TBATE: Black Will

Saria Triskan:

Almost two months had passed since my beloved husband and our son set off on a small journey. Our son, our little genius, awakened at the age of five. For elves, whose usual awakening does not occur before the age of ten, this was akin to finding a rare diamond among ordinary stones. Even my eldest daughter awakened only at nine, which was already a source of pride for us. But at five years old?! And while I was proud of my children, a growing worry nested within me. So, I hid this fact from the royal family, even though I was closely tied to the former king, Virion Eralith.

Every mother wishes for her child a simple, happy life, free from the burden of expectations and responsibilities. But awakening at such a young age meant that his life would not be ordinary. It was as if fate had decided to bestow my boy with a weight that he would have to bear. Great accomplishments would be expected of him, and unfortunately, the greatest pressure came from his father.

My husband, proud of our son, began to train him intensively from the very day he awakened. He saw in him a future greatness and was convinced that the boy could reach the heights he himself once aspired to achieve. But I worried. Would my son be able to handle this burden? Could he withstand the weight of the expectations placed upon him?

I couldn't remain indifferent to how my son was being drawn deeper into his father's dream with each passing day. His eyes sparkled, and his enthusiasm for training grew with every success. My husband, an A-rank adventurer, was proud of our son and often praised his achievements. I, despite my joy at their close bond, couldn't shake the feeling of unease.

Every time my son returned to me with a shining smile, sharing what he had learned, I would smile bitterly, realizing that his path was already chosen. But everything changed in an instant when he turned seven. With joy in his eyes, his ears twitching, and his voice ringing with uncontained excitement, he said:

— Mom, I want to go on a mission with Dad!

These words shocked me. My heart clenched with fear and anger. A seven-year-old child on a mission? How could his father even allow him to think about that?

My anger flared instantly. I sharply reprimanded my son, explaining to him how dangerous it was. Unable to contain my irritation, I went to confront my husband. This was already too much! How could he take such a small child on a mission, even if it was a low-rank one? What kind of madman must one be to put him at such risk?

I collected myself and resolutely entered the room where my husband sat, engrossed in some construction. His light brown hair framed his emerald eyes and straight features, the ones I had once fallen in love with, now covered in a light stubble. He was still as handsome as ever, but his demeanor had changed since our son's awakening.

— How do you explain this, Mikhail?! — I said in an irritated voice, lowering my brows. He looked up at me with confusion, as if trying to guess what had provoked my outrage. — Why do you want to take him on a mission?! Do you even think about what you're doing?

— Calm down, woman, — he said, raising a hand before standing up and calmly moving to the sofa. He gestured for me to sit beside him. Realizing that if I continued in this tone, our conversation would go nowhere, I took a deep breath and quietly sat next to him.

— Listen to me before you start attacking me, — he began softly, looking at me with serious eyes. — I know you're worried. I understand that missions are definitely not something for a child. But this is just an E-rank mission, where he needs to explore the surroundings a little beyond the Elshire Forest. There's nothing dangerous about it. And don't you see how talented and curious our son is? He's not an ordinary boy. You know this yourself. Damn it, he's already at the light-red stage of his core. This is an unprecedented phenomenon! And the sooner he learns to control his power, the safer it will be for him and for us.

— But he's just a child, Mikhail, — I replied quietly, looking away. — You can't place such responsibility on him. Let him be an ordinary child a little longer. I just want him to be happy, not caught up in the dangers of this world.

Mikhail nodded, understanding my feelings, and spoke again:

— I agree that he is still young, and maybe I'm rushing things. But this world is full of dangers, and sooner or later he will have to face them. I want him to be prepared when that happens, not helpless. He will be under my protection. I will be by his side and protect him at the cost of my life. — He paused, looking at me. — You think it over for an hour or two.

I froze for a moment, realizing that as much as I wanted to shield my son from the world we lived in, Mikhail was somewhat right. But a mother's heart still couldn't simply accept this. More than an hour passed in contemplation before I spoke again. All this time, Mikhail had been in the room, continuing his construction, waiting for my confirmation. Gathering my will, I resolutely called him back and gave him a piercing look.

— If I agree, — I started, looking at him with concern, — will you promise to protect him at all costs? You won't let him get into danger?

Mikhail gently placed his hand on mine and said seriously:

— Don't worry, this is the lowest-rank mission. But I swear I won't let a single hair fall from our son's head.

Two months had passed since that conversation. My unease had not left me, especially when my son was with his father on their journey. Troubling thoughts filled my head: what if my Luci was starving there or had fallen ill? What if something happened to him? Why were they taking so long?

Every day, anxiety gripped me anew, but I tried to keep my emotions in check, reassuring myself that his father was with him, and everything should be fine. Right? Probably. Maybe. Perhaps...

Trying to distract myself, I went shopping, trying to immerse myself in the familiar daily routine. However, every little thing reminded me of my son. I wondered what food he would choose, what toys he would want... But despite all these thoughts, I tried to be strong and believed that they would return home soon, and I would see my boy healthy and joyful again. 

Alleya, my eldest daughter, was also eagerly awaiting the return of her father and little brother. She was focused on her studies and usually wasn't home until evening. As the personal assistant to the former king, I easily found her a worthy tutor, and her achievements were as impressive as Lucius's. Because of this, she became a candidate for the Spear.

My children were undoubtedly geniuses, and this filled me with not only pride but also anxiety. I hoped they could retain their childhood despite their incredible talent. Wherever they went, I believed that fate would be kind to them and that they would return home safe and sound.

— How many kilograms of apples would you like, ma'am? — the vendor's voice pulled me from my thoughts. 

— Oh... three kilograms, please, — I replied, diverting my gaze from my thoughts.

After finishing my shopping, I headed home. As I approached the gates, my eyes caught sight of a guard standing at the entrance. A message? Did something happen? Today is my day off.

— Hello, Lady Triskan! — The guard bowed and saluted. I nodded in response and asked what had happened.

— My lady, Lord Virion would like to see you at the castle immediately. Your son, Lucius, is there.

The world seemed to freeze around me when I heard those words. Lucius... my son at the castle? Had they returned? But why didn't they stop by home first? I couldn't understand what was happening. Why was he there? Could something have happened?

— Is he alright? — The words slipped out before I could stop them as my heart painfully clenched with worry. The guard, noticing my concern, hastened to reassure me:

— My lady, as far as I know, he is fine. Lord Virion said he urgently wants to speak with you.

Despite his response, anxiety lingered. Quickly thanking him, I handed my groceries to my maid and headed straight to the castle, trying to remain calm. My head was overflowing with thoughts about what could have happened to Lucius during his absence.

Upon arriving at the castle, I was met by another guard who instantly recognized me and escorted me directly to the hall. Opening the doors, I saw Lucius standing next to Virion. Upon seeing him, I involuntarily smiled with relief, but immediately noticed something in his gaze—something new that hadn't been there before.

I stepped over the threshold and entered the hall, where Virion was already waiting for me. My gaze immediately fell on Lucius standing beside him. The excitement still hadn't left me, even though I saw he was alive and well.

— Lucius! — I rushed to my son, kneeling down. My anxiety eased a bit when I saw him safe and sound. — Are you alright?

— Yes, — he replied, but confusion echoed in his voice. — But… who are you?

I froze, unable to believe my ears. What? I couldn't have misheard? Is this some new joke children make? My son didn't recognize me?

— Lucius, it's me—your mother," I said, trying to keep calm and not show my bewilderment. "How can you not know me?"

"Mom?" His eyes widened in surprise, clearly not understanding what was happening. "I only remember what happened after I woke up in the forest. Everything else... it's all mixed up."

I felt a surge of anxiety growing in my chest. It was as if a new wave of worry had crashed down on me. What is he saying? How is this possible? He really doesn't remember his mother? Why doesn't he remember me?

"Saria," Virion stepped closer to me, his face serious. "The situation requires clarification. Please, don't worry. We will try to understand what happened."

I couldn't say anything, only felt tears involuntarily welling in my eyes. I wanted to believe this was a joke. But his bewildered gaze spoke for itself. My son didn't remember me, and that was a terrible blow. Then I noticed the engraved ring on his thumb—it was my husband's wedding ring…

Why does he have it? The anxiety grew exponentially, and I looked at my son with disbelief. Where is his father? Where is Mikhail?

"Where is your father?" I finally forced the question out, suppressing the rising worry.

"I don't know," Lucius replied, his voice full of confusion. "I woke up among the dead, and there were none of the living."

These words struck like thunder on a clear day. My husband... among the dead? It's impossible! He's an A-rank adventurer! The words about Lucius waking up in the forest and not being able to remember anything but that now seemed part of a more complex and terrifying mystery. What if...?

Trying to hide my tears and growing fear, I decided to ask another question.

"Where did you get this ring?" I asked, taking his thumb in my hands. The ring was familiar, my husband's wedding ring. Lucius looked at me, his face serious and slightly wary.

"I took it from one of the corpses," Lucius replied calmly.

My heart froze. A lump of anxiety grew in my chest. My husband was among the dead, and the ring was with Lucius. It all felt like a nightmare. How could this have happened? This can't be true, right? Maybe Mikhail managed to escape?

"What did he look like?" I asked almost desperately, squeezing his hand. Lucius described blonde hair and straight facial features with sunken cheeks. The description fit my husband. At that moment, I couldn't hold back any longer and broke down. Tears began to stream down my cheeks as I continued to look at my son, not believing what I was hearing.

"No... no, it can't be." My quiet words were interrupted by sobs. "This can't be true..."

Virion approached me and gently placed a hand on my shoulder, his face expressing deep regret.

"We will do everything possible to figure out what happened. Saria, I sincerely regret your loss. Take some time off." Virion Eralith fell silent and looked at me with sadness. "Please accept my condolences."

But it was hard to calm down. My husband was dead, and the ring, a symbol of our love and bond, was with our son. It was too terrible to accept. All these emotions and fears overwhelmed me, and I felt lost and hopeless.

Don't forget to give a power stone