How are you holding up?” Len asked.
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“That’s a stupid question. You already said I was brooding, so how do you think I feel…”
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“Your mom is happy at least.”
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“She’s not happy; she’s broken like us. She’s just smiling, that’s all.”
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“Maybe,” Len said quietly. Which surprised me and made me look. Len still glowed with a soft light but looked lost in thought. Maybe the battle hurt her too and nobody noticed? Maybe Mom was trying, and like Len, she chose to smile vs. cry….
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“Sorry, Len, thanks for visiting me.“
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“Yeah, I feel like shit, and you’re not helping me; nobody really is.”
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“But thank you for still trying to help me; it does mean something…”
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“Well, I was also checking on your sister and mom; you were just a bonus brooding to see…” He could not help but laugh at that. Len never joked with him. This was nice; it made him really feel what he was missing and really think about what he wanted.
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He missed and wanted his old life.
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Not the streets, not the uncertainty of battles, but the one that gave him peace: his callous mom, his snarky sister, and his safe, boring job with friends to see…
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He was glad the ogre was dead and knew it was necessary. The fact they were being labeled heroes on top of it sounded like a nice bonus, but he did not care. Let them tell legends of heroes; he would be happy being boring in shadows…
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“Will make it work. Sorry I pushed you into this. I will learn from this; that much I can promise…” Len said beside me…
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Why was it all her fault? Yea, she led us and wanted it, but we all ran to follow; even Mom made her choice like me…
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"Terra says hi and misses you. She wishes you get better soon." She got up to leave.
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Is Terra still chasing me? Crazy she lasted that long without me caring… I tried to focus on what Len said, finally noticing she got up and was leaving.As she kept talking, saying she had things to do and was just checking on me and my family, now that I was able to focus a bit, I wasn't sure how to think or feel. Len was just beside me in my room…
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Yet when I looked again? Only darkness. My shadows are the only thing left to comfort me. Was that what Mom faced when she kept pushing everyone away? Is that why she's playing naive and being more loving?
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A cold thought entered his mind: was this all a game? A ploy to be free and live a different life? If it was true, was she wrong? It meant she wanted to be free, and would he take that away from her?
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No…
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He got up looking for Mom. He found Ziala studying the papers once more, now the excitement had died down a bit. When he asked where Mom was, she said, Mom wanted to cook in the kitchen, so I left to see.
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Sure enough, she was cooking, mildly surprising me. I wasn’t sure how memory loss worked, but I don’t remember her ever cooking; she always seemed happy to leave the matter to others…98Please respect copyright.PENANANqbuGi3DAV
As if sensing my presence, she turned, a surprised smile blooming on her face. “Son, are you feeling better? I was going to surprise you with a meal, but you came down first.”
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“Are you sure you’re not going to burn it?“ Could not help myself; this was too different…
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“Nonsense, son, even with no real memories, I know I’ve done this many times before…”
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He bit his tongue vs saying she never did, at least not since he was with her, and that was a few years….
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Instead, he joined her; if she was going to cook, it would be something he wanted to eat, and he would help her make a meal for the family. She stepped away, asking if any of the staff wanted anything; they politely declined, saying they had a meal at home they would eat, and she should enjoy her time with her family.
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They did have a small table in the kitchen, but he never used it to eat with them, though he can’t say if Mom and Ziala ever used it without him. He supposed they could have; maybe that was influencing that false belief that they all eat here… unless she’s faking it.
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Yet now that the meal was done and they were all sitting here, all he saw from her even now was joy… no fear of being discovered a fraud, no forced laughter and joy, just happy… here. Even when it is not her here,
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“Son, stop brooding; enjoy the meal we made here. It’s good, by the way. Thank you for helping.” Mom looked over at Ziala after saying that.
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“Do you know your brother helped me prepare this? Such a good boy, isn’t he?“
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Ziala smiled, watching me glare back at her. “Yes, he is a good brother. Thank you for helping feed me, brother. You should do this more often.”
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“We don’t?” Mom asked, and the confusion and panic in Mom's voice was real fear, and that was when I really knew she wasn't faking being her; the fear in her eyes of the old self she did not know and who she might be scared her.
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“We do.” I said bluntly. “I just get busy with work, sis. just wish I came home more and shared those meals with the family.”
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I watched her visibly relax. “That’s good. I do want to be a good mother.”
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Ziala patted her, being closer to her at the table. “You are Mom, or we would not be here with you now, and we want to help you get better.”
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“But I’m fine?” she asked, confused but more in a sense of wonder,
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“We just want to help you remember you’re fine as you are, Mom.” I added coolly. I did not like the change. but wasn't going to break her; I just wanted to get my old one back, no…. If she found a bit of happiness, why take that away? I wanted the same….
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Dinner ended pleasantly enough as long as we did not correct her on what she assumed; she really thought she was a loving mother that did things for us… Well, she did before, but it was always mixed with shadows and distance, not this open closeness.
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After a bath and everyone settling for the night, I lay wondering how things would go when a knock on the door surprised me. It was open, and I got used to people just kind of wandering in, so it was a bigger surprise when someone did not…
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It was Mom staring at me with concern, confusing me. Did something happen? Did she remember?
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I sat up wanting to hear what she had to say, her nervousness an odd shift from the endless childlike wonder from before. “You ok, Mom?”
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She hesitated a little longer before she spoke. “I just wanted to say thank you for today and trying. I know I’m not making it easy, and thank you for watching over me.”
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“When I woke there in the church, it was all new to me, so to find out I had a son who not only loved but needed me? It was a nice first memory, so I will always treasure it.”
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“I’ll try harder to be better, son.”
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The words stung me. She did not remember…. Worse proof—she had no real memories, but she was trying, and she did love us. Why would I take that away from her…?
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“It’s ok, Mom, be yourself; it’s all we ask, nothing more.”
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“Thanks, son.” She fidgeted near the door and then came up and hugged and kissed me. “Good night, son,” she said as she quickly left out the door.
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“Good night, Mom.” I whispered to the air, unsure how I felt. From there, the battle was over; we were home and a family. We just needed to go from there.
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For me it would be enough; he just needed time, but it seems we all did. We will see what happens from there, and for the first time in a very long time, he did not need the darkness's blessing to make him feel better; it was just there.98Please respect copyright.PENANAe6e7q3QBGu


