Gael entered the small house where he and his mother lived. He was tired of the day’s work. He took off his leather gloves and washed his hands. Then a voice sounded from the other room.

‘Gael? is that you?’

Gael walked over. There his old mother laid ill in her bed. He sat down beside her.

‘How are you mother?’

‘Tired’, she said.

‘More of the same?’

His mother nodded.

‘More tired than yesterday, probably not as tired as I will be tomorrow.’

‘How far did you get?’, She asked.

‘I think we will be done harvesting the wheat tomorrow. At least I hope so.’

Gael's mother smiled. Gael never liked the wheat harvest, and she knew.

‘And how are the herbs?’

‘Willowscap is doing great. And Dyers Karamine seems to survive.'

'Good’, she said and turned her head and looked up at the ceiling. Gael kept sitting by his mother's side.

‘Will you stay?’, she asked.

‘I will stay with you mother.’

‘No, I mean when I’m gone will you stay on the farm?

‘Of course I will stay!’, Gael answered.

‘You could leave’

Gael hadn't really thought about life after his mother's death.

‘Ehm, I could leave in early spring. Leanhan could tend to the herb garden for a bit.’

‘I think you should leave.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Your brother has Serah, and loves it here. You always dreamt of leaving the farm behind. Don’t stay here and slumber like us. Please go see the world!’

Gael started:

‘Mother, I...’

‘Promise me that you’ll leave.’, she snapped.

‘You cannot ask that from me.’

‘I can and I will! I think there is much more of this world waiting for you of out there.´

Gael stayed silent.

‘Please Gael...’

‘Okay then.'

‘Okay what?’

‘Okay, I'll promise to leave the farm.’

‘Good.’

His mother turned around and closed her eyes. Gael stood up and left his mother's bed. He thought about where he was supposed to go as he left their house. He closed the wooden door behind him.