8 Mere

Alexjin, wearing a brown long sleeve shirt and pants with a big basket in his hand, walked towards the market and finds stores that sell fresh fruits, bread, meat, and other necessities listed on the piece of paper that Geraldine gives to him.

Then he went to the wine store and bought two bottles of fine wine and asked the seller if he could leave the stuff that he bought as he had something to take care of.

After the seller agreed, he went back to the market and buy another batch of food using his starting salary. Alexjin planned to buy his mother food supplies with all the money he has. Then he saw a beautiful simple yellow dress displayed at the shop, counting the money he had on hand, he knows he can't afford it just yet.

A surge of encouragement overwhelmed Alexjin as he dreamed of his mother wearing a fancy dress and giving her a good life, that they would no longer starve for days with only grass as their source of food. Running on the damp road towards his house, he could feel his heart beating in excitement.

Geraldine trailed him from the shadows, careful enough for him not to see her. She could see the love in his eyes for his mother, she remembered in the past that Alexjin loved his mother so much that he followed the last will she gave to him. Geraldine suspects that it is the reason why Alexjin decided to stay lowkey and away from the spotlight even though he has the knowledge so great that he can become the next Emperor.

The damp road becomes a wet ground even though the sun is bursting its magnificent heat. An alley came into sight where tiny houses were built in a wood stack in columns like sandwiches. A strong odor hits Geraldine's nose enough to make her puke. Dirt and feces of animals are scattered on the ground and nobody cares about it as if they were used to it.

She also saw many people suffering from hunger and diseases. Children are running with no clothes or shoes on and their stomach is so big but their extremities are so tiny with no muscle mass.

Geraldine was horrified from the sight, she never thought that such a place still exists in the small town of Bagyoo. Still trailing behind Alexjin, he arrived at a small wooden hut that looks like with a simple kick, it would clearly collapse.

Alexjin entered the hut while Geraldine stayed in the shadows while looking at the small window where her fragile and malnourished mother laid on the floor in a straw bed.

"Mother!" Alexjin with a wide smile lovingly greeted his mother, "I missed you so much, I'm sorry it takes too long for me to came back."

"My son," With weak hands, she touched his son's cheeks and slowly rubbed it, "I see you're doing well with your new owner."

"Yes mother, my owner-- I mean... my new master treated me so well and she wants me to become her apprentice rather than a servant. She also gives me a starting salary to buy whatever I want. Mother, I can finally give you a good life," Alexjin hugged his fragile mother and show her the food he bought for her.

"Mother, we won't starve just like before, also master is a light element user with a specialty in healing. She can clearly help us," Alexjin's face shows how happy he was that his master chooses him over the other slaves. He put the food he bought on the storage box and peeled an apple for her mother to eat.

"I am happy that I can finally see that smile of yours after so many years, it's my fault for your suffering, if only--"

Alexjin put a piece of apple in her mother's mouth to stop her from blaming herself.

"Mother, please don't blame yourself. How many times I've told you that, I'm contented that you're on my side mother, I wish for nothing but to see your smile and beauty again," He took his mother's hand and kissed the dorsal part.

They talked for a while when there's a knock on the door, both of them looked at each other and wondered who might be their guest. With caution, Alexjin slowly opened the door to reveal a person in a black cloak.

"Who are you?" Alexjin asked, his body is suddenly in defense mode and covered his mother with his body.

The person slowly raised her hand to take off the hood of the cloak to reveal a young lady with a soft smile on her face.

"I wonder where my apprentice went but he was just on his mother's side."

"Master!" Alexjin bowed his head in relief but at the same time, he was nervous for his master to see his current living situation.

"May I enter?" She asked softly and Alexjin nodded his head and give space for her while dusting the floor with his bare hands and gives her a stool to sit but she refused and sits on the floor instead. Alexjin and his mother were surprised at how humble she was for sitting on the dirty floor. They know that the young lady came from a wealthy family based on her aura and composure but most wealthy people are arrogant and treated the poor like sh*t, so they're doubting.

"Master, you should not sit on the floor, your dress might get dirty," Alexjin was worried about staining his master dress caused by his own home.

"A stain on the dress can be washed Alexjin, you don't need to worry about it," She smiled and ruffled his hair. Then her attention went back to his mother whose staring at her.

"Madam, I'm Geraldine, the master of your son," She introduced herself and gives a soft smile to the mother.

"I'm Aurelie, just Aurelie. My last name is not relevant anymore," She gives a small laughed at her words.

"It's fine madam, I don't like to share my last name as well, it carries too much burden."