7 years had passed since I came into the new world, and we were still living with the old woman.
I was outside picking up some herbs for the old lady as my mom walked out to meet me.
"N-a-t-s-u-o~" She called squatting beside me.
I shifted my gaze, ignoring her while still picking up the herbs.
"Come on, are you still annoyed about yesterday?" She asked as I kept ignoring her.
"Natsuo." She called again as I turned towards her smiling.
"Morning Mom." I said as she pouted.
"Haha, you both are at it this early morning again." The old lady said, standing beside the door.
"Morning, Grandma." I and my mom both greeted as the old lady smiled.
"Natsuo, come on, let's go have breakfast." Mom said as I nodded.
Like I said, it's been seven years since I came into this new world. I was already getting quite used to my surroundings. I also noticed that I had a different colour from my mom and a crest on my chest.
I didn't ask her anything about it, though. Maybe my dad had that same colour of hair.
I wasn't allowed to learn magic. Anytime I told my mom about it, she'd either brush it off or get annoyed.
Just like the previous day, I tried performing fire magic, and she caught me and got pretty mad. She didn't let me eat anything for dinner, and I went back to bed on an empty stomach.
"Mmm, it's so good," I said, smiling as I ate.
"Yes, it should be." Mom said, looking proud.
"Let me cook for our afternoon meal," I said.
"Pfft..."
"Mòmmm," I called as she burst into laughter.
"Sorry love, don't mind me." She said.
*It would have been better if you stopped laughing.* I thought, looking down.
After eating, I grabbed the used plates for washing. My mom and the old lady sat there discussing.
Every morning after I wake up, I pick up herbs, eat, help out in cleaning the hut, and then run off without my mom's knowledge.
The forest was so big that I didn't even think that there was any way out of it. I usually keep running for about 10 minutes or more. Of course, I keep track of the places I pass while running so that I won't get lost one day.
After that, I went to a cave that I found and began training. I think I did all that cause I was bored.
There were some clothes the old woman wanted to burn, so I grabbed all of them and tied them with a rope, using them as a punching bag.
I also did press-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups(using a tree I found), and squats.
That was my everyday routine. To cover up for leaving without permission, I brought back dried wood when I got home.
That was the same for that day. The next day, I didn't see my mom, same as the next three days till a week passed.
Whenever I asked the old lady, she'd tell me that my mom was busy and that I should just keep calm.
After a week, the old lady called me just as I was about to leave the house.
She smiled at me and asked me to close my eyes. She then put something around my neck right before I opened my eyes.
"Good boy." She said smiling.
*Huh?* I thought as my vision became blurry.
I began to stagger and my legs were too heavy. Before long I fell and lost consciousness.
"Agh..." I said opening my eyes while holding my head.
I saw my mom sitting on my bed while looking out the window.
"Mom," I called as she turned to me sharply.
"N-natsuo." She called smiling before hugging me tightly.
"Mom?"
"I thought you'd not wake up anymore." She said crying.
*Huh? Seriously, what's going on?* I thought.
It was then that I saw a necklace around her neck. I then remembered the old lady handing one over to me.
"Mom, how long have I been out?" I asked.
"A month." She said, drying her tears.
"Oh... a Mon... Eh?!!!!" I asked in sudden realization.
"How did I end up sleeping for a whole month?"
*No wonder she looks so tired and stressed out, she's been worrying about me all this while.* I thought before smiling.
"Oh, Natsuo, you've woken up." The old lady said, walking in with a bowl and a towel.
"Grandma, I told you that I'll do it, don't stress yourself." Mom said walking towards her.
"You look more stressed than I, why don't you go have some rest." The old lady said as my Mon hesitated before walking out.
"Here, come eat my boy, I bet you're so hungry." She said as I nodded.
I still hadn't met my mom for days, but the old lady told me that my mom had permitted me to learn magic.
She gave me a very big and heavy book and smiled at me.
"Learn every single thing, my boy, it'll help you." She said as I smiled at her.
"Thank you!! Grandma!!" I said bowing happily before running off.