"ple... ait...d...NOOO!!!"
I jumped up off the bed and felt the sweat accumulating on my clothes. Didn't, help that I had a ringing headache right about now.
Just when I was going to be an adult I still get these nightmares. I won't even know what is going on
'ha...'
Well, what is done is done, I can already hear my mother making me food for the journey ahead.
Even though last night she was so worried for me. It was funny how she threatened my uncle even though he was a warrior trained to fight while my mom has always been the so loving stay-at-home mom.
'Oh well, I guess all mothers are like that.'
Getting some spare clothes from my wardrobe so I can go downstairs and quickly wash myself of the sweat from last night. It was quite weird since I've been feeling normal the last few nights. I shouldn't be sweating so much even if I had a nightmare.
Though this wasn't surprising since our house got an upgrade with better insulation.
Going downstairs.
'I wasn't feeling hurt or sore. That Healing potion saved me, didn't it? I have to see if I can get more of that.' I thought to myself.
"Hey, Damien how did you sleep baby?" Vanessa spoke in her soft motherly tone.
"Mom, I am not a child anymore I am all grown up now you know?"
Feeling flustered and having my pride as a man being trampled. I felt my heart shake and emotions go wild.
"not yet. if you have lived as long as I have you are forever a little child in my eyes" Vanessa said with a smile.
'Mom always gives me that smile when she knows that I can't come up with a rebuttal for her words. it's so annoying, it's like she's purposely teasing my pride.'
'hah... whatever not like I could hate her'
"Okay, Okay Mother you win. Im going to take a quick shower before I go out and train in the middle of nowhere and have no access to civilization." I said sarcastically, feeling a mix of both excitement and nervousness.
"Okay, son, I love you, I know you will show that bastard who hit my child who is boss."
"I will Mom, I will show him who boss, love you too..."
I started walking towards the bathroom, leaving my mom in the kitchen making who knows what. if I was to guess.
'It will probably be my rations that she will make me bring.'
'oh god, knowing her-shes gonna make me carry a whole restaurant!'
"Hey, mom! Just pack enough for a couple of days okay?!"
Going into the bath, I got inside of the warm water and bathed myself to get rid of the sweat that was formed after the last night.
'Well, I must do this quickly I don't want to burn an unnecessary amount of firewood. Especially when winter is coming in soon.'
After cleaning myself properly I started walking out. I looked over to the kitchen smelling a nice smell coming from there.
'This is a new dish or something it smells amazing!'
Walking towards the kitchen I saw my mom cooking some food but I noticed that her finger had a small cut.
Quickly walking towards mom, I grabbed her hand and grabbed a piece of clean cloth. Making a crude bandage for her finger.
"Hey, Mom you have to be careful you know?"
"Kyaa! Damien what are you doing here!?" Vanessa jumped back in surprise.
"I'm here to check out what you're making 'cause it has to be something new I have never smelt something this good and never had tasted it. especially now that I see you accidentally hurt yourself"
"Oh-Im Okay Damien, you know your mother isn't so weak. Plus I was gonna go grab some herbs to help heal. Don't worry about it okay?" Vanessa walking away, scurried off to the garden in the backyard.
"Alright, Mother I trust you. well then I'm gonna go and chop some wood"
"mhm!"
Heading out to the side of the house I went towards the firewood area. Started chopping some wood. splitting them over and over again.
'I don't know how people are satisfied doing this for their entire lifetime. Don't they get bored eventually?'
"DAMIENN!!!!!"
'oh god here comes the idiot. god, what did I do to deserve this?'
"hey Ren, what do you want?"
"dang, why are you so mad to see me?"
"cause knowing you, you would tell me to do something dumb like a karate chop the wood to split it or something"
"hey, that's not a bad ide-Ow. why did you hit me for?"
"cause you were gonna say something dumb, Anyways Ren shouldn't you go and you know help your family in making more of the firewood?"
"Oh-Yeah that's a good idea, I will go but before that. I heard you were gonna train in the woods right? Here take this"
Handing me a little jar containing some cream.
"what's this?" I suspiciously asked Ren.
"I know it's getting close to winter but it doesn't hurt to be too careful. It's some sunscreen to protect your skin. Although I have a feeling you would be fine it doesn't hurt to be safe just in case"
"huh, like the sun will be my worse enemy in the wilderness full of aggressive monsters and beasts."
I had said that sarcastically, but truth be told, it's nice that someone other than my family cares. Well, maybe I can use it with other stuff to help mask my scent to hunt some game.
"Thanks either way man I appreciate the gesture"
"Mm, no need to thank me Damien I am your friend right?"
"Well, anyways I'm gonna go and help my dad with the firewood. He probably isn't too happy that I'm not there gathering the split wood into a pile. I'll get going now. I'll see you late"
"later"
'well, talking to him did make the mundane task a little easier, I'm already more or less done. I just have to go and put all of this in a pile
Walking to the pile with the bundle of wood I had split.
'huh, mom must have split some wood, well ill just make another pile next to it
After leaving the pile, I went back and went back to the kitchen to check on my mom
'nightmare of not I still feel refreshed, it's nice that mom takes care of my nutrition so well'
Walking back into the house I went straight for the kitchen which wasn't too far and saw my mom and saw that her hand was wrapped in some cloth and some ointment was put on. feeling relieved that mom took care of her hands.
"Hey Damien, I heard you doing some of the firewood, I forgot to mention earlier that I had cut some of the wood"
"Yeah no worries Mom I noticed that the pile was full, it's fine the more firewood we have the warmer we will be"
"mhm, maybe we will end up being hot with the amount of firewood we will have hahaha"
"yeah, we might be hot during the winter, especially if Dad I going to come back with all the goods we are going to have."
"you are right honey, well here, this is the stuff for the little training you will get.
Grabbing the bag, it was a lot of light than what I was expecting, well she must have heard me when I told her not to pack so much. I have a feeling that I will be hiking my way forward.
Seeing a giant smile from my mother I knew she was about to do something and I was right.
"Look at you, my son is so strong, you will protect your mother, right? you know I was having such a hard time getting all this into the bag, I'm gonna miss you so much, I hope it wasn't too heavy. Anyways I love you, son, I'm proud that you are going to get stronger cause then you can protect me and your father from the horde right?"
'I knew it, Mom is having another episode, is she doing this on purpose? I was about to say something cool like "I will come back as a man" or something like that but mom just had to ruin my moment like that hah..'
"yes Mother I will come back strong and I will fight the horde and protect you from all harm"
"I know you will baby, I know, just if you can take it anymore you can always come back here alright? no matter what happens I will always love you. Even if you come back a changed man. I know my son will always be there"
"I know Mom, I know, well I have to get going ill check the items later, I want to see what the surprise is about"
"alright my baby I trust that you won't push yourself too hard"
"Okay, I'll get going now, Mom"
Walking out the door I waved seeing my mom's smile, with her signature red eyes watering. She leaned by the door frame, I could tell that she had a mix of emotions of pride, worry, Joy, as well as sadness.
~In an unknown location~
In a large stone-walled room with large hanging curtains dyed purple gilded around the edges in gold.
"Madam, The horde is pushing harder, we must move our people deeper into the territory. We have save what we can. We are few already enough."
A butler bowed after entering the room, daring not to look into his dame's eyes.
"Are you ordering me?"
"i wouldn't dare Madam Eno"
"then stay there and be a good subordinate and watch. I have faith in them"
"Madam the last person we had faith in was beheaded and crucified"
"Jure Grando was an idiot who lived for far too long, and you will be quiet. I have much more interesting matters to attend"
"Yes, I will heed your call madame"