Chapter 36

The sleeplessness was a result of the death he had seen and also because how scared he had been. He was never as scared in his two lives as he was at that time. He knew how to use a sword. He knew magic. He was still useless for the most part. The man who whose side got cut was still in danger. If the wound got infected, he would die before they reached Rivertown which was still a month away. If he had better control of himself, he might have scared the bandits away with his ability. No one would have got hurt or got killed.

The next morning, David offered the carriage shared by the two businessman to Aaron. Aaron took it. He spent the whole day in the carriage. He didnt even come out at night. It was Maria who came to him to tell that dinner was ready. He initially refused but Maria somehow managed to drag Aaron out. Grown couldnt have done that. They would be afraid of angering a mage. But a child was not scared.

Aaron came out to sit by the fire and had his food. Something warm in his belly made him feel a little better. It was only Maria who talked a little, others kept quiet.

After staying like that for a couple of days, Aaron decided to reach his home first and then decide what to do. He offered to get back to his carriage which he shared. David and the others forcefully refused. He even offered to help with the camp, they were horrified by his suggestion.

"No Sir mage. You rest, we will do everything. There isnt even much work" was the reply.

They barely had any conversation with him. If Aaron said something. They would listen and just give short replies.

Aaron gave up after a few tries. He understood that was because he was a mage. Common people were fearful of angering a mage.

He decided to just finish this journey somehow.

One month passed by without further incident. The injured man was also a little better. Is wound didnt get infected.

He had reached Rivertown and took his leave from the caravan. He could almost hear a sigh of relief from them. They were too tensed around him.

Aaron decided he didnt want any more adventures now. He directly went to the branch association and asked for a carriage.

"We are a small branch. We dont keep carriages. But if you want, we can arrange one for you. It would be better if you leave tomorrow morning though. You could reach Willow's Den by the evening. Otherwise if you leave now, you will be have to spend a night camping. "

Aaron didnt want to stay, but he didn't want to spend time in the camp either. He didnt want any more incidents.

He asked for a inn and asked for the carriage first thing in the morning.

He also informed them about the incident on the road.

"Did you happen to kill any bandits yourself? " The branch head asked.

"No. I did use a spell on them to immobilize them. The rest of the team killed them. "

"Its okay as long you didnt kill them directly or on purpose. Although a mage is allowed to kill common people in self defense. But you would still need to go through a lot of formalities. But now this incident dont need so much work. I will inform about the incident and ask for appropriate action to be taken. Attacking a mage in knowing is a serious crime. "

Aaron finished his report and left for the inn. It wasnt as good as the inn at Modena. But he didn't want much at this point. He welcomed a bath and fell asleep soon he finished dinner.

Next morning. He took the carriage early and the journey went by without any delay.

It was evening by the time he reached Willow's Den. Although he had been away from home for a long time, he was very familiar with the place. The place hadnt changed much over the years. He guided the carriage to his house. The house was the same as well. He got down from the carriage and paid it away.

He slowly walked upto the door and knocked on it.

A child who looked about 7 years old opened the door.

"Hello I am Karen. Who are you?" Aaron was surprised. Did he come to the right house?

"Who is it Karen?" sounded the voice of a woman from behind. Aaron was very familiar with this voice. It was his mother.

"I dont know mother. He seems to be unable to speak. I asked, he didnt reply." Said Karen.

"You shouldn't talk like that. How many times do I have to remind you?" As she said that she approched the door while drying her hands on a piece of cloth.

She dropped the cloth as soon as she saw Aaron standing there. There was not mother who wouldnt recognize her child. She rushed towards him.

Aaron too dropped his sack and hugged his mother.

"Aaron. You are finally back. You dont know how much I have missed you." His mother weeped while she hugged her son.

"I have missed you too mother. " Said Aaron. He had tears in his eyes as well.

After they spent some time hugging, his mother sperated and wiped away the tears in her eyes.

"Let me look at you. You have grown taller. But you look thin like you havent been eating anything. Are you well?"

No matter which planet you were on. Mothers worried about whether or not you are eating right.

"Yes mother. I am good. I have been eating good as well. "

"Who is this mommy?" Karen asked from the side.

"This is your brother we talk about." "Aaron this your sister Karen. " Sabina explained to both her kids.

Aaron pulled the young Karen into a hug as well. But she squirmed out of it and hid behind her mother. She continued to sneak peek at him though.

Aaron and Sabina both laughed at this.

"Come in. Dont just stand outside. Your father will be home soon as well. "

He was already feeling much better after getting home. He freshened up and got rid of the dust and sweat from the journey.

He talked with mother. She asked him about his life and he explained a little about it to her. She soon got busy in making dinner. He tried talking with karen. She was a little shy at first. But she soon got comfortable. Aaron didnt know how, but he was on all fours and giving a ride to his little sister. That didnt go with the image of a mage people had in their minds. But Aaron felt at peace with all this.

His father came home to this scene. He laughed and pulled Aaron to a bear hug.

"You have grown my boy. You seem to be in good enough shape. Looks like you didnt slack off much. " Said Mike.

"Yes father. I did train a little."

"Come sit. Tell me all about it. " He pulled Karen in his lap and sat down with Karen. They talked a lot that night. Sabina joined them once dinner was ready. They ate like a family that day. There was laughter around and everybody seemed so happy. Later Aaron showed some basic mage spells. Karen clapped and was the most excited one after seeing the spells. She kept asking for more. They were up talking late into the night.

Finally as Aaron went to bed he just thought "I am home."