Whack!
Feeling the slam of my mother's palm on my right cheek, I fall to the ground.
"Don't do that again, Nash! We already almost lost you before, don't wander off without asking us first!" She exclaimed, anger prevalent as the red broadening along her face almost caused steam to rise up in an abundant fume.
Rubbing my face, a tear forms as I try to contain the pain arising from her hit.
"Wait, but there was this k-"
"No talking back to your elders!" She yells in immediate response, disregarding my excuse as she turned to her right where my father had been standing. "Your father and I will first have to discuss your punishment..."
Showing shock from his sudden inclusion into the conversation, he began rubbing the back of his head.
"What do you think Tristan? What shall he do?" Mother inquired, expecting a response.
"Well... uh..."
"So...?"
"I think that there should be no punishment." He said seriously, spontaneously switching his stuttering, confused manner into a much more straightened, affirmative one.
"What? But he just ran off and jumped from the balcony! Are you really one to condone such dangerous behavior from our child!" She yelled even angrier than before, something I didn't think was possible.
"Well, you seem to be forgetting that he saved that young boy from a group of bullies. Have we not raised Nash to be a morally correct figure? Why should he be punished for good deeds?"
"If that were all it was, then surely I wouldn't have any issues. But do you not see the hole in the wall of what used to be the bathroom windows, nor the several stories he hopped to get to the ground? Not only will we have to explain to the staff what happened, but we'll have to compensate them as well. It is the primary teaching of Larona to have good morals with cool-headed reasoning, not to be impulsive, regardless of the greater good."
Recoiling from mother's refutation, father had to recollect his thoughts as he contemplated how exactly to compromise with mother.
"We have some of the most vast wealth in the world, we are by far more than capable of compensating the staff, perhaps giving them enough money to purchase the establishment if we so desired. I don't see the problem."
"That's always been your issue! You never 'see the problem'! It's always some issue you can wave away... poof out of existence. But guess what, no amount of money erases your actions. Even if we were to pay for the window ten times over, that's still ten times we're allowing Nash to get away with things that are unacceptable! You've always done this! When you blew up an entire tavern in your drunken flurry, you simply whisked it away as some 'accident'. I had to be the one to personally console the owner as it had been his father and grandfather's hand-me-down, something passed on to him! You destroy, and yet you find no wrong in it!"
Thinking that I heard something I shouldn't have, I start backing away slowly.
"Yeah, maybe I should leave?"
"No!" They both yelled in unison; the weight of their words pressing me down as my feet immediately planted.
Well, honey, if this were something you kept internalized, you should've told me..."
"I DID!" She yells fiercely, distorting the air around us as the soundwaves produced by her yell reaches every crevice of the room, slashing and throwing everything.
After a successive crash as everything fell back into place, mother relaxed her anger as she shifted back to a normal posture.
"I'm sorry Nash. That's not something you should be hearing, is it?"
Father scratched his nose, audibly attempting to utter something semblant of words before receding back, incapable of talking under these circumstances.
"I... apologize." He said quietly, almost trying to keep her from hearing.
"What was that?" Mother asked, a smile appearing.
"I apologize, alright! I'm sorry. I hadn't known you were weighed down with such a heavy burden just by being with me. It wasn't my intention to make you deal with all my misgivings, and for that, I'm sorry." Mother's brow raised, skeptical of his sudden switch up.
Of my years observing father, never have I seen him back down so easily. Perhaps he realized he really was in the wrong here.
Father unwillingly raised his hand, maintaining an open palm as he kept it in the same position.
"But..."
Closing his hand into a fist, he pounded it against his chest where his heart would be situated, clattering heard from his teeth as he clenched his jaw as firmly as he was able, stiffening into an almost cardboard cutout.
"I still do not see the use in punishing Nash. He truly hasn't done anything wrong; he should be getting congratulated for saving that young man, not reprimanded. Of course, he could've taken a much more... conventional approach, but in the end it shows that he's willing to do anything to defend what's right."
Mother--halted to a stop--could only contemplate, giving no response or visible fits of emotion as to suggest she had any opinion at all, but only stared down in silence as she held the tip of her chin with her index finger and thumb.
"You know, that's the first time you've sounded convincing before, right?" She remarked, a foxy smirk blatant in her expression.
"Hey, you know I'm quite the businessman. Remember the one time I got the retailer to mark down one of our houses by 7 gold coins?"
Mother could only laugh in response, the flavorful scent of nostalgia encompassing our room as neither could shake off the memory of their youthful escapades.
Father approached mother, wrapping his right arm around her shoulders as he turned his attention towards the big window situated at the opposite side from the entrance door that presented a high view of the city.
"There's a whole world out there, and we've secluded ourselves why... for security? Don't you think Nash deserves a chance; not only to see the world, but also to get to know others his age?"
As father makes his argument, he points his finger. Not towards the city, but the sun, as bright and glaring as ever.
"The kid's special. There's nothing he can't do, and I know he'll shine brighter than all, including the Helios. Lets not squander that potential by sheltering him."
"Well, when you put it like that..." Mother began to falter, and she didn't try to hide it as she usually would.
"I mean, there's a whole world of majesty and intrinsic wonders. Lets say we go visit some once he's older, deal?"
"Deal."
With that, their falling out of differing opinions had concurred into a nice simple peace, leaving me with nothing but joy resonating throughout my body.
Now, on to more important matters; food!
"Mom, what's the food like here?" I ask as we make way across the city. The streets are laden with a gold coating, exuding a sense of majesty and importance.
"It's great, trust me. there's so much to have that your stomach will burst just thinking about it."
Playfully, she tickles my belly button, leaving me to recoil as I couldn't resist the impending laughter.
"Alright, alright, stop!" I yell as I try to swat away her hands.
As soon as I riled down, we were presented with a great silver gate, 20 feet walling situated around it.
"Access form?" One of the guards ask, three in number.
"No, but we are of the Azrael family, so you would be well-advised to grant us your most superlative hospitality."
As the guard instantly shrunk back and spoke in whispers with the remaining two, mother could only look on with prying eyes as they implicitly insinuated their reluctancy.
"Well then, you may enter. Kaleel will escort you and ensure your utmost enjoyment within our premises. Sorry for my lack of court, my disacknowledgement of your royal status is only punishable by execution."
"Such precautions shall not be necessary. However, we would be more than happy to take on your escort."
Relieved, the guard backed away as a brolic dark-skinned man embroidered with valiant gold armor stepped forward, his high position within his force prevalent.
Simultaneously, the three guards prostrated to the ground, Kaleel having his head raised only slightly above the other two whilst only having one knee on the ground.
"It is with my utmost gratitude that I welcome you here. We hope you will enjoy your time in the Ember Market of Ardentia."
"There's no need for such uptight language. We haven't come to accept such formality. While here, treat us as equal."
With flaring surprise, the guard almost physically reacted to such words before calming down and residing in the other two for agreement.
"Surely, Royal Azrael. While I can't accept such a request out of respect, I will be sure as to be more comfortable around you."
Standing up, he took a swift motion around as he spun towards the market, motioning the other two to open the gate.
As they each pulled a lever, the gates swung open mechanically, revealing a buzzing market full of a wide plethora of fashionable and otherwise exquisite pieces embroidered on all different shades of people.
"Please do enter our most established market."