Mother Fire

Alyth's P.O.V

Oooooh, this is getting interesting! Alexandra is getting jealou- "Stop reading that stupid story and come here." HUH?! Who is he to boss me around?! He held up a book. It says… 'Evertine eradicated laws and suppositions' Ow, my head hurts from that title.

I walked over next to him and sat on the chair. "What?" I ask with a hint of annoyance in my voice. "Look at this part." I glanced over at the book, and I instantly understood why this was important. "Mallo! We have to tell Mallo!" I said as I got off the chair.

"Yeah, but…" I look back at him with an annoyed look. "Come on, he needs this." He nods slowly, as if he's trying to solve a puzzle. He folded the page we were on and closed the book to follow me.

"Mallo!! OPEN UP OR I'LL DESTROY YOUR HOUSE!!" I yelled and saw Ribius closing his ears. The door was opened, but no one was there. He's that lazy? He has to use magic to open a door two inches away from him? (Sarcasm)

"What? It's so early," Ribius walked up in front of me and faced Mallo, his book in hand as he raised it. "Read this page." Mallo did as he was told and held the book. The second he finished reading the page, he dropped the book.

"What…" He repositioned his glasses, and shook his head. "Where'd you find this?" He looked sternly at Ribius, who nodded in response. "It was behind a shelf of books, on the ground." Mallo looked at the book and picked it up.

"If this is true, we need to go. We need to tell them!" I clench my fists. "But if we do, who'll protect the village?" Ribius and I have fought most of whatever monsters that came in at night, Mallo focused on trying to cast a magic barrier on the village. But he still… He's overworking himself. Trying to figure out a dumb, stupid way of contacting people who are in a place of no aura.

Mallo stared at the ground. "But… But I…" He just seems so troubled. Like he's hiding something. When I try to talk to him and get those secrets outta him, he always says something so vague and cold in return. As if he knows what I am trying to do. I don't mean to pry, but he definitely needs someone to talk to.

"Then, we'll just find someone who will protect Masilta!" He said with a determined look. "But how can we trust someone so quickly? I mean…" Mallo nodded. "Hm…" I realized something.

Mallo's personality is very strong. He's always set on one opinion. But these days... Or, for the past 2 years, he's always in deep thought when we tell him something. Mallo usually stays on his answer because he's already calculated our questions before we ask them*, and he looks for the possible outcomes when thinking of the question. It's like finding all the possible multiples for 2 if numbers had a limit.

Something in the past 2 years made him hesitate. I know that already, but what hurts me is that I can't help him. I don't know what is troubling him, so I can't come up with a solution.

"Sir Ribius? Sir Ribius Fire?" Ribius turned around to look at an old man. "There's a lady named Mother Fire looking for you." Ribius nodded. "My mother is here." Mallo looked at Ribius. "I'll go see her with you."

So, I became 3 years old. However, I only age up physically. Mentally, I don't age, like, I stopped aging. Vinaha comes over from time to time, and she'll cut my hair so I can't see what color it is. But I heard Vinaha say I got it from my mother or something. When I ask her, she says Mallo told her not to tell me.

"Ribius!" Oh, it's Ribius's mother. I never actually knew her name. Mother Fire is a really strange name. "Oh, Sir Mallo!" And yada yada ya… They begin their annoying, long talk of Ihavenoideawhatthehellthey'retalkingabout.

"I am so proud of Ribius! Not only can he use magic, but he's protecting the village with little Alyth here!" Mallo looked upset. "You see, we actually want to go to the east mountains to check on Angyar and the others. It's been more than 2 years, but who'll look after the village…"

Mother Fire stared at Mallo. Damn, was she a pretty woman. I heard she had Ribius at a young age, so she's still a very young woman.

"I can." Mallo, Ribius, and I choked at the same time. "Excuse me?" Mallo questioned, but I am sure even Ribius is wondering. "I only allowed Ribius to practice magic because I know it will help him- I've practiced magic before. See?" She held open her palm, and a swoosh of light-colored aura came out of her palm.

We all gaped at her. Are you kidding me? "Why didn't you tell us before?!" I yell. She stares at me with a deadpan. "You never asked." Now I see why Ribius is so annoying. It's his mother's genes!

"Are you serious?" Mallo asked. "Of course! I was a knight in my younger days!" A knight too?! What is this woman? Even Ribius is surprised! "Trust me, I can protect this village. The people of Masilta saved and protected me, so I'll save and protect them in return." Mallo smiled widely and lowered his head in respect.

"Thank you very much, Mother Fire."

Alright alright, I understand that this is a moment of respect and honor, but did you forget the fact that Mother Fire is an ex knight and a magic-user? And it didn't occur to her to tell us for the past two years?

Heck, even Ribius doesn't know, judging by the look on his face. "I won't be overprotective of Ribius, since he hates that, but let me remind you, mountains and forests are very dangerous, especially in winter." Mallo nodded.

"Yes, I am aware." Mother Fire smiles gently and glances at her son. Now that I think about it, who's Ribius's dad? I've never heard about his dad before. I am very curious, about Ribius's dad… He must be a very handsome man.

Wait, maybe he isn't. Mother Fire is very beautiful, so maybe Ribius is good looking because of her. But his father definitely has black hair. Mother Fire has orange hair, and Ribius has black hair. But he got his eyes from Mother Fire.

___Later___

3rd Person P.O.V

Ribius was in shock. He never knew, in his entire 12 years, that his mother knew how to use magic, or was a knight. He has many things to ask her about.

"Mother." Ribius set his book down on the table. They were at their house, Mother Fire was currently making food and Ribius was sitting at the table reading a book.

"Yes dear?" Ribius hesitated to ask his mother what was on his mind. He was worried she'd get upset. His mother is a very sensitive person and gets emotional quickly, so he thought asking her like he was hurt by her actions might make her upset.

He just washed those thoughts away. "Why… Why didn't you tell me that you can use magic? Or that you were a knight?" Mother Fire flinched. She had reasons to which she hadn't told him, but she was afraid she might have to tell him now. Otherwise, he might look for the answers by himself and find out more than he's supposed to.

"I... I never meant to tell you," Ribius widened his eyes. He hadn't expected her to say that. "But I will now." Mother Fire left whatever she was doing and sat down on a chair, facing Ribius.

"My dear, your father… He was a very poor person. He lived by himself in the mountains, fighting monsters every day and selling their skin. But that never got him a full stomach." Ribius didn't even flinch. He read worse stuff at 5 years old, and threw up because of it many times. Selling the skin of dead animals was nothing now.

"He hadn't known how he managed to kill those animals with no weapons though. When I was traveling the world, I met your father, and I noticed," Ribius leaned in closer as she continued.

"That he was using magic unconsciously. He had an enormous amount of magic and aura, so I taught him to control them." She fiddled with her dress's necktie.

"We soon fell in love and had you, but… But your father died. He was killed by a knight who thought he was dangerous." Ribius lowered his head so that his mother couldn't see his face.

Mother Fire noticed this and shot up from her chair and went next to her son. "Dear, I am so sorry, I thought-" Ribius pushed her away and got up.

"You made me think my father was on a trip and was going to return soon my whole life." There were tears forming at the edge of Mother Fire's eyes. "R-Ribius!" She called as he ran out of the door. It was raining.

He walked in silence, the rain soaking him. He knew his mother was probably crying her eyes out, but he couldn't help it- he was on the verge of tears too, for the first time in 7 years.

She always told him that his father was going to return home soon, and they'd all live happily together. As he grew up, he sort of figured that his father wasn't going to return, but hearing it so directly from his mother was just… too realistic.

____________

"Ribius? What are you doing so late when it's raining?" Asked Mallo as he pulled Ribius inside. The only place Ribius thought of was Mallo's house. He couldn't bear to return to his house and see his mother with red puffy eyes.

"Stuff happened. Can I… stay here for a while?" Mallo adjusted his glasses. "Of course. Here, change into this." Mallo passed on an oversized sweater and long shorts. "Thank you," Ribius whispered.

After Ribius changed into his clothes, he looked adorable. His hair was wet, his face was red (it was cold) and he was wearing oversized clothes (Mallo's clothes).

"Is Alyth awake?" Mallo nodded. "She's reading a book in the room over there- nevermind." "RIBIUS!!!" Alyth yelled as she jumped on Ribius's back. "A-Alyth? Where the hell did you come from?" Alyth laughed.

"Why are you here, Ribius? Did you take a shower?" Ribius sighed. She was such an idiot. "It was raining." She grinned widely. "Come, let's sleep together!" She pulled his hand and he had to bend down to walk with her.

"Hold on, take this." Mallo threw a towel over and Ribius caught it without looking back. Alyth took Ribius to their room and jumped on the bed. She patted on the side next to her, motioning for Ribius to sit there.

He sighed but complied nonetheless. "Mallo and I sleep here, but Ribius will sleep here too!" Alyth didn't question why Ribius came here all of a sudden, she thought he would have talked to his mother about everything, and it must've been a sensitive subject.

Ribius raised one eyebrow up. "That pervert." Alyth tilted her head in confusion. "It's late- you two should sleep." Alyth jumped off the bed and dragged Mallo by the hand to the bed.

"Let's all sleep together!" Mallo smiled gently while Ribius scoffed. "As if I'd sleep with you t-" He didn't have enough time to finish as Alyth pushed him down and Mallo on the side, so she'd be in the middle and lifted the blankets on them.

"Nighty night!" She yelled from next to their ears. "Good night," Mallo said as he put his glasses onto the bedside table. "Good night, idiot."

By then, Alyth had already fallen asleep.

"She really is an idiot."

___End Of Chapter 12___