Chapter 7

Sweet Forgotten Memories

‘‘Mom, hey mom! Look at what I built!’’

That was the voice of an innocent child, the voice of young Nick.

‘‘What is it? Oh, a sand castle! Good job Nick, it is really good!’’

And that was the voice of a caring mother-Frederica.

They were on the beach at dawn. The sky was clear and the ocean was calm. Little waves would hit the beach adding to the atmosphere.

The sky was the typical dawn sky, filled with a beautiful plethora of colors, from red to blue.

Nick was building a sand castle while his mother was resting on the sand.

It was a chill moment of a happy family.

‘‘Hey Nick, it’s getting dark. We should come home. There is also something I have to give you.’’

‘‘Oooh, what is it? What is it? What is it?’’

‘‘Come with me and you’ll see.’’

‘‘I’m coming!’’

Nick left his castle and went to his mom.

She started holding his hand as they were going past the almost empty stone streets.

They were quite similar to the streets of Meryland. With old-style buildings one after another to their sides and the occasional bench that was placed for people to rest.

There also were a lot of trees, providing shadow for extra rest and a calmer, more relaxed mind of the people walking on these streets.

They walked on the streets up until reaching a small stone path which was going into the forest. It was a long path so to kill some time Nick started asking his mother questions about the thing she was going to give him.

He was nothing short of the typical, curious child.

‘‘Mom is it some sort of present?’’’

‘‘You could call it that. Your mommy also has one of them. My mom gave it to me when I was about your age.’’

‘‘Let me see it, mommy!’’

‘‘You’ll see when we get home.’’

‘‘Aw, but I can’t wait.’’

‘‘Just have some patience!’’

Frederica was wearing a bikini and Nick was wearing swimming shorts.

Both of them were smiling and looked really happy.

Young Nick was 6 at the at the time and his mother was in her mid-twenties.

Looking back at these memories Nick just misses his mom even more.

They reached their destination.

In the middle of the forest, there was a big building, not quite a mansion but still big enough to potentially fit 5 families.

This was the Sole vacation home in Franstrole.

Since Franstrole was the nearest city with continuous boats to and from the Forbidden island it was the perfect destination to build a vacation home.

Going inside they were greeted with two maids.

The building had marble floor and ceiling and finely-cut stone walls.

Every time Nick entered it he couldn’t help but watch in amazement. It was something he couldn’t get used to.

Frederica took Nick to change his attire and afterward went to do so herself.

Nick changed into brown shorts and a white shirt and Frederica changed into her normal everyday fancy red dress in which she is depicted in most portraits.

They went to Nick’s room which was on the second floor.

The room itself was pretty neat. It had a nice wooden bed and desk and a chair to go along with the desk.

It also had a window facing the vast forest that was surrounding the vacation home.

If the weather was clear, from this window you could see mountains that were far, far away.

Nick would usually look at them every time he had the chance to.

Today he did and indeed he looked through the window along with his mother.

‘‘It is beautiful isn’t it sweetie?’’

‘‘Mom, will we hike these mountains some day when I grow up?’’

‘‘If we get the chance to we certainly will but for now, we’ll just have to look at them and drown in their astonishing beauty. Oh, and I got sidetracked again.’’

‘‘Ohh is it the present?’’

‘‘Yes it is.’’

Frederica went to one of the maids and told her something.

The maid immediately rushed to get something.

After a couple of minutes, she came back and gave it to Frederica who in turn entered Nick’s room.

‘‘Nick.’’

‘‘Yes mommy.’’

‘‘I’ll do my best to always be by your side and protect and treasure you. After all, you’re my one and only son. But if for any reason I am not by your side I want you to have this.’’

She opened her hand and inside it was the necklace.

She put it on Nick and it started shining along with Nick’s eyes.

‘‘Wooow it is so pretty’’

‘‘If you are in a bad situation and you need people’s help-show them this necklace. It also has a special power.’’

‘‘What is it?’’

‘‘I can’t tell you right now, but when you are older I’ll make sure to do so.’’

‘‘Why can’t you do it now?’’

‘‘I have a contract with the person whose family has been making these necklaces for generations.’’

These necklaces are famous for their unique design, but what a lot of people don’t know is that they hold a secret power.

‘‘So Nick. In a dire situation, I may not be physically by your side, but I’ll always be there in the form of this necklace. Mommy wants you to be safe and sound!’’

After saying that Frederica petted Nick’s head and went for the door’s handle when she was stopped by Nick’s voice of appreciation:

‘‘Mom, thank you so much! I will always wear this necklace and if you are not with me I’ll look at it so I can remember you!’’

Frederica was so proud of her son for saying things like that even though he was little. Without saying anything she put on a smile and exited the room.

Nick sat on the bed and reached out under his shirt.

A light blinded his eyes and once he opened them again he found himself on a bed somewhere.

‘‘Ah my head hurts’’

‘‘I wonder if he’ll wake up soon.’’

‘‘I hope he does!’’

‘‘I’ll go check on him’’

Nick heard the girls talk about him. They sounded worried. While he was consolidating his thoughts Emily entered the room expecting to see him unconscious but to her surprise, he was sitting on the bed fully conscious.

‘‘Oh Nick thank goodness, you’re awake! Are you okay? What happened?’’

Nick is still bearing the thought about his mother but as of right now he needs to calm Thora and Emily down.

‘‘Yeah I’m alright. Don’t worry! But where are we exactly?’’

‘‘We were saved. They had sent a rescue team after that huge storm and they found our ship. We are now at a recovery home in Locu. By the way, are you hungry? You must be after all that fighting.’’

‘‘Yes I am, just a bit.’’

‘‘Okay come with me’’

Emily had told the rescuers that there was a Sole on board and when they reached Locu a special part of the rescue home was provided for them along with a special dining room.

Entering the dining room they were met with none other than Thora and to Nick’s surprise that maid that saved him from Glegmore…