The hope

"Sylvia, you know why he's here," I heard Elias say from behind her. "Don't be so hard on him!"

Like a fury, Sylvia turned around and glared at him. "Be quiet, Elias! He wants to take our daughter away from us! Don't you find that awful?"

"Sylvia, everyone has to leave the nest at some point," Elias replied gently.

"She already has, and she doesn't need to move away for that," Sylvia hissed. "It seems you don't mind that our daughter—or should I say my daughter—is leaving us forever!"

"It won't be forever," Elias and I said simultaneously.

She then glared at both of us, and with a soft, almost inaudible, broken voice, Sylvia asked, "And what if it is?"

Then she stormed into the house.

"Haha, can I invite you to the lion's den?" Elias smiled, pointing inside.

I nodded in thanks, lowered my head, and entered.

"Brrr," even though it was spring and the fireplace was burning, I got goosebumps as I sat down at the dining table.

Two blue eyes from the two most dangerous creatures on this planet—at least for me—glared at me.

"You beast!" I heard an old voice from the armchair near the fireplace.

"It's alright, Mother," Elias said. "We've already been through this."

"He can't hear it often enough," she croaked.

I sighed.

"And? Why are you here?" Sylvia initiated the discussion as Elias sat next to me, earning himself a scornful look.

Without answering her, I looked deeply into Mia's eyes and pulled out the bouquet of flowers. They were her favorite: purple-blue lilies.

"Is this supposed to change my mind?" Mia asked critically.

"No, I was hoping to talk to you," I replied, glancing at my in-laws.

"Well, then talk. WE are listening," she urged me on.

"…Mia, you know I love you, and you are the most important thing to me. More than anything else..."

"I know that?"

"Yes."

"Hmm, then why do you want to leave so badly? You seem to have found something more important," she said bluntly, yet the sadness in her voice was evident.

"That's not true!" I contradicted her.

"Oh, really? Then let's stay here, let's build a real family here!"

I looked at the table.

"I knew it!" she exclaimed.

When I heard the squeaking of the chair legs on the floor, I looked up, locking eyes with her.

"Mia, you know why I have to do this. I want you to understand."

"I do understand! But..." her voice broke off.

"Mia, I love you, and I want you to come with me! I have become, as I promised to your mother and myself, very strong so that I can protect you and our future children!"

"And why can't you do that here? In this village?" Sylvia hissed at me since Mia couldn't find words.

"You know why!"

"No, I don't! Please explain it to me! Your oh-so-good reason!"

"Haa," I sighed. "I want my own land so that nothing will ever happen to me, and now Mia too, again!" I said with fire in my eyes.

"Who could possibly harm you anymore?" Sylvia asked contemptuously. "Why do you need to own your own peaceful land?"

"You don't know me!" I glared at her. "And this conversation is none of your business!"

*Boom*

"Don't talk to her like that!" Mia said angrily, clapping her hand on the table.

I looked at her determinedly.

"Do you..."

"Don't you dare!" she interrupted me.

"...come with me, or...?"

"Stop!" she said, now with tears in her eyes.

*Clap Clap*

"That's enough!" Elias said. "This is turning into an unpleasant scene."

I sighed. He was right. Giving Mia an ultimatum was not the right thing to do, and I wouldn't be able to handle it either. But I will have to do it.

With wet eyes, Mia walked out of the dining room. Her mother followed, but not before giving me an angry look.

"Oh Elias, what am I going to do?"

"I have no idea, that's up to you. But you also need to explain something to me!"

"Hmm?"

"You say you want your own safe land. Fine, but why do you have to go to the land of monsters for that?"

"As I said, my own. And here in front of the mountain belongs to some king or emperor, and they have more power than any individual monsters!"

I stood up and said determinedly, "Tell Mia that I leave at sunrise the day after tomorrow!"

"Oka..."

"No," Mia cried, standing in front of me.

"Mia. It won't be forever. If you don't want to come, I'll come back for you once I've built something!"

She looked at me, stunned with flowing tears, and said nothing.

Her mouth hung open.

I gave her a quick kiss and said, "Sleep well!"

She rubbed the kiss off her lips and looked at me.

That was probably an answer too.

I thanked Elias and left the house. I heard someone collapse to the ground, but forced myself to keep walking. I hated myself for this conversation and my own part in it.

I looked up at the starry sky and took in the fresh air with deep breaths.

"Haaa..." My eyes became moist for the first time in this life. "That didn't go as I planned."

I went home and lay down in bed. Now all I could do was hope, as I wasn't sure if I had enough willpower to truly go.

I fell asleep late that night, plagued by thoughts. The next morning, I completed a small quest and spent the rest of the day packing my belongings.

I had hoped to talk to Mia once more, but no chance! Cerberus in the form of Sylvia guarded the gate!

So, in the evening, I sat in the garden. I looked over the small vegetable patch illuminated by golden sunlight.

The swing on the apple tree swayed gently, peacefully dancing in the wind.

Leaning against the house wall, I felt its rough surface—the house we had built together.

Can I really leave all of this? I wondered. I'm such a fool! Is this really the right thing?

I had told Mia about my dream from the beginning! At first, she thought it was cool, but not anymore after we became a couple.

"Ahhh!" I exclaimed, placing my hand on the backpack beside me. "You're driving me crazy, Mia!"

I couldn't sleep that night; too many thoughts swirled in my head.

I took another look at our house, every corner, reminiscing about it all.

If I really go, I would miss all of this. That's why I understand Mia's point of wanting to stay here—with everything we know, her family, friends, and the children we hoped to have.

"Why can't I give up on my dream?" I sighed.

…

Before the sun rose over the mountain, I stood on the path leading into the woods.

I hoped to see Mia, perhaps coming earlier by mistake.

Nothing...

I waited and waited; it was already past sunrise, and the first adventurers stumbled past me.

"Good morning!" they greeted me.

"Have you heard that the village is supposed to be renamed?"

"No, I haven't," I replied.

"Where are you headed with the big backpack?" one asked.

"...," I remained silent.

"Well, whatever! We're off to do some hunting! Have a nice day!" The group of four adventurers then moved on.

I still gazed along the path toward the village, hoping to see Mia strolling between the low walls that surrounded the village.

"She'll come," I reassured myself and decided to wait until noon.

...

The midday sun shone on my short hair, and the wind rustled through the treetops.

She really doesn't seem to be coming, I thought with regret.

I put on the backpack and took what was probably the most difficult step in my entire life. It's crazy how much this village has grown on my heart, or is it just Mia?

A tear almost rolled from my eye when I heard her voice: "Wait!"

I spun around abruptly and saw Mia approaching in her blue dress, fluttering in the wind.

I could hardly contain myself from embracing her, still unsure if she would come with me.

"Don't look like that! I don't have better travel clothes!"

Almost before the words left her mouth, I lifted her up and hugged her tightly.

"Promise me that we'll fetch my parents as soon as it's safe," she said.

"Of course!" I beamed and couldn't hold back my affection.

I kissed her warmly.

After a while, she asked, "Are you crying?"

I hastily wiped my eyes and said, "No, why?"

She giggled, "You're like a giant teddy bear! Shall we?"

I packed the things she carried in my backpack and said; "Yes!" I then held her like a princess in my arms.

"Can I ask why you're coming with me now?"

"You can thank my father for that! He talked to me, and we made a deal. If you were torn until noon, I would come with you! I'm still not convinced, and if I want to, you have to bring me back immediately!"

"Thank you, Elias!" I called out. "And promised!"

„Did you say goodbye to everyone?" I asked.

She nodded.

I gave Mia another kiss and smiled; "Then let's go!"

With that, I ran with full force.