Reunion At Dawn

"Sigh... Goodbye Archen Menoch! I'll be back soon!" Mikhail yelled out from a top the hill Aria showed him yesterday.

To think I could only enjoy the capital city for 3 days and 2 nights... Mikhail thought as he lugged his suitcase down the long staircase.

***

Upon reaching the bottom of the flight of stairs, Mikhail was out of breath and panting. Sweat dripping down his chin as he wiped off the sweat collecting on his forehead with his arm.

"I don't believe even walking down... Hah... haah... Is this tiring... Is Aria right? Am I that unhealthy?" Mikhail muttered to himself as he tried catching his breath.

As he finally caught his breath and calmed down, he took in his surrounding. The beautiful river flowing in the middle, separating the marketplace and the residential area as it flowed gently down a canal with a firm foundation.

Mikhail then took the long path home as he walked through the market to the familiar arched gateway that he arrived through.

I'll be back. To this town... and to the rest of the world... Mikhail thought as he nodded towards the guards and slowly trudged onwards.

***

"Follow him! But don't be too obvious! It's a direct order from the king." a man cloaked in black said as he instructed his subordinates to trail Mikhail before disappearing to chase after him.

Silent footsteps rushed into bushes and tree tops as Mikhail walked slowly down the dirt path back to his house; completely unaware of the countless people trailing him.

"... Why would the king be interested in that boy? He seems so... Hmmm... I can't quite put a finger around the word..." one of the cloaked man asked another as they watched Mikhail flop onto the pasture of grass.

"Peculiar?" another man replied, turning his gaze from Mikhail to his subordinate.

"Hmm... I guess. Eh... Look! His hair... I see." the man said as he nudged his subordinate to look at Mikhail as Mikhail's hood fell off once he got up.

"A bastard son you suppose?" the man blurted out as he stared at Mikhail's glistening silver hair. 

"You!... Hold your tongue! If the others heard that, you'd be charged with slander against the royal family!" the man practically screamed as he clamped his hand against his subordinate's mouth.

Mikhail glanced around confused from the loud whispering but turned away and continued on with his journey home; thinking it was only his imagination because he was too anxious to return home.

***

Mikhail stood in front of his house door. Staring at the worn wooden door, scratched with signs of his rough entrance whenever he knocked on the door with the back of his farming utensils upon returning from working the fields.

Finally mustering his confidence, Mikhail rasped on the door of his home. Anxious of his mother's reaction.

***

Hmm? There's no response? Is she not at home? Mikhail wondered as he opened the door to enter.

"M... mom?" Mikhail called out as he entered the house. He placed his suitcase down as he walked around the house.

"Nnngh... Who..." a voice groaned as Mikhail turned towards it. "Oh, mom... Its me. I'm back..." Mikhail said as he walked towards his mother's bedroom.

"Huh? Mikhail? Why are you back so soon? Am I still... dreaming?" Mikhail's mother asked as she sat up, groggily rubbing her eyes as she squinted at Mikhail.

"N-no.... I came back... because... erm... reasons..." Mikhail said, averting his gaze from his mother's now sharp gaze.

"What happened in town? Did you cause a commotion?" Mikhail's mother asked as she eyed him suspiciously.

"Wha-?! No! I didn't think you'd think of me that way! ... ... I... ran out of money." Mikhail finally said as he sighed; staring at the creases on his mother's blanket, averting her gaze. 

Trying to ignore the fact that she was not exactly wrong as well, Mikhail kept his head down. He had been chased by the royal guards the previous night after all.

"Huh? But, that was a whole bag of silver coins! That should be enough for at least a year on the road! Did the price increase that much in town? ... or... did you lose the money?" Mikhail's mother asked as she stared at her son who was looking everywhere but at her.

"... ... Mikhail, you lost the money?" Mikhail's mother asked as she lifted Mikhail's face to look into his eyes.

"... Not exactly... there was this... boy... he was cornered by mercenaries. I couldn't NOT do anything!" Mikhail stated as he stared straight into his mother's eyes.

"... Well, then that's fine." 

"... Huh... Really?" 

"... Do you prefer me to yell and punish you? I'd say it's punishment enough with you having to come back home instead of venturing out on an adventure."

At his mother's last statement, Mikhail fell silent as he took in her words. It's true I used the money to save the boy but... Ahhhh! It's so unfair that I'm back here again!!! Damn! It's so unfair!

*knock**knock*

At the sudden knock on the door, both mother and son jumped in surprise. 

"Mikhail, are you expecting someone?" 

"... No... Are you?" 

"No."

Mikhail hesitantly got up to open the door as he left his mother to change her outfit before welcoming their guest.

A familiar silver haired man appeared in front of the door as Mikhail stared blankly at him.

"Mikhail? Who is it... ... X.. ander..." Mikhail's mother asked as she walked towards the opened door to welcome the guest, dropping the vase she was holding onto.

As Mikhail's mother stared with wide eyes at the man whilst the man smiled at them both, Mikhail stood awkwardly at the door before bending down to pick up the broken shards of glass at his mother's feet.

"Ah! I... I'm so sorry! Please... permit me to clean this up before I welcome you in..." Mikhail's mother exclaimed, flustered as she bent down to help Mikhail pick up the shattered vase.

"That's fine. I'll do it. Your hands scar easily." Xander said as he bent down to help Mikhail earning astonished gasps and worried exclamations from a man behind him.

"Your high-... I mean, Your Honor! How could you stoop to that... I'll do it!" the man behind Xander exclaimed as he rushed forward to stop Xander but stopped upon seeing the fierce expression on Xander's face.

"You lot may leave. Except you. You stand guard." Xander commanded, as he turned back towards the broken shards. 

"... Yes Sir! ... You heard him. Move!" the man nodded before turning around and instructing the soldiers behind him to disperse.

When was there a group of soldiers... Mikhail thought as he stared at the soldiers leaving before his gaze turned towards the visage of the handsome man before him who was picking up broken pieces of the vase. 

He looks like a figure from a painting. A fleeting thought passed through Mikhail's head as he stared at the man who seemed to be glowing radiantly from the light behind him.

"Where do I put them?" Xander asked, pulling Mikhail out from his thoughts. 

"Huh...? Oh! Um, here! Sir!" Mikhail exclaimed in a start as he directed Xander to the rattan waste bin in the corner of their kitchen, leaving his mother and Xander alone; staring at each other in silence.