Chapter 8: Mom

After the class, Vael casually strolled around. Apparently, everyone had problems following what King had demonstrated because they couldn't circulate the mana in their body. So King Maximus had to write the spell in Luminithra and show it to everyone. As soon as he did it everyone was able to perform spells without any practice which shocked the King and Vaelorian both. 

He looked around and noticed the construction and transportation team working efficiently, he could see several kinds of wood cut neatly into logs, and several fully developed wheels were stacked together. They have already made two small but cozy houses. Vael moved further, what he wanted to see was the engineering team but apparently, he had no idea about where they were and could only aimlessly move around. 

His thoughts were a mess, he needed to deal with Remus's parents. They knew that Remus had a big crush on Celia and they had even approached her directly when she was 9! Apparently, she was not fertile since she was young so they could only wait. The longer he would wait the more pain they are gonna be. But the question was what did his parents look like? He had genuinely forgotten their face.

'Time to meet my mom I think.' He sighed and started moving towards the shanties. The denser and most populated parts of the shanties were the East and West sides, some years ago because of wild animal incidents people were scared to live near the gates which were on the North and South side. His mom lived on the West side and it was the most populated of all. Vael quickly moved through the shanty-lined alley, with literally nothing to do most people just stayed in their homes and procreated, and occasionally they would explore a little for food and drink but no one dared to go deeper into the woods.

Vael reached his destination and went inside without knocking, his mom was sitting on the bed with a fat guy groping her breast. She had a huge belly indicating that she was pregnant again. The guy looked at Vael before continuing what he was doing.

"Vaelorian," 

"I need to talk to you, Mom." Vael narrowed his eyes at the fat guy.

"What do you want to talk about?" His mom asked in a tired expression.

"Alone. Can you tell your fat lover to get out?"

"You got a problem with me and my wife? Who's your father? Tell me right now!" The guy was fuming as he glared at the 14-year-old kid.

"Why don't you ask your wife? But please do it later I want to talk with her for just 5 minutes."

"Control your kid Victoria." The man glared at Vael.

"You love me, he's your kid too. You do it. Can you give me a minute?" Victoria sighed.

The man continued glaring at Vaelorian as he slowly moved out grumbling about Vael being an ungrateful brat.

"What do you want Vaelorian? It's been 6 months since you last visited. You are the only son who doesn't visit his mother."

"Mother can also visit her child if she misses him that much. But apparently, she's not getting any time because of her 29 lovers. Is the kid really fatty's?"

"You wouldn't understand anything Vael. I never asked for this, do you think I want more children only to end up being talked back like this? I would rather die." His mom looked him in the eye, she was dead serious.

"How many more brothers and sisters am I gonna get? I already have 7 half-siblings I think."

"You don't even know how many siblings you have. She's the 12th one." Victoria patted her belly softly. 

"Are you happy?" Vaelorian asked his mother carefully. 

"What do you think?" 

"Well, what if I make your life interesting?"

"What do you want Vaelorian?" She sighed again.

"I killed Remus and I want to know who his parents are so I can kill them too." 

Victoria's eyes widened as she stared at her son. "Why?"

"I just felt like doing it. I am not gonna lie, using magic to kill was very exciting. I am really mad at you for not teaching me anything after mana circulation."

"Did he touch Celia?" 

"Yes, she might get pregnant," Vaelorian spoke without any emotion.

"I gave you one job, you couldn't even do it properly. Because of you, she has suffered this much Vaelorian, you couldn't even protect her despite knowing that she thinks of you as her role model." Victoria deadpanned but she was not surprised, with no one to protect it was bound to happen. "What do you think killing will do? The King will only get more suspicious. How did you learn magic?"

"I sneaked into the hall. This Earth piqued my interest and I think I want to go there. There must be a way since they came here and maybe I can go there." Vaelorian let his inner thoughts out for the first time as he observed her mother. 

"It's doable but neither I nor you have enough knowledge," Victoria spoke, carefully observing her son.

"That's what I wanted to hear! Thanks, Mom." Vaelorian smiled.

"At least do something that will make me want to show my gratitude towards you. This is the first time I have seen you this excited that's why otherwise don't expect my help any other time. Visit me often and take care of Celia."

"You still didn't tell me about Remus's parents."

"They are right next to the couple you just murdered. The wooden gatehouse, that's them."

Vael was silent before bursting into laughter, "I am your kid alright ahahahaah."

Victoria neither smiled nor gave any expression, she continued observing her son. This was the first time she had seen him this content and this expressive, of course, he was always like this in front of her but she could feel the difference.

"What was your affinity? Was it Air?"

"How do you know?" Vaelorian widened his eyes. 

"Air is independent, the more you compress it, the more havoc it wreaks. It matters not who wields it – intense compression could unleash devastation upon everything in its path. Without air, no one can live, not even demons. Only the undead possess the might yet they too depend on their demonic connection. Mana permeates everything, but it is the air that propels its movement. Fire succumbs to air's influence; water yields to its manipulation. Nature bows to the destructive force of air. Only light is unaffected. But there is an element, forbidden but extremely powerful. Be the air around you."

Vaelorian imbibed whatever his mom said and kept repeating it in his head. He looked at his mom carefully and she stared back at him.

"Get out of here." She spoke blowing out thick black smoke.

Vaelorian's eyes widened at the density of smoke, it was at least 10 times darker than the King's! He slowly turned and left hearing her final statement.

"Don't show me your face until you kill everyone related to Remus."