“Hey, you moved a lot when you were young, right?”

My colleague twirled her loose side bangs while staring off into space. It seemed like she slipped what’s on her mind.

“...Yes.”

*Shuuuuuuu…*

The espresso machine at the office started letting off some steam.

“Oh… I’m sorry, I was practicing how I’m gonna ask you, I mean, you know, in my mind? Sorry…”

“Issokay, it’s old news anyway.”

“Then, can I ask how old were you, when you first moved?”

“Well, it started when I was around 6 or 7, I think? When I learned how to look after myself.”

“You looked after yourself when you were 6? I only started to read at the time..!”

I scratched my head and laughed wryly. Her amazement felt like a compliment.

“Why do you need to look after yourself? I thought you moved a lot because of your dad?”

“Hmm-mm, yeah.”

I poured hot milk on her mug while I added 2 cubes of sugar on mine. She looked at me like she wanted to know more but soon she stopped and regretted ever asking her question.

“Nope, you don’t have to answer that. I didn’t mean to pry, it’s just that my brother’s required him to move a lot so, you know, my niece… I just, I just wanna know what you did, so I can imagine it somehow.”

Stirring my coffee I looked up trying to remember accurate details of my childhood.

“My parents got divorced when I was 3 and my mom married another man, so my dad wanted me to live with him. However at the time, I was too young to be left alone so I lived with my grandparents for a couple of years.”

I held my mug with both hands, feeling the warmth seeping through my palms and fingers. The scent of coffee brought nostalgia.

“...when I learned how to cook rice and grill fish… actually, I learned a lot more than just basic needs. My grandma taught me how to butcher meat, make baskets and stuff, while my grandpa taught me carpentry, fishing and farming. So I’d move with my dad to different cities but every summer I’d visit my grandparents and...”

Looking at my colleague, she wore a face of disbelief.

Crap, she’ll think I’m weird…

“That’s awesome Bae!”

Ummm… what…?

When we reached the gates of Mimok, I let Skoll and Hati pull the sled slowly. I noticed the guards watching us carefully.

I saw Lex’s eyes change from glittering excitement to fear and hesitation.

Poor boy, is it better to move to the city so he can adjust and make friends there? I should ask Silvio when we get back.

“Halt, may we see your papers please.”

Although normally, it was just formality, we still came from the direction of the border.

“Yes, here.”

I registered in the Commerce Guild in Mimok before so I had no problem showing my identification. Although a citizenship certificate is more trusted, reputation can matter as well so I’m sure we’ll be able to pass without worry.

“You don’t have a citizenship certificate?”

“No, we live in the outskirts of God’s forest so we have no need for citizenship. We only come to Mimok to restock and sell our winter products.”

“I see…”

He stopped and compared the image imprinted on the identification paper and me...

“Miss Bea?”

A familiar face peeked from the guardhouse. He had chestnut-colored hair and soft features that he didn’t seem like a soldier at all.

“Long time no see Miss Bea!”

“Yes, it’s been almost half a year since I visited.”

He smiled at me and turned to his subordinates.

“Let them through, Miss Bea is a well-known craftsman. I’m surprised you didn’t recognize her.”

“But captain, she might be a spy--”

Contrary to his soft features, he can really pull off a death glare. Or maybe it’s that contrast that made it so scary?

“Miss Bea is no means a spy. Now then…”

After scolding his men, he turned to look at Lex.

“Oh, hi! Are you Miss Bea’s little brother?”

Lex fidgeted under the gaze.

“Right, this is Alexander, my son.”

As I said so, I heard something crack. Hmmm… was it my imagination?

“W,what…?”

The stiff Captain Elliot turned to me in disbelief. Although it was understandable since I haven’t mentioned him at all in my previous visits, I really didn’t have a chance to do so and I just met the kid a month ago too. I guess IT is unbelievable.

“I see, I haven’t mentioned him at all. Well, since he’s able to travel now I thought I could bring him here and stay until spring.”

I lied through my teeth, because how else am I gonna explain this.

I just found him almost dying a month ago so I picked him up then, the friendly neighbor God told me he’s going to be my son and did some memory-altering to people, changed my eye colors to match him and now we’re living as mother and son…!

Nope, that won’t do. Of course, I can’t tell people that--!

“N,no… that’s…”

Wait, does he need identification too?

“Does he need to have identification papers too? Can he still come inside the city?”

With a face filled with despair, he answered.

“No need… you may enter Miss Bea.”

I was startled by the sudden change of mood but I couldn’t really ask anything when we’re only acquainted with each other. That’d make me nosy.

“Hmm… I think he’s sad because I’m mom’s son. Well, not that I’d give my mom away.”

With a humph and sudden pride he looked away from the gate as we entered it.

It seems that my inability to notice the current state of the captain and his feelings on the matter will be a story for another time.