Fragarach

To the Market

After the commotion Raven went straight home. His mother is anxiously waiting at the house after hearing the news about the m******e at the ruins. “I hope he’s okay.” Her heart beats faster after thinking what could have happened to her child. She had a dazed expression with every second that passes, she felt her body getting colder because of the fear that her son might have been in danger. “I hope he returns soon so I can feel relieved.” She told herself as she hold her hands tightly while walking back and forth.

*Creak!*

The door made a creaking sound as Raven opened the door. “I’m home.” He said after closing the door. His mother is immediately turned her head as he entered their house and walk hurriedly towards him.

“I heard the news, did you get caught up with the m******e at the ruins? Are you hurt?” his mother held his hand and inspection his body for injuries.

Raven already pictured that his mother would worry really hard for his safety but he felt really relieved seeing his mother care for him. “I’m fine Mom, you don’t have to worry that much I can protect myself. I am not that kid anymore.” He giggled as he told his mother that he can take care of himself.

His mother frowns right after hearing him insist on being able to protect himself. Her eyes brows immediately bent as she look at him with her fierce eyes. “I don’t know what really happened to you when you left three years ago, but a danger is still a danger. And you can’t make me not worry about you when I nearly lost you three years ago, I don’t want to experience that pain and loneliness again. Promise me not to get in danger and come home in one piece, you hear me?” she said with a sad expression while lecturing her son about his safety.

Raven notice his mother’s body is shaking in the thought of losing him again. He bow his head in sadness after seeing his mother close to tears.

[I’m an i***t! How did I even forget the feeling of longing to see my mother in my days at the lake?! It does not matter if I am much stronger than I was three years ago. The fact that a mother will always be a mother and a mother will always look out for her children and think about her children’s safety where ever they go will not change.] he bit his lip as he curse himself for his inability to realize what his mother would feel if he is to suddenly disappear from her arms once again.

He could not embrace his mother since his body is stained with blood and he does not want his mother to get dirty so he only nodded.

“Okay Mom, I promise to always be careful.” He swore and give his word. “That’s a good boy.” [What a relief, thank goodness my son is not like the other kids that are hard to get through.] she thought as she pat his head.

“I was so worried when a vendor from the market a few stall away from me suddenly ran and shouts the name of her husband and went straight to the city entrance, at first we didn’t take it seriously. But after a few minutes a man appeared and told us that something dreadful happened to the ruins, he said that some of the guild members and hunters are killed, and then you immediately popped into my mind. So I hurried back home hoping that you have returned early today but you didn’t and my fear of losing you again ate away my sanity.” She described the situation that she earlier had as she keeps shaking.

“I was there but the situation is already under control when I finished my hunt.” He said as he clean the cattle of their insides and toss the parts that they are not going to sell in a bucket. His mother look at him with the eyes eager to listen.

“The place instantly became dreadful, it was a scene of blood. I heard that a man arrived and save the people in the ruins, it was a lucky chance.” He said as he placed the clean meat in the container with ice to preserve the meat a little longer before they sell it.

“And where were you when it all happened?” his mother questioned.

[Mom doesn’t give up easily huh? Well, I can’t tell her that “I was actually the one that saved everyone from the crisis.” She wouldn’t believe me would she?] “I got lucky, I was a little far away from the scene when I did my hunt. So I didn’t get caught deeply into the crisis.” He explained in a slurred tone.

His gets a little anxious since mothers have the tendency to know if their children are lying to them like a sixth sense. His heart beats rapidly as he tries to lead his mother into thinking that he did not get caught in the crisis.

[Sorry Mom, I can’t get you involved in this. I don’t want you to get hurt.] he thought as he apologize to her in silent.

“Is that so? That’s good to hear then.”

He felt a little relieved that his mother did not pursue the crisis in the ruins topic and suddenly he heard something that his mother put on the table.

“Anyway, Raven, I found this bottle from your room and there are a lot of these that are quite scattered around. These bottle looks like it’s used to store elixir. Where did you get this?” his mother asked another question as she put the bottle in the table examining it closely with her eyes.

*Gulp!*

He swallowed his spit immediately after hearing what his mother ask. He remembered what the guards told him about the actual value of a bottle of elixir straightaway. His memory played back in his head and realized now why the father and son from the ruins are so stunned after he hand them a bottle of elixir each. [Maybe they got so surprised that they forgot to tell me right away. Well, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I helped people. Aranx would be so proud to see that I help the mortals in my small ways. Not that he like elixirs thought, that guy really hates artificial things.] he thought as he scratch his nose and smiled. [But what do I tell Mom? I ca not just tell her that I got it from someone right?] he thought as he took a glance at his mother who waits for his reply.

“Oh, that. I am trying to make bottles and sell them out.” He said in a broken up voice. [What was that lame excuse?! Can you think of something better?! Me?!] he thought as he c***k a smile to his mother.

It took a decent amount of time before she made a gesture “Oh, okay” and convince her.

“Oh okay, but be careful not to step onto those things, you might get cut from the glass.” She said as she went upstairs and returned the bottle in his room.

He sigh in relief that his mother actually bought that. [Didn’t know that it would work. Good job! Me!]

He finally finished cleaning and cutting all the meat that his mother would sell in the market.

*Pssssk!*

“And that’s the last one.” He exhaled after a handful of work cleaning and cutting all the meat.

“Wow! You are getting good at this. The cut is so clean and look at this.” She said as she pointed at the piece of meat that is marvelously cut and taken from the animal’s ribs.

“I have never seen anyone cut meat that gorgeously.” she smiles as she praised her son. “What can I say? I took it from my mother.” He said as he smiles back. “You know how to sugarcoat words now can you?” “I’m just telling the truth here.” he said like someone who had been wrongfully accused.

Raven told his mother to wait for him and let him carry the container full of nicely cut meat to the market.

“It will take just wait for me Mom.” He said as he sprinted to his room to grab his towel and exchange of clothes.

*TUG!* *TUG!* *TUG!*

*Step! Step! Step! Step!*

A few moments later he is already walking down the stairs with everything he needs to the bathroom. His mother saw his old clothes that barely fits to his sturdy body anymore.

[It’s a good thing that he will company me to the market so we could buy some new clothes for him.] she thought as she took a pen and wrote that down in her notebook. “New clothes” she whispered.

*Wssshhhh!*

After taking a bath, Raven washed his blood-stained clothes and hang them up to dry. He carried the container and accompanied his mother to the market.

“Carrots, Cabbage, tomatoes, eggplant, garlic, onion, chives everyone! Fresh newly harvested!”

“We have fresh fish, fresh fish everyone!”

“Candied apple here!” “May I have one please?” “Certainly young lady.”

The market is so lively with all the vendors trying to sell their stuffs to the massive crowd of people looking around for the things that they need.

“I haven’t been here for so long. It looks different than it used to be.” He was amazed at how the market change so much in just three years of his absence.

“A lot happened around here when you are gone and nothing stays the same so you should not be surprised.” His mother explained.

Raven’s eyes saw many kinds of products that they sell on the market. [Wow! fruits, vegetables, candies, bread, milk, cheese, spices, meat, fish and there is even a weapon shop. The market looks like it has everything!] he said to himself as he take a glance at every shop they pass by.

When they arrived at his mother’s stall when a vendor approach his mother. “Karen, the gentleman who bought all the meat that you are selling last time came back. He asked me what time will you come here and open your stall. So I told him that she might get delayed since there was a crisis at the ruins earlier this morning. Then he told me that he will wait for you to open shop later.” She said as she look at Raven who is carrying the container. “Who is this young man?” she asked.

“Oh, he is my son that I talk to you about.” His mother replied. “Oh, I see.”

Her eyes scanned Raven as he look around where he will put the container. “Excuse me mom. Where do I put this container?” he ask. “You can put it there in the table, dear.”

Raven did as what his mother says so. “Mom. Can I look around the market more? I will be looking for something that I might need in the academy.” He asked in an excited tone.

“Oh sure dear, come back when you are done because we are going somewhere after I sell all this meat.” She reminded.

Raven kissed his mother in the cheeks and left in a hurry. The vendor with them saw the good nature of Karen’s son. “Lucky you, your son helps you with your store. Meanwhile my daughter only stays at home and wander around the city with her friends.” She said in a sad tone.

“I am grateful to have him. He caught all these meat himself and help me bring this heavy container here, he is helping me a whole lot.” She said as she opened the lid of the container.

*FWOOOP!*

The container made a pressurized sound when Karen took the lid off. The other vendor’s eyes was surprised when she saw the ice around inside the container keeping the meat fresh.

“Wow! I didn’t know you can manipulate mana, Karen.” She spoke in awe. “Oh, that. I didn’t do it. My son did.” She said as she placed for display. “You are kidding me right? Does it melt?” she said as she touch and inspect the ice in her hands. “I’m serious, my son did that.” She reassured her friend.

[It doesn’t melt! My body temperature should have melted the ice right now but it is not melting!] she thought as she did everything to gather heat in his hands and melt the ice from the container.

“That’s amazing, how long did these ice stayed here in the container?” she asked. “Since yesterday.” Karen immediately answered.

[Amazing, keeping the ice from melting even if you are not around is not a simple feat. Wait, he did say that he will buy something that he might need in the academy right?] she was lost in her thoughts as she look at the tiny shred of ice in her hands.

“Is he going to attend in the academy?” “Yes, he went there to get listed the other day. Hey, your daughter attends the academy too right?” she ask in surprise that she almost forgot about her friend’s daughter attending the academy.

“Yes she is, but her studies are not going quite well. Her friends seems to have a bad influence on her.” She said in a sad tone. “Maybe your son can teach her.” She said in a joyful tone as she thought of something that would help her daughter get through her studies in the academy.

*Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak!*

While they are talking about their future plans, a carriage suddenly stop in front of Karen’s stall.

*NEEEIIGH!*

The door opened and a young man with cover in his eyes stepped out.