Chapter 10 - The Echoes of Conflict

Kasumi smiled softly at his words, her gaze fixed on him. "It's just a little air magic," she replied modestly, downplaying the magnitude of her display. "Nothing extravagant."
Yasu shook his head, a hint of disbelief in his eyes. "Nothing extravagant?" he repeated, gesturing to the robe. "Mom, you practically saved me from face-planting just a few seconds ago. And you were so casual about it, like it's no big deal!"
His mother chuckled, her eyes crinkling with a mixture of amusement and pride. "Well, when you've been doing magic for years, you tend to treat it as just another part of life," she explained, shrugging lightly. "It's become as natural as breathing to me."
Yasu stared up at her, awe still evident in his gaze. He took a moment to fully absorb her words, the realization of just how powerful she was sinking in. "You make it look so easy," he said, a hint of wonder in his voice.
Yasu's mind buzzed with curiosity as he watched his mother exhibit her mastery over the air, the magic appearing almost effortless. A thought popped up in his head, and without thinking, the words escaped his lips. "Mom," he began, his tone laced with a mix of awe and intrigue, "are you and Father always this powerful?"
His mother paused her magic, turning to look at him. A smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth at his question. "You could say that," she replied, a hint of pride in her voice. "Our abilities have been honed over time."
The mother settled down on the edge of the bed, patting the space beside her to invite Yasu to join her. Yasu complied, sitting down next to her with a mix of curiosity and contemplation etched on his face.
The mother looked down at him, her eyes warm and affectionate. "You know," she began thoughtfully, "we're not as powerful as we once were."
Yasu's eyebrows furrowed in confusion at her words. "Why is that?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.
The mother sighed softly, a hint of melancholy in her eyes. "Because we chose to focus on raising you," she answered, her voice tinged with a hint of bittersweetness. "We decided that building a happy life with you was more important than honing our powers to their fullest potential."
Yasu felt a pang of guilt at her words. He hadn't considered the sacrifices his parents made in order to prioritize his upbringing. "I... I didn't realize," he mumbled, his eyes downcast. "I guess I was so caught up in wondering about my own lack of magic that I didn't think about how you and Dad might have sacrificed your abilities for me."
The mother smiled softly, her gaze meeting his. "Yasu, there's something I'd like to share with you," she began, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "This world we live in isn't always as peaceful as it seems on the surface."
Yasu nodded, his attention fully focused on her words. "What do you mean?" he asked, a tinge of worry creeping into his voice.
Kasumi took a moment before continuing, her gaze now distant as if remembering the past. "You see, there are different races in this world, each with their unique abilities and ways of life. Over the years, there have been numerous conflicts between these races, each trying to gain more power."
Yasu listened intently, his eyes widening as he absorbed her words. The idea of different races struggling for power seemed both fascinating and intimidating. "So, there's constant strife and conflict... between different races?" he questioned, a hint of disbelief in his voice.
The mother nodded, her expression now solemn. "Yes," she affirmed, her voice filled with a mix of sadness and wisdom. "The conflicts range from small squabbles to full-blown wars. Each race vies for dominance, believing their way of life is superior."
Yasu's mind raced with questions. "But... why can't they just coexist? Wouldn't it be better if everyone just got along?" he inquired, a touch of innocence still present in his voice despite their serious conversation.
Kasumi chuckled softly at Yasu's innocent question, her hand gently patting his head. "You're still young, Yasu," she said with a fond smile. "Perhaps you'll understand more as you grow older."
Yasu puffed out his cheeks slightly, a bit put off by being regarded as naive for his youth. "I'm not that young," he pouted slightly, trying to keep his composure.
The mother let out another soft chuckle, patting his head once more. "Even so, it's past your bedtime," she reminded him gently.
Yasu sighed, his momentary irritation melting away at her gentle reminder. He knew she was right; it was late, and he should be winding down to sleep. "Alright, Mom," he acquiesced, reluctantly admitting to himself that it was getting late.
The mother stood up, a soft smile still lingering on her face. "Good boy," she said, ruffling his hair affectionately. "Get some rest now. We can talk more tomorrow, if you like."
Yasu stood up, accepting the fact that it was time to wind down for the night. He gingerly began removing the robe, feeling the soft fabric slide off his shoulders. As he carefully placed it aside, he couldn't help but run his fingers over the fabric, silently appreciating its high-quality material.
The room felt oddly different without the robe, the air less mystical. Despite the late hour, Yasu's youthful curiosity still lingered, his mind restless with unanswered questions.
The mother smiled softly at Yasu's lingering restless demeanor. "You look like you still have a thousand questions running through your head," she remarked, a hint of amusement lacing her voice.
Yasu chuckled sheepishly, realizing that she could easily read him like an open book. "Yeah, kind of," he admitted, scratching the back of his head. "My mind kind of just won't shut off."
The mother playfully ruffled his hair. "Ah, the struggles of a curious mind," she teased. "Get some sleep, Yasu. Your questions can wait until morning."
Yasu groaned slightly, knowing deep down that she was right. "Okay, fine," he relented, a touch of reluctance in his voice. "I'll sleep, I'll sleep."
The mother chuckled, amused by his grumbling. "Good boy," she said, her tone slightly teasing. "No more staying up late pondering life's mysteries, alright? You need your rest."
Yasu couldn't help but huff a small laugh at her words. "Alright, alright," he replied, holding up his hands in surrender. "I promise, no late-night revelations tonight. I'll sleep properly like a good boy."
The mother smiled, satisfied with his agreement. "That's more like it," she responded, a hint of affection in her voice. "Sweet dreams, Yasu. Don't let the mysteries of the universe keep you tossing and turning."
With the robe neatly hung and the late-night conversation winding down, Yasu and his mother shared a final moment of warmth before parting ways for the night.
"Good night, Mom," Yasu said, a hint of weariness in his voice.
The mother reached out and ruffled his hair affectionately. "Good night, Yasu," she replied in a soft tone. "Sleep well."
And with those final words, Yasu retreated to his room, the unanswered questions still buzzing softly in his mind as he closed the door behind him.
The night enveloped the house, the quiet settling in. Yasu climbed into bed, the weight of the day's events slowly beginning to fade. As he closed his eyes, his mind still filled with wonder and curiosity, a mix of memories and questions, the soft sound of his mother's voice gently echoed in his thoughts.
Little did Yasu know that the mysteries he had touched upon with his mother were just the tip of the iceberg, and much more was waiting to be discovered.