Atlas and I were in town walking along the sidewalk, heading south. When he had spotted me in the hall, he had told me to follow him.

“There’s something that requires my attention, and I would like to have your company, Elenore Magnus.” He told me when we crossed in the hall.

I judged by the look in his eyes, that he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. So I agreed to accompany him on whatever he had to attend too. I had to cancel my lunch time with Celestia, which bummed me out, but she said it was fine. If the number two needed me, it must be important.

“Thank you again for coming with me,” Atlas said, while we were walking downtown.

“It’s no problem, but I felt a bit forced though,” I replied truthfully.

He laughed. “Yeah, I’m told that often by others. In school, I act more professional. But outside, I act more carefree.”

“Since we’re in town, won’t people flock to you when they see you? You are a pretty big deal after all.”

“It’s fine really. I send Nova out in town to do the groceries before I attend my business. More people flock to her than they do me.”

I gave him a playful punch on the arm. “You’re an ass, I hope you know that.”

He simply grinned at my remark. I guess he knew I was right. It had started to rain a bit as we continued to walk, it was a slight drizzle, so nothing we couldn’t handle, but considering the looming gray clouds in the distant, it was sure to get worse.

“So where are we going anyway?” I eventually asked. It was a question had been nagging in the back of my mind, as we walked out of town.

Atlas looked at me with a somewhat surprised look on his face. “You don’t know this route? Look around; it leads to somewhere important for the both of us.” He answered.

I looked around. We had left the town behind us and had entered open road and empty fields on the left and right. The only thing of note here was a church to pray to the Beings and a cemetery where the dead were buried. I remember being here before in the past. It was not a happy memory, nor will it ever be. I was still a child when I was here, and I vowed to never come back here. It was the cemetery where my mother was buried.

“Mom,” I muttered with a shaky breath.

Atlas nodded. “Yes exactly. Every week, I find time to come to your mother’s grave to pay my respects. She saved my life, but she passed away before I could express my gratitude. It was the only thing I could think of doing to express my appreciation towards her.”

The death of mom was something I had trouble handling. I was just a child after all when she passed away. I couldn’t bear to see my mom being buried under the ground. I wanted to one day, visit her again, but I kept remembering the pain I felt that day, losing her, and I always felt scared. I would ultimately fail to visit her and always pushed it back.

We arrived at the cemetery shortly after. The drizzle had transformed into a pretty constant rain (very cliché). Tombstones were lined up row by row, column by column. Flowers and items that held symbolic value decorated the tombstones, to honor and show respect to the deceased. I followed Atlas as we made our way to the final resting place of my mother. Dried, withered flowers were at the base of the tombstone. Atlas removed them and laid some fresh flowers he had bought while we were in town. I had bought some too when he suggested I do the same. I put mine beside his. Together, in silence, we stared at the words that were carved into the stone:

Grimoire Scarlet

XXXX-XXXX

Wife, Mother, Savior

Atlas gave me a nudge. I nodded and knelt in front of the tombstone, taking a shaky breath.

“Hi, Mom,” I told it. “I hope you and dad are having fun together. Zac and I miss you guys.”

I had tears welling up in my eyes. I felt scared, lost, alone and vulnerable. I had no family left. My parents were dead and my brother could potentially be executed. Tangela was the only one I had left. But she wasn’t though. I had Celestia with me as well. And her family as well. Eve and Atlas seemed to care a lot about me. I may have lost my blood family, but I had made a new one. One that I refused to see destroyed.

“I’m doing well. Tangela, a spirt dad gave me, has been treating me well and keeps me company. Celestia came back from Craynax. Now we’re teammates and dorm mates! I’ve already gotten into some fights at school, but I’ve been fending off for myself.” I continued talking to her.

At this point, I was openly crying. I had my fingers digging into the dirt as I spoke to mom. I missed her so much, and I never could work up the courage to visit. I felt so stupid all these years, never visiting her, but finally being here, in front of where she lay, I felt better, safer, like she was with me right now, still alive, holding me in her arms or embracing me in a hug.

“I’m planning on participating in the Magi Magic Games and becoming a representative of Vextel in the Zone Games. I’ll train really hard and do the best I possibly can for you and dad. I hope I win so I can hopefully get big bro back. I’ll make you guys proud.”

Atlas placed a hand on my shoulder, signaling it was time to go, as the rain was worsening. I got up, brushed myself off and wiped the tears out of my eyes. I smiled at the tombstone. “I’ll visit again soon mom, I promise.”

Atlas gave his regards as well, telling mom that he’s forever grateful for what she had given him, the chance of living. He told her how he met me and says that he’ll keep an observant eye on me.

“Feel better?” Atlas asked me as we made our way back into town.

“Much better. How did you know that this would make me feel better?”

“I didn’t, I just wanted you to accompany me, Magnus.” He replied.

It suddenly became a downpour, making us have to sprint back into town. Atlas and I were completely drenched once we made it in town, and we were starting to get cold as well. There was no way we were making it back to school without catching colds.

“I live near here; we’ll shelter there for the meantime.” Atlas offered.

I took his offer; there was no way I was going to go back to school in this state of dress. As we sprinted to his place, my mind wandered off to mom, I was grateful that Atlas brought me to go see her. Maybe in a way, she was still looking over me, but through the guise of Atlas. I had promised her I would visit again soon. I would plan to go every week with Atlas to see her and make the occasional trip back home to see dad. I was going to make them proud of me. But I had already accomplished that. I would always make my parents proud.