1 Send Off

"Do you have your textbooks? Your clothes? Oh, did you remember to pack-"

"Mom, please! I have everything; I triple checked everything last night and this morning! Seriously, I'm fine!"

Pursing my lips, I looked at my son. He was turning out to be a handsome young man.

His sharp features, paired with the serious emerald eyes, reminded me of his other parent. Every time I saw him, I couldn't help but shiver slightly, having to remind myself that he was different than her.

Sadly, over the years, that became harder. He inherited her looks, her eyes, her talent...

The only thing he had from me was the slightly long ears and ashen hair.

I took a deep breath, before nodding my head. Smiling at him, I placed both my hands on his shoulders.

"Tell me what you promised me, Likon."

Sighing, he rolled his eyes. "Don't offend anyone. Don't respond to any attacks; pride is useless. Avoid getting into a relationship, however if I do, be careful. Study hard. Practice hard. Graduate."

Moving my hands up to his cheeks, I pulled him towards me, kissing his forehead. He sighed again, but I could feel him lean into me. Pulling away, I said "Wait here, I have something for you."

He looked at me, confused. Turning, I made my way into our small house. Making my way towards my bedroom, I opened the small closet. Looking into the corner, I bit my lip when I saw the long bundle of cloth. Sighing, I picked it up, gently placing it on the bed.

Slowly unwrapping the cloth, a simple longsword was revealed. Oak scabbard, simple iron cross guard, worn leather handle. It looked unassuming, but I knew better.

This blade had been in my family for generations; while it looked like simple iron, it was blessed by a Saint, strengthening it. It was initially my great-grandmothers blade, and it was passed down to her son, then to his son, then to me. As a family of Knights, we lived and died by the blade. At least, we were supposed to...

Feeling my heart clench, I couldn't help but envy Likon slightly. I had been in the Knight's Academy, however in my second year I got pregnant with him. Obviously, I loved him dearly, but it was always my dream to become a Knight, to become a protector of our Kingdom. It was a dream that had been crushed by a cold, harsh reality.

Lifting the blade, I made my way back to the entrance. Seeing me holding a sword, Likon widened his eyes. Chuckling slightly, I offered him the blade.

When he tried to lift it from my grasp, I held it firmly. "Listen, Likon. This blade has been in our family for generations. We are... were a family of Knights. Since I was never Knighted, it has been collecting dust in storage, but now... well, I hope that you can continue our families legacy..."

Hearing that, Likon looked at me, a mixture of emotions in his emerald eyes. Regret, awe, happiness, anticipation...

Letting the blade go, I allowed him to attach it to his belt. Smiling at him, I said "You look the part now, dear. Now go; become the greatest Knight this Kingdom has ever seen."

He grinned at me, pulling me into a hug. "I will Mom. For you, I will become an amazing Knight... I swear it..."

Feeling my eyes watering, I bit my lip, before shakily saying "Be careful, Likon... please, be careful..."

Pulling away, he turned, walking towards the waiting carriage. Entering, he looked out the window, a gentle smile on his lips.

Waving, I watched as the man who gave him this chance nodding at me, before entering the carriage as well.

Watching the coachman whip the horses, the carriage started to move, slowly making its way out of our small town.

Standing in front of my house, I watched it slowly make it's way towards the horizon.

I stood there for Goddess knows how long, but eventually I could no longer make out the shape of the carriage.

Feeling the tears return, I made my way back inside, aware of the townsfolk various gazes.

Locking the door, I made my way to my room, aware of how deathly silent the house was without Likon.

He was always making noise, be it the sounds of him lifting the rocks outback, hitting the post with a wooden sword, preparing medicinal ingredients, or the sound of his quill scratching on paper.

Now, however, there was nothing to listen to.

Just the sounds of my own footsteps...

Collapsing on the bed, I sobbed lightly.

I was overwhelm with emotions:

I was happy that Likon had managed to be accepted into the Knight Academy. If he graduated, his future was set.

I was proud. Only a few hundred people could attend the Academy each year. I was lucky that a Knight had been visiting our small town and saw Likon practicing. He tested him, and the result pleased him. He guaranteed a spot for Likon as his apprentice.

I was anxious. Would he be able to throw away his pride, keep his temper in check? He is just a commoner; the various nobility and rich merchants would make him a target for bullying.

I was sad. For the first time in fourteen years, I was alone... well and truly alone...

I was envious, angry, and disgusted. Likon gets to go to the Academy, to make his dream come true. Why couldn't my dream have come true? Why was I envious of my own son? What was wrong with me?

I continued to sob, unable to rein in my emotions. I had bottled them up for the last fourteen years; my own desires, wants, meant nothing compared to guaranteeing my son was able to live a good life; a better life than my own.

In a few months I turned thirty. Since I wasn't able to unlock the Aura in my body, I was a simple mortal. I had maybe twenty, thirty more years before I died of old age. However, I most likely had a decade at best, what with the wars raging on, the monster attacks, and the curses running rampant in the Countryside.

I managed to get myself under control, taking deep breaths. When I had calmed down, I rose, before looking into the mirror. Seeing my puffy blue eyes, as well as the few wrinkles decorating my face, I sighed.

Thirty, huh...

Looking at myself, I compared myself to when I was younger.

My long gray hair was pulled into a ponytail; when I was in the Academy, I found it a hassle to maintain, so I cut my hair short.

My plump lips were pulled into a frown; I used to be carefree and quite happy, always smiling...

My sapphire eyes were slightly dull; They used to shine in excitement and amazement at the littlest things too...

Looking down, I trailed my hands over my body.

My breasts were larger, mainly due to the weight I had put on.

Spilling out of both of my hands, I found the size to be more of a hinderance than something to be proud of. Men and Women always looked at me with lust, and my body had gotten me into to many bad situations for me to be proud of it.

Continuing to lower my hands, I pinched the slight belly I had. Before, I had a toned pack of abs, looking like it had been sculpted from stone. Now...

Looking lower, I bit my lips when I saw my wide hips, and upon turning, I saw my round ass being hugged by my pants.

Gritting my teeth, I looked away, slapping my cheeks. "Come on, Myla. Self pity at this age?"

Sighing, I went back to my bed, flopping back down.

Thankfully, Mistress Harien had given me the morning off at the Tavern. However, she had made it quite clear what I was meant to do as a thank you...

Feeling my lower parts tingle, I sighed, realizing that although I might act like I despised her demands, I craved someones touch. My desires had risen quite a bit over the years, and some of my 'side jobs' didn't help it now bit.

Closing my eyes, I decided to doze the day away, hoping to right myself before my shift tonight...

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So, chapter one done. It's weird, because I have scenes I want to write about in this story, but getting there is going to be quite... interesting. I definitely think that this will be a slow start, meaning that it'll be a bit before I actually get anywhere since this is a novel I will only update in my spare time or when I need a change of pace from my two other works...

Anyways, let me know what you thought of the start!

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