Chapter 22 - Nicholas' Grandmother's Ring (Nicholas)

Days would pass by in the idyllic hut near the Hauntingen. A young boy and girl lived together against all odds and circumstances. It was difficult to speak to someone who could not talk, but Sophie and Nicholas were able to communicate with each other with a relative sense of ease.

"Ah, I'm going to head out into the garden and water some of the vegetables. Do you want to accompany me?" Sophie asked Nicholas.

He nodded his head.

"Oh, then let's go out now, okay?" Sophie smiled at him and reached out for his hand.

Nicholas looked at her hand and then held onto her. He was the older one between the two of them by at least 3 years. So, it was up to him to be responsible and more mature, but Sophie tended to take a more motherly role.

When Nicholas wanted something, he'd point at it and Sophie would always ask him questions to which the boy responded with a nod or shaking of the head. Between the two of them, it was always Sophie who talked and Nicholas who listened.

Nicholas didn't mind it though. The two of them walked out of the hut and quickly set off to do some chores.

Sophie would water the vegetables and other plants, Nicholas would help by pulling the weeds or setting small fences to prevent critters from coming in and eating their vegetables.

"Woah, you're really strong and fast!" Sophie exclaimed with a smile.

Nicholas looked at her with a faint smile and thought, 'I'm only trying my best to be of help to you. How hard it must be to live alone with no parents. You're amazing.'

Sophie was unaware of Nic's thoughts and simply pointed to an empty basket.

"If you don't mind, now that we're finished with the vegetables, it's time we go fishing or gather some ripe berries. They sell for a lot in Hauntingen, so we can actually buy meat if we get a good deal."

Nicholas followed her instructions and picked it up.

He looked around for the fishing line but Sophie was already carrying it along with a small bucket filled with earthworms. He was impressed that a young girl could do stuff like this.

The girls he met in the palace or were introduced to him as daughters of dukes and other nobles were all very focused on 'playing' with Nicholas or gaining his attention.

He was happy to be around someone like Sophie. A person who liked him and took care of him without knowing the truth about his identity. She was a great person and that was what Nicholas liked about living with her.

And yet even as Nicholas followed Sophie along, he knew that his days living with her would soon come to an end. Nicholas already recovered from his injuries and was able to help repay a bit of his debt to Sophie.

But Nicholas knew that if he truly wanted to repay Sophie for everything that she did for him, it was time for him to return to the palace.

***

It was one evening that Nicholas got up from his bed and checked for the money that he received from Sophie. Since the two of them worked on tending to vegetables and other tasks around the hut, he received a share of the income.

The boy did his best to save it.

Nicholas accepted it because it was necessary for him to be able to find a way back home. Last time, when he was on the market with Sophie, he also bought a pad of paper and a quill with some ink.

'Dear Sophie,

Thank you so much for taking care of me for the past month. It is time for me to return to my home but I will make sure to come back for you with my parents and repay you for everything that you've done for me.

Yours Truly - Nicholas'

It was difficult for him to say goodbye to someone like Sophie. How could he actually leave a girl that was younger than him all by herself in good conscience? After all their time together, Nicholas was reluctant.

Nicholas closed his eyes and pulled out a ring from his pocket.It was the most precious thing he had in this world since it belonged to his late grandmother and gifted to him after her passing. He treasured it by carrying it everywhere.

A little over a month ago, Nic's grandmother died and he went along with his parents to the funeral which was close to the edge of the kingdom.

It was back then that the werewolf clan attacked them during that evening and kidnapped Nicholas. He was brought in and made to suffer for a few days away from his family before he was finally given the curse of lycanthropy.

He looked sadly at the ring of his grandmother and placed it on top of the paper.

It was a small token for Sophie to remember that he was going back for her.

'Even though I like being here… I need to return back to the capital and palace. My family must be incredibly worried about me as well.' Nicholas thought to himself and looked back at Sophie sleeping.

Sophie was fast asleep and looked comfortable in her bed, but then suddenly whimpered. Nic's eyes widened and he quickly approached the girl and touched her hand. Was she having another nightmare?

Nicholas watched her expression relax as she squeezed his hand as if she never wanted to let him go. He didn't have any idea as to what happened to her parents because she never talked about them, but Nicholas knew it was sad.

No parent would have wanted to abandon their child alone in the world.

Uff.

It was so difficult to suddenly just get up and leave, but Nicholas knew that if he tried to leave the place in the morning, he would never be able to successfully leave Hauntingen.

A part of Nicholas also wanted to take Sophie with him to the capital, but considering their age and the numerous towns and villages they would visit… It was dangerous. That wasn't even counting how much money they needed.

Nicholas also didn't want to separate Sophie from the peaceful life that she was living in.

Once he gathered enough courage and took everything that he needed to travel out of Hauntingen, Nicholas disappeared that night.

.

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Thank you! I decided to give a bonus chapter because I start seeing more likes for the book tags. If you haven't done it, please like the book tags as requested in chapter 22. xx

Once we get to 50 likes on the tags, I will give 10 chapters mass release.

It can be next week or even TOMORROW depending on when we reach the tag likes target!

Go go go!