Comforting Embrace of a Mother and a Friend

*NOTE: From this chapter on, the story will continue from Eleanor's perspective.

The weight of exhaustion pressed over me like a heavy cloak, dragging me into the depths of an abyss as if I were sinking deep into the sea.

"It's silent."

Lost and confused, I found myself covered in darkness, unsure of where I was or how I had arrived here.

"Where am I?"

As the silence stretched on, a faint melody began to blink in the shadows, a familiar lullaby from my childhood. It was the sweet, comforting voice of my mother, reaching out to me from the depths of memory, offering solace.

"Mom?" I called her. "Is that you?"

As I got no reply, I walked deeper, unknowing where I was headed, with my mind anxiously finding my mother, chasing the voice.

I walked for a few minutes until I stopped on my toes as I saw a dim light blinking on my right side.

I walked towards the light, and the sound of lullabies increased, telling me that I was close to the source.

As I walked out of the tunnel, I found myself on a wooden path that followed straight, with beautiful trees on my side and the sun setting in front, behind the mountains. The view is so comforting and mesmerising that I feel like I am in heaven.

After walking down the path, I finally saw the back of a woman on the bench in an open field, singing the lullaby.

The long, smooth hair has a pony on the side. It's my beautiful mother, whom I have always adored.

"Mom.." I called her.

She stopped singing and slowly turned her face towards me in curiosity.

Our gazes met, and a smile followed on her lips.

"Hello, sweetheart," said Mom.

"Huhh!?" I expressed my shock, as I couldn't believe my eyes.

Instantly, I ran towards her, went down on my knees, and hugged her, letting all my pent-up emotions out.

"Mom..." I said, crying. "Mom..."

"There, there.." said Mom, gently rubbing my head.

After a minute of crying, I looked at her closely.

"Are you hurt?" I asked, touching her face.

I remember when I last saw her, there was a big piece of glass inside her chest and in her eyes.

"Not at all; I am good."

"B-But when I saw you last time in the kitch-"

"Shhhh..Elea," said Mom, placing her fingers on my lips. "Let's not talk about all that. Okay?'

"Hmm.."

"Come here; lie down properly," said Mom, pulling me up from the ground.

As the wind moved silently in this place filled with warmth, I kept my head on my mom's lap, facing the sunset. She brushed my hair with her gentle fingers.

"So, how is it going?" asked Mom.

"Umm..good I guess." I replied. "I'm just missing you and Dad all the time."

"I see."

"And what about Elyana? You found her yet?"

"Nope, I haven't seen her so far."

"Do you feel lonely?"

"I do," I said.

"Ohh,"

"But Marie has been there with me the whole time. Thanks to her, the journey feels a little relaxing."

"That quirky, joyful friend from your academy?"

"Yes, yes, her only." I said, laughing.

"When she came to our house during your birthday, she broke our vase while talking and moving her hands, and she was so apologetic later."

"Yeah, that's how she is." I said. "But very supportive."

"That's good to know," Mom replied.

"Yes."

"And yes, yes, your Infusion?" she asked. "You learned it? You were so eager to learn."

"Umm...about that...." I said, pulling the conversation to tease her.

"What? Don't tell me you-"

"I learned it." I replied before her.

"Wha-" Mom expressed surprise. "Teasing your mother like that. Bad girl."

"Hehehe"

"So how did it all go? This past year without us." Mom asked.

As the golden hues of the sunset bathed the field in warmth, I rested in the embrace of my mother's lap, feeling the weight of the events slowly dissipate. The precious moment with her was as if time itself had granted us an eternity together. Pouring out my heart, I recounted everything that happened in my journey till the present, every joy and sorrow to her.

"I see, so my strong girl has become even stronger now." Mom said.

"Naaa~" I replied. "There's a long way ahead."

"Just like your father used to say."

"What?"

"Life is an endless, ever-growing journey."

"Ohh."

After a minute passed in silence, the sunset was already set, and the crickets and dragonflies had come out. I raced to a question about our whereabouts.

"Mom.."

"Yes?"

"Where is this place?"

"Umm...somewhere far where nothing can harm you."

"Heaven?"

"Maybe," mom said, smiling. "Who knows?"

"Am I dead?" I asked.

"Nope, you are not there yet," mom replied.

"Means?" I asked in confusion.

"Our time is over," Mom replied. "You should open your eyes now." 

"It is open, though." 

I turned my face away from the mountain and faced her. I saw the light fading away and her figure vaporising right in front of my eyes.

"Mom..."

"Take care, Elea," mom said. "We will be watching over you."

As the light dwindled into the void, I slowly blinked my eyes open. My gaze fell upon the comforting black sweater, and beneath me was something plush, as if I were on a soft comfort pillow. Raising my eyes, I was met with the sight of the most beautiful face I could recall, that of my dear friend, Marie. She sat, concern on her face, as her eyes fixed upon me with a mixture of relief and worry. It was then that I realised I was on her lap, enveloped in her protective embrace.

"Elea, you are up!" said Marie.

"From my mom's lap to yours." I replied. "Sigh* Life is relaxing towards me all of a sudden."

"Huh? What?"

"Nothing, don't worry." I hugged Marie by the stomach. "You smell nice."

"What are you talking about? And what do you mean by don't worry?" She asked in a loud voice. "Do you even have an idea in which condition I saw you in?"

"Was it really that bad?" I said, smiling at her stomach.

"A few seconds late, and we would've lost you."

"Ohh, I see."

"Elea!!!!!" Marie yelled, looking at my carelessness.

Soon, the drops of transparent liquid fell on me, as it happened before it started to rain. Worried, I looked towards Marie and saw her in distress, tears flowing down her face, but her expression was filled with anger.

"I am sorry, I am sorry." I said, lifting myself up and placing my hands under my eyes to stop the flow of tears. "Don't cry; I am okay now."

"Do you even-" She didn't complete her sentence, as her words couldn't come out of her mouth.

Instantly, I hugged her tight.

"I am sorry," I said. "I made you worried."

She nodded at my shoulders without saying anything.

"So, where are we?" I asked, looking around.

"Back to Queen's Palace." Marie replied

"I see."

I got up from her lap and tried to stand, but fell back on the couch again.

"You shouldn't move," said Marie. "Stay rested."

"Na, I am okay now."

Stumbling, I stand and walk around the hall.

"It's our room." I said, remembering the place I was a year ago before leaving for the mountains of Keral.

"Yes."

In the next second, I remembered what happened to me.

"Where's Master?" I asked.

"Master Marthanda, right?" replied Marie. "He's in the other room getting treated."

"Is he okay?"

"Yours was a physical wound, so healers took care of it. But your master's body was poisoned, so we don't know if he'll be able to move his body again."

"Oh, god, where is he? I must see him." I said, walking towards the door.

"Elea wait." Marie stopped me. "They aren't allowing any visitors until the queen decides. So you have to wait at least until he is awake properly."

"I see.."

Then I remembered the bastard who was responsible for all this.

"And what about him?"

"Who?"

"River. The fucker we were fighting with."

"Ohh, him"

"Yes."

"Actually, Elea," said Marie, looking down.

"What happened?" I asked her again out of curiosity.

"He..ran away."

"Huhh? What?" I expressed.