'Floating, it felt like he was floating around, not a thought in his head. He realized he was dreaming, he soon landed on soft grass, bees and butterflies landing on the flowers next to him.

Peaceful, he felt such tranquility. He closed his eyes and felt the warm summer sun on his face, but it got darker and a raindrop fell on his cheek. He opened his eyes and he wasn't in the grass anymore, he wasn't between flowers and pretty insects anymore. He was there in his body, Felix, in an interrogation room, his laptop was in front of him and his mother looked at it. Felix could feel his sweaty palms, but he watched from inside his head. As what will happen is probably something that happened, but that he forgot.

Felix sat in front of his mother, his eyes focused on the laptop he gave her. Everything was on there, every conversation he had with convicts, every order he had from his father, and every single conversation with the kidnapping victims he let go. Lieutenant Sterling's face was frowning as she scrolled through everything, her finger silently tapping on the desk. A knock came on the door, and the IT Department, wanting to secure the evidence on the laptop, was there. She then got up with the computer in her hands, the right before the girl could get it Lieutenant Sterling let go. The laptop crashed to the ground. It was fine she could have just picked it up, but Felix saw what his mother really wanted. He saw the rage in her eyes, she frowned as she lifted her right foot and stomped on the laptop. Felix watched with horror and absolute helplessness as his mother stepped on it so many times until it was so broken that no one could ever use it again. He couldn't say anything, nothing came out of his mouth. He did not even realize the tear sliding down his face as absolute hopelessness settled it. He felt so stuffy, angry, sad, and overall betrayed. His own mother destroyed everything he ever worked for, she destroyed everything he gathered to start a new life, a normal life finally...

She ruined his chance at a normal, crime-free, and carefree life. Just like his father. Felix just sat there, totally empty and hopeless, feeling just as broken as his laptop.

Lieutenant Sterling looked at the girl and said, "Silly girl, how could you have let go? Now everything is in shambles. First, your team destroyed the USB he gave us, and now you let go of it."

Then she looked at her son, "What a mishap all that carefully forged data has been destroyed. What a bummer."

She sat in the chair and focused on her son, "What do you have now? Nothing, and that is good. It will make up for all the people you killed."

Felix was confused watching this, 'I never killed anyone, I helped them disappear, but I never killed anyone. I never even seriously hurt someone. What does she mean?''

He tried to form another sentence, as he opened his mouth again to say something, he was back. His dream ended, and his eyes were blinded by the sun that came through the window.

He was Wilwarin again, he sat up as he thought about what just happened. His mother destroyed his hard work, his lifelong achievement. Everything he collected over the years, everything.

A stuffy feeling was going through his chest, he could barely breathe. He didn't know what to feel, his mother was there for him, his mother loved him. Or did he love her enough and dreamed about her enough to have painted a false picture?

'No,' he thought to himself, 'That simply couldn't be true, my mother gave birth to me, she loved me, she watched me grow... She must've known that I couldn't... actually kill... Someone. Right?'

His thoughts felt confusing, he felt betrayed, but so confused.

Wilwarin took a deep breath, he calmed down, he had to differentiate between the him in his dreams and the him right now. None of his questions could be answered anyway.

Wilwarin sat up, he was at the feet of his bed, he fell asleep yesterday as soon as he hit his head on the bed. He looked at the blanket and knew his mama or his mother did that. He smiled as he remembered the little party with cake and the talk with Ardon in this room.

Sure, the party started bloody, but the cake and the company was something that was scarce. He only had a few birthdays where he would be able to celebrate, and a few parties where he was allowed to go to. Wilwarin smiled and got out of his bed, he walked to his closet and took some clothes.

It was a simple fit, a bit of green and white cotton tulle clothes and a bright brown undershirt. He got out all of the golden accessories in his hair, he slept with them so they were annoying to get out. Wilwarin brushed through his hair with the comb and the dark-blond hair fell like a curtain over his shoulders. He left his hair open, he then undressed and dressed.

The smell of eggs and baked goods, wafted through the house inside his room, his stomach gurgled greedily in return. With a small smile he walked out of his room and down the stairs.

He looked at the table, it was a warm atmosphere. His mother, Hwarwa, sat at the table and looked dreaming at his mama, Elanor. His mother's eyes followed every movement his mama made, deep love reflecting on the surface of her eyes.

He felt warm in his chest as he watched, he walked down the stairs further trying to be as silent as he could.

It was to no avail, his mother had already caught him, "Good mornin', what are you doing sneaking down the stairs?"

Wilwarin smirked, "Didn't want to interrupt the love eyes you were making."

Elanor walked to the table with a piping hot skillet, as she put it down there were fried eggs, fried mushrooms, and cute little fried omelets that had lots of herbs.

Wilwarin looked at it with a big appetite, and his mother chuckled, "Help set the table and maybe you're going to get something."

Hwarwa was obviously joking, her son rarely set the table after all, but to her surprise, Wilwarin walked to the kitchen cabinet. He got a few plates and cutlery out and set the table.

Elanor smiled and kissed her son on the cheek, "Thank you my sweet."

Like a child, Hwarwa stood up and hugged Elanor's shoulders from behind, "I want one too." Elanor just laughed as she pushed her wife's face off of her and sat down with the bread in her hand.

As everyone sat down, they laid their hands together, Wilwarin imitated the gesture as he hadn't seen it yesterday evening.

His mama spoke, "Oh dear mother of all, we thank you for the food on our table, may the day we lead be full of your blessing. Amil Amanya."

"Amil Amanya," both Hwarwa and Wilwarin repeated.

Then they began to eat, the eating was silent no one spoke and yet it seemed peaceful. Wilwarin could get used to this.

As they ate and cleared the plates, getting them washed up, Hwarwa spoke, "They still haven't found anyone who could've sent that box or rather who changed the inside of the box. I asked a few of our neighbors too, even though they hadn't seen anything as they were at the competition just like us. Anyone could've gone in and out of this house and we wouldn't have noticed."

Elanor frowned and then pet the back of Wilwarin, "Don't worry we'll catch who did this soon enough. Sadly, I haven't seen anyone after I left the house so I can't be of help either."

His mama smiled unhappy and disappointed in herself, Wilwarin turned around and hugged her.

He stroked her back up and down comforting her, Wilwarin imagined this a lot, just doing it to his mother. '

Feeling gentle hands hugging him back, he whispered into her ears, "Your comfort is help enough, mama. Thank you for always being there for me."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

The last sentence was for the original Wilwarin.

Getting out of the hug, he could see his mother crying, Wilwarin wiped a tear away and smiled gently.

Hwarwa came from behind and laid a hand on his shoulder, "Get outside now, your friend from yesterday is here. Bright and early. I will be caring for my wife now."

She winked at him as she hung an arm around Elanor's shoulders, watching her son go outside.

Wilwarin looked back for a split second and saw the gentle comfort of his mother to his mama.

...

Outside he couldn't see Ardon at all, he walked around his house and the neighbor's houses for at least half an hour without spotting anyone that had these icy-blue eyes like Ardon. There were a few merpeople, but even their eyes could never compare to Ardon's, Maison's, or Val's eyes...

Wilwarin was still unsure why they had such a redeeming same feature, he walked outside his neighborhood and into the bustling streets. He walked through an alley and came out on the other side, the stone platform was still there, but now there were merchants stands and food stands. He walked through this crowd and thought it was market day, he walked and walked and heard voices.

"Work for me!" Authority present in the voice, high pitched and a bit pleading.

"No, my hiring fees are much higher than you can ever pay me," another voice, it was also high, but it had darker tones.

Wilwarin walked to the sound and saw an elf, highly dressed with gold and fine fabric talking to a black clothes figure, he couldn't quite make out the face.

"I am an elven princess, the fees you charge couldn't possibly be high enough that I couldn't pay them!" Enraged the elven princess roared, Wilwarin was a bit away, but he could've sworn to see a flicker of hurt walk through the eyes of the elven princess.

"Cyrene, come one. Working for an elven princess is certainly nicer than the living conditions and the money I pay you," it was Ardon who spoke to the black hooded figure.

The black hooded figure, Cyrene, turned her head slightly to look at Ardon. In response, Ardon didn't even say anything he just raised his hands as a sign to give up. Then he noticed Wilwarin and smiled, it was a nice smile, a smile that reached his eyes. A smile that made Wilwarin feel warm all over. He walked closer to the two people fighting and stood next to Ardon, who was about a few feet behind behind Cyrene. They both watched it develop.

"So? Will you be my personal guard?" The elven princess asked and stood arrogant, shoulders and head held high.

Cyrene snickered, "Fine, Princess. How much are you willing to pay me?"

Joy flickered through the elven princess's eyes, but she hid it and looked at Cyrene bored, "Three gold coins a day."

Cyrene nodded, "Seems fair, what about a room and food?"

The elven princess smiled a bit but hid it quickly, "Will be covered by me."

After a long silence, the elven princess bit on her lip and fumbled the flesh off her fingertips, she was nervously awaiting the decision. Cyrene nodded and held out a hand, the elven princess took it and Wilwarin could see a golden shimmer glow on both their hands.

Cyrene nodded, "With that, I am officially your guard princess." Cyrene then kneeled down as to bow, but the elven princess different from her attitude than before helped her back up.

She smiled brightly, the arrogant and snobbish gestures, going as if never there, "You can call me Ninor, we'll be bestest of friends from now on."

Her smile was hurting Wilwarin as he looked into her face, too bright.

Cyrene confused stepped a bit away, "I work for you, nothing more nothing less."

Ninor smiled self-assured, "For now, but what not is can be."

Cyrene just shook her head as she turned and walked in front of Ardon, stretching out her hand.

Now Wilwarin could see the face, she was without a doubt beautiful, her scar that went through her upper and lower lip on the left side didn't seem ferocious but tough.

Strong like a warrior.

When Ardon and Cyrene shook hands a silver light dispersed between them, as if making a contract void.

Wilwarin heard exited clapping from behind and saw Ninor walking quickly to Cyrene, "Can I hug you, or do you not like body contact? Your name is Cyrene I heard that, what do you want me to refer to you as? Is there anything you're allergic to, I will tell the chef and he won't make it for you."

Cyrene breathed calmly in and out, "Do you always talk this much?"

Ninor looked confused, "Well, yes? Why should I talk less?"

Cyrene just shook her head, "No reason, I am Cyrene. I don't have a last name or allergies and I'd like for you to refer to me by my name. As you can see I am a woman so no man calling me. Oh and if possible talk to me only if you have an order of if I should shadow you. I am going to get my things."

Ninor just smiled as she watched Cyrene walk away, she then let out a deep breath. Wilwarin looked confused at Ninor, Ardon just looked happy to be here.

Ninor settled a stray hair as she smiled shyly, "It must be unbecoming of me, to be honest, she is a past friend of mine. Although I am not sure she remembers, please don't say anything to her it- It would be better for her not to remember, but I can not let go. Maybe I am really selfish."

Wilwarin looked at Ninor and remembered Zenix, he was a great first friend, then he heard himself talk, "Maybe sometimes it is alright to be selfish."

Ninor looked at him with kindness and the realization, "You're Elanor's son, aren't you? You won the competition yesterday. I am sorry, normally I would've been there, but sometimes the most important duty calls."

"I understand, you are a very prominent figure after all," Wilwarin comforted her.

Ninor shook her head, "But it isn't what being an elven princess is supposed to be. Sure, we have to make sure everyone can eat and has the means and enough jobs to provide for themselves. But...

In the beginning of the elvish clans, it was a togetherness, it was unity and no we decide everything with a flick of a feather. We can't communicate like past times, we just drive through the times. We are a unity, that commemorates the life of our mother. The earthly mother.

Still, everything I see is that we live by each other not with one another. The only times we are together are competitions and trade. I am sorry, I must have bored you with my idealistic and nostalgic way of thought. "

Wilwarin shook his head, she was as old as him, it was something elves could feel, humans like Ardon see the looks and faces and think we're the same age. Dividing elves by age is something near impossible as elves age slowly. Still, elves could feel one another's age, and Wilwarin knew that Ninor was only a few years older than him, but she had enough wisdom for the whole clan.

Wilwarin spoke kindly, "You have such great wisdom, and yet you're just a bit older than me."

Ninor laughed, "Yes, it seems that I have been called an old soul a lot. But I will take it as a compliment as you have said something important to age. Wisdom, it is the knowledge we have, that we should learn from so as to not make the same mistakes. Yet, I see-

I shouldn't be talking about that, weird I took one look at you and I knew that I could trust you. Maybe we were fated in a past life, whatever it may be. Sadly I have to return, may we meet again under the fate of the mother."

She then put her hand on her heart, then on her head, and finished with a swift motion to the front. Wilwarin imitated the gesture, feeling it was a sign of respect to the elven royalty.

He watched her walk back to the mothertree and seemed to remember Ardon, who was patiently waiting for their conversation to be finished.

"Fated in a past life, it might sound crazy but it was something I dreamed about last night," he said to Wilwarin. "Curious as to what I dreamed?" He smiled mischievously and there was a happy glint in his eyes.

Wilwarin didn't fall for that trap, he just shook his head and felt like he should take a walk through the woods. This market atmosphere was too crowded.

He looked at Ardon, "How about we take a walk through the woods? I could take a bit of freedom, it feels suffocating in all of this-" He couldn't find the words for it so he just gestured all around.

Ardon nodded and took Wilwarin's elbow in his hand, "Not that you'll get lost."