Chapter 19: Don't look down on me.
" I was on my way back from conducting a business transfer when my assigned caravan was ambushed by a group of monsters."
" Wait... Are you saying you're entire group lost to those 3?" Adrian found it hard to believe.
" Adrian. I'm sure Leo dosen't want to talk about such a thing." His mother chided him again.
Adrian averted his gaze but didn't say anything.
Leo shook his head. " I wished that was what happened but, we were assaulted by a series of monsters before I was finally apprehended by those three."
' Damn... Talk about bad luck...'
" You poor thing..." Adrian shook his head slowly from side to side, pitying Leo. His reaction made Leo's lips twitch a bit but he said nothing.
" So... Are you going to accept my offer?" Leo asked again.
" That depends, since we'll be leaving our own home, I take it you're ready to prepare us another. I'm sure it shouldn't be too hard for someone like yourself." Adrian smirked but winced the next moment when his mother bonked him on the head.
" T-That hurt~" the poor guy rubbed his head, he swore he felt a bump on his scalp but his mother spared him no sympathy.
" Please ignore him Leo dear, we're honored by the proposal but wouldn't it be too much of a burden on you." Adrian's mother said with a worried look on her face, the last thing she wanted was to be a burden to someone.
" Not at all aunty! If it's a house, I'd be happy to procure one for the both of you." Instead of feeling reluctant, Leo was Instead enthusiastic by the notion.
" A-Are you sure? A house in the capital must be expensive..." She still looked unsure.
" Mom, stop worrying, he says he'll fit the bill so why not."
' I for one I'm curious to see what this so called capital is like... Hopefully it'll be more safer than the village."
" Then you'll come with me?" Leo asked with expectant eyes.
" Sure, why not." Adrian replied with a shrug. Though he was curious as to why Leo was so insistent on having him tag along.
" Alright! I'll get going then. Don't forget, we leave in a few days." Leo looked far more happier than when he came, he then offered some parting words to Adrian's mother before leaving.
After Leo left, Adrian didn't feel the urge to head back to bed, instead he went into the kitchen and brewed some herbs before coming back out.
" I was wondering where you went, what's this?" Melissa, Adrian's mother asked when she saw her son who she'd been looking for, suddenly emerge with a wooden cup in hand.
Adrian didn't say anything but handed her the cup. " Drink it, you need more medicine if you're to recover completely mother." He said, inside he wasn't completely sure she was properly healed yet. The last thing he wanted was for her illness to relapse.
" I'm find Adrian, there's no reason for you to be so worried. I should be the one worried on account of the fact that you almost lost your life." She took a sip of the herbal mixture, her brows raised a bit when she noticed her sweet it tasted.
" I added some milk to smoothen the flavour." Adrian said before heading into his room, he soon came out again, this time with his signature fur cloth.
" And where do you think your going dressed like that?" She asked, still wondering whether her son was really sick because the way he was moving around the house made her have a hard time believing he was someone who feel asleep for 3 days straight.
" Where else? I'm going to escort you back to Mr Miller's, I'm sure your illness can't be completely treated in 3 days so we'll head back for a check up just to be sure." He said matter of fact.
' Besides, it's better to get my money's worth this way, I can't have all my efforts ending up in vain.' He thought to himself.
His mother try refusing but ultimately failed under her son's insistent attitude. In the end, she took her bath, got dressed and they both left the house.
The morning sun did little to cut the winter's bite, but Adrian focused on the small patch of warmth where his mother's hand rested on his arm as they held hands.
" A-Adrian dear, are you sure we should be walking like this?" His mother looked nervous staring at her son who held her hand so tightly without letting go. Her gaze kept staring around, as if worried some people might notice and tease him for it.
" I'm just trying to make sure you get as much warmth as possible." Adrian said, not caring for the looks some villagers flashed his side, instead he was more than satisfied with the soft warmth of his mother's hand.
To savor the moment, He walked slowly, but not too slow to burden her, just enough so that he could match her labored pace as they moved through the village toward the doctor's clinic.
Every few steps, she would pause, her breath misting in the cold air as a faint, dry cough rattled in her chest.
' I knew it... There's no way mom could get better in such a short amount of time...'
Each sound of her coughing felt like a little knife twisting in Adrian's gut, to him, her illness was like a constant reminder of why he spent his days scouring the frozen forest.
"We're almost there, Mother." he said, his voice gentle as he guided her over a patch of uneven, frozen snow.
"Mr. Miller will know if you're getting better. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be back to your old self soon enough."
She gave his arm a weak squeeze, her smile tired but full of affection. "You worry too much, my boy. Who says I'm worried?"
" You're mother isn't scared of anything, even if Mr Miller can't help, I'm sure with time I'll get rid of it completely.