My expedition has been going well, for the most part. I’ve stayed up in the mountains in a tent I’ve set up myself. It reminds me of my youth when I would sneak into construction sites and play with the equipment at night. Though the stench of the pools at the base of the mountain can become an annoyance.

-From Professor Shokolov’s Journal, 35th Entry

When AxEl saw Nook first thing in the morning, he looked to be in a sorry state. AxEl felt guilty for putting his friend up to the mission.

“Hey, are you alright? You look like you didn’t get a wink of sleep last night?” AxEl asked. Nook preferred to keep his head bald, but today AxEl could see the barest beginnings of strands on his scalp. His clothes were wrinkled, his eyes squinting against the sunlight, and his expression twisted into a scowl of some sort.

When AxEl went to put a hand on the man’s shoulders, Nook just pushed it aside. “I didn’t. Doesn’t matter.”

“And about LokIn?” AxEl asked. Nook’s scowl deepened and AxEl felt worse for bringing him up.

“I… OkIx or Anagen could tell you. They’re probably already working on cleanup,” Nook replied. He sat in the chair of the bus stop and looked blankly out into the streets.

It didn’t go unnoticed that he had barely brought any of his belongings with him, just a singular case filled with Faceless knows what. AxEl had a pack with him as well, but it was much bigger and denser than the one Nook carried.

He had a thermos stuffed into one corner of his bag that he brought out. AxEl had filled it with coffee and poured himself a cup.

“Are you sure that’s going to be enough for the trip?” AxEl asked, offering Nook the cup. Nook shook his head.

“I don’t need it.”

They both sat awkwardly for a few moments, AxEl finishing the coffee just in time for a car to pull up on the curb. It was the same model that Anagen drove, but she wasn’t in the driver’s seat this time.

Instead, she opened the door on the passenger’s side and left the car with a bag hoisted over her shoulders. AxEl moved over to help her carry it while she talked.

“Keep it in the garage. Don’t take it out unless you need to go somewhere. I don’t want to see it scratched at all,” she ordered and Lex nodded from inside the car.

“Yes, miss.”

He then looked towards AxEl. “Boss,” he said and drove off after Anagen closed the door. The three of them sat together and Anagen glanced at Nook, but didn’t say anything.

“Is he…” she whispered.

“Best not to talk about it,” AxEl replied. Anagen took a seat near him and smiled when Nook looked over. Nook tried tor return the gesture, but the sides of his mouth only quirked upward slightly.

“Why aren’t we taking my car anyways?” Anagen asked after a few moments of waiting on the bench.

“It’s too obvious. We need to be as discreet about this as we can,” AxEl explained. Though should I be secretive about this visit? It’s been a year since I’ve visited mom. She’s probably really mad at me for that.

Though he’d had good reason for it. Moving their meeting location to Lupan, along with AxEl himself, had been a demanding task. Nook and Anagen had similarly changed their locations, though they’d done it earlier than him. The last time he’d seen his mother? He could barely remember the event.

But I did it for her. The closer I stayed, the easier it would have been to find out where she lived. All for her, AxEl reasoned to himself. His mother had suffered enough, raising him as she had. He hoped that she was just enjoying her retirement. AxEl had made sure that a sizable amount of money that he earned was going to his mother, small enough so that she wouldn’t be suspicious, but also enough to give her a comfortable retirement. That’s all anyone could ask for from their children, right?

The bus approached and screeched as it stopped. A horn blared and the doors of the bus opened. The few other stragglers there at the stop entered first, dragging their luggage along with them. With a heavy sigh from Nook, they all stood up and proceeded inside.

****

The trip itself wasn’t eventful at all. They crossed by some of the most famous locations in HuedoLupan, got a glimpse at the waterfalls of Heravina, at the few other volcanoes that were covered in Barkburn, but that was it. Though their shine was brilliant, and it awed the passengers of the bus, AxEl scoffed at them. They weren’t nearly as beautiful as the shine from AnaHon in the middle of the night.

And he was vindicated for that fact, as when the bus pulled up in the middle of the night to Barksight, the luster from the Barkburn trees covering the horizon made many of the riders stand up. They’d picked up a decent crowd from the various stops they’d gone too, so a sizable amount of people could appreciate the scenery.

When they finally reached the last stop, they took their belongings off of the bus and set them down on the curb. This late at night, there were few other cars on the road. There were a few new buildings that AxEl didn’t recognize, including a large building that was in the middle of the town, but the rest of the scenery was familiar.

AxEl took a deep breath of that familiar air and smiled. He glanced over at Nook, who was staring up at the mountains. He let the man enjoy his time, and then they all set off towards AxEl’s home.

****

A knock on the door in the middle of the night wasn’t the most unexpected thing FenEl had ever seen. She had been knitting some clothes and watching her shows when the sound came. She set down the needles onto the table and muted the sound of the television, walking towards the front entrance.

The sound was a bit familiar to FenEl, though she couldn’t quite place how. After she creaked open the door, however, that didn’t matter.

“Hi, mom.”

FenEl lunged into her son’s arms, giving him a deep hug. AxEl let out a grunt, but he could handle it, he was a strong lad after all.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were going to be coming?” she asked, then glanced at the people behind him. Nook was still there, although the boy had put on some height and muscle. She approved of that, as he was one of the most positive influences on her son’s life.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

“I… wanted to make it a surprise!” AxEl replied, laughing weakly. FenEl gave him a big smile. But then her eye caught on the other person behind AxEl. A light skinned woman with snow-like hair. FenEl was a bit confused by the sight, but it wasn’t as though it was unheard of.

“You three should come inside. It’s cold out tonight,” FenEl reasoned, ushering the group in.

The white-haired woman stayed outside however.

“You’ll get cold too. Come on,” FenEl told her. And with a begrudging smile, she listened and headed in as well.

“I’ll make you all some tea. How do you all prefer it?” FenEl asked, walking into the kitchen without question.

“Like you make it,” AxEl replied.

“Like always,” Nook replied.

“As you want to,” the white haired woman replied.

FenEl nodded and set to work on brewing the tea. She saw the luggage they had awkwardly placed near the furniture and spoke.

“AxEl, help them place those in the guest room upstairs,” FenEl asked, setting the pot to boil on the stove.

“Right, mom,” AxEl replied, picking up the luggage.

“You can leave mine. I’ve got my own parents to visit,” Nook told him, though his words seemed a bit muted. FenEl could notice it all the way from the kitchen. Was he eating enough? Maybe not.

AxEl left Nook’s luggage behind and took his own and the white haired woman’s upstairs.

****

By the time AxEl came back down, the table was topped with cups of tea and biscuits. He took his seat between his mother and Angen, and sipped the cup. Perfect.

“I would’ve prepared dinner for you all if I had known you’d be coming so late,” FenEl said with a chuckle.

“We didn’t want to intrude,” Anagen replied.

“It wouldn’t have been a problem. It’s not like I’m doing anything important these days,” FenEl chuckled. AxEl noticed the needles and unfinished piece on the table.

“You’re knitting now?” AxEl asked.

“And other things. I would be working, but someone won’t let me,” FenEl said, staring right at AxEl.

“Not when I’m earning as much as I am, mom. It’s better for you to rest now.”

“It would be easier to relax if my own son came to visit sometimes. But alas,” FenEl said, taking another sip from her cup. Anagen chuckled at his dismay, and even Nook smirked at him.

FenEl looked over at Anagen for a moment and a devilish smile covered her face. Oh no, please don’t.

“So, AxEl, have you found someone for yourself? You’re getting to the age you should be thinking about these things, understand?” FenEl teased. She then turned to Anagen.

“And you’re so lovely! Your hair looks so nice,” FenEl complimented. I know what you’re doing, stop it! AxEl groaned inwardly.

“Thank you,” Anagen said, twisting the locks of her own hair. “But I’m just AxEl’s Archivist.”

FenEl’s eyes widened. “You’ve got your own Archivist? I didn’t know you were doing that well?” FenEl questioned. AxEl hid his expression behind the cup of tea in his hand.

“I… It never came up,” he replied. FenEl placed her cup on the table.

“Huh, I really thought…” FenEl said before trailing off. Thought I’d find someone. Then the idea actually struck him for how absurd it was. He had never been with a single woman after being rejected by Anagen.

At the time, it didn’t feel so awkward, considering the stress of his business, but now that he looked back upon it, had he ever even tried? There’d been some people near his old apartment, he’d met some people in his new one, but he never once bothered asking any of them out.

“Make any new friends in Lupan, then?” FenEl asked.

“…A few,” he lied. Again, Nook had been the only person he spent any reasonable amount of time with. It struck AxEl with what he’d come to, but he steeled himself. It’ll be worth it. We won’t ever have to worry about anything again. She won’t, at least.

They talked for a while after that, until finally AxEl yawned. FenEl chuckled in response and stood up from her seat.

“You must be tired, then. You can sleep in the guest room upstairs, and Nook, do you remember where the mattresses are?” FenEl asked.

“No need, ma’am. I haven’t gone to seen my own mother and father yet,” Nook said, before standing up himself and hoisting his pack over his shoulders. “Goodnight, all of you,” he told them, though AxEl noticed Nook rubbing at his eyes as he left.

AxEl took to his old room, surprised at seeing it almost in the same state as it was when he first left. He expected to see it turned into some kind of painting room, or something else that his mother would enjoy, but it looked not a day older. AxEl set his bag down near the floor and jumped onto his bed, feeling the familiar bounce. There was still that spot in there that nudged at him, but he was happy that it was still there.

AxEl looked up at the blank ceiling, and his mind began to wonder. He glanced at the window, the same one that he would sneak out of every night to go do whatever he wanted. He’d come back from escapades and his mother would barely punish him for, even when he got hurt.

I’m lucky to still have her. He thought to himself. Then why don’t you spend more time with her? A voice in his head replied, and AxEl couldn’t find a good argument against it. Because she’d be in danger. I’ve made my bed, and even if I pray to the Faceless, I’ll have no choice but to lie in it.

****

Sleep didn’t come as easy to AxEl as he would have liked for it too, however. He tossed and turned in the middle of the night, but his thoughts worked against him. Showing him things he didn’t want to see, ideas that he didn’t want in his head. It had been a while since he’d had those, so hearing them again was horrifying.

AxEl woke from his slumber in a sweat, despite the weather. The cold wind blowing through his window was a reprieve, but he closed it despite the fact. He felt… unsafe with it so open. AxEl wiped the sweat off of his face and turned towards the doorway out of his room. Maybe a walk around the house would do him some good.

He stepped as quietly as he could through the hallway, despite his heft. AxEl brushed his hands against the wall as he did so, feeling surface of the concrete walls at his fingertips. The colour was fading away now, having been aged over many years. His mother never wanted to paint over it and AxEl had agreed.

He looked through the hallway and saw a room at the very end. An old room, one that held many memories for him. Maybe there’s… AxEl thought as he walked towards it. Though the door creaked as it opened, it didn’t seem to wake his mother. He looked through the various drawers inside of the room, through the desks and documents that were packed neatly inside.

He turned on one of the lamps on the desk, shining the light on the documents but finding nothing related to the topic at hand. After enough time that AxEl began to grow weary again, he set the documents back and stepped outside.

No luck there. He walked back to his room, ready to try again to get some sleep, when the open balcony door caught his eye. Behind it, Anagen stood with her hands placed on the railing. She looked out into the night sky, with a slight smile on her face. She was wearing a nightgown, but one that AxEl recognized.

He walked forward, knocking on the glass door to get her attention. She spared him a glance and went back to staring out into the open. AxEl joined her, looking towards the few cars that passed by, the tops of the buildings from far away and finally at the warm light that shone down at them from the AnaHon mountains.

“That’s my mother’s, isn’t it?” AxEl asked. Anagen picked at the dress.

“She let me borrow it for the night. It fits nicely,” she replied.

“Of course she did,” AxEl said, somewhat annoyed.

“Let the woman have her fun, AxEl.”

“Only this time.”

They spent a moment longer staring out into the skies, the chilly wind against them at every turn.

“She’s a wonderful woman. I can see why you admire her,” Anagen said.

“Yeah, she is. You know… you never told me about your own parents?” AxEl asked with a determined look. Anagen’s eyes took on a sullen look in response.

“I would’ve loved to hear about them too.”

She stopped for a moment, her mouth agape, before continuing, “Why do you keep this a secret from her, then? If she knew what you were up to, she could find ways to defend herself,” Anagen asked.

“I can’t. It’s one of the only things I regret. If she knew, she’d try to stop me, try to get me help, or make sure I didn’t hurt myself or anyone else. And then she’d be alone again, alone and unable to care for herself.”

AxEl looked Anagen in the eyes. “I won’t let her be alone.”

Anagen’s look didn’t change, however. “I understand,” she said, and took off from the balcony, but not before stopping for a moment.

“And AxEl? Those shoes aren’t your size,” she told him. AxEl tried to gleam what she meant, but by the time he looked up from his soles, she was gone. Was she trying to distract me? He thought as he spent a little while longer on the balcony.