Omnium's Fables

Omnium 21280:Farewell

They entered the village, but a crowd was surging toward the central square. "I wonder what's happening?" said Mathias, curious.

"Shall we go see?" proposed Michael, his eyes shining.

"Yes. And anyway, we're supposed to meet my friend right there in the square. I wonder if all this commotion is related to the farmers' absence from the fields," Mathias replied, urging the Camos on.

The crowd was dense, a sea of excited faces. Mathias stopped two hooded figures, a human man and a girl. "Excuse me? What's going on up ahead?" he asked.

The man, a cigarette in his mouth, noticed Michael cough and threw it to the ground. "Sorry, little one, I forgot that Meynesians are more sensitive to human smells," he said, concerned.

"Are you stupid, Dad? It would bother any child," the girl retorted, arrogantly.

"What are you talking about? You never complain," the man replied.

"Because you constantly reek of smoke and I always stay far away from you, you're a lost cause," she continued.

Michael and Mathias watched them, confused, until the man turned back to them. "You don't know what's happening? It seems there are two Evangelists in the village, and people can't wait to see them," he said, bored.

The Evangelists. Heroes of the Papacy, legendary generals in the Pope's service, revered for their deeds and generosity. Michael and Mathias exchanged a look, overwhelmed with excitement. They greeted the man and headed to the square, where two figures in shining white armor gleamed through the crowd. One, immense, with cerulean hair, was Giovanni. The other, younger and more reserved, was Paolo.

"Hey, isn't that Giovanni?!" Michael shouted, enthusiastic.

"It is! And Paolo is next to him too!" Mathias replied, equally thrilled.

"Shall we go closer, big brother?" Michael asked.

"I need to go get the vaccine. If you promise me you'll be careful and meet me back here in twenty minutes, you can go alone, but please, be careful, Michael," Mathias said.

"Thank you, big brother!! Thank you!!" exclaimed Michael, jumping down from the cart and diving into the crowd.

Mathias smiled. "Well, look at that. He’s truly carefree," he muttered, heading toward a wooden house. A frail, elderly Meynesian, leaning on a stick, greeted him with a nod. "Good morning, sir, how are you?" Mathias said.

"All well, boy! Even though all the doctors keep telling me I already have one foot in the grave, I always tell them that damned grave will have to fight hard to get the other one!" the elder replied, with surprising energy.

"Tell me, boy, how is your mother?" he continued, rummaging through his pockets.

"She's getting worse, it's never happened like this before. She's had crises of V before, but this time the symptoms are different," Mathias said, his voice cracking.

"Different? In what way?"

"She doesn't have visions. I know the symptoms of V vary from person to person, but the one thing all the symptoms have in common is the visions," Mathias explained.

The elder placed a vaccine on the table. "Here, this will surely help your mother recover, don't worry. You don't know this because you don't have V, but for a while now, I've also had crises without visions, and the same goes for many other inhabitants of Louis. Who knows! Maybe we're gradually developing some kind of immunity," he said, cheerfully.

"Ah, don't worry! I don't need food this time, I still have the supplies you brought me last month. You should go to the market and sell them; that way, you'll earn some more money, boy!" he added, looking out the window. "Are you sure? I really can't! And besides, you're giving me your stock of the vaccine," Mathias protested.

The elder smiled. "I told you! That damned grave will have to fight to get me! And besides, even if I lose, I am very old now. It's better that someone else takes the cure. It's wasted on me."

Mathias nodded, taking the vaccine. "Ah, but do me one favor, boy. Be careful on the way back. It seems many inhabitants and farmers have recently disappeared."

"The work of the Luw?" Mathias asked, thinking back to the stable.

"I don't know, but we are lucky. It seems the Evangelists are crossing these lands to reach the coast and pass through the Sea of Loreen. From what I've heard, they are currently camped in the Ventra forests and preparing for the clash against Maverick," the elder replied.

"If they have a base in the Ventra forests, why are only Paolo and Giovanni here in Louis now?" Mathias asked, curious.

"Ah, I couldn't tell you. Probably for supplies or maybe to check if the population is alright. That's why I say we're lucky. Whatever is causing the disappearances will surely be solved by them in no time, but until then, I still ask you to be careful while returning home," the elder said, his tone still optimistic.

Mathias nodded, a grateful smile on his face. He said goodbye to the elder and returned to the cart, glancing for a moment at the frail figure waving at him from the window, the square still alive with voices and movement.

That afternoon, reunited, the brothers began their journey home. Their mood was lighter, the vaccine safe in Mathias's pocket, a beacon of hope for their mother. The fields, however, remained deserted, the road empty like an interrupted dream. But the boys, lost in their talk of the Evangelists, didn't notice. Michael imitated Giovanni, waving his arms as if wielding an imaginary sword, while Mathias laughed, shaking his head.

As evening fell, their house appeared on the horizon, smoke rising from the chimney like a promise. They climbed down from the cart, their hearts pounding. Mariah was there, standing, busy setting the table, her face lit by a smile that seemed to defy the disease. For days she had been a shadow, confined to bed, and now here she was, alive, full of energy. Michael and Mathias looked at each other, eyes glistening, and ran to her, hugging her in an embrace that smelled of home.

That evening, after a long time, they had dinner together. The food was simple—bread, cheese, Camos milk—but every bite felt like a miracle. Yet, a shadow remained. Where was Aunt Sophie? Mathias, recalling the elder's words, asked his mother if she had stopped by. Mariah hesitated, then said Sophie had gone to Bramah with Uncle Arol a few days ago. But her smile trembled, and Michael felt a chill, as if the fog of Mandrina had crept into the room.

Mariah was hiding something. She felt it in her chest, an uneasiness that wasn't just the V. The symptoms were different, wrong. Why did she feel so strong, so alive? Why that sensation of cold gripping her heart? She lied to her sons, not out of cruelty, but to protect them. But the truth was a burden she couldn't ignore.

After dinner, tiredness overcame the boys. Michael fell asleep in his chair, and Mariah carried him to bed, tucking him in with a tenderness that hid her torment. Mathias, still awake, pulled out the vaccine. "Here, Mom, this time the gentleman even gave it to us for free. He's really a kind person," he said.

"Oh, really? You should have insisted and left him the food. You know, that man is a bit stubborn. It must be his age, but if he keeps this up, he'll die of hunger before the V kills him," Mariah replied, taking the container.

"Come on, now go to sleep, Mathias, you'll pass out from sleep like your brother soon," she added, smiling.

Mathias said goodbye, but as Mariah kissed his cheek, something hit him. His mother's Imprint, a chaotic tangle of lines, enveloped him like a storm. A voice, distant yet clear, echoed in his head: "I don't want to do it." The world grew heavy, his legs weak. Mariah's eyes, icy, stared at him motionless. "M-mo... mom... what's... happening to m..." he stammered, collapsing onto the floor.

Mariah looked at him in silence, then picked him up, as delicate as ever, and carried him to his room. She tucked him in, whispering words Mathias could not hear. Then, without a sound, she left the house, heading toward the Ventra forest. She did not look back. The fog swallowed her, as if she had never existed.