The friends spent a few more minutes to reassure Yerive before footsteps sounded from the gravel path once again. All of them realized who must have come.
The five friends stood up, their eyes reddened. They didn't know for how long this goodbye would last. Reluctantly they exchanged hugs, swearing to gather again in the future. With heavy hearts they separated, as Yerive, Parton, Ganaph, and Nocia gradually left Tepo's sight.
The young man felt strange seeing his friends leave. He had the urge to run after them, convincing them to somehow form their own team.
Tepo chuckled. What a childish thought. Realitly isn't this easy… But I'm sure our paths will cross again!
Reahva was also in a forlorn mood. She had met Tepo's friends on the narrow path. With one look at their faces, she already realized that her assumption had come true. Passing one last tree the young-looking woman gazed at her son with reddened eyes.
"So, you are leaving?"
Tepo's body trembled. He noticed the mixed emotions in his mother's voice. He quickly stepped forward, embracing his mother tightly.
"Yes mom. I'm sorry, but I need to go. I have to become a warrior.", admitted Tepo with a dry voice.
A long-drawn sigh answered him. Reahva was still torn. But her son had made his decision, so as a mother she had to support him.
"So, who did you join? Are you sure they will treat you well? Do they know you awakened a core?"
The barrage of questions almost overwhelmed Tepo. He quickly responded, trying to placate his caring mother:
"I joined a really strong organization. The man who recruited me didn't even fear the mayor! With his strength, if he wanted to harm me, I couldn't even resist. So, I'm certain they won't treat me badly even though they think I have no core."
Reahva listened, but she felt slightly suspicious. She loosened the hug, staring into her son's eyes:
"Such a good thing happened? What is the organization called?"
Tepo flinched. He smiled guiltily.
"I… don't know."
Those three words opened the floodgates. Reahva was in disbelief. She sternly began to reprimand her son. How could he join such an unknown organization?
It took Tepo multiple minutes to calm his mother down. He even had to bring her to his room, showing of the artificial core 'Quill had gifted him'. Only then did his mother reluctantly accept that this organization wasn't acting in bad faith.
But Tepo had to admit that he secretly enjoyed his mother's concern. For the former orphan this was a great feeling.
Prepared to accompany his mother for the rest of the day, Tepo soon lead her to the pavilion again. After some innocent conversations, there was one more thing the young man had to bring up.
"Mom, there is something else I was worried about."
Reahva already had a guess. Preparing herself, the gently lady encouraged her son.
"It's ok. You can talk about everything with me."
"Ok then I will be honest. Don't you think it feels like the mayor has been targeting me? Everything that happened around the ceremony was odd."
Reahva sighed faintly, her eyes looking into the distance.
"Originally, I wanted to keep you away from my problems. I wanted to let you grow up safe and peaceful. But who would have thought the mayor would set his eyes on you?"
Tepo's body trembled.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I'm sorry that I dragged you into this…"
"What are you saying?", interrupted Tepo. "We are a family! If anything, it is the mayor targeting us!"
"Well, we are not completely innocent in this story. You see, when your dad and I arrived in this world, he wanted me to have a core as well. So Kannv, your father, cleared a dungeon. Unfortunately, it belonged to the provincial lord."
Tepo's face turned strange. Could this be called like father like son? His father cleared the provincial lord's dungeon, and he cleared the mayor's?
"After your father came out, the lord arrived coincidentally with a big entourage. He saw your father and wanted to apprehend him. So… your father beat him up."
Stuck between laughing and crying, Tepo felt some admiration for his father. A provincial lord was no small fry. He was definitely stronger than the mayor.
"Afterwards your father escaped. At that time, I wasn't in a great condition. We hurriedly found a healer and settled down here. Soon you were born. Unfortunately, shortly after you father went on a dungeon exploration and … died."
Tepo didn't know what to feel about this man he never got to know. But seeing the pain in his mother's eyes, he quickly grabbed the gentle woman's hand.
"Over the years I forgot about the provincial lord. This was until five years ago. I guess the lord somehow found out where I was, and the mayor began to make life difficult for us."
Gritting his teeth, Tepo cursed himself. Five years?! How blind was he not to notice this? His heart beat wildly as Taren's face flashed past his eyes. If the hypocritical man would be standing before him right now, it was hart to say if Tepo would be able to hold himself back.
Reahva noticed her son's reaction. She felt touched. All her efforts over the years were worth it as Tepo could grow up into a fine young man.
Feeling her son's grip strengthen, Reahva lightly patted his hand.
"Don't worry. It's not that bad. Your mother is no pushover."
"Still, what a coward! How could Taren pose as a hero all the time, but then he harasses a single mother and her son! One day, I will let him know the consequences."
"It's ok, Tepo. You don't need to get involved in this. As a warrior it isn't clever to make enemies. Just follow your own path!"
"How can you say that mom? Am I not already involved? Taren would surely target me again as soon as I return."
Reahva didn't know what to say. She knew what her son said was true. But she felt bad that her son had to suffer from his parents' actions.
"Now I don't know.", sighed Tepo. "Should I really leave? Are you fine alone?"
Rolling her eyes, Reahva grinned at Tepo:
"Tz. Look at you. My son, you are still wet behind the ears. Your mother hasn't lived any worse over the last five years, right?
Furthermore, I'm not without friends! You better concentrate on your training and don't worry about me!"
Hearing the smugness in his mother's voice, Tepo realized that he had underestimated the gentle woman. Maybe she was only doing her best not to escalate the conflict, but she was apparently not as helpless as she seemed.
With his worry placated, Tepo felt his heart lighten considerably. In a great mood he continued entertaining his mother the rest of the day. Only after the sun had already set did the two adults say goodbye to each other.
Tears welling in their eyes, Tepo hugged his mother. The gentle woman grabbed a box she had brought with her, handing it to Tepo, telling him to open it later.
Greatly reluctant Reahva finally parted with her son. Now she could only wish him good luck, realizing that her son had grown up.
Finally, back in his room, Tepo opened his mother's box. It contained multiple of his favorite red scarves. Only at this point did the investigator finally let go of his emotions, tears running down his cheeks for multiple minutes. Torn between family and obligations Tepo sank into a restless sleep.
The next day Tepmodus woke up early in the morning. After getting out of bed reluctantly, he stared into a mirror. The youthful face gradually overlapped with the seasoned face of his former life. He felt as if he had returned to the times of being a lone man.
Going on missions, finding clues, and fighting for humanity.
Would my past repeat in this new life? If I'm honest with myself, it isn't that I didn't like my job as investigator. Only the feeling of not being able to change anything dragged me down.
But this time I have new hope. Strong warriors have the power to change the world. If the 'outsiders' are really out there, I will thoroughly eliminate them this time.
And it's not like I'm separated from my family and friends forever. If I grow stronger, nothing stops me from meeting them again.
Managing to motivate himself, Tepo's mood soon turned hopeful. His future appeared bright and colorful. Even joining Quill might be a great opportunity. Now it was on him to grab it tightly!