Risking Failure

Panting and bent over at the gate to her house, I stopped. There was no one outside that I could see. Smoke rose from the small building on the right. It was still the middle of the day, most of the house further back looked dim. I didn’t know where I would find her.

My hand went to the gate as I froze for a moment. ‘Was this trespassing? I had been invited before, but now I was just intruding.’ I couldn’t run away. Renold and Mrs. Erina were staring at me. I knew what they would say. I pushed through.

The gate groaned signaling my arrival. It wasn’t loud, but if anyone was paying attention they knew. Though no one came out when we arrived at night. I didn’t know which I would prefer. But I didn’t make it but halfway to the house before I was forced into a route. Her mother approached from around the back of the house.

I awkwardly waved to her trying to act normal, but I was failing, I knew. “Hello, Mrs. Finrow!”

There was some confusion and a hint of annoyance that I could see on her face before it washed away with that same polite smile. She went into full business mode. “Sir Hero! Did you forget something?”

“Yeah, kinda in a way.” I looked around the property to see if there was anyone else. The hope of being saved didn’t seem to be coming. “I was wanting to speak with Eri. Do you know where she is?”

“Our daughter? But I already told you that she’s not going to be continuing with you. She told me that herself.”

“Yes, I understand that you told me that. But I’d still like to speak with her myself, please.” The Linca woman still maintained that fake smile, but it seemed like it was becoming a bit of a struggle. I didn’t want to be here annoying her anymore than she wanted me bothering her. But Mrs. Erina was right. I didn’t know the truth from Eri’Sol. She needed to tell me. “Please.”

“I already explained myself. Leave.” She began to lose the politeness. Her hand reached out for me, but I side stepped her. That seemed to be the last straw for her as I saw anger flare up quickly. “Leave! You’re not welcome here, Passer!”

“I just need a minute, a few seconds!”

“Get out!” she shouted trying to shut me up. “You don’t care about our daughter! She’s just some new thing to you and you’ll toss her to the side when you get bored! I see it in your eyes! You Passers are all the same!”

I hit a landmine, but I didn’t care anymore. My mind wasn’t even thinking. “You don’t know what’s in my eyes! She barged into my life! And I tried, I really tried to push her away for her safety and…mine. But she stuck with me! A pathetic loser like me, she stayed! I can’t even heal right, but she didn’t care! So no, I want to hear from her that she decided to stay, not from you!” I was nearly in her face or maybe she was in mine. I sort of lost what was happening moment to moment as our emotions bared their fangs.

She nearly seemed to growl at me like an animal flashing teeth. She grabbed my wrists this time as I wasn’t even trying to pay attention to her. Pressure clamped down on my wrists, hell she was strong! “You don’t know anything! She is my daughter! You don’t get to come in here and act like everyone has to give up whatever you want! You’re an outsider! Leave before I break your arms!”

She definitely meant, but I was too committed now to leave. “I’m not leaving until I see Eri!”

“You’re never seeing her!” I think I heard bone cracking.

“She’s my friend! I want to talk to her again!”

“What do you know–”

“Minoru?!” I turned my head in surprise to see Eri coming from the workshop. Her wild red-orange flame hair all tied up in a ponytail. Her face looked soot covered and sweaty. There was confusion on her face.

Pain flooded through my arms as her mother clamped down even tighter. But none of that mattered anymore seeing that warm smile again. There she was in front of me. Why did I want to cry again, damnit?

Eri ran over rubbing some soot over her nose as she approached. She looked over to her mother and back to me. “What’s going on here?”

“The hero was just leaving.”

“No, I wasn’t! Your mother told me that you wanted to stay behind. I was being an idiot and left just accepting it. But some good people reminded me that maybe I should take the chance. I wanted to know what you wanted to do, Eri.”

“What the helsa, mom?!” She grabbed her mother’s arm pulling her off me as I gasped a bit reactively. “Why did you tell him that? I only was staying until I finished my work.”

“Work?”

“I wanted to make you a new weapon. A proper one meant for a hero.” Eri glared at her mother. “I had decided on a compromise. Something I didn’t consider until I was with you, Minoru.”

“Me? What are you saying?”

“You are a healer, but you’re also exploring Potion Making. It seems silly now that I didn’t consider it, but I can carry on both dreams. I don’t need to abandon either. I’ll be your shield, but I’ll also maintain your weapons for you. I can be a smith and adventurer.” Eri stepped in again almost looking ready to fight. “Dad already accepted my decision. I can’t be an adventurer forever, so I can eventually return to properly carry on the business at the end.”

“But you could die before that day comes!”

“I would have died eventually if I hadn’t been with Minoru! That curse we found would have killed everyone of us in time if we didn’t stop it! So we can yell about what if’s all day, but this is my decision! I can die tomorrow if I stay behind, we don’t know. But until that day comes, I’m going to do what I promised. Both promises.” She looked over to me. “Sorry for the trouble she’s caused you.”

I shook my head. “No, I caught myself in more trouble than she did.”

“It’s going to take another day for me to finish your weapon. Then I can join you again for whatever you planned on doing.” She smiled at me.

I could only return it with a smile as well. I would have to accept that he was right. I was wrong.

That wasn’t such a bad thing to accept.