Free Web NovelChapter 18: Chapter 18 — The Talk with Mother.
Kael stood in the silence, his fists finally relaxing as the tension left his frame. He turned to his mother, Amber, who was still adjusting her fiery red hair, her expression weary but composed.
"Where were you all day, Kael?" she asked, her voice soft and laced with the concern of a mother who had worried throughout the morning.
"And did you manage to get any lunch? I didn’t see you in the shed."
Kael looked at her, noting the slight redness in her eyes.
"I went to see Aunt Suna," he answered, keeping his tone calm.
"I ended up staying there for quite a while. She fed me, so don’t worry—I didn’t go hungry."
Amber nodded, a small, sweet smile touching her lips.
"I’m glad. Suna always did spoil you." She sat down on the wooden bench, gazing toward the window as the golden sunlight began to wane.
"It’s good you’re back. With the Magical Ceremony approaching, I was worried you might wander off too far. You know how important this year is for you, Kael."
Kael’s ears perked up. "The Magical Ceremony? You mean the one for the new initiates?"
"Yes," she replied, turning to face him fully.
"It’s the day when your potential is truly tested and acknowledged. It’s a turning point for every boy in Korua. Most families spend these weeks preparing their children with everything they have, hoping for a sign of high affinity. It is the reason why the village—and indeed our own household—has been so frantic lately."
Kael leaned against the table, his mind shifting from the day’s events to this new revelation. He knew that in this world, magic was not just a tool; it was the ultimate currency of power.
If he could harness that—combined with the secrets he was learning about the nature of the people here—he wouldn’t just be surviving; he would be dominating.
"I understand," Kael said, his voice dropping to a serious, low register. "I’ll be ready for it, Mother. I promise."
Amber reached out, smoothing his hair back before pressing a lingering kiss to his cheek. She seemed to be searching his face for the boy who had been injured, yet she found something else in his gaze instead: a strange, cold resolve.
She didn’t press him further. Instead, she pulled him into a tender hug, holding him close.
Kael could feel her heart hammering against his cheek and hear her ragged breathing—signs of the lingering anxiety she felt over the injuries he had sustained at the hands of the village bullies.
He had kept the true extent of his suffering hidden to spare her the pain, wanting to keep her mind at ease.
"I am alright, Mom," he said softly, his voice steady as he gently stepped back. "You don’t need to worry about me anymore. You should go wash up and get some rest."
"Yes, Kael, I think I will," she replied, a faint, relieved smile crossing her face. "But before that, you should go check out the supplies that the chief left for us."
"Of course, Mom," Kael replied smoothly.
Amber gave him a quick, affectionate peck on the cheek before turning to head toward the bathing area.
Kael remained in the hallroom, busying himself by laying out a clean mat on the floor for them to sit down on to eat their dinner. After some time passed, Amber returned from her bath.
Having dried herself off, she walked back into the main room completely naked and unbothered, showing no desire to reach for her clothes.
Much like his aunt had earlier, she seemed to have shed not just her exhaustion, but her inhibitions as well, completely relaxed by his presence and recent reassurances.
"I’m going to prepare dinner soon," she said, her voice humming with a new, easygoing tone. "We have plenty of supplies now, thanks to the... compensation."
She gestured toward the cloth bag the village chief had left behind. "Kael, did you check that bag? What did you find inside it?"
Kael knelt beside the bag and undid the drawstrings to review the inventory. Inside, he found a bounty of Virgo fruits—the quantity was staggering, easily three to four times what his aunt typically received for her gardening services.
Tucked at the very bottom, his fingers brushed against a heavy earthen jar. He brought it out and carefully pried the lid open, revealing a thick, yellow, gooey paste that smelled faintly of soothing medicinal herbs and earth.
After reviewing the supplies, Kael stood still for a moment, his thoughts shifting. He realized that while he had been occupied with his aunt, the real game was being played right here at home.
The upcoming ceremony wasn’t just a local tradition; it was his golden ticket to becoming something more than just another face in this town.
He sat at the mat, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the wood of the floor as he plotted how to turn the event to his advantage.
If power was the only thing these people truly respected, he would ensure that by the time the ceremony ended, he held more of it than anyone else.
He stood up and walked over to the kitchen area, where his mother had begun preparing their dinner. Slipping up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist in a warm, supportive hug.
"I believe I will be highly successful in the Magical Ceremony," he murmured against her back. "So don’t worry. I am going to support you all the way, Mom."
Amber’s face lit up, a radiant smile stretching from ear to ear. She turned around in his embrace, her eyes shining with deep affection.
"I love you, my baby boy." She leaned in, pressing a long, tender kiss to his forehead and cheeks.
"I love you too, Mom," Kael replied softly.
Amber let out a happy, melodic laugh, the tension of the day completely melting away. "Kael, those words have chased away all my aches. Haha!" She beamed at him, a newfound strength reflected in her posture.
Mommy will work extra hard for you, she promised herself silently, feeling more motivated than she had in years as she happily returned to preparing their meal.
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