Book 15: Chapter 18
I arrived at the derelict house. The White Deer King ran too fast, causing me to feel sick. I went to the side to throw up for a while before looking up at the rundown house. The house didn’t qualify as a house. It reminded me of temporary dorms set up on construction sites. Actually, this one was worse. This one was essentially rocks piled on top of each other and held together with mud. There wasn’t even a piece of cloth to keep the rain out for the flat ceiling. If it rained, it was unlikely you could take shelter inside. It wasn’t a house. It was barely better than the house Inard put together in the desert. However, I saw Elizabeth, who wore a surprised expression, there.
Befuddled, Elizabeth asked, “Son… Wait… Son… Why did you come from the Imperial Palace? Why? Shouldn’t you have come back from this direction?”
I nodded: “Yes. You’re right about that, but we may have missed each other. I never thought you’d be waiting for me here, either… Sorry, Mom, sorry. I made you wait long. How are you supposed to live here…? Come back to the Imperial Palace with me.”
Elizabeth didn’t reject me. Instead, she gently grabbed my hand and hopelessly smiled: “Maybe I’m not suited to being a mother. I did my best to construct a small house to wait for your return. I wanted to be the first to see you return, only for me to completely fail. I truly am not worthy of being a mom.”
“No, that’s not true, Mom. I am very touched that you were willing to wait for me here. You’re my Mom. Don’t say sort of stuff again.”
I firmly held Mommy Elizabeth’s hand. She nodded with a smile, and then affectionately stroked my face. Her gaze was filled with boundless gentleness and satisfaction. In a soft voice, she said, “Son, you look fine now. Mommy can finally feel reassured. Mommy can’t sleep whenever Mommy thinks about your condition as a consequence of protecting Mommy. Mommy was very worried something would happen to you. Mommy was very worried that you couldn’t be saved, but you’re now here and looking so healthy, so Mommy is very, very satisfied and happy. Mommy is so glad you’re here with Mommy, Son.”
Once she finished, Elizabeth put me into her gentle embrace. I gently hugged her back. I felt her warmth. I had lots I wanted to say to her, lots and lots, from my adventure to Inard. I just didn’t know where to start. At the very least, I only asked I could hug Elizabeth then. I just wanted to give her a good hug.
Elizabeth gave me gentle strokes as though she was frowning, because she felt sorry for me, since my skin had become scales: “It’s all right. It’s all right, Son. It hurts, doesn’t it? It must hurt, right?”
Mom apologetically touched my face and scales. I vigorously shook my head. I replied, “It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt whatsoever. Plus, thanks to these scales, blades won’t be able to hurt me henceforward. Not even magic can harm me.”