Because of Mama
(Chapter 3)
**
[<<]
"{He seems to be quite the gentleman}," she thinks to herself. " Aren't you guys gonna stop lazing around?"
"I'm not the one imitating Bruno Mars here." Elmus says laughing.
"It's all me," Laura says. "You can come join us if you want."
"I'll have to pass… Was planning to have a look at the town but I'd better rest all these bruises off. Here I come!"Valentina jumps onto the bed and embraces Ms. Laura tight.
"{Elmus}," Amitha calls. "{I want a hug too.}"
"A'ight" he says embracing her.
"{Not with the sheath. I want physical contact.}"
"What the? You thinking straight?!"
Amitha laughs her heart out.
[>]
You would think that they had something better to do but that wasn't the case. They literally waste the day loafing around. The bed becomes more and more comfortable, such that they do not get up to even eat or use the bathroom. The mountains and hills quickly cast their shadows on Banlieue de Porto Novo. It's almost nightfall now and Guillelmus gets up.
"Where're you going?" Laura asks.
"Home," he answers.
"Awwn… Why?if I may ask.
"I need to go and see my mother."
"Well… I don't think I can hold onto you any longer then, can I?"
"Don't put it that way Ms. Laura."
"I've told you to stop calling me that."
"Respect is inherent in my mental function."
"… I don't want you to go because I don't want to be alone." She says so sullenly.
"… I can keep you company," Valentina suggests.
"?"
"I haven't actually gotten a place to stay yet so I would be honored to share a roof with you. That is if you do agree ma'am."
"I-"
"I think it's a great idea." Elmus interrupts. "That way you'd kill two birds with one stone."
"More like three birds," Laura murmurs. "I'll think about it… I'm assuming you would like to go with him; his mom's quite the adorable creature."
"I don't really think it's necessary, and besides; I don't think he'd be comfortable with that. We only met yesterday."
"I'm not bothered by those kinds of stuff. If you're coming, grab a change of clothes and lets go."
[>]
Guillelmus and Valentina make their way towards his home. She seems quite pensive. Her eyes aren't even wandering like the day before. Night draws near as well. The noise in the vicinity slowly dies down as the sun sets. After she stays like that for a while he decides to engage her in a conversation.
" Tina… Tina!"
"!- Something the matter?"
"You don't look even half as enthusiastic as yesterday. What's up with you?"
"… I… I also lost someone before I got here… Truth is I don't have the slightest clue whether he's alive or not."
"I see. Those kinda things really take a toll on your emotional health. I won't probe into your affairs; I'd advise you to try and lighten up. It wouldn't help to sulk around up there."
"{Easy for YOU to say. You only lost some little girl…}" Tina thinks to herself."I've heard that you're quite the weirdo."
"But you're here."
"Because I don't let people make my opinions for me."
"And you know why they say so?"
"Your blade, Amitha?"
"Although you don't seem to know much I can deduce that you're quite meticulous. The truth is you feel like you're also a weirdo, that's why you're here. Don't they say ' birds of a feather, flock together?"
"What makes you think that?"
"A lot"
"… So are the rumors true?"
"Amitha has talked to me since my Dousing and Naming. I believe that she is the hilt. That's all I have to say to you; whether you believe it is up to you and you alone.
"Dousing and Naming Ceremony?
"Yeh."
"I remember hearing it but I never-"
"Okay, lemme break it down."
Guillelmus explains. Like the commonly known Out-dooring and Naming Ceremony, this is done to initiate a child's life; that is, provided he or she is able to survive the first week of life. Items: normally weapons, are laid before the baby who is subsequently doused with Mana Water. The dousing temporarily heightens the baby's sensitivity which causes it to choose the most compatible weapon nearby, after which it is named. However, in rare instances the baby could have a relative compatibility with an item out of the vicinity that supercedes the closer ones and the baby will reject the closer ones; but that's rare.
"It wouldn't make sense that any ordinary item would be compatible for no reason," Tina says thinking aloud. "The baby must have some affinity for…"
"You guessed right. The Mana Crystal."
Guillelmus explains further. Mana is actually short for "ManASE": that is Man Action Specific Energy. According to the Progenitors' report, When men lived without the Emerged, men couldn't use Mana at all. Mana is actually a type of energy that's formed from the combination of three types of energy by the Somatic Core, a.k.a the Heart. These three types of energy were the energy generated from the depths of the mind; the Soul Energy, the energy generated from the entirety of the body;Somatic Energy, and the last… The last was the energy generated from the innermost of one's being; Spirit.That's the one that actually makes a difference.
For some reason, in the presence of the Emerged these energies harmonize. The harmonized energy was transported throughout the body via the circulatory system to maintain the body's normal functioning. However, this energy could only be siphoned in the presence of a catalyst in one way only. Being utilized in a single way iss the Action Specificness.The catalyst isa crystal that was imbued with, and radiated similar energy, namely Mana.
"And who imbues the crystals if I may ask?"
"I haven't a clue," Guillelmus replies. "What I do know is I resonated with Amitha perfectly. Needless to say, if you don't believe me I don't think we can be friends."
"Because friendships are built on trust, right?"
"We're here." Elmus says as he approaches the doorstep with an enthusiastic gait.If you expected some mansion you are quite mistaken. It's not that big although it's a bit bigger than Ms.Laura's. There's a normal, re-enforced, wooden door with the classic two windows on each side. The windows are also re-enforced with burglar-proof bars.It's more like a small hallway that leads into a cruck house. He quickly opens the three key lock and doesn't even get a step in before he's hugged.
"My baby!" she exclaims as she hugs him. "You had me worried sick!" She begins to shower him with kisses but she finally understands why he kept signaling "mom." He brought a girl home.
"My! I really wasn't expecting this but that explains everything. Aren't you gonna… *gesture*" she raises her brows.
Elmus doesn't seem to understand that she meant for him to introduce her to his mother. It wasn't his fault though…
"Son!"
"What?"
"!"
"Excuse his manners madam. I'mLady Valentina. Nice to meet you!" she says extending her arm.
"Oh! My bad! I would've," he says ruffling his hair.
"Ms. Evelyn. Nice to meet you too."
"Forgive him; he barely brings anyone home so he must've forgotten." She says as she shakes her hand. Valentina can't help but notice that the woman shakes quite a lot, especially her hands.
"What are you waiting for?" she asks. "Come on in!"
Judging from the exterior you would've thought that the interior would be like a miniature prison. Wrong again. On the contrary, even a blind person would notice that somebody's been making an extreme effort to make the place as cozy as can be. You could literally sleep on the ground because it was all fleece carpets. Like all the commoners' houses, the living and dining rooms are merged to conserve space but the round table is a little far backwhile the couches are in the front. They all take off their footwear at the door. She offers them a seat at the table and goes in to get them a meal.
"I'll be right back," she says;right before she takes her leave.
Valentina maintains the silence for a while, although it's obvious that she would like to say something.
"What's the matter?"
" ... Was I that obvious?"she asks
"I guess."
"Your mom must have a great taste. This place is actually quite comfortable."
"You must have an exquisite taste as well. Nobody said you had to be rich to live comfortably."
"I see... was it just me or your mom's hands..."
"It's a curse -- from my infancy... I haven't a clue what caused it but I feel like it's tied to the death of my father. I haven't been able to rid her of it yet either. No matter how much I resent saying this it looks like it's here to stay..."
"You needn't say things like that. If you believe in your resolve... you should stand tall no matter what."
"It's always easier to do the talking. I'm not growing any younger..."
Ms. Evelyn brings the servings to the table. Her hands look more like they're trembling, like an old lady. He helps her out. There's something wrong. His mother is not old; she's very young in fact. Yes, she has a single strip of gray hair: it doesn't seem natural though. She must be afflicted by some undiscovered disease or something. Valentina keeps it to herself; she doesn't wanna be any trouble. Very soon, everybody's digging in.
"So how long have you two come along?"Eve asks.
"Us? We actually only met yesterday,"Tina answers as she puts a morsel to her mouth very elegantly.
"Really? Then you must have quite the charm," she says with a wink.
"That's because perseverance beats everything!" Valentina exclaims.
"Except death," Guillelmus murmurs sharply before she could even finish. Valentina just ignores it for the sake of meeting his mother. His mom gives him a glare. He pretends not to see it as well.
"Lady Valentina, where do you come from?"
"… A little up north," she responds after a while. It's clear to anyone present that she didn't want to disclose where she actually came from. Ms. Lyn can see that she's very refined, like a noble's daughter. She therefore deduces it's definitely not because she was embarrassed of where she came from. She tries to lighten up the mood.
"So… have you two done anything yet?" Ms.Lyn asks naughtily.
"I guess so Valentina says. After all, that's what brought us together in the first place… Umm. Do you happen to know Amitha?"
"Ofcourse I do! You trying to quiz me on my own son?"
"You're right. That was imprudent of me; my apologies." Ms. Lyn giggles at the sound of that.Valentina looks confused and so does Guillelmus. She's obliged to explain.
"I can see that you're quite refined. You must be from an affluent home."
"I really wonder if HE. notices," Tina mutters as she gives him the stink eye. "He must've not inherited any of your genes." She adds.
"What was that?" Elmus asks sharply.
"I didn't say anything. You must be mistaken." If there is one thing she has gotten to know about him, it's his ability to have a foul mouth. Hurling any insults at him will most likely end in a disaster. It's better to keep them to yourself.
"In case you can't remember what I said when we met…"
"No need. Just maintain the quiet," she interrupts. It does remain silent for a while after that so she goes forth to break it.
"Umm… is that all?" Tina asks."
"Were you expecting more?"
"Mhm."
"There's no need."
"But…"
"All mothers have a third eye. I already know what I need to know about you by taking a keen look. The other questions are things that cant assuredly be derived just by taking a look."
"If that's the case, I'm all yours then."
"I noticed there are things you might not want to talk about so I wouldn't like to probe into your affairs and scare you away. I'm quite grateful that you've come my son's way. You two make quite a lovely couple! I never believed in love at first sight until today!" she ends quite enthusiastically.
Both of them respond with a sharp "hunh?" quite contemptuously
"Wait. Couple?" Valentina lets out in utter shock. What has she been thinking this whole time? when she even asked them if they did anything.
"Mom."
"Aren't you?" they both retort with that disdainful "NO!" That meant the questions she was asking the whole timewere not meant for team mates.
"Geez. Sorry. I didn't notice that you rather hated each other."
"We don't," says Guillelmus. "How could you actually fall in love within the course of a day? You'd have to be really loose or desperate." Somebody somewhere sneezes. Elmus finishes his meal and excuses himself. That gives the two of them the chance to speak alone as women should.
"So what do you actually think about my son?" Lyn starts. Valentina is honest. She thinks he might be quite caring regardless of how weak he is. Lyn cuts her off and argues that he's the strongest.
[Guillelmus]
The interior of the bathroom's all wood. It has a few braziers for illumination. There's also a sky light which is also re-enforced of course. He seems to be done bathing. He proceeds to clean Amitha up.
"{… Elmus.}"
"Yeah?"
"{I was wondering… if it'd be possible to join somebody.}"
"I don't get it."
"{Is there a way to join someone in their body… Would you allow me if I could?}"
"Of course I wouldn't turn you down but I'm not sure it's possible. Wouldn't our souls merge or something?
"{Wouldn't that be delightful though?}"
"But then we'd become a different person. Besides, wouldn't there be conflicting memories?"
"{It wouldn't matter would it?}"
"Sometimes I try to put myself in your shoes. I wonder how it'd be to not have a body. You also never had one in the first place so I don't think there's much to remember. It's probably just curiosity, right?
"{I'm not so sure about that though. If I have a human soul I must've had a body before; don'tcha think?}"
"That's kinda true. Let's not worry ourselves about that. Do whatever makes you happy."
[Valentina]
"Are you aware that my son can't use mana?"
"Actually, he can."
"I don't believe that."
"No. On the contrary; I'm not saying he hid anything from you. He was just able to recently."
"… I see."
There is no way she was gonna back down. She says now that he CAN use it. He's definitely gonna get stronger. She lets her know that his dad died not long after he was born. She was inflicted with a curse as well. She happened to be a florist but her profession started to crumble at her acquired fate. Since the problem was with her hands she even started to tend to the flowers with her teeth.
The young Harmonie noticed his mother's toil and tried to help out. That's when he found out about the guild. Even though she forbade him; for her sake he kept on at it. HE got injured quite frequently. He trained himself day and night over the years. Now her hands have gotten so feeble. She only tried her best so he wouldn't notice how bad it is now. It's spread all the way up her arms.
"How does this make him strong?"
"Strength doesn't only mean physical prowess; your entire capability as an individual. He never lost anybody despite the fact that he couldn't use mana. HE never failed. He sticks strongly to his resolve: his resolve to protect the weak."
"And who are the weak since he should obviously be one of them."
"No," she says shaking her head. She raises her trembling hands up to Tina's eye level. "Who's the weak you ask? That's simple. He has one image etched into his mind."
"And that is?"
"The weak refers to anyone who shakes, anyone who trembles. It started when we were mugged sometime back. He was still a kid then. That was the first time I cried because he got hurt when he tried to defend his mother. I apologized to him for being too weak to defend him. He told me not to worry because he would take it upon himself to defend the weak. That's when he changed. To make it short;I never told anyone for safety but the head of the gang of local armed robbers fell to him just a year later. Could you defeat 23 Intrinsic Mana Users without your manaand armor?"
"*gasp*"
"Like I said before; My son is the strongest."
"Tina thought he was just your average loser but that wasn't the case. Maybe everybody in the Guild could easily send him to his maker; so what? He has done remarkably well. Moreover, people use their power to gain wealth and more power. Is he noble at heart or he was coincidentally born into the right family? Was it circumstantial of his upbringing? No. Lyn says it's characteristic of his spirit. If not, Amitha wouldn't have chosen him. Tina can barely begin to ask what she meant by that before Guillelmus emerges. They seem to be getting along quite perfectly.
He brings out a four-player board game called "Ludu" since they have an extra player now. It's actually a two in one. The game on the front was the actual "Ludu" while the one on the back was "Snakes and ladders. The game had 99 tiles and a finish tile so you'd move all the way to the right and climb up one step;go left and keep going in that manner. What put the fun in the game shouldn't be a mystery.
There were ladders. You could climb one all the way to the end if you land on the tile from which it starts. There is a big massive ladder somewhere around the sixteenth tile up to the eighty floor. The drawbacks were the snakes. If you land on a tile with the snakes head it means you get eaten. I'm just assuming since you use these colorful pieces the snake doesn't digest you and egests you whole. You'd land on the tile where its tale ends. You'd need to roll the exact number to enter the finish and nothing more. The last thing is if you roll a six you can roll again and add to your score but whenever the dice rolls off the board you lose everything.
Since they're only three and "Ludu" is best with four they play the second game. Elmus meant to explain the rules to Tina but she said she used to play it with her dad. They quickly get to it. In the last game, Elmus remains at the 99th tile so he has to roll a one. He remains there until mom wins. Mom says she's tired as she yawns; of course, because of her condition.
Valentina soon overtakes him after getting egested by a few snakes. Before long, they end the fifth game.
"{I'm sorry Elmus. I could've helped if it was a card game but this is a game of chance.}"
"{What do you mean? No way was I planning to cheat in a friendly game.}"
Lyn came in first for three of them while Tina and Elmus won one each. But according to the other games Tina beat him.Her darling son carries her off to her room since she fell asleep waiting for them to finish the last game. He comes back to let Tina know that she could sleep in his room. He barely uses it anyway because he likes to sleep next to mom.
"I hope you had fun Tina?"
"I really did. Good night!"
"Night Tight Bite!"
"???"
"You know; Good night. Sleep tight…"
"Oh! Night, Tight and Bite. I'll try to use it from now on.
"Guillelmus got to learn one more thing about Tina this night. She was composed until she got her hands on a game. She must've been someone who yearned to play so much … like someone who skipped out on their childhood… On the other hand, as Tina bathes she can't help but think about her dad as she gazes at the stars through the skylight. It's not clear what happened in her past.
"Dad… I. I'm trying," she whimpers. "I can't stop thinking about you. The only reason I'm trying to keep myself from crying is because of what you said; that if I cried I'd be accepting that you're dead. But I can't help myself! What does it mean to live without you? Why couldn't I keep any of my parents? Why?" she sobs. With that, Valentina de la Bravo goes to bed on quite a sad note.
--------------End of Chapter 3---------------
Chapter 4 Teaser
Did you realize that your feet could take you almost everywhere? Even to the grave? However, someone's in need of a little cheering up and I guess a little walk can work wonders.
To be continued…