When Vallen heard and saw his mother, he completely changed, he was not at all like he was on ordinary days, as if he had been fully restored.
How long are you going to stand there, my little boy?"
"I was just admiring your wonderful flower garden." He smiled.
"Those are all weeds." Her eyes showed every sign of worry.
As Vallen stepped inside, a wave of childhood memories flooded over him. Everything was just as it had been in his youth. The handcrafted pottery hanging on the wall, and the scent that always reminded him of the past.
They sat in silence on the couch, a quiet that only hinted at concern.
"I was granted the general rank, mother– " He looked up, but the tears streaming down his mother's face prevented her from uttering a single word, despite a small smile.
"You know, when you left years ago, I saw in you the child I had raised, the one who looked at me with wonder in his eyes every day and who played outside with his younger brother. I didn't understand why such a child had to go away to a war fought by adults, a child who hadn't even experienced true love yet. But I let you leave, which was the greatest mistake I made in my life, letting you and Rafael go.
As she spoke, she looked up at him, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"When the officer appeared with his sword and folded flag, all I could think about was what might be happening to you. the one whose best friend in life was his brother. I waited and waited for you to come back, knowing well that you would not be the same cheerful boy I let go. But I didn't even recognize you when you showed up. I saw a broken soul who had experienced horrors, a stranger to me.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
"You promised at your brother's grave that you wouldn't leave again.You promised him that you wouldn't leave me alone anymore, and yet here you are. You are all I have left in this world, and I don't want to see you in a casket. You're leaving, aren't you?" She began to cry even harder.
"Yes I will leave."
"I wish things could be different," she whispered into his shoulder, her voice muffled. "I wish you could stay with me, like when you were young."
He closed his eyes, wishing he could erase the distance created by war, by duty, by the weight of expectation. "I wish that too."
"Promise me." She said, her voice steadying but still filled with emotion. "Promise me that you'll come home, no matter what."
"I promise." He replied, his voice firm.
She nodded, accepting his words, but he could see the flicker of doubt in her eyes. "You have to take care of yourself out there. You're still my little boy, even if you're a general."
Vallen chuckled softly.
"Do you remember the summer we spent at the lake?" She asked suddenly, her tone shifting to a more nostalgic one. "You and your brother used to race to see who could catch the most fish."
A smile crossed his lips. "I remember. I lost every time."
Her laughter rang out, a sound that warmed his heart, pushing away the shadows that had settled in the corners of the room.
"You'd be out there, splashing around, thinking you could scare the fish into the net."
He laughed, recalling those simpler days when joy was found in the smallest things.
"I can't believe you remember that. It feels like a lifetime ago."
"It was." She said, her smile fading slightly as she looked back at him with concern. "But those memories are what keep me going. I wish I could hold onto them forever. I wish I could hold onto you forever."
Vallen reached out and wiped a tear from her cheek, feeling a swell of emotion within him. "I'm still here, mom. You can always hold onto me, even when I'm far away."
"When you're out there, remember who you are. Remember where you came from. Don't lose yourself in the darkness of war." She said, her voice trembling slightly
"I won't forget." He assured her, though doubt lingered in the back of his mind. "I promise to carry you with me. Every step of the way."
They sat together, wrapped in the warmth of their memories, the love that had shaped him into the man he had become. As it started to rain, he knew that no matter where the battlefield took him, he would carry this moment in his heart, a reminder of home, of love, and of the promise he made to return.
With a final squeeze of her hand, Vallen stood "I should go" he said, the weight of those words hanging heavily in the air.
"Take care of yourself, Vallen." She whispered, her voice trembling again. "And know that I will always be here, waiting for you."
"I love you." He said, as he turned to leave, each step feeling heavier than the last.
As he arrived back at the academy his steps felt heavier, his usually careless demeanor lost to the wave of emotions swirling within him. He felt overwhelmed, a sensation so foreign it made his stomach churn.
He had barely approached the office when Liora burst through the door like a raging bull, charging straight at Vallen with a furious and anxious expression. Vallen already knew what was coming, so he immediately reached for a cigarette. As Liora got closer, her right hand went up in the air, and like a hunting eagle, she struck the General across the face. The sound of the slap echoed loudly, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.
Liora, her eyes filled with tears and frustration, stared at Vallen as he held his stinging cheek.
"And what was that for?" He asked, trying to keep his tone light.
"You were gone for three hours. Three! And all this while, the Count's estate is not far from here!" She shouted, her fists clenched, ready to strike again.
"Instead of a battle, we had a long talk over tea and cigars." He said with a soft smile.
"Don't tell me that they bought you with a cigar!" Liora raised her hand again in anger.
"Bernadt, the Count's eldest son, knelt before me."
Liora let out a heavy sigh, wiping away her tears before throwing her arms around Vallen and hugging him tightly.
"I thought I'd have to go and drag you back from heaven." She muttered, her tears soaking into his uniform as she clung to him. Vallen smiled thinking that he probably would go to hell.
After Liora finished her tearful embrace, they made their way to the office, where Vallen was surprised to find Amara fast asleep in his chair.
Before he could say anything, Liora put a hand over his mouth, gesturing for silence as if the emperor himself were sleeping there. Grabbing his hands, she pulled him toward their room.
"You want to get romantic?" Vallen asked, his face showing a mix of boredom and tiredness.
"You had a lovable face just moments ago, but now you look like a zombie again." Liora remarked as she sat down on her bed.
"You didn't answer." He said, standing by the window.
"No, I don't want to get romantic." She replied.
Vallen turned, his eyes narrowing slightly, as the setting sun's rays shone directly into his eyes.
Shaking her head with a small laugh, Liora kicked off her boots and laid down on her bed.
"Are you sure you don't want to?" He asked, rubbing his eyes.
"No, I don't, but it's much more comfortable to talk this way." She said, turning on her side, resting her head on the soft pillows. "You should lie down in Amara's bed."
After a moment of thought, Vallen lay down, though he didn't feel entirely at ease. The floral and pleasant scent of Amara's hit his nose, making him want to get up, but his back suddenly seized up in pain, forcing him to stay.
"So," Liora began, "Amara was a bit nervous and upset when she found out you went to see Count Heimfell, but it didn't last long because General Dracon showed up and raged her away to teach her swordsmanship. She spent nearly the entire day with him, and when she came back, she was even more frustrated that you hadn't returned yet,just like me. So, we decided to wait for you. Since she was exhausted, I told her your chair was more comfortable, so she sat there and fell asleep within minutes," Liora finished, glancing at Vallen, who was quietly listening. She didn't dwell on it much and started talking about her day.
She detailed every little thing, describing what she had done, who she'd talked to, and what the lessons were like.
When she finally finished, Liora realized Vallen had fallen asleep with his eyes open.
As Liora watched Vallen, a smile slowly crept across her face. Approaching cautiously, she reached out and gently touched his face, her fingers tracing the lines of his jaw. In that moment, she felt a wave of emotion wash over her.
She couldn't help but think about all the battles he faced daily, the weight of lost friends, the scars of war that lingered beneath his calm, and lazy behavior.
"Why do you carry so much on your shoulders?" She whispered.
Her fingers lingered a moment longer, feeling the warmth of his skin. She wanted to say more, to tell him he didn't have to bear it all alone.
Just as she was lost in her thoughts, Amara entered the room, still half asleep and rubbing her eyes. She froze at the sight before her, Vallen sleeping in her bed.
"Vallen?" Relief flooded her as she realized he had returned from the duel, safe and well.
Liora started to wake him up, but Amara stepped in front of her "Let him sleep," she said. Without waiting for a response, she climbed onto the bed and laid beside him, her head resting on his shoulder.
Watching Amara's unexpected actions Liora was very surprised and also a little jealous. She wanted to be close to Vallen too. Without thinking, she layed on the bed right on top of Vallen, her body pressing against his, feeling his body warmth.
As the realization of what she had done hit her, embarrassment washed over her face. Her cheeks flushed, and she started to panic. But before she could react, Vallen, still in a deep sleep, wrapped an arm around her, pulling her tightly against him.
Liora's heart raced even more, both from the warmth of Vallen's touch and the thrill of the situation. She glanced at Amara, who was peacefully sleeping beside them.
As she laid there, her thoughts drifted to the realities they faced. The thought of Vallen's haunted eyes after a battle, the way he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"I wish you didn't have to leave." She whispered.
Liora noticed the unfamiliar sword hanging at Vallen's side and immediately recognized the name on the hilt. This confirmed to her that Vallen had said farewell to his mother.
As dawn's soft light poured into the room, Vallen woke up. The warmth on his chest pulled him from the depths of sleep, and he was met with a surprising sight, Liora was laid on him peacefully sleeping.
He couldn't help but let his gaze drift a little, lingering on Liora's face, and then there it was. The slight opening of her uniform revealed more than it should have, and Vallen's eyes locked as he processed this unexpected view.
Before he could fully register the situation, Liora's eyes opened. The moment she caught him staring, her expression shifted to a shock. In a flash, she propped herself up and without a moment's hesitation, slapped him.
"Pervert!" She shouted.
Vallen rubbed his cheek, stunned more by the suddenness of the slap than the actual pain.
"I was just admiring the view—"
"You were staring!"
Just then, Amara woke up beside them, her sleepy expression quickly turning into confusion.
"What's happening?" She mumbled, only half awake.
"Vallen is a pervert!" She continued slapping him, who was already more than awake and felt more pain than in any battle.
But one thing was sure, this had been his best sleep in years.