A Mother's Wish

Berk's constant search for an escape in the mines when he was younger was how he had become so good at finding ore veins. He had spent a good part of a decade searching for an escape path, and had observed the mines for a long, long time.

"Do it Asher… Do it and succeed… Live a great life, something I was not able to give you." Tess pleaded. "You mother… Aura wished for that as well." She added after a pause.

Hearing the name of his mother, Asher couldn't help but go silent for a bit.

She was someone he didn't really remember much about, as he was simply too young to do so. But in his dreams, he would sometimes see flashes of a woman. Her blonde hair was like the morning sunshine that descended through the clouds, while a gentle smile as warm as the spring sun shone on her face.

But he could not see the rest of her face. Everything else was just a bare silhouette that flashed in his dreams from time to time.

Of course, he didn't know if that really was his mother or just some random person in his dreams. 

Tess had spoken about his mother a few times, but she kept silent, mostly only saying that his mother loved him a lot but died soon after giving birth to him. Asher didn't know why she didn't tell him more, but every time he mentioned his mother, the old woman would have an expression of pain and sadness.

After a while, Asher had given up on asking for more.

Thus, it was a surprise to him that Tess had spoken about his mother right now.

"Mother… Did?" Asher finally spoke.

"Yes! She wished for you to have a great life outside of this cruel land. She wanted you to be happy, content, and healthy." Tess replied, much more enthusiastically this time. "So go! Fulfill her wishes! Leave this godforsaken place." She exclaimed.

Asher went silent for a while, a hundred thoughts going through his mind. 

"I'll do it." Asher spoke, faint determination visible in his eyes. "I'll escape and leave the Crude Lands!" he said out loud.

"Good!" Berk smiled, seeing the confidence return on the boy's face.

Asher felt a lot better than before. He didn't know whether it was the rush of emotions, or the faint glimmer of hope in the future, but it allowed him to think a lot more clearly now. 

He actively thought about what he would have to do from now on and understood that a proper plan would be needed. Any mistake would cost him greatly, as it would mean getting caught by the guards. And if he got caught, there was a high chance the guards would not stop at just punishing him.

They would also punish all those that helped him, which were Tess and Berk.

Asher couldn't let that happen.

"If… I do manage to escape through the flooded tunnel, what do I do after that?" Asher asked. "I don't know where to go." He expressed his doubt.

Escaping was just half of the entire ordeal. The actual goal was to get to a good place and be safe. After all, there was a faint chance the guards might suspect he had escaped, or the people outside might even find out that he had come from the Crude Lands.

There was no telling what their reactions would be if they learned he was from Crude Lands. While Asher might not be an official exile or outcast, there was a negative stigma attached to all those that were from the Crude Lands.

And since he had lived here all his life, he didn't know how to behave around outside people.

"Once you escape from the flooded tunnel, you will arrive on the Eastern side of the hills that surround the Crude Lands. From here on, you need to head further east." Berk replied. "Simply follow the Sourcefather's point of rise in the sky and go in that direction." He explained.

"Alright." Asher nodded his head.

"You will have to walk far, Asher. But once you walk enough, you will reach a city." Tess spoke next. "That will be your destination." 

"A city? Those big places where many people live?" Asher asked.

"Yes." Tess replied. "The city you will be going to is called Volstead City." She revealed.

"Volstead city…" Asher repeated, making sure he memorized it. 

"Once you're there, you want to find a place called Roran's Hearth. Talk to the owner Byron there… Tell him I sent you." Tess explained. "He's… an old friend of mine. From long ago… If he still remembers me, he will help you out. You'll have a place to stay and eat." She revealed.

Asher couldn't help but be surprised upon hearing that.

"An old friend?" Asher had never heard of this before. "From when you used to live outside the Crude Lands?" he asked.

"It was a long time ago. I might have been just a little older than you… But Byron was a friend I could count on." Tess stated.

Berk, who heard this though, couldn't help but furrow his brows.

"Are you sure he's still there?" He asked.

"Considering him… He's definitely there." Tess nodded her head. "If there was one thing he liked, then it was his father's tavern. He would always talk about how he would inherit it one day and run it." She said as fond memories coursed through her mind.

"Hmm… I suppose it is a good option, then." Berk agreed.

"Alright, grandmother. I'll go there and meet Byron." Asher memorized it all. 

"Good… But before you go, I have something for you." Tess said before taking out something from her bag. 

"What's this?" Asher looked at the rectangular metal plate in his grandmother's hand.

The metal plate had no markings on it and looked rather plain. Though if one looked closer, they would see two holes on both sides on the plate, intended for it to be attached to something else.

"This belonged to your mother."