The wooden house that Lily called home stood not far from Max's own. It was a quaint, modest structure, smaller than his, but it exuded an inviting warmth. Whitewashed walls were well maintained and the windows were adorned with neatly trimmed, flourishing plants. It might not have had the grandeur of some of the homes in the village, but the house was evidently well-loved and cared for.
Stepping over the threshold, Max took in the familiar smell of Lily's home. The scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the comforting aroma of wood smoke from the hearth. The inside of the house was as clean and orderly as the exterior suggested, with the homely chaos that comes from a well-lived life.
They were greeted by the sight of Lily's mother, Mrs. Gardner, a picture of rural simplicity and warmth. Despite her years working in the fields, which had left her frame somewhat frail, she had a resilience and energy about her that belied her physical appearance. She was a woman in her forties, with a soft cloud of hair that was beginning to silver, and the gentle crinkles around her eyes told stories of a life filled with both laughter and hardship.
Her sun-burnished face lit up as she saw them, and she hurried over, her smile radiant. She pulled Lily into a tight embrace, her eyes closing as if savoring the moment. "Oh, Lily, my dear, I've missed you so much!" Her voice was thick with emotion.
Max watched the exchange, a familiar pang of longing twisting in his chest. His heart yearned for the warmth of his mother's embrace, the comforting rhythm of her heartbeat, the gentle caress of her hand on his back. The scene in front of him only served as a bitter reminder of what he had lost.
Mrs. Gardner turned her attention to him next. "Maximus," she breathed, her eyes gleaming with affection. Without hesitation, she pulled him into a similarly tight hug, her frail body emanating a surprising amount of warmth. "It's so good to see you, dear. Welcome back."
Max returned the hug, his throat tightening at the maternal affection he hadn't felt for so long. For a moment, he allowed himself to sink into the comfort it provided, trying to ignore the whispering reminder that it was not his mother's arms around him.
As she pulled away, she looked at him, her eyes full of understanding and concern. She didn't say anything more, but she didn't need to. Her knowing gaze said enough. She knew something was wrong.
"Come in, come in," she said, gesturing for them to move further into the house. She turned to retreat back into the kitchen, presumably to finish whatever she was working on when they arrived.
Max shared a glance with Lily, his emotions a whirlwind. Yet, he managed a weak smile, feeling a glimmer of hope in this humble home, amongst these kind people. Maybe he could find some solace here, maybe even some answers. If not, at least he would be in good company, and sometimes, that was all one needed.
Moving through the house, they settled down in the living room, a cozy space filled with comfortable wooden furniture. An old, worn-out rug covered the wooden floor, its edges frayed but its patterns still vibrant and inviting. The fireplace, currently unlit, held the remnants of charred logs, their warmth long since dissipated but a promise of comfort in the colder nights.
Mrs. Gardner returned a while later, carrying a tray laden with freshly baked bread and a pot of hot tea. The sight of the steaming beverage and the appetizing aroma of the village bread was a comforting familiarity amidst the storm of emotions within Maximus.
As Mrs. Gardner served them, he couldn't help but observe her. Despite her frail appearance, she moved with a grace and fluidity that spoke of her strength. She had a gentle kindness in her eyes, a compassion that was as warming as the tea she served.
Having finished serving, she finally settled down in an old rocking chair across them. "So," she began, her gaze moving between Maximus and Lily. "How has the academy been? Did you two make friends?"
Maximus exchanged a look with Lily before turning back to Mrs. Gardner. The question hung in the air, a silent plea for him to unburden his heart. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation to come. His voice, when he finally spoke, was barely above a whisper, but it held a strength that surprised even him.
"Mrs. Gardner, I would love to share about out experiences, but I have something to ask first. Mother is gone. Father is back, and they both left together. And... I don't know why," Maximus confessed, his heart heavy with the weight of his words. His gaze fell to his lap, where his hands clenched the crumpled parchment tightly.
For a moment, the room was filled with a deafening silence, interrupted only by the occasional creak of Mrs. Gardner's rocking chair. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable weight.
"I see," she said, a touch of sadness coloring her words. "I... I'm so sorry, Maximus." Her gaze was full of empathy, but also a spark of determination, as if silently assuring him that she would do what she could to help him understand. To help him navigate the stormy sea of emotions he found himself in.
Mrs. Gardner took a deep breath before she began, her voice filled with the soft cadence of memory. "Max, when you left for the academy, your mother, Aeliana, she was...well, she was very proud of you. But I saw her every day, and it was clear to me that your leaving had left a void in her life that was hard for her to fill. She was upset, lonely...I guess it's only natural for a mother to feel that way when her child leaves the nest for the first time."
Max's heart clenched at her words. He had known that his leaving would impact his mother, but he had hoped that she would find comfort and joy in her own life. The fact that she had been suffering in silence all this time, filled him with a profound sadness.
Mrs. Gardner continued, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Then one evening, Aeliana came rushing over to my house. She was flushed with excitement, her eyes shining brighter than I'd seen in months. 'Leofrik is back', she told me. She couldn't stop smiling, Max. It was a joy I hadn't seen on her face since the day you left for the academy."
Max's eyes stung as he took in her words. His mother had been happy, truly happy, for the first time since he'd left. It was a bittersweet realization, and he found himself grappling with a maelstrom of emotions.
"And then she told me the rest," Mrs. Gardner continued, "that Leofrik wanted to take her on an adventure, to explore the world together, something they'd always talked about when they were younger. She was hesitant, of course, worried about leaving you. But I told her to go, Max, because I hadn't seen her smile like that in ages."
The silence that followed was heavy, filled with the echoes of Mrs. Gardner's revelations. Max felt a lump in his throat, the reality of his mother's loneliness and the joy she'd found in his father's return hitting him hard.
"Max, your mother loves you very much, and she always will," Mrs. Gardner said softly, her eyes full of empathy. "And while this might not make things easier for you, I hope it helps you understand why she did what she did. You're not alone in this, Maximus. You have all of us."
With that, she got up and moved towards the kitchen, leaving Max alone with his thoughts and the quiet support of his best friend, Lily. The ache in his heart was less of a sharp sting and more of a dull throb now. He knew the road ahead was fraught with uncertainty, but for now, he took comfort in Mrs. Gardner's words. He was not alone.
The rest of the evening was filled with quiet conversations, shared memories, and more than a few silent tears. As night fell, Mrs. Gardner insisted that Max spend the night in their home. "It's late, Maximus," she said, her gaze kind but firm. "You need to rest, and it's too long a journey to make at this hour. You can head back to the academy tomorrow morning."
Max wanted to protest, but the fatigue tugging at his eyelids told him that Mrs. Gardner was right. He needed to rest. He thanked her, retreating to the guest room that was prepared for him.
The room was simple, yet cozy. The soft glow from the moon filtered through the window, casting a gentle light on the wooden furniture. Max climbed into bed, his mind whirling with the day's revelations. Despite the turmoil in his thoughts, sleep came surprisingly quick, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up with him.
When he awoke the next morning, the house was already filled with the familiar scent of freshly baked bread and brewing tea. After a hearty breakfast and a warm farewell from Mrs. Gardner, Max set out for the academy.
His family was no longer present in the village, and while he was grateful for Mrs. Gardner's help, he did not want to stay any more in a distant village. He realized that it would be best to return to the academy as soon as he can and complete the breakthrough to the second stage.