Chương 6: Mother's Love
As the sun climbed high in the sky, casting its warmth across the humble village of Lureila, Lyna busied herself in their small kitchen, her movements infused with a mother's love and a touch of excitement. Today was no ordinary day—it was Amukelo's tenth birthday, a milestone that marked his first day as a child of double-digit age. To celebrate, Lyna was preparing all of Amukelo's favorite dishes, each one crafted with extra care to make this birthday memorable.
On the worn wooden table, amidst the bowls of steaming food, lay a special present wrapped in plain but neat paper. It was a wooden sword, something far beyond the simple means of their family but worth every sacrifice for Lyna. She knew how much Amukelo loved to play warriors and adventurers with Eagor, usually armed with nothing more than sticks. This gift was not just a toy, but a symbol of her support for her son's dreams and imagination.
With Mikal and Jarek already seated and waiting, Lyna's mood was buoyant as she anticipated the look of joy on Amukelo's face when he would see both the feast and his gift. The afternoon light waned as they waited, but Amukelo did not appear. What began as mild concern soon morphed into worry and then panic as the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows over the village.
Without hesitation, Lyna set out to find her youngest, her heart heavy with a growing sense of dread. She first visited Eagor's house, her steps quick and purposeful. Upon learning that both boys were missing, a knot of fear tightened in her stomach. Together with Mikal, Jarek, and Eagor's parents, they formed a search party, their voices calling out for Amukelo and Eagor as they combed through the village.
"Amukelo! Eagor!" Their names echoed off the walls of the huts and down the narrow alleys, but there was no response. The sky gradually darkened, transitioning from dusk to an inky evening, intensifying Lyna's fear. Her instincts as a mother told her that something was wrong, and each passing moment without a sign of the boys was agonizing.
As night fell, they expanded their search to the outskirts of the village, their torches casting eerie lights and long shadows ahead of them. The forest loomed at the edge of the village, its dense trees whispering in the night wind. It was a place of mystery and known dangers, a boundary Lyna had always warned her children about.
The forest search was harrowing, with every minute stretching out like an eternity. Lyna's heart raced as she pictured her youngest, possibly lost or in danger, his joyful morning laughter now a distant memory against the night's oppressive silence. Each moment they didn't find Amukelo only added to the heavy weight of worry on her shoulders, the darkness of the night mirroring the fear in her heart.
As Lyna and the rest of the search party pushed through the dense underbrush at the edge of the forest, the sounds of movement ahead brought them all to a tense pause. Then, breaking through the dim light cast by their lanterns, Amukelo and Eagor emerged from the woods. Relief surged through Lyna's heart like a powerful wave, overwhelming all her fears and frustrations. Tears streaming down her face, she ran to Amukelo and enveloped him in a tight embrace, her sobs muffled against his shoulder.
"Don't you ever dare scare me like this again," she whispered fiercely, pulling back to look at him with a mix of relief and reprimand. "I thought I would lose you."
Amukelo's eyes were downcast, his youthful face shadowed with guilt. "I'm sorry, Mom... I didn't want to. I'm sorry..." he murmured, his voice laden with the weight of his actions.
Though part of Lyna wanted to continue scolding him, to impress upon him the gravity of their ordeal, she couldn't. The sheer relief that her son was safe, unharmed, and back in her arms washed away her resolve to be stern.
As the group made their way back to the village, Eagor's parents also expressed their relief and mild admonishments, but Lyna's emotions were the most palpable. When they reached home, the table was still set with the dinner she had prepared—Amukelo's favorite dishes, now cold and abandoned.
Amukelo glanced at the table, his feelings of guilt resurfacing as he saw the spread. Yet, driven by a desire to make amends, he quietly took a seat at the table. Mikal, noticing his brother's intentions, joined him, nudging Jarek to do the same.
Lyna, exhausted yet relieved, followed them inside and started to clear the table, assuming that the food—cold and covered in flies—was no longer appealing. But then Amukelo, trying to lighten the mood and show appreciation for her efforts, began to eat. "Wow, Mom. This is amazing. You did my favorite food."
Mikal and Jarek followed suit, their expressions a less convincing mimicry of Amukelo's enthusiasm as they too started eating the less than appetizing meal. Lyna paused, a soft smile touching her lips as she sat down with them. She didn't have an appetite after the night's stress, but watching her sons trying so earnestly to enjoy the meal melted her heart. Their actions spoke louder than words, showing their love and appreciation in every bite they took, regardless of the food's state.
Gradually, the atmosphere at the table lightened. The simple act of sharing the meal, imperfect as it was, seemed to mend the frayed edges of the evening. By the time they had finished, the initial tension had dissolved, replaced by a warm, familial closeness.
Seeing the mood lift and feeling the shift in his mother's spirits, Amukelo added with genuine gratitude, "Thanks, Mom. This was great." His words, simple but heartfelt, were a balm to Lyna's soul.
As everyone finished eating, and Lyna began cleaning after the party, she suddenly remembered the special gift she prepared for Amukelo. Rising from her chair with a soft smile, she retrieved the carefully wrapped present from its hiding place. "Look what I have for you," she announced, holding it out to her youngest son.
Amukelo's eyes sparkled with excitement, momentarily pushing aside the guilt from earlier. However, conscious of the day's events and how they had worried his mother, his joy was tempered with a touch of solemnity. "Wow, thank you, Mom," he said, managing to muster the enthusiasm he knew was expected of him on such a special occasion. Then, his voice carrying a new seriousness, he added, "You know what, Mom? I want to train in swordsmanship."
Lyna, taken aback by this sudden declaration, was nevertheless pleased. "What made you want to do it?" she inquired, intrigued by her son's newfound interest.
"I need to get stronger," Amukelo replied simply, his determination clear in his eyes.
Lyna smiled at his response, proud of his resolve yet touched by the underlying thoughtfulness towards his own growth. They soon prepared for bed, but Amukelo's words lingered in Lyna's mind, a testament to her son's evolving maturity.
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