25/06/1164

Samuel’s Childhood Home

Samuel’s Perspective

“Samuel, food’s ready. Get up.” Mom’s voice wafted through the door along with the scent of the food, waking me from my drowsiness.

Barely keeping my eyelids open, I fidgeted a little before getting off the bed. Stretching to escape my drowsiness, I walked out while savouring the fragrant odour tickling my nose. Breathing in deeply, I analysed the aroma.

My brow furrowed as I asked, “Mom, is it—”

“Yes, it’s curry.” Mom replied with a helpless sigh before I could complete. “Go wash up and get ready for breakfast.”

With twinkles of excitement in my eyes, I nodded fervently before seeing myself to the bath. In the bath, I relaxed while letting my thoughts wander off idly, enjoying the feeling of chilly water wrapping around my skin to the fullest, filling me with a refreshing feeling.

Come to think of it… I leave tomorrow. I feel kinda reluctant to do so honestly. But this is also important. Especially if I want to cure dad. Mom said that the thing which can cure dad could be somewhere in some dungeon or ruin, and to get to it, we would need strong people to venture in and explore the place.

Speaking of strong, Zack did get quite a bit strong since we started the duels. But, for the past three days, he doesn’t seem as well. He took off for the first two days and even yesterday; he didn’t seem well. Is he sick and just not telling?

Still, dad says to not go easy on him even after this. If not for his ‘This will be good for Zack and yourself.’ I wouldn’t be listening to the old man. And dad too, he feels a bit too… overly energetic the past few days. Well, I will be leaving, so maybe he is preparing some gift or something?

Thinking about the gift dad and mom might give, I broke out into a grin of anticipation. Hurrying my bath, I got out, heading straight for the dining table next.

At the dining table, Dad sat at his usual spot, his eyes scanning the morning news like always while mom was busy in the kitchen, preparing to serve the food.

Looking around, I saw no traces of my annoying sister, which prompted me to ask, “Where’s Amelia?”

In a chiding tone, mom replied, “Amelia got up early and is now in the backyard, watering the plants. You should learn something from her.”

Shrugging it off, I sat down quietly, waiting for the food.

Lowering his paper, dad asked, “How did it go yesterday? Did Zack win?”

I shook my head. “No, he didn’t win yet. In fact, he seems to be getting worse over the past few days. But I think that maybe I made a subconscious improvement, making it easier for me and I am just feeling him to be getting worse. The thing where my improvement outmatches his.”

“Alright, alright. Don’t toot your own horn. I know how good you are at that. That baldie will be coming sometime soon though. Ain’t that stifling?”

“Dad, do you hate him?”

“No, I don’t. He’s just… made annoying, I’d say. Keeps on acting like I scammed him out of money or something.”

“That you did, William.” Mom chimed in, bringing the curry-rice.

“What? It was a fair trade. FAIR.” Dad said, as if accused unjustly. “And even if it is a scam, I helped him out a lot. What’s that in comparison?”

“You never change, do you?” Mom sighed.

Matter-of-factly, Dad replied, “Ofcourse not.”

Mom shook her head before leaving, giving into dad’s stubbornness.

With a click of a door, Amelia walked in from the backyard, wearing a women’s straw hat a few sizes too big for her, evidently Mom’s. In one hand held, she onto the watering can while with the other she held onto a kitten the size of her tiny arm with a gray fur. She walked towards the table as she asked, “Mom, can we keep it?”

“No.” Mom refused, without sparing it a look.

Amelia asked, “Why Mommy? Why can’t we keep it?”

Mom replied back bluntly, “We don’t have enough space and you wouldn’t we able to take care of the kitten.”

Amelia gave me a look before saying, “Brother will be leaving, anyway. So, we can give that room to Shiiro if the space is not enough. And I can take care of Shiiro all the same.”

She named it already?! That was quick. I mused to myself, looking at the unassuming kitten. What stood out the most to me were the two black rings at the ends of each its tail and feet and its oddly menacing talons. Rest, it looked like any other kitten.

Not being given the time of day, she turned to dad as she said, “Daddy, you support me. Ask her if we can keep it as well!”

Dad gave an “Okay, Princess.” with a helpless tone before asking, “Amelia, can we keep this—”

Mercilessly, Mom shot him down, “No.”

Feeling Amelia’s gaze on me, I lowered my head, focusing on the curry-rice in front of me while spectating Amelia trying to persuade Mom.

She walked up to Mom before showing her the kitten as she said, “Mommy, look how pitiful it is. Can you bear to let it sleep on the streets and go hungry?”

As if playing together with Amelia, both the kitten and its tentative owner made pitiful faces.

Silence spread through the room, with the sounds of my spoon digging into the curry rice reverberating occasionally, making me feel awkward every time it did.

As if giving in, Mom looked at Dad as she asked, “William, what’s your thoughts?”

“I say we should let it be. Amelia will be happy and a cat wouldn’t have to go homeless. What more, she wouldn’t get bored after Samuel leaves. Who knows, maybe you’ll also grow fond of it.”

“Fine, you can keep it. But be sure to take good care of it.”

“Okay, Mommy!” Saying so, Amelia hugged the kitten, squeezing the air out of the poor thing.

Dad said, “Alright, now that that is settled, Amelia, show me the cat.“

“Okay!”

Amelia passed the kitten over to Dad, going to the nearby shelf to put down the hat off of her head.

While she did so, the kitten gave off a deep “Meooow!” before slapping its paw against dad and jumping off, running towards Amelia.

Dad looked crestfallen as he lowered his head. Putting away his newspaper for good, he began making space in front of him, preparing to have some breakfast for himself.

Snickering, I couldn’t help but remark, “Dad, looks like it hates you.”

“It sure does.” Dad replied, shaking his head.

Finishing my food, I got up, preparing to leave. While washing my hands, I asked, “Mom, where’s the basket?”

Mom replied, “Next to the door. And come back to get the dinner as well.”

“Okay!” replying, I headed out.

While walking through the streets of the village, heading towards one of the routes to the lake with the cottage, I bumped into a man wearing a long conical hat and a black cloak, which covered his attire completely, not hiding his conspicuousness in the slightest.

Lowering his head, he asked, “May I know where the man named William lives here?”

Filled with disbelief, my head went blank except the lone thought, He is… No way. This shouldn’t be happening this early. I need to hurry.

Involuntarily, I lowered my head, making sure the man couldn’t make out my features to identify me. To go a step further, my outward expression was calm, as if unaware of the identity of the man I bumped into.

Pointing toward our house while saying in a slightly lighter voice than usual, “They should be somewhere over there.”

The man patted my head before moving on as if nothing happened.

As soon as he left, I heaved a sigh, cold sweat breaking out around my forehead.

I should hurry before it’s too late.

Without waiting for my thought to finish, I was already racing, heading towards Zack's cottage.