-The Beginning- Part II

"Excuse me, mother."
I enter the room.

"Ah, that voice―!"
She turn her head to my direction and put her tea down back to the table. 

―Oh.
Looks like Farah didn't forgot her morning tea. I should give her my thanks later.

"Jaya, you came~!"
"Yes, mom it's me."

The person who lift both of her hand like a little child in front of me is indeed my mother. She's actually very gorgeous woman. Her long dark brown hair, her gentle looking eyes and the mole beneath her left eye is quite... encaptivating.  

But, even with all of those qualities as the perfect image of a mature woman, I could say confidently that, that, kind of image is nothing more than a mere delusion. 

She really does have the look of a grown up woman, but she has some childish demeanours. Just like the one you see right now. The way she acts really does resemble that of a child.

"I brought your breakfast. It's a mushroom cream soup with toast today."
"Really?! That's why today's breakfast smells really good!"
I put the tray down and move her dish to the table, one by one. 
She sniffs around the table like a dog. When she sniffs around the soup, her face brightens.

"This appetizing smell....this must be the culprit for my hunger! I must eliminate the threat at once! Don't you agree my dear son?!"
"Yes mother! That would be the most appropriate solution at hands! Awaiting orders!"
"Good my son! You are indeed a worthy soldier of mine. Now, feed me!"
"Ye―"

...what?

"Now! what are you waiting for?!"
"I... what?"
"Watch your mouth soldier! Are you intending to make a blinded person to eat by herself?! Shame on you soldier! You need some beating later."
"B-But you――"
"Nu-uh! I take no 'butts' as answers! you're going to feed me, NOW! Understand?!"

Before I could answer that, a glimpse of my memory popped out within my head. It's about the conversation between me and Fara in one of our usual mornings.  

I was waiting for her when to come out from the room. Then the door opened and Fara, walked outside while closing the door slowly.

"Is she good?"
"Don't worry. Madam is perfectly fine." 
"Really? That's good to hear."
"I know, right? So... should we go to the town now?"
"I'll get my stuff first."
"Kay."

Before I lift my feet, a thought came across to my head.
Wait...

"Fara..."
"Hm? What is it?"
Fara tilts her head while tying her ponytail hair.

"Didn't you help mother to eat her food?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"

Intrigued, Fara focus her eyes on me while frowning her brows.

"She couldn't see right? I thought you were feeding her this whole time."
Hearing my reasoning, Fara burst out into laughter.

"Ahahahaha! Of course not silly! You didn't know? Madam always eat her food by herself. And she does it  really nicely."

...What?

"At first, I didn't believe her  when she said that she could eat by herself. I was worried that she said that only because she doesn't want to be a burden. But then, she ate her food neatly by herself while saying 'See? I'm good, right?'."

Back to the present, I already saw her open her mouth in front of me.
"Aaaa~"
...She's enjoying this, isn't she.

"...Can't you eat by yourself?"
"I can't if you're here."
"... If I leave?"
"Then I'll die from starvation since my only son wouldn't give me food for the whole day."
"Don't smile brightly when you say that kind of cruel words!"
"Teehee~✰!!"

I give up. This woman's actions defy logic.
I couldn't help but sigh.

"Aaaaaa~~"
"Huff... could you at least act like your age?"
Even if I said that, I tore the bread into bite sized pieces and mixed it up into the soup.
After mixing it with the soup, I take a spoonful soup with the bread and feed it too her, one by one. 

"Mhm~!"

She makes a really delighted face when she got to taste the dish that she couldn't see. How am I supposed to complain if she makes that kinda face in front of me?

...What a troublesome mother.

Before I know it, a smile slips from my mouth.
"Jaya, more~ Aaaaa~"
"Hey wait―! You got some soup besides your lips I'm going to clean it first!"
"Nooo! You can do it later, I want the food now!"
"Just stay there and I'll wipe it out for you, okay."

And so... I got to feed her off until the soup is completely gone without a trace. I guess, she really liked the breakfast today. Maybe I should tell Fara to make more of it from today on.

"Today's food felt really great~! I feel so blessed~"
"I'm glad to hear that. That's why, don't forget to give your thanks to Fara okay?"
"Of course~! I'm not a heartless certain someone who forgot to thanks the girl who always cooked for his breakfast every morning anyway."
"...Good."

...Am I really taking care my of my mother here? A fully grown adult? Not some sassy lost child founded from the market nor the street?

But, unfortunately... she got a point.
Sometimes, Fara presence becomes a little bit too... usual. It's like... It's almost completely normal for her to be there. Whether about the breakfast, laundry, and sometimes shopping too. It's almost completely normal for her to be on my side. 

"...Yeah, I'll fix that. I owe her an apology."

That man... The homeless guy. He also told me something about that. 
"Remember kid, you shouldn't take little things for granted."
"Huh? what do you mean? Isn't it completely normal for people to search something bigger in their lives."

When I said that he burst into laughter in front of my face.
"Bahahahahah! This is why you're just a dumb little brat!"
"Grrrr..."

To be honest I felt so pissed when that guy act so high and mighty.
"You told me then, smartass."
"Okay then――"

He stands up and walk forward to the market's exit. 
"Hey! Where are you going?"
"We're going to walk. I'll show you something nice when we get there."

And so, I decided to follow him.
We passed the river and submerged into the forest. 
The road was not as harsh as you thought since the marketplace is actually a really well known place. So, it's only natural for the city to have a smoother road despite being up high in the mountain.

We walk along the road until we got out from the forest down the mountain. But even when we reached the mountain's foot, we didn't stop walking. 

When I complained about it and asked him to take a break, he grinned annoyingly and said:
"No hero would feel tired only by walking this far, kid. Maybe you should really give your dreams up. Ahahaha!"

After a long, long while of walking, we eventually arrived at a grass filled hill.
"―Yeah, this place will do."

The instant I heard that with my ears, My body fell like a string-cut doll. my breath is all ragged and my whole body felt sore. I couldn't feel my legs anymore. How long have we walked?

I opened my eyes. The blue sky is no more there. Everything is painted by red and yellow. Even some of the hiding stars above could be seen with my naked eyes. We were walking for almost 8 hours straight.

I tried to take a glance of him.

On top of the hill, he stood happily with a very delighted smile without a single sweat. What a crazy monster. 

Not long after that, he closes his distance with mine and sat beside me. 
"Was that fun?"
"Huff ―! You sick bastard――!" 
"Hey!  Chill out kiddo! I'm doing this for a good reason, you know?"

"Then――tell me――"
"I heard someone is complaining about how small the world is for him."

"―――"

Okay that was me. But still that's not a good enough reason to make a child walk for 8 hours. 

Seeing my conflicted face, he laughed lightly and set his gaze to the mountain.
"Can you see the mountain,  Jaya?"
"...Yeah, I can."
"Don't you think that mountain's size is too damn huge? We can't even see the top from this angle. Damn, we can't even see the market place from here."
"―Of course dumbass―! It's a mountain! ―of course it's damn huge!"

"―But you said it was small?"
"Well―― I did but it's because we ARE in the mountain at that time!"
"That' right boy! It's because you are in the mountain at that time!"

" ――Huh?"

He pointed at the mountain.

"That, is what we called by sweet little things, boy. It only seems little because we are always having it for ourselves. But when we are far from it, that's when we finally realized of how big those thing for us. Knowing that, we'll eventually feel the pain and regret after they're far gone, ―just like how your body felt sore after you walk away from that mountain."

"―――!"

I'm speechless. I fell into a complete silence. Even when he carried me on his back. I couldn't say a single thing back.

The word stuck with me since then. From there on, no matter what happened, I always tried to keep showing my gratitude to the things and people around me. 

But alas, I'm nothing more than a normal human. The more kindness I received, the more I'm deluded that think that things would always goes like this forever. 

"――And that way of thinking, is the reason why people got hurt and betrayed by their own heart... Right old man?"

 I put my hand on the doorknob and give my mother a goodbye. She only smiles on my way after giving her thanks. I proceed to walk down the stairs, back to the kitchen to wash the dishes up.

There, I saw Fara taking off her frilly apron and hang it off on the wall. 
"It seems like Madam is having fun. Hehe~"
"Huff... she is I guess. It was really troublesome though."
"Pfft. Liar. You had this big grin when you leave her room though." 
"Ugh― really?"
"Yep!"

...Well that's embarrassing.

"A-Anyway, don't you think it's time for us to go?"
"Oh right! let me get my stuff on first."
"Yeah, I'll wait you so take your time." 
"Okie-dokie!"

Fara left the kitchen and goes to the guest room to change.
I guess... I should do the same. Since we're hunting... you shouldn't take it lightly.
Because if you does, the hunter and the pray could swap their roles.