Home sweet home

The long road home was traversed calmly and without any obstacles throughout the way, Von stopped only once at night to get some rest and appreciate as he had so many times before the beautiful and captivating night sky filled with its stars and the moon light that caressed the soft and green pastures of the Kriel countryside. The warm campfire lit only minutes ago provided the necessary warmth for tonight, laying on his back he wondered what it would be like to see his mother again after so long, it had been two years between his soulbinder training and his first expedition. So much had changed, he had changed, would she remember him as her little boy or as this new tough and scarred soldier?. Putting his mind at ease, he proceeded to close his eyes, and go to sleep as the soft wind slipped through his hair and clothes, combined with the fire it was the perfect night.

Von woke up with the dawn of day, the sun shot its first rays of sunlight upon the lands and finished in awaken a rested and content Von, in just a couple of hours he would arrive home and finally spend time with his mother he picked up his gear and put the last embers out before heading towards his home. The day was clear and warm as spring closed in and it was getting warmer and warmer which reminded him how he and his brother and father would make trips to the nearby lake to cool off. This thought incited a smile which rose all the way to his eyes.

Finally the town was on sight and Von began jogging, impatient. As he reached the outskirts Von met several of his old neighbors who saluted him with smiles and pats on the back, he couldn't resist laughing and hugging the people who had been a part of his life for so long. However, as soon as he kept walking they began talking in hushed tones, Von paid no mind "Could the news of my trial have come here so quickly?" He asked himself before running into the town's blacksmith.

"May God smite me, you look fearsome boy" The old white-bearded man said as he ran and hugged Von, his firm hands grasping him tightly, he began sniffling "You and your brother are the pride of our town"

"Nice to see you too Leon, you have gotten older" Von said between chuckles

"Look at you talking like that to the man that made your first sword" Leon replied in fake annoyance "You won't get your present then" he said softly

"There was no need, please" Von said in slight nervousness,

"But there was, you came back, a letter arrived praising you by one of the commanders in the army" Leon answered as he turned around and grabbed a sword wrapped in cloth "Here, my greatest creation yet"

Von grabbed and inspected the sword it had leather and metal grip which allowed both good grip and nice heat distribution, necessary for a fire soulbinder, double edged sharp sten metal was used which was incredible given how expensive it was and in one side it had an engraving "For the fire that shall light the darkest nights" lastly it had a cross guard great for hand protection.

"It's beautiful..." Von said in awe as he kept inspecting the sword "Thank you Leon"

"No need kid, now I know you must want to see your mother but you need to see the town manager first" Leon said in a more serious tone

"Why?" Von replied in suspicion, his eyes narrowed as he searched for why the sudden change "Is it the money? Was there an increase in the medicine?"

"No.. You just need to" Leon said slowly

"All right" Von said as he sheathed the sword and walked away "Thanks again".

He walked through the roads of his hometown appreciating the narrow alleys where he used to play who could win in a fight with his brother or the small ponds where they would hunt for frogs. It was in worse shape than he remembered, the war had taken its toll.

"It must have been hell keeping up with the taxes" Von thought as he approached the Town's manager house, he knocked on the door three times as he always does.

A short man with short brown hair and a shirt and overalls opened the door only to make a grimace face as he saw Von, he quickly changed and smiled as he extended his hand "Von, it's so nice to see you again" he said in a slight stutter. All this attitude was weird since Von had had a close relationship with him due to him being in charge of taking care of his mother.

"Thomas, you seem off, are you surprised to see me?" Von asked in slight concern as he looked behind him to see Thomas's wife with their two kids, one boy and one girl, all three looking at Von with slight fear, "Is me being here making you uncomfortable?" Von asked Thomas as he stepped back,

"Nonsense, they are surprised as are we all, you have become a great soldier" Thomas quickly said as he grabbed Von's arm and shoved him inside

"So I've been told" Von said with tiredness, he was tired of that, being a great soldier, what did that mean? That he killed better than others? That he followed orders more attentively? He was tired of being treated as nothing else but a soldier.

Everything was just the same as when he had left, the same furniture, the same old rug and the same old cups and bowls over the table, despite the time that had passed nothing inside this house had changed, except perhaps the people within. Thomas had always been nice and kind with Von now he was off.

"Leon told me to come, I don't know why but can we make it quick please? I want to see my mother" Von said as he looked around the house, his boots with mud were now mudding the floors. Thomas looked at the floor and looked back at Von quickly, Von noticed and looked down "Oh I'm so sorry" He quickly said as he went back to the door but before he could Thomas grabbed him "Sit down please" his hand was trembling.

Von did as told "All right you are clearly trying to tell me something but you are afraid" He said, "You know you can trust me Thomas, I owe you everything after all, I can see my mother thanks to you"

Thomas sat down and held his head between his hands, he slowly rose and looked at Von with tears in his eyes, "I don't know how to tell you Von" he said between small sobs,

Fearing the worst, Von carefully shifted on his seat as he felt the weight of the world suddenly falling on his shoulders, his breaths got heavier as he leaned on the table "Tell me what Thomas?" he asked in a choked voice

"Your mother.. she..she" Thomas began

"She what?" Von said as tears fell down on his cheeks

"She 's gone.." Thomas said in a bear whisper

"What?.. When?.. How long ago? days, weeks?" Von began asking hurriedly as he started crying

"I.. I" Thomas began

Rage began pouring on Von as he began realizing that it hadn't been neither days nor weeks, he stood up and grabbed Thomas by the crook of his shirt, the wife and kids were now all curled up together as they saw the display of rage unfold, unable to do anything for their husband and father, the tension and emotion on the house was by the roof.

"When?! Tell me!" Von shouted in his face as the man began crying even harder

"Five months ago..." He said again in a whisper

"What?" Now no rage, no sadness was shown in Von's voice, a pure calmness that was more frightening than the previous two combined, Von's eyes slowly widened as his pupils began shrinking, "You didn't tell me.."he said in the same terrifying calm voice

Thomas was afraid, he had pissed himself, he had just brought on himself the rage of a soulbinder, but it was fair he had lied, and yet he was scared. All he could see between the blurriness of his tears was...

a closed fist.