001 - Coldest winter

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Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

( Proverbs 4 : 7 )

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The spring sun brightened the garden.

In the beautiful garden, fully adorned with flowers, butterflies and bees nested among the sweet flowers.

A child ran through the garden with flowers in his hands.

"Mom, I got flowers for you," he waved the flowers in his hands.

He ran to his mother who was sitting on the grass.

She had long black hair that flowed down to her waist, pale white skin, and sapphire blue eyes. She sat there like a living work of art; anyone who saw her would be mesmerized.

He jumped into her open arms, and she hugged him tightly.

"Here, I got flowers," he gave her the flowers.

She took the flowers from his hand.

"They're just as beautiful as you," she smiled.

The child smiled back at her with his innocent eyes, a pure smile spreading across his face. Seeing his smile, she rubbed her cheeks against his.

"Why is my child so cute?" she couldn't control herself.

"Hehe," the child giggled in response.

She stood up, lifting him, and they walked to a gazebo.

*clack* *clack*

The maid arranged the plates with a clattering noise.

"I want some cake," said the child.

"Okay, but only a small amount," she put a small piece of cake on his plate.

They both had a peaceful breakfast, with the maids taking care of them as the knights guarded them. The whole scene was peaceful.

But the eyes of everyone around them were like predators watching their prey. Their sharp eyes filled with disgust as they looked at the child eating his cake in bliss and the mother who was looking at him lovingly.

The child was the second son of Swordmaster Ryker Flameheart, Zeru Flameheart, and his mother, Callista Flameheart.

With the help of his friends, Ryker conquered the empire and united the broken nations. He ruled over half of the continent like a king.

In his conquest, he fell in love with Callista, who possessed an innocent beauty. Following the flow of events, she became the first wife of Swordmaster Ryker.

Even though he had other wives, he loved Callista dearly, and their romance became a living fairy tale.

But their lives took a turn when she bore a child. He had black hair and sapphire blue eyes like his mother's, but he had a darker skin tone, unlike his parents.

Yes, his color was the root of the problem.

The child had a darker skin tone, similar to that of the Southerners, unlike his relatives. This caused a rumor that Callista had an affair and the child was born to another man.

The rumor spread like wildfire in a dry forest, and the crows that were waiting took the chance to tear a piece. The members of the round table, who overlooked the empire, decided to kill the newborn to save the Flameheart family from shame.

But Callista protested. She didn't want to lose her child who bore no sin. To protect the child, she gave up her title and her authority. She was then moved to a separate castle away from the public.

She was to live separately until death with her child. Callista, who had lived as a commoner before, was able to endure the hardship.

With a smile on her face, she endured it for her child.

...

Time slowly flowed. Years passed, and Zeru reached the age of eleven.

"Die, you useless b*stard," a young voice rang out in the garden.

"Hahaha, stop it, brother. He is going to cry," another voice joined in.

Zeru curled up on the floor, his face bruised. The two boys talking were the third and fourth sons of the Ryker family, Reid and Casper, respectively.

They had come to the mansion on the pretext of playing, but instead of playing, they bullied Zeru. Both had red hair, green eyes and similar facial features. They were twins.

"Hahaha, what are you gonna do?" Reid kicked Zeru.

Being small for his age, Zeru couldn't retaliate and endured their beating.

"Be careful, brother. He might complain to his mother. Hahaha," Casper said sarcastically.

Reid kicked Zeru even harder in response.

"What can his wh*re of a mother do?" He said as he kicked.

Zeru glared at Reid. This caught Casper's attention.

"Brother, he is glaring at us. Hehe," Casper giggled.

"What can this weakling do? You son of a b*tch," Reid stomped on Zeru's leg.

Zeru caught his legs and lunged at Reid, managing to tackle him. falling on top of the shocked Reid, Zeru threw a punch at his face.

"Don't talk about my mother," he shouted.

As he prepared to throw a second punch, a hand gripped his and pulled him back. Zeru fell on his back—it was Casper who had intervened.

"How dare a mutt like you think you're something?!" Casper stomped on Zeru's stomach.

"Aaahhhh!" Zeru cried out.

Reid got up with Casper's help, touching his reddened cheek. Anger filled Reid's eyes.

"YOU FILTHY MUTT! How dare you lay your hand on me?" Reid shouted.

Reid started to beat Zeru even more, and Casper joined in. Zeru, unable to retaliate, took the beating.

They both left after Zeru fainted.

Zeru lay on the cold ground of winter, his face bruised and swollen. After a few minutes, he regained consciousness.

"Ugh," he groaned.

He tried to get up, but his body shook uncontrollably. Blood dripped from his broken lips as he limped to his room. The maids who saw his injuries didn't try to help him.

He dragged his body to his room and, using clothes and cold water, wiped the blood and swollen parts of his body. He did his best to bandage them.

*Knock* *knock*

A knock was heard on his door.

"Zeru, it's Mom. Can I come in?" Callista's voice came from the door.

"No, no," Zeru panicked.

"Why?" Callista asked, worriedly.

"Ah, I am naked. I am changing," Zeru replied.

"Zeru, let me come in," Callista tried to open the door, but it was locked.

"No, Mom, I am a bit tired today after playing, so I am going to sleep."

"... "

There was no reply.

"... "

"Okay, then I will leave. Rest well."

"Okay, bye," Zeru replied in a cheerful voice, hiding his pain.

Callista stood before the door for a few seconds, before leaving. She didn't have the strength to go in. She knew her child was hurt, she had rushed here to see him but he was acting okay for her. Her child was being strong for her.

Callista wiped the tears that formed as she walked away from the door.

Zeru slumped down after hearing his mother's footsteps fade away.

"Ah," he let out a groan.

His whole body ached from the sudden movement. He lifted himself onto the bed and, lying down, looked out the window.

The weather was turning cold, indicating that winter was near. Little did Zeru know that the winter he was about to face would be the coldest he had ever experienced.

...

The winter arrived, and the snow covered the castles in pure white.

Zeru looked at the white world through the windows as he walked down the corridor, covered in cloth to ward off the winter cold.

He hopped with each step, remembering his mother's promise.

We can play in the snow, promise,' she promised.

He arrived before his mother's room.

*knock* *knock*

He knocked and waited.

Soon, the door opened, and Callista came out wearing a long coat that covered her whole body, that had patchwork done to it.

Callista smiled at Zeru, who looked like a ball with his thick clothes.

"Zeru, let's go," Callista cheerfully said as she pumped her fist in the air.

Zeru noticed her sunken eyes and pale skin.

"Mom, are you sick? We can go later if you're not feeling well," Zeru asked worriedly.

Callista noticed Zeru's concern and tousled his hair.

"Is my child worried about his mother?" Callista teased.

"No," Zeru averted his gaze.

"Oh, someone's shy," Callista continued teasing Zeru.

Callista stopped her teasing and extended her hand.

"Aren't you going to escort your mother?" Callista playfully asked.

Zeru offered his hand, and Callista took it. Callista giggled at her 11-year-old son, who acted like a gentleman, and Zeru had a bright smile.

They stepped out of the mansion into the snow-filled garden.

Zeru ran around in the snow, collecting it to build a snowman about his size. He used broken branches and leaves to decorate it.

Callista sat nearby, watching Zeru as he ran about and fell face-first. Zeru got up and shook his body, like a wet dog, to remove the snow.

Callista giggled as she watched him. The snow slowly started to fall, and the wind began to get colder. Callista called out to Zeru.

"Zeru, let's go back. It's getting cold," she said.

Zeru ran to his mother upon hearing her voice. Callista grabbed Zeru's hand, and they started walking.

*cough* *cough* *cough*

She started coughing as her body felt cold.

"Mom, are you okay?" Zeru asked worriedly.

*cough* *cough*

Callista continued coughing, and each cough became more painful. Callista felt a metallic taste in her mouth. She moved her gloved hands and noticed the blood.

"Mom, are you okay?" Zeru looked at her anxiously and she hid her hand.

"I'm okay. It's just the cold," Callista smiled.

"Really?" Zeru asked with puppy eyes.

"I am. You know, your mother is strong," Callista flexed her biceps.

Callista hurried, but she slowly started losing her strength. The pain in her chest increased. Her grip on consciousness began to slip away. Her vision blurred, and Callista fell to the floor.

Zeru's eyes widened as he saw Callista fall. His body shook as he saw the blood. Panic slowly settled in.

"Mom, MOM, MOM," he shouted as he shook Callista, trying to wake her up.

He looked around for help, but no one was around.

"HELP, SOMEBODY, HELP. MOTHER HAS FAINTED," Zeru cried.

Zeru's panicked cry echoed in the white world.

***

Zeru stood anxiously outside Callista's room.

The knights on patrol found Zeru and the unconscious Callista. A physician was now treating her.

The head maid was also present, given the duty to take care of Callista, and she had a somber expression. Even though Callista was considered banished, they would be punished if something were to happen to her.

The door opened, and a lady walked out. She was the physician called to treat Callista.

She called the head maid and began explaining the situation. With each word, the head maid's face grew darker, and the servants looked shocked. Then she turned to Zeru.

She kneeled in front of him, her face showing her worry.

"How is Mom?" Zeru asked, tears streaming down his face.

"You have to be strong. Your mother has fallen into a coma," she said.

"W-what do you mean?" his eyes widened in shock.

"She has entered a deep sleep. We don't know when she will wake up," she explained.

The news slowly sank in, and the realization that his mother might never wake up again shook him to his core.

"I-I want to see Mom,"

He ran towards the bed where Callista lay. He looked at her unmoving figure, lying like a corpse. He took her hand; it felt unnaturally cold.

"Mom, Mom, please wake up. Don't leave me alone," he cried as he tightly gripped her hand.

The physician felt the sorrow in Zeru's cry. She turned to look at the servants who stood like statues. She moved closer to Zeru and placed her hand on his small shoulder.

"Don't worry, kid. Your mother will wake up. You must be strong until then," she tried to comfort him.

Then she turned to the head maid.

"I will leave to bring some medicine. Take care of them," she said, looking at Zeru.

With that, she left. The servants didn't attempt to comfort Zeru; he was simply an eyesore to them.

Alone and unsupported, he cried while holding his mother's hand.

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