They were greeted by a young girl just as they got into the vicinity of a small, old, and a deteriorating shack. Its surroundings were overgrown with weeds and the walls are painted green with vines and shrubs.
"Grandpa, welcome home", she exclaimed with a bright smile as she sprinted towards his grandfather's arms.
"I'm back, my dearest", the man gently hugged her even more. It was a heartwarming scene but Nicolas can't help but notice that he's holding back a cough. "Look what I have"
"Fish? I love fish", the little girl beamed even more, her eyes now sparkling with joy and amazement.
"This young man here gave it to me", the man presented him.
Nicolas watched the girl. Her eyes were weary as she slowly examined him from the strands of his hair to the tip of his toe as if she's cautiously investigating and reading him like a book, trying to find fault to this young man. She paused and met him in the eyes before finally projecting a smile. "Thank you, mister", her smile was so genuine he almost saw a silhouette of Alisa in her.
"Right, she was about this age when I last saw her", he thought before walking towards the little girl and gave her a gentle pat on the head, returning a smile, "You're welcome."
"Well then, we should get going now Nick. You might have something else to do, and I'm fine now. Thank you for your assistance", the man patted him on the back.
He might fool the little girl but not Nicolas, he knows the feeling of saying fine when in reality, it's much worse. "No worries", He felt a bit of pity for the girl for he knows that she might wake up one of these days and find his grandpa unconscious, cold, and not breathing. But still, he waved them goodbye, wishing that nothing bad would ever befall them. Deep down in his heart he hoped for it to come true.
The bright sunny day slowly succumbed to the thick dark gray cluster of clouds. They blocked every single ray the sun could direct at Yggdryas as the wind started its song. While everyone is rushing around the streets trying to find a place to let the thunderstorm pass, Nicolas can only smile from ear to ear while taking his sweet time.
"Nice", he sighed, taking a deep breath, crossing the road with his full attention to the sad sky. He loves the rain more than any sunny day that he would even pay to see this kind of gray than any blue sky. The smell of the soil after it was showered by the first drops of rain gives him a sense of peace and joy.
Planning to take refuge in one of the nearby stores, he stumbled upon a lady, her cart was stuck on some rock and its heavy cargo only made her struggle agonizing. It was the same lady he helped the other day. She's a bit pale and thin, her head draped hints of white hair that's starting to appear, the wrinkles on her skin are also doubling folds every time he sees her. With not much to do, he decided to help.
"Oh, it's you again", the woman cried in relief as Nicolas approached her. He just returned a smile, already knowing what the lady meant.
"You can go ahead ma'am. I'll push it after you."
"Such a thoughtful boy", she tapped him by the shoulder before going on ahead.
"No worries", he does this with his own accord but although he hates to admit it, a part of him is hoping for vegetables in return. "Living with no sure source of food is hard", They sat under one of the shades of a shop that's been selling some clothes. The owner was kind enough to let them pass the rain there.
"A trait that's not common on this day and age", Nicolas can only thank the owner with a smile. He had experienced asking for shelter from strangers before and he sure knows how cruel this world and its people can be. Some of them was considerate enough to apologize saying "I'm sorry but I can't help you" with a sad look in their eyes, but most had just brushed and chased him away like a stray unwanted dog without giving much of a care.
"You remind me of my son", the woman blurted.
"Your son?"
"Yes, if I remember it correctly, by now, he would be your age", she sighed while arranging her goods, "How old are you now young man?"
Again, the impulse to push everyone away started to kick in like a sixth sense, but Nicolas felt that she could trust the lady. Besides, she's just asking for his age, nothing more. "I'm 17, next Saturday"
"Hmmm… Just as I thought, but he's a year older than you", the woman chuckled before getting back on sorting her vegetables. After making sure that they're secured, she sat down in a corner to rest.
Nicolas joined her, wanting to relax in this beautiful afternoon, "Where is he now?"
"Who?"
"Your son", Nicolas waited but there was no reply. Only the rain can be heard and the occasional distant thunder dared to cause a ruckus as flashes of lighting illuminates the dark town for brief seconds. With its help, Nicolas noticed that the lady is wiping her eyes, her arms slightly shaking as she tried to collect herself, bracing her chest as if she's having trouble breathing.
"Are you okay?", he let his curiosity get the best of him. He's a bit worried that the lady might indeed be having some kind of trouble, what would happen to his free vegetables if that happened. Again, there was no reply but the lady slowly met him straight in his eyes. He saw his reflection through them as tears started to cloud the bottom of her eyes.
"He… he's… dead", the tears finally took a toll and it finally flowed down her cheeks. Nicolas felt the cold breeze as he watched the old lady weep.
With no words to describe what he is feeling, he later found himself holding the old lady in a tight embrace. He knows that he should not be feeling this much of concern but somewhere in his heart he felt that this lady had been through a lot. He offered his shoulder as the lady let out everything.
"What happened to him", he wanted to ask but changed his mind thinking that it might break the poor lady's heart into tinier pieces. It would be too insensitive of him to ask, so he went silent and let her release everything she's been suppressing until now, hearing out her regrets, hearing out her woes.
When the rain finally came to a rest, the old lady again generously gave him some vegetables, specifically potatoes. "I'm sorry my boy, this is all I could give", she still sobs but feels light enough to finally smile.
"No madam, I can't accept this. You need it more than I do."
"No, I insist. Just consider it as my gratitude for everything", she pushed Nicolas's hand assuring him that it's fine. "Think about it as an advanced birthday present from me", His heart felt warm all of a sudden, and the kind smile the lady was projecting melted it like butter. He had no choice but to accept with no more protest.