Erik guided his mother to the nearby seating area and they both sat down together. The soft cushions did little to ease the tension in his muscles but being close to his mother brought him a sense of comfort he hadn't felt in days.
His mother, Elara, looked at him with a mix of pride and but also concern in her heart as a mother. Her eyes lingered on the armor Erik wore that still marked with the traces of recent battles.
"It must be so hard for you," she said softly with trembling voice. Elara felt the sting of tears welling up in her eyes but she fought to not let them pour down. She didn't want to add to his burden knowing how much he had already been through.
Erik began to remove his armor, the metal pieces clinking softly as he set them aside. That piece of protection is not important right now.
He gave her a reassuring smile, trying to ease her worries. "Oh... no, this is nothing," he said.
