Chapter 25: Mourn

Erik: 

It has been two days, and Givontair and Nathaniel still haven't come back. I look up from my notes, and out of the window of the study. Just like all the other times I looked, there is no one coming back. So, I begin to take notes again. 

I started off with the healing tomes in Zachary's library. Mainly, the tomes that don't require mana for the healing. I am at the chapter for swelling. As far as I understand, lowering the salt intake is something that can help. If that doesn't help, then more movement. And if the patient is still in pain, then massages are in order. 

I hear someone clear his throat. I turn around, and see Zachary in the doorway. 

"They are back," he doesn't look all that happy about that. I look out of the window again. It shows the front of the house. If they came back, then, how come I missed that? "I just want you to know that I am here for you." 

Zachary's words freeze me in my spot. 

"No," I say, as my right hand flies to my mouth. "My mother... did she?" 

I can't say another word. I feel like I have a ball of bile in my throat. Zachary comes to me, and takes my free hand. 

"Come on, they are a bit tired, so you better hurry, before they fall asleep," I walk behind the wizard as if in a trance. Could it be, that they found a dead woman, who is not my mother? Wait! Nathaniel is a necromancer! He can bring mom back. I pick up the pace, empowered by my hope. 

When we reach the living room, there is a coffin right on top of the coffee table. I rush to peer inside. My mother is in the coffin. Two angry gashes on her cheeks. Her eyes closed, her hair in disarray.  The first tear falls down my cheek, before I can stop it. I turn to Nathaniel. 

"Please, bring her back," I beg him. Surely, when he is powered by Givontair's mana, he can achieve this feat? 

"I am sorry, Erik. Her spirit has moved on. There is nothing we can put in her corpse," these words make me angry. If Givontair was the one to die, Nathaniel wouldn't have cared whether the dragon has moved on, or not. 

"Come here," Givontair commands me. I separate from the coffin, and go to Givontair. Is he going to tell me that he will help? Please — let him say he will help.

"Your mother passed on. We will never be able to resurrect her like this," Givontair envelops me in a hug. As my body begins to shake, he rubs comforting circles on my back. "We will never manage to lessen your pain at her passing. But if you'd like to, you can become my son. As well as Nathaniel's. I promise you, that you will want for nothing. You will get to see the world. All the countries you just heard about. Nobody is going to just dump you on the side of the road." 

"Yes, kiddo," Nathaniel chimes in. "We'll bury everyone, you will say a couple of words to honor them, and we will be on our way." 

"I can't just leave my mother in an unmarked grave," I say between sobs. "She deserves better than that."

"It won't be unmarked. But it has to be here. If we keep on searching for the perfect place, then the bodies will decay to the point, that we will have to shovel them in the coffins," Nathaniel says. Givontair nudges him in the ribs. 

"You could have spared the boy such a picture," the dragon shifter gives me one last squeeze, and lets me go. I stand before the two of them, and then look back at the coffin. 

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"Can she get a wake, at least?" I ask. I need to keep watch on mom. After all, I was not there for her. I ran, instead of protecting her. 

"We will light the candles. You pick the flowers for her coffin," Givontair tells me. I rush out of the house, not carrying that it is not safe.

 Soon, I am in the middle of a meadow full of strange purple flowers. They look small, and like bushes. I guess, that it is best to make a wright out of them. One that I can put in mom's hair. 

As I work, I hear someone clear their throat. I look in the direction of the sound, ready to bolt. There is a nymph next to a tree. Her green hair giving her away. 

"Just who gave you permission to take from my grove?" She asks. I clutch the half-finished wright closer to myself. 

"It is for my mother. She will be buried tomorrow," I tell the being. The woman seems to soften after that. 

"And flowers are the only thing you seek?" She asks. I nod. Yes, the meadow has different fruits and mushrooms. Yet, I only have eyes for the flowers. Not that they will help mom now. She has passed on. Her spirit, as free as a bird, despite the tattoo on her arm. 

"You are so young. Yet, I can see that you are on the verge of being great," the nymph then takes off one of her rings, and moves closer to me. 

"I don't want to accept your gift. I am here only for the flowers," I look at the wraith. Would mom be mad, if I place something that is half-done in her coffin. No, I suppose not. She always loved it, when I gave her gifts. 

"Perhaps, you would like riches?" The nymph materializes a coin pouch in her hands.

"I only want the flowers," I tell her. She smiles even more brightly at that. 

"I will have your name then, as payment for the flowers," is she trying to rope me into a contract? I begin to back away from her. Her attempts to get to me are too alike the pain of the poker that the slavers used. 

"I mean you no harm, boy. But I must know your name," the nymph says. Then, I feel slightly hazy. Before I know what I am doing, I am already muttering a single name.    

"Erik," I say. The nymph comes to me, and places her ring in my hands. 

"Well met, Champion Erik. Protector of the Elder Dryad. You will be called upon, when the Destroyer wakes," with that, she flickers out of existence. I place the ring on my ring finger, and it shrinks to fit.

For some reason, I feel as if I am in a world of trouble. Hopefully, Givontair will believe that the nymph bewitched me into giving her my name. I look down at the wraith, and begin to work on it again. Today, I will mourn. Tomorrow, I will figure out what being a Champion of the Elder Dryad means. 

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