"Is there anything you wanted to buy Aradon?"
"I told you mom, I'm already an adult."
At that moment, the High Archmage, Elanna Caemfaere was dressed in commoner clothes. There is a veil over her face to cover her appearance. This is because she wanted a day out with her son.
Some people say Aradon inherits his mother's gene, with her long hair, green eyes, and slender body.
The most notable thing is their face. While Aradon's brother Teserast inherits their father's facial structure, Aradon inherits his mother's bone structure, causing his face to look feminine at time, in some female elves' words, very handsome in a feminine way.
And Elanna Caemfaere looks just like her mother, the previous High Archmage, Nimuë Caemfaere, by relation, Aradon looks just like his maternal grandmother. Maybe that's why Elanna always spoil her youngest the son more than necessary. Not only is he her youngest son, he also looks just like her mother, the person she loves a lot.
When they separated for a year because of the great Arch Druid's duty necessitating returning to the forest, she wanted Aradon to follow her while leaving Tesseract with Voralanar, however, the situation end with leaving both of her son with her husband.
"Is this your son madam?" The shopkeeper was an elf. His face looks to be around 30 years old in human term. That mean he is around a few hundreds year old. In his life, he has seen many scenes, a mother buying stuff for her son who seems to be in the military is normal.
Many young elven boy dreams to be in the ranger order. Even those who are just 30-35 of age. They are too young in his opinion, and rash.
However, the elf just smiles.
"Yeah, this is my unruly son." The madam just smiles ruly. "You may have recognized him from yesterday award ceremony!" The madam brags about her son.
"Last year, he runs away from home without my notice, and this year, he is already recognized by the crown as a hero. Oh, my baby boy is growing too fast."
"Oh, you are the hero on that stand yesterday with the princess? You are lucky young man." The shopkeeper continues with a smile, remembering the situation the boy has with their prized princess.
"How old is your boy this year madam?"
"He is 34."
"Oh, still a boy. He is also at the princess's age too. She is 29 this year. What say you boy, did you join the ranger order in order to court our princess?" The shopkeeper jokes.
However, at that moment, Aradon's face reddens.
The shopkeeper acts surprised, but then he chuckles.
"Oh my! You have big dream boy. Many young elven dreams to be a ranger, become a hero and then marry the princess. You already fulfill two of those, and just met our princess Aelene."
"Please don't tease him. Aradon gets shy very easily." The High Archmage Elanna Caemfaere says, joining in with the teasing.
"But boy, you have to remember it is hard to be the crown's son in law. Becoming a ranger and getting award is one thing, however, marrying the princess is another thing. Royalty value their lineage a lot. It would be a hard journey. Still, you are young, who know what may happen in the future. We elves live very long. Don't give up young man."
Hearing that, Aradon's mom smiles mischievously, knowing that all it would take is a word.
"Anyway, madam, do you want to buy anything for your son? Joining the military is dangerous, however, we are lucky to be in peace time. Still it helps to be prepared. We sell defensive garment here."
"Aradon, mom want to buy a mythril chainmail armor for you, what do you think?"
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
"Please mom, I'm already an adult, I can take care of myself."
The High Archmage Elanna Caemfaere takes her son arm to check if he has any scars from sword practice and blow them away gently with magic.
"You wouldn't go against an old lady's wish would you? It's not about you being able to take care of yourself. As your mother, I can't help but worry about you. A mythril chainmail armor is nothing if it keeps you safe and my heart assured."
Hearing that, Aradon hesitated.
The High Elf has always been a mama boy. Hearing that, he really can't go against her.
----------------------------------------
The mother and son duo has dinner at the Wood Knock restaurant. The dining experience was a quiet affair. There were other guests in the restaurant, however, the High Archmage eats quietly as a commoner would, with her son, due to his request.
"Aradon, I know you want to carve out your own path, however, mama will feel bad if her son can't follow her path. When you were young, you love magic so much, you follow everything exactly like I said, unlike Tesseract who was too smart for his own good and experiment on his own. You even said 'Mom, when I'm an adult, I want to be a High Archmage like you.', why did you even change?"
"It is... personal mom. I want to try for the first hundred year. Then, if I don't achieve anything, I will dutifully go back." Aradon says
"If you say it like that, I don't want you to go back. Like that, ain't I a mother who wishes for her son's failure? It would be sad if you go back to me like that. I want you to succeed at life.
Even still, magic is a beautiful thing Aradon. Even if you don't want it to be your main path in life, I still hope that you don't abandon it completely."
The High Archmage passes on a plain grimoire that was not as decorated as other magic grimoire that can be found in the academy.
"That is a portion of my life research. I know that you still have your ranger career ahead of you, however, it is still my wish that you occasionally read it. Even if you truly decide to become a full fledge master ranger, just knowing a bit of magic will make you a lot safer and make me feel reassure. So please, as your mother, this is what I ask of you. Keep it.
It is also my maiden diary, you can use it to understand a woman's heart alright Aradon." The High Archmage winks.
Slowly, Aradon picks up on his mother's diary and grimoire.
He looks at it with a complicated feeling. However, in the end, he still picks it up, his feeling for his mother winning over his feeling for his love.
The mother and son enjoy the rest of their meal in peace and quiet.
----------------------------------------
Aradon arrives back at camp nearing 12 P.M. Normally, there is a curfew, however, his was a special case in deed.
Because it was late at night, Aradon was careful in not waking his roommate, Andarel up. However, when he opens the door to their dorm, Andarel was still up.
Andarel was pouring herbal medicine into the trash. Now that he looks at it, it was the bitter leaf that Andarel takes every morning in the last few days. He only started taking it recently.
However, today, he pours it all into the trash.
"Hey, I'm back."
"Oh hello, did you have fun with your mom?"
"We went shopping, and then had dinner. I realized that I have missed her."
"That's good. Everyone misses their home."
So saying, Andarel continues to pour the medicine into the trash.
For some reason, Aradon feels a heavy pressure, exuding from his friend.
Andarel, Aradon decided, must still be feeling bad about being caught for his two-timing way. And so the (future) hero of the elven race leaves Andarel be.