Albus spent the next couple days recovering. When he was well enough, he packed his things, tucking the gold lunair into his pocket and emerged from the tent to say goodbye to Red one last time. When he left their camp, he began walking along the path that lead out of Noblesse. It was a long, fairly straight path surrounded by forest for most of the trek. The path would eventually lead him to the town. The streets were teeming with people and shop owners opening for the morning. He picked up his pace, hoping not to run into the same men as before.
Much to his dismay, he ended up running into someone much worse. In his haste, he wasn't watching where he was going and failed to see the woman in front if him. He bumped into her and her basket of apples slipped from her hands and the apples tumbled to the ground.
"Ah! Sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going!"
The woman huffed angrily as Albus bent down and began picking up the apples.
"You filthy beggars only know how to cause trouble!"
Albus froze when he heard her voice. That condescending tone, the way her voice shook with rage. When he lifted his head to look at her, he found his assumption to be correct. It was his mother. He hadn't seen her since he was a child but although she had gained a wrinkle or two it undeniably her.
"Mom?"
The woman looked down at him, eyes widening in recognition. "...you..." Her voice was ripe with venomous disdain.
Before she could speak any further a man appeared behind her. "Is something the matter dear?"
He was dressed quite well, his manner of speech and the way he carried about seemed to indicate that he was of a much higher class. Albus watched his mother wrap her hands around the man and whimper pitifully.
"Honey this disgusting vagrant made me drop my apples! I wanted to share them with you but now I won't get to!" She cried.
The man stroked her hair soothingly. "Don't worry I'll buy you the whole shop if it makes you feel better." His soft gaze turned cold as soon as he set his eyes on Albus. "WHAT SHAMELESS FILTH! Get on your knees and apologize this instant!"
If he was being honest with himself, Albus wasn't surprised. Disappointed sure, but not surprised.
He dropped the apples and grimaced. "So this is your new wallet huh?"
She glared daggers at him. If looks could kill, they'd both be dead.
"WHAT NONSENSE ARE YOU GOING ON ABOUT! I'll have your head for your impudence."
The man moved to grab Albus and Albus braced, ready to defend himself but someone grabbed the man before he could reach Albus.
"What do you think you're doing causing such a scene here?"
All eyes turned to the black carriage that had pulled up next to them. Julian stood with one foot out of it and his hand firm against the man's shoulder.
"Julian?" The second Nasmira caught sight of Julian, her attitude did a complete 180.
"You know this person?" Asked the man beside Nasmira.
"Yeah. She had him get her pregnant thinking she'd be able to become part of his family and mooch of his wealth but when that didn't work she sold her son into slavery...nice to meet you, I'm the son by the way."
Nasmira looked like her eyes would bulge out of her head. In contrast, Julian's stoic expression cracked as a laugh slipped from his mouth. He let go of the man and pulled Albus into the carriage with him.
"That sounds about right to me, " he said before shutting the door to the carriage and signaling for the driver to pull away.
The man who was with Nasmira looked at her with a mix of disgust and betrayal. Nasmira however didn't care. She didn't even spare him a glance before she began running after the carriage in a fit of rage.
"JULIAN! HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT! GET BACK HERE!" She wailed, drawing much attention from everyone nearby but that didn't stop her. When she realized that Julian wasn't going to stop for her, she seemed to get even angrier.
"YOU ANIMAL! YOU THANKLESS WRETCH! HOW COULD YOU DENY OUR LOVE LIKE THAT! YOUR PARENTS MUST HAVE BEEN REAL SELFISH PIGS TO RAISE A HEARTLESS BASTARD LIKE YOU!"
Her screams faded into the distance as the carriage got further and further away. Inside, Albus and Julian sat in silence for a while, neither one quite sure what to say to the other.
Julian was the first to break the silence. "Where are you headed?"
"Solaria, " replied Albus.
"Solaria huh...that's pretty far."
"I'm stopping by some other places along the way to sell my stuff."
"I see...I'll take you to the Nobelese border."
It was a short conversation and once it was over they didn't talk for the rest of the journey. Once they arrived at the border, Albus got off and gave Julian his thanks. After brief goodbyes Albus watched the carriage turn and go back the way it came. He didn't know his father for long but as far as he was concerned, there was no need to exchange any more words than necessary. When the carriage finally disappeared out of sight, Albus turned and continued walking.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
One year later, Albus sat on a low hanging branch of the Solarian hanging gardens. He was enjoying the evening, sketching in a notebook when voices drifted a long with the wind. He tried to tune them out for the most part, until a girl came wandering his way, threads of gold bouncing behind her as she did. She was loud and bubbly like sunshine personified, making her very hard to just ignore. So much so that when she came prancing around beneath him, telling tales of her mother, he couldn't help but chime in.
"I didn't think Solaria's Princess was a history buff."
|Present Day|
Albus glared at Nasmira. "You're as vile as ever. Get out before I slit you up the middle and bite out your heart!"
His words were laced in the utmost hatred. Something that surprised everyone there since he had never expressed such hatred before. Astrid took hold of Isabelle and Egan, attempting to pull them aside, but Egan broke free from her grasp.
"Wait. Did you lie? Did you lie to us when you said you missed your son?"
Nasmira found herself at the receiving end of not one, but two chilling glares. A haughty scoff escaped her.
"I wouldn't expect children to understand the way a mother feels about her kids."
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