Chapter 18: Leo reveals his identity.
He opened his mouth to try and reassure her, to tell her he was fine, but she wasn't finished.
"How could you be so reckless?" she asked, her voice dropping to a worried whisper. "Getting yourself entangled with monsters? What were you thinking?"
Adrian's words died in his throat.
'So she knew.'
The young man he'd saved, must have told her everything while he was asleep, that, or, the villagers must've heard from him and told his mother after he got better.
His mind flashed back to the cave, to the feeling of being torn apart, and a cold silence settled over him. He just looked away, unable to form a reply.
She took his silence as his answer. "Just promise me," she said, her voice pleading now. "Promise me you won't do something so dangerous again."
Adrian stayed quiet, his words stuck in his throat again. It was a promise he knew he might not be able to keep.
"Why aren't you answering me?" she pressed, her worry turning to a mother's frustration.
Finally, he forced a weak smile onto his face, hoping it looked more convincing than it felt. "I'll be more careful next time." he offered her a soft smile. Though it wasn't what she wanted, she decided to take it.
His mother let out a sound that was half sigh, half groan of exasperation. "More careful?" she chided, standing up and putting her hands on her hips. "You slept for over three days! What do you mean, 'more careful next time'?"
She sighed again, and shook her head.
" We'll definitely discuss more of this later but for now you need to recover."
"I'm going to get you some food. You need to get your strength back." She left the room and returned a few minutes later with a steaming wooden bowl. "Here," she said, her tone softening as she handed it to him. "It's your favorite. Chicken milk soup."
Adrian looked down at the pale, creamy soup with bits of shredded chicken in it. He was skeptical; he didn't remember ever having this before. But he was hungry, so he picked up the spoon and took a cautious taste.
His eyes widened in awe the next moment, It was incredible, rich, savory, and comforting all at once. It tasted like a splendid blend of sweetness and spicy goodness.
He began to eat eagerly, and he saw his mother's shoulders relax a little as she watched him, a real smile finally touching her lips.
She was about to say something else when a firm knock echoed from the front door.
"I'll be right back," she said, excusing herself.
' Who's at the door, we don't usually get visitor's?'
Adrian interests was piqued, he stopped eating, spoon halfway to his mouth, as she opened the door.
With his superb hearing and the fact that their home wasn't modest in size, He heard her gentle greeting, and then another, younger voice replying.
' What's he doing here?' Adrian thought when he realized who's voice he'd just heard.
It was the young man he had saved. Adrian could just make him out from the bed.
Leo was standing by the door, unlike his earlier look, he was now wearing clean, warm clothes that had probably been gifted to him by the villagers. He looked like a completely different person from the shivering, naked prisoner in the cave.
" Please come inside." Adrian's mother smiled warmly and allowed him inside. From the looks of it, this wasn't the first time the both of them must've met.
" Thank you Aunty." Leo smiled and entered inside.
" What are you doing here..." Adrian emerged from his room, his eyes squinted as he watched the stranger making himself comfortable in their home.
' I thought I already save him, don't tell me his been leeching off mom ever since then?' Adrian was guilty with leaving him behind but that didn't mean he was open to taking him in, he didn't have the strength nor the funds to cater for another hungry mouth.
" Adrian, what are you doing, you're still not well. Why did you get out of bed." His mother hurried to his side, she tried to support him but he didn't budge, instead his eyes were still fixed on Leo.
" I just came over to thank you for saving my life–"
" No need... I'm more than content with the act itself. There's no reason for you to owe me anything." Adrian cut him off, hoping he would take the hint and leave already.
' Since the villagers were able to keep him Feb till now, I'm sure they can keep it up a bit longer, if not, it shouldn't be hard for him to survive on his own by working for others.'
" Adrian..." His mother looked a bit unhappy with her son's behavior. " Since Leo came all the way here to see you, don't you think you owe it to him to at least hear him out."
" It's ok Aunty." Leo said before turning his focus to Adrian.
" I'm afraid I cant just do nothing after all you've done for me." Leo smiled awkwardly, he wasn't dense and could notice Adrian's desire for him to leave.
" I already sent a letter to my family, they'll be sending someone to come pick me up in a few days time. I was wondering if the both of you would be willing to come with me back to the capital."
" T-The Capital?" Adrian's mother was stunned by his words.
' What's wrong with mom's why is she so stunned, is this capital supposed to be a big deal?' Adrian wondered.
" And why would we leave our home to join you?" Adrian who knew nothing about it, still remained as neutral as always.
" Leo, are you saying you're family resides in the capital?" Adrian's mother questioned, still finding it hard to believe.
" That's right Aunty, I forgot to mention before but my father is a merchant who resides in the capital, our family deals in selling goods and services." He said with a smile before his expression dimmed the next moment.