“Good
morning!” it was a familiar voice coming to wake them up unwillingly but
knowing that it would be even worse to let them sleep. She had to personally go
uncover Label as he was not reacting at all.
“Mornin'..” Label barely muttered as he was rubbing his eyes.
“Good morning,” Anciel looked outside to see what time it was. It looked like they just missed the dawn, but they still won't miss the carriage. “Thank you for waking us,” he noticed a faint smell coming from the kitchen.
“Come on now, don't be late. Breakfast is ready,” Inala was already going down, probably off to do some extra packing.
“Did you have any nice dreams after that?” the boy was already fully dressed and was just tying his black hair into a tail.
“I dunno'... I think I just plain slept..” Label answered as he looked in his drawer confused. Now that he can maybe choose his clothes for the last time in a while; what will he wear?
“You know I've never traveled before,” blondie was pulling his favorite shirt on. It was grey, rugged, and patched all over, but he loved it.
“Hahaha and they keep calling you a nomad around here.”
They came down and found a table full of food, Inala sitting and waiting for them. Label sat beside her and Anciel sat on the opposite side of the table.
“I thought I'd have to go wake you up again,” she scolded them.
“Sorry,” said Label scratching the back of his head since he couldn't come up with any good excuse.
“Never mind that now; it's time to eat. You'll need all the energy you can get,” she put some honey into their milk.
“Thank you for this wonderful meal,” Anciel put his palms together and bowed to her slightly before digging in. He was once again taken aback as he noticed the difference between the lives he and Label were having.
Label was already halfway into his plate before the others even started. He ate even more vigorously than usual, probably knowing that it might be his last meal of this kind for a while, but also excited to be able to try some other types of food out there, or at least he hoped so.
“Easy there darling; you wouldn't want to choke before your big trip now wouldn't you?” the blond woman was patting him on the back.
“Eeh... are these for us?” Anciel noticed two huge backpacks waiting for them at the door.
“Yes. This is all you might need,” Inala was proud.
Anciel sighed, “I'm not sure we need this much stuff. From my experience, it's best to travel light,” he didn't want to be rude, but he did live that kind of life until just a few weeks ago.
“... ahh... I know,” she was down again.
“Mom, don't wowwy. I'm comin' bak...*gulp* as soon as we get strong enough to beat Emnikatia’s butt,” Label was encouraging her while still chewing.
“You will do no such thing!” she scolded him, “You must hide, never to reveal your nomadic heritage.”
“That is exactly what we plan to do. I hear Wasserstadt is a large port. Surely we can get by there without attracting attention,” Anciel assured her, keeping his intentions to look for the orgriash lynx for himself. It would do no good for her to know that.
* * *
“Ready to go?” asked the coachman.
Not really... Label thought as he watched his mother from the carriage, fighting his tears. He knew that if he started crying now, she would as well, and it was not what he wanted to see just before leaving.
“I love you… mom.”
“I love you too…my son,” it was the first time he called her that; “And you Anciel, do take care of this here fool.”
“I promise. And thank you for everything. I intend to return the kindness one day.”
“What you do now is; take the kindness you found in this village and share it with the world,” the waves of her hair were riding the warm winds bringing ocean flavors with them, the windmill struggling to say 'goodbye' as the gusts pushed him even though its wings were broken.
“The boys are ready, coach!” Inala slapped the horse behind and the carriage started moving, the coach accepting.
“No, mom!” Label held out his head and stared at the moving orphanage. It was going away too fast.
“Be sure to brush your teeeeth!!” she waved as much as she could.
“But mom! ....I never brush my teeth....” he turned back inside the carriage, grabbing his chest tightly.
Anciel looked outside because the whole village could be seen from this hill. It looked like it was slowly passing them. He held his arm out as if trying to grab it, to stop it from going, but he couldn't.
I never brush my teeth either...
Deep warm gusts were hitting their ears, deafening the sound of galloping horses. The mountains of clouds were slowly dragging across the horizon almost touching the sea that sparkled in the morning sun.
The village was waking up, only to find that the two of its jewels were gone.
Comments (15)
See all