August sat motionlessly contemplating the pros and cons of having something revealed to him that was kept as a secret for a long time. But even after that every fiber in his being screamed to not hear those words now. Was it his unnatural instincts or his sense of running from responsibilities, August wasn't so sure himself.
All that he knew was the truth wasn't something he was ready to hear yet. He felt it to be a point of no return. The truth about his parents' past, the truth about this nameless town and the truth about the great barrier.
August suddenly grew cold feet and lost interest in all these curiosities. Honestly he wasn't even curious about these mysteries in the first place. For some reason he was happy being here. For some reason all the things he ever wanted was this life …this life of peace.
It was perfect for him. Living far away from the populated cities like Eldonia and the capital suited him well. The cities do not provide quality of life for all people equally. Well that's what he learnt in a book of course. It wasn't like he's been there himself.
His father approached him with a nervous look on his face and said in a tone August had never heard before in the proud voice of his father. But again, his father never got angry at him upto the point of argument also.
'I guess there's a first time for everything in this world'
His perception however shifted at his father's words, his throat dry and limbs trembling, "Son there's something i want to tell you"
Coming like a saviour, Shelly ran towards them with an unreadable expression on her face, panting heavily without catching a breath she said, "Awake …she's …teacher's awake"
Some mixed emotions rose within August as he tried to make something out of her words. Him and his father glanced at each other for a short moment then rushed to the bedroom where his mother was sleeping or recovering from the past three weeks.
The weeks after the trial class incident had been very difficult for August, not because everyone blamed him for what he had done. But this was exactly the main reason for him to be blaming himself, that no one did. Not even his father, who had every right to lash out at him and punish him for his irresponsible deed.
Not only his father, but the townsfolk had also the right to punish the boy who put their children's lives in danger. Surprisingly none of them did. Not even a bad word was spoken against him. Was it because his parents were of the highest status there?
No he suddenly recalled when people even called the gods petty, for their wrongdoings. Then what was it? Why was no one trying to demand justice against the noble brat of their nameless town?
He wasn't even held responsible for the destruction of the classroom.
No matter what others thought of him. After that incident however, August did saw himself as a criminal. A high grade one at that.
A person not being able to control his rage was considered as a criminal and a mage who couldn't control his emotion also fell into this category.
August ran towards his mother's room, his father not too far behind. Why wouldn't he be in a rush? His mother had woken up today from a sleep of three weeks after all.
However, for some reason, his steps grew slower by the time. He recalled whose fault it was for this condition of his mother. When his mother was sleeping or recovering from her condition there was a change in how August saw himself.
He began to hate himself more by the day. The shackles of regret were eating him alive from inside. Only if i have controlled myself that time, only if i haven't sneaked into the class, only if i haven't done this or that there would probably be something different today. August's mental state was slowly dying. Dying because of his own thoughts. Because of regret.
"The most dangerous emotion in the world is …regret" this was the line he had read in an infamous book. But he never really understood the meaning of that. He always wondered what the Author be thinking about when he wrote this line.
Until now, when August is fully capable of understanding the damn philosophy. After all only the wearer knew while the shoe pinches.
His father entered the room before him, not paying his hesitation any attention.
August followed behind looking at the floor. He wasn't even able to meet his mother's eye. He was her criminal according to himself after all.
As though sensing his hesitation the words came out like a bliss to him in a voice he longed to hear for a past few weeks.
"Won't you wish your mother good morning, Son?" She said in her regular calm and sweet voice. Even after the immense backlash she was able to gather enough strength.
August finally gathered the courage to face her. Before him his mother was sitting on her bed. The sheets covering her from the bottom and the rainy breeze coming out of the window caressing her beautiful dark hair.
Her face did look paler than usual but even then her beauty was unmatched. A playful smile appeared on her lips as she spread her arms slowly with teary eyes.
August couldn't hold back. Not anymore. He forgot all about being irresponsible, a criminal and whatever he treated himself as for the past few days. In that moment however, he was a child, a child who was being reunited with his mother after a long time.
Tears flowed from his eyes non-stop. He ran towards and hugged his mother tightly. Weeping like a baby in her embrace. She hugged him back feeling the tremble in his hands. August gripped her tightly as he could. His heart still beating at a faster rate. He was afraid that this warm feeling would vanish soon. He was afraid that it was just a dream. He was afraid that he might lose his mother again.
He was a child after all.
He was afraid of losing his mother.
His mother took him in her embrace making her continuously sobbing son relax a little.
"Good gods" She said in a playful manner, "you missed me that much?"
"You ..No you don't" he replied to his mother still sobbing in her embrace, words barely escaping his mouth, "You don't have a clue, Mom. Why? Why did you do all this?" He said in a pleading tone hurriedly still fearing his words wouldn't reach her.
Just like the past few weeks, August developed a strange fear. No, not quite a fear but a nightmare. In which he talked to his mother non-stop but she never replied. Feeling a sense of unease once again August was trying to ask as many questions he bottled up within him at that time.
Still fearing a no reply from his mother, "why mom? Why did you put your life in danger? For me? Please don't do this type of act again. Please mom I beg of you" Crying his eyes out as he lost his composure August melted in her embrace, "Please, I beg of you."
His mother on the other hand, did not reply but as an answer hugged him tight brushing her hand on his hair gently.
After a while she said, trying to sound as calm as she could, "It's okay baby. Everything is alright now."
While comforting her afraid son, her gaze fell upon a corner of the room where Valerius, her husband stood silently crying with a faint smile on his lips watching their reunion.
"How..?" He asked, meeting her gaze, his voice barely audible, "How are you feeling now?"
"Fine, I guess," She replied, trying to sound casual but her tears betrayed her. She spread one arm looking at him intently and then said with a playful expression, "Haven't you missed me darling?"
Wiping his tears with a chuckle, Valerius approached her, hugged and said, trying to sound casual too, "As if?" But the trembling in his limbs was enough to be felt.
Valerius's eyes flooded with tears as his breathing became hoarse, his heart beating rapidly.
If something was to be said about his situation it would be similar to that of August. He too was afraid of losing his other half. The surprise of her sudden awakening was too hard to not consider as a mere dream. A dream which was too good to be true.
But here it was. Maybe dreams do come true. Maybe not. Maybe it was just a coincidence. Maybe it was not. The truth was only known to gods.
No, they were also petty.
The gods who considered mortals as their enemies just because of their seemingly impossible achievements. The ones who were supposed to watch over mortals were also the ones jealous of them, their accomplishments. So, was it alright to make the gods know their vulnerable truths? If not, who was supposed to stand against the gods after all?
whatever, not like this philosophy mattered in the current situation. August took his mind off of this distracting thought and solely focused on reuniting with his mother.
Maybe this happened because all the things he ever thought about in those three weeks was when will his mother be awake?
And when she finally was, he felt relaxed enough to let his thoughts wander a bit.
Finally after a long time he felt truly at home. His home felt like home and not some dark building within just sorrow for him. Not only sorrow, …regret.
Regret was the one thing most loathsome in this world. The emotion which could never be forgotten. August suddenly recalled something from his previous read. That for people like king Rhaenos, defeat was a sin.
And from today August finally realised what emotion was truly a sin for him. It was a regret. The most evil of all. The most vile, most loathsome.
He hated it. He hated regret. But it wasn't for him to forget completely about this emotion and not feel regret in his whole life. He was damn sure regret would not surely leave him alone for the rest of his life. If Anything, it would definitely follow him always.
He couldn't do anything about that but he could do another thing. He could make up his mind to hate regret for the rest of his life.
August felt comfort in her parents' embrace. If it was for him he wouldn't let go of them for the remainder of his life completely.
But suddenly they heard, hurried footsteps from outside the room approaching them fast. They all stood watching the one making the steps.
Shelly looked exhausted, her energy today seemed specially off. She took a breath for a while and did not speak. When she did however, she said something no one in that moment had expected her to say. But considering it was, Shelly it was all but expected.
"Am I late?" she said catching her breath between the words, "For breakfast? Am I late?"
August and his parents let out a good laugh, they all had in a while. After a frightening experience. It was all good to let themselves loose.
"No," Sophia replied, still chuckling at her words, "you are right on time, young lady."
"Thank god" Shelly replied without thinking much. She felt relieved after hearing she would be able to eat breakfast on time and continued with her blabbering, "You know I didn't eat at my place so. It wasn't that I didn't like what my father was cooking today. Not at all. This wasn't the reason. I just wanted to taste something delicious, that's all"
She lingered for a while gazing boringly at August finally meeting gazes with Sophia. Shelly's eyes glistened with light as she realised just now. She jumped at her with open arms,
"Teacher, I never got the chance to welcome you properly."
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