****3 years ago****
Today, I will spend quite a lot of time with my mother. Because school is closed due to an internal plumbing problem, she decides to take me with her to work. She says that I will get to see what she does for a living. I was not too keen on the idea of spending the entire day there at first as I would have much rather preferred to stay home and study or practice for the next training sessions. After all, with all the money my mother spends to send me to Lauderdale, I need to do everything I can to make sure that I meet their ridiculously high standards. I wouldn’t know how to face her if they expelled me. Additionally, I did not want to be a burden or disrupt the workspace. However, after she heavily insisted that I accompany her, I gave in and tagged along.
Upon my arrival, her colleagues welcome me with an extremely warm greeting. They do not appear to mind the presence of a 15 year old whatsoever. After allowing me to settle in, they offer to show me around and explain their work. I oblige and follow my tour guide through the mid-sized office. At the end of the tour, I can say that I have finally grasped what it is that my mother does for a living. I already knew that she was an accountant, but I was never really sure what exactly that entailed. Well, apparently, her firm is a contract organization which produces budget plans and manages the finances of smaller companies. They serve as a cheaper, temporary option, for businesses that cannot afford to have an entire department dedicated to that purpose. I find that there is a lot of meaning in that type of work. Even at her workplace, my mother’s purpose is making people’s lives easier.
Her office is medium sized, numbering around a few dozen people, but their business seems to be booming. Everywhere I look, people are working tirelessly, making calls through their company watches, writing a series of numbers and words I cannot understand, or typing away at their computers. The smell of coffee is strong, a testament to their long hours. Observing my surroundings, I can easily imagine why they seem to be so popular. This place is filled with hard workers, just like my mother, maybe that’s why they hired her.
As the day passes by, I spend most of my time on one of the couches in the lobby. I can’t exactly return home as we’re quite far away. Plus, I would feel bad leaving after witnessing my mother’s enthusiasm at my presence. To pass the time, I read reports on new and upcoming [enlightened] figures, dreaming about one day appearing on one of those pages. I know that it is unlikely I’ll reach [enlightenment], but I can’t help being excited at the idea.
As usual, I linger on an article about Sebastian FullCastle, a prodigy who has reached the second stage of acceptance before even leaving the place they call ‘DaiKar’. I still don’t get why they call it the path of ‘acceptance’. Would it not be easier to simply call it the path of enlightenment? We don’t call them the [accepted] after all. In my opinion, it is strange, but thinking about it too much won’t reveal any answers. I also don’t know any [enlightened] I could ask besides some of the professors of Lauderdale. When I do ask, all they say is that they have no idea. All except one professor who claims that he’s been told that it is something that makes sense only once you’ve reached the third stage. Ever since he’s told me that, I’ve mostly let the matter go, since I’ll never reach that level even if I do become an [enlightened].
The article on Sebastian FullCastle I am currently reading is not necessarily new, but it keeps being re-published every so often on different sites. I imagine that it is because it results in a lot of views. It speaks of him heroically fending off an especially dreadful [echo-blessed] creature which threatened to destroy the Coralwind coastal district famous for its beaches. He was supposed to be on holiday, but stepped up to the task nonetheless. That is what I like about him, his sense of duty.
There is footage of the battle, but it is hard to really see anything because the person filming hardly seems to know where the battle is happening. The other angles are similar as well. All I can catch is a glimpse of a few blurs here and there and the figure of the massive octopus-like creature. Their fight is a bit difficult to process. I notice the blur clashing with the octopus a few times but that is it. Despite that, I cannot help but rewatch one particular piece of footage. In that piece, Sebastian appears in front of the individual’s camera at the end of the battle, and proudly says, octopus fluid covering his body,
“Haha! You are safe now my friend! Always remember, Melodica is under MY watch!”
He then immediately leaves and the cameraman, or woman, is unable to see in which way he has gone despite frantically scanning their surroundings.
‘That catchphrase is so cool…’
Before I’ve realized it, the work day is already nearing its end. Looking at the old-fashioned clock in front of me, I see that it should be around the time for my mother to be dismissed from her duties. I close the display of my watch, stand up, and go look for her. When I arrive in the area where the work offices are located, the scene presented before me is that of the entire staff standing and looking in one direction. They are all staring at another worker, whom I think is their boss if I remember correctly. He appears to be making some sort of announcement.
“Thank you to all of those who stayed a bit later to attend this event. It is with honour and pride, that I announce this year’s top associate!-”
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
‘An award ceremony? I wonder who won.’
“-This person is someone who works day and night to ensure that their clients will be satisfied. Someone who is always the first one to come in and the last one to leave. Someone who is loved by their colleagues. Someone who this office could not do without. It is with great joy that I present this award to Alaena Thorne! Please come to the front to claim your award”
‘Woah, mom??’
Everyone applauds and my mother awkwardly makes her way to the front of the crowd. There, she receives an envelope from her boss, who happily shakes her hand. He mentions that he understands that transactions are now entirely digital, but that he likes to stick to tradition and hand physical currency to the best employee. She can always have it transferred into her account later anyways. They take a few pictures together and many of her colleagues approach her to congratulate her on the achievement. When the crowd around her has died down a little, I also make my way towards her.
“Congrats mom! Why did you never tell me you were that cool?” I say with a smirk on my face.
“Hmph, you should have realized that a long time ago Snoozy!” She answers playfully.
She calls me that because I would sleep so much as a baby that she, panicked, would take me to the hospital multiple times a week.
I give her a hug which she warmly reciprocates. After bidding farewell to everyone, my mother packs her things and we head outside. Before we can enter our vehicle, one of her colleagues stops us. He's a man in his mid thirties, just like my mom. Today, I have noticed that his smile comes easily whenever he talks to her.
“I wanted to congratulate you on your award Alaena!”
She turns around and a very wide smile appears on her lips.
“Thanks Gareth!” She says as she passes her fingers through her hair.
Gareth fixes his hair as well and turns to me.
“It was nice to meet you today as well, Alden. Now you know how amazing of a woman your mother is! Consider yourself lucky to be her son!”
My mother blushes and lets out a giggle. “Pfft, stop it!”
They exchange a playful glance and Gareth offers parting words.
“Alright, I’m off then, see you tomorrow!. Oh, before I leave, be careful on your way home you two. I’ve heard rumors of some strange things happening near your home.”
“I’ll keep that in mind! Get home safe too!” My mother says as she waves goodbye.
Following that farewell, we enter my mother’s vehicle. It is an older model which does not come with the ulta-efficient and eco-friendly engine that everyone is supposed to be using. Apparently, it was made using [enlightened] abilities. I wonder, what can’t they do?
Our mode of transportation is less than ideal. I’ve asked my mother multiple times why she refuses to change it. There are a multitude of other options out there and she could sell this one to bridge the gap in price. However, all she ever says is that it is important to her. The face she makes when she says that makes it impossible to push any further.
During the drive home, my mom attempts to make conversation. “So, any cute girls at school? A girlfriend maybe…?”
I roll my eyes, knowing that this topic would be coming. “You know I don’t have time for that mom.”
She sighs. “Come on, I’m sure there must be at least one, right, right?”
“Nope.”
“I’ll never be a grandmother…” She whispers loud enough for me to hear.
She seems defeated. Annoyed, I throw the same question in her face. “What about you? There’s quite a few guys in there who smile a little too much when they talk to you. Especially that Gareth guy.”
She blushes, the vehicle wobbles slightly. “W-what are you talking about? Don’t make jokes like that, I’m just an old woman! You and your siblings are more than enough for me! Plus, Gareth is just a friend!”
“A friend who knows where we live apparently… I wonder how…”
Her face turns beet red. “... Y-You know what, none of my famous lasagna for you for a month!”
I nearly jump out of my seat. “WHAT? That’s not fair! You started it!”
“I don’t care! It’ll serve as a lesson to not tease your elders, Hmph!” She replies with a smug face.
I pout for the rest of the way home. She tries to get me to speak again, but I refuse, informing her that she will be getting the silent treatment until she retracts her punishment.
When we finally arrive, the sun has set. My mother is unable to find a space to leave the vehicle near our home. I suspect that it is because she finished quite a bit later than usual today. It is not a huge problem, however, We can always look for space elsewhere and simply walk a larger distance. After a few minutes, we find a free space a few blocks away. It should be no more than a 10 minute walk once we exit the vehicle. The area we’ve left the car in is a bit… uninviting, but then again, that is pretty much our whole neighborhood. With three kids that she wants to send to the best academy in the district, there are some instances where settling for less is necessary.
As we walk down the street, my mother speaks to me.
“Are you still not talking to me? Seriously Snoozy!?”
“... You know what I want.”
“No can do! You’ve gotta learn somehow. Don’t forget that I am your mother, I’ve got to teach you how the real world works at some point!”
I turn my head away. “Then this conversation is over!”
“But Snoozy! How could you do this to your poor mother who loves you so much!”
“If she loved me that much then she would know that I can’t live without her lasa-”
I run into my mother’s extended arm. She is frozen in place and has stopped moving. I stare at her then look at what her gaze is fixed on. What I see is a disheveled man dressed in tattered clothes, holding a strange weapon which resembles a dagger.
“What do you want…” She says apprehensively.