103 103. Mother Part 2

Night arrived, and dinner had passed. Lyra is already asleep in her room, and Mina was in Colt's bedroom together with Hylda and Filla.

She tucked the two in bed readying them for sleep. Though Colt is not with them, they still have smiles on their faces.

Mina had been trying to forge a bond with them, and it is clear that her efforts had paid off.

Their relationship is not limited to their association with Colt. It does not stop there; they too have their thoughts and emotions that for Mina alone.

Filla may be a genius, but her age is still four; thus, the longing for a mother is strong. Hylda is older, and yet she had been cast away for so many times that she too is no better than Filla.

Mina knows a lot about the two, and at some angle, even more so than Colt.

And because she knows of their past, she knows that she needs to be strong for them. After all, she knows how it feels to be motherless.

Mina tucked the two children into the bed and waited until they fell asleep. She, however, did not feel any tired and stayed awake. Mina grew restless by the second as she remained longer in bed, unable to calm down, resulting in her moving around without reason.

She can just close her eyes and wait for her to feel tired, but she knows this situation cannot be solved by mere time.

'It's occurring more frequently since he left my side.'

Mina longed for Colt; an itch is blossoming in her heart. Anxiousness and worry that cannot won't leave her be.

She got out of the bed and opened the doors to the balcony. She stepped out of the room and experienced the chill of the cold night wind.

It was midnight, and the moon hanged low. She stared towards the east, the longing and desperation in her eyes were present.

'My love, for when will you return? I grow restless by the day, memories of the past seeps into my mind attacking my psyche like the days before I met you.'

Her expression grew more somber. Memories of the past began to show. A woman dressed in a light pink gown appeared in her mind; it was her mother, the late Marchioness Maya Vera spending time with Mina.

To this day, this memory remains ever so vivid in Mina's mind. She is unable to erase it no matter what it is that she does.

Try as she might, this image is burnt into her mind.

Her heartbeat raced, and soon, her breathing followed.

Mina looked at the moon, and to the east, she held herself trying to keep her sanity in check.

She yearned for his arms, she yearned for his warmth, but most importantly, she yearned for his presence.

That presence that makes her feel as though she is truly not alone. She wanted him to return, so he can comfort her in his arms so that he'll be able to become a pillar for her.

Mina had promised to wait for his return, and she had done that magnificently over the past days.

She grows scared at the fact that he might disappear in her life. She is worried that he will leave him and go away without her knowing. In short, she is scared of his death.

Mina's thoughts only grew more vivid. Her emotions finally could not help but burst. Memories of the past flowed like the river of time.

From her early childhood to the time when it happened.

Since Mina could remember, she had always been with her Mother, Maya's side. May was the Marchioness, the wife of the Hero known as Liron Vera.

Maya was a cowardly and yet courageous woman. She fears many things, lightning, dogs, sword, fire, and even blood.

And yet she always steps up to protect her family. Her smile is retained when Mina trembles at lightning and faced a rabid dog when her daughter was chased..

Maya was a good woman, and an even better mother and wife. She protected her family from those who tried to harm and tarnish its reputation.

However, that became her downfall. The Ducal Family Maya forced out of the Kingdom sought revenge.

Under the brilliance of the sun, and the shades that the Forest provides the carriage was ambushed by that Ducal Family's soldiers led by its First Young Master. He had lost his mind after being robbed of his inheritance and future.

The guards protecting Maya and Mina were all slain with ease, one managed to escape and ask for reinforcement, but Maya and Mina were not so lucky and were forced to stay.

Mina and Maya were stuck in the carriage with no one to protect them. As the Mother and daughter were dragged out of the carriage, Maya hugged her daughter and used her body to protect Mina.

Maya was a Healing Mage, albeit not so strong for she had no talent. She had no experience of fighting; thus, if she fights back, then worst things may happen to her daughter.

Thus, Maya acted like a shield for her daughter. With her back turned to her assaulters, she received slash after slash from the sword that she feared.

Because Maya was not big enough to fully shield Mina from harm, the young lass would experience cuts hear and there, but it was then that Mina heard Maya speak…

"Does it hurt…my precious? Don't worry…Mother will make it…go away."

Maya, who had been cut tens of hundreds of times, didn't use her magic to save herself but to make sure that her daughter was left unscathed.

She poured her life to Mina so she can save and protect her child.

Her pain could not be measured, and blood flowed out of her deep wounds, yet she remained silent to ensure Mina won't get scared.

She smiled throughout the harrowing experience, and without her knowing, blood flowed out of her body trickling down to Mina.

Only after the cries of reinforcement did the swords of the enemies stopped.

"MAYA!"

That time, Maya heard the calls of her husband, it was at that time that she looked at Mina's eyes.

The mother that had bled to protect her daughter looked deep in Mina's eyes. She smiled at her, with blood trickling down her mouth and said, "See…everything's all…right…Fa…ther's…here."

With a body riddled with gashes and is devoid of strength and mana, Maya breathed her last from losing too much blood.

All of this happened with Mina watching inches away from her mother. Her mother's breathing growing faster with every cut, Mina could remember it with the tiniest of details.

And when Maya showed her that smile, it was retained by Mina throughout the years. It became a lasting memory and a bitter reminder that life is fleeting.

Thus her reaction to when Colt's arm was severed.

Often, she would dream of her mother's final moments, and when she closes her eyes, she'll see that smile from across her, and her body will tremble from fear.

And as time passes, tears would flow out, and the child that lost her mother would appear. Unable to stop the tears she cried.

Mina's knees grew week and slowly, she slid down on the ground.

Mina's tears could no longer be stopped.

She cried and wailed, waking up the sleeping children.

Moments later, her sobbing was heard by Hylda and Filla. The two awoke and stepped out and saw their Mother crying, unable to stand.

Mina raised her head as she saw her daughters.

They looked at her, and without saying any words, Filla walked to her side while Hylda went to take the thick blanket.

They do not know what's happening, but they can tell that what she needs is not words but companionship.

The children held onto Mina's hands, and they shared a blanket.

Filla and Hylda know not what is happening. But they felt that no one words are needed to convey what it is that they need to say.

These children were also motherless, just like Mina; however, they did not know that Mina was like them. And yet they knew what it is she needed most.

Mina felt their dainty hands tightly holding onto hers. She wept as Hylda and Filla held onto her.

"Ahhhhh."

Mina felt their emotions.

And it was then that she realized that being a mother was beautiful,.

Only then did she realized that strength can be drawn out from them.

She thought that she needed to be strong for them. But it appears she can grow stronger with them.

Such is the connection of a Mother and her children.