Chapter 44

The gate of Borne. Ever since the destruction of this kingdom, I always thought to myself that I would never see Borne again. Yet, for some reason, I found myself staring at the front gates.

Droplets of rain started pouring to the ground, wetting the green grassy field under me. But there was no rain. The sun was still high and the sky was still bright. Instead, it was my tears. Countess tears dropped from my eyes down to the ground, as I stared at the place that I have been longing for throughout this journey.

I am lying if I said that everyday in my life, I didn't miss the kingdom of Born. Every night, I have countless dreams of this kingdom. Every day I wake up from that dream, I find myself crying and missing the place where I grew up. I also miss the people that I adored and loved when I was a kid. Every good memory I have in this place…. I longed to experience them again.

I was speechless. I didn't know what to do. My knees become weak. As my knees fell to the ground, I couldn't hold my emotions anymore. The air echoed with my sobs. I heard the front gate open slowly, yet I didn't look up. I was… weak already.

But a voice that I have not heard in a while called my name.

"Ashe." My mother said.

I looked up, tears still falling nonstop from my eyes. I thought I was dreaming. I thought that fatigue was making me hallucinate. I tried to shake my head, to wake myself up. But my mother was still standing there with a warm smile on her face. A smile that I… missed so much.

More sobs escaped from me as I stood up and ran towards my mother.

"Mom!" I said, finally hugging her tightly as I reached her. This is not a dream… This is really her. As she embraced me, I cried everything out from my heart, not letting her go. I was afraid that I would lose her the moment my grip on her loosen. I could feel the same warmth she used to have while hugging me. Her amazing scent and motherly aura that she exudes when she was around me.

We embraced each other for a long time. I lost track of time because I was too busy hugging her. After a while, mother let me go and caressed my face while her fingers wiped the tears away that were still falling.

"I missed you, my little Ashe." She said.

I cupped her hands that were still on my cheeks, engraving her warm touch. "I missed you too, mother." I said finally after regaining my composure, yet my tears never stopped.

"Do you want to walk with me?" She asked. Without hesitation, I nodded.

The two of us went inside the gate and walked together side by side while I was clinging to her arm. I missed her so much and a part of me still was not convinced that this was real. But I pushed that feeling away and focused on enjoying these moments with my mother.

As we walked together, we both reminisced about the funny events that happened in the past. As we walked by familiar places and areas, we shared stories of what had happened in that time, causing us to laugh from each other's perspective. Laughter filled the air and a warm experience I have never before felt since the destruction of Borne resurfaced once more. I took my time telling her my journey and what had happened to me after she pushed me. How I met Serpentine first in the void space, or Void Realm. How I met Lady Lumana from a small village and how she took care of me. Followed by Judge Leo, King Gia, and then how I reunited with Hazmuth in the underground kingdom. I also told her my fight against Alexis, Cecilia, and the recent one against Nashia. I also told her about Vivian which made us both sad.

After telling her everything that has happened to my life, mother embraced me tightly as if she had no intention of letting me go. "You've been through a lot, my baby. I'm sorry for putting you through this." She said as she started crying.

I tried not to cry as well, but I was too weak to hide whatever emotions I had. "I missed you, mom."

We both embraced each other in silence after, appreciating the warmth we both missed.

I thought after this journey of vengeance, I would gain nothing. But I was wrong. A journey is a journey nevertheless. No matter what kind of journey you have, at the end of your hard and struggling adventure, you have a reward waiting for you.

My reward was reuniting with my mother once more.

After a long time of embracing and talking to each other, my mother's form was slowly fading.

"It seems I am running out of time." She said and tears fell from her eyes again.

"Please don't go, mom. I missed you. I still want to be with you." I said, begging her. But I knew… I knew that she couldn't do anything.

"My baby…" She said, cupping my face with her hands and making me look at her eyes. Her eyes were filled with tears, but behind them, there was joy and happiness. "For many years… I have been missing you a lot. Whenever I am getting tired of fighting, you were my motivation and inspiration of why I kept fighting. I told myself: as long as my baby girl is alive, I won't let anyone conquer our world." She said. She paused for a while to let her words linger.

"You are my world, my little Ashe." She hugged me for the last time.

"Please… I missed you. You are my world too. Don't go!" I cried, embracing her tightly to not let her fade away.

"I love you, Ashe. I missed you." She kissed my forehead and hugged me tightly. Loud sobs echoed throughout the kingdom of Borne. As my mother's body faded, my tears did not stop coming.

Even though she was gone, her words still echoed in the air.

"I love you, Ashe."

And finally, after her long fight against the otherworldly beings, her spirit has finally rested for eternity.

I stared at the cracks in the sky. Then my eyes averted to the shining sun that was fading as well.

"Goodbye, mother. And I love you too." I said my final goodbye.