Leave with an easy heart and conscience.

She tried to complete her duties as a filial daughter by ensuring that her mother had at least five month's worth of health poultices and medication but she still felt that she did not do enough. As a result, she mentally chided herself for her incompetency.

Three years was a long time. During her other meetings with Maren, she had managed to negotiate with Maren to give her at least six months' worth of break where she could use it anytime she wished to anytime she wanted to. If it were not for her relentlessness, she would have ended up with only two or even three months' worth of break.

Meanwhile, she had ensured to notify the private investigator to work harder than ever and contact her via mail if he ever found any leads regarding Ren's whereabouts. Once again, she was always full of gratitude towards him as he was someone who she could constantly rely on and count on- even during the pressurising years.

He had helped relieve many of her onerous burdens by going out of his way to aid her in any way he could, such as by giving her discounts and sending her extra herbs whenever he could. All she knew of him was that he was twenty-years-old and that his name was Lesk.

I desperately hope that by the end of this, my family will be back together. I will use the resources from the Agency to develop a cure for you, Mama. I promise.

Again, she pondered on Maren's advice to her. Tears fell when she knew that she was leaving with a guilt-ridden heart and uneasy conscience. Frustratingly, her mind frequently went back to the day where she had apologised to her mother for leaving her as her mama had not taken it well.

That memory was forever etched in Alara's mind.

That day, she had taken her time to boil her Mama's medicine, being more conscientious than ever as she had attempted to buy time to spend more time with her mother.

That day, her Mama had been more energetic than usual and Alara had caught a glimpse of her mother's former self as she had been oddly eagle-eyed and sharp, which was something Alara was understandably unaccustomed to.

"What's wrong, Alara?" Her mother had queried anxiously. "Are you in danger?"

Those words had shattered her heart to smithereens, and she could not help but wonder, why must the day of my departure be the day when my Mama is finally more sober and clear-headed? What did I do wrong to be punished so cruelly? All I have ever yearned for all these while was just for Mama to have moments of clarity and not trapped mentally in pure desolation.

My own selfish desire for the past decade was just to have my own time where it was just me and Mama bonding- just as normal families do.

When Alara had woefully explained to her Mama in vague details as to why she may be gone for a long time, her Mama had broken down in tears of regret. Even the mere mention of Jonek being her new caregiver - who she liked immensely- did nothing to subdue the agony in her heart.

"You're leaving me because I've been an absent mother and neglected you." She had turned her head away from her firstborn abashedly while sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry."

"No Mama, no. It's for Ren. It's for us. Please. You've had your reasons to be shrouded in grief and darkness; it's my fault that I couldn't drag you out from it. But Mama, I have to go soon. I'm sorry," Alara had revealed as tears streamed down the curve of her cheek.

Her mother was undoubtedly disbelieving, but embraced her affectionately nonetheless. She kissed Alara's forehead gently, holding her hand as she begged, "If you must go, go. I can take care of myself- I'm just worried about your well-being, my dear. But come back to me."

"I will Mama. I will."

The sudden wetness on her cheek gave her a momentary scare. She had been so absorbed in the memory that Alara had failed to realise that she'd been weeping mournfully.

She still had so many things she longed to do with her Mama, but time had run out.

Casting a last desperate glance at the dilapidated hut she called 'home', she clenched her fists tightly. For the first time, she missed and loved the rotten mess that was a wooden hut with atrocious lighting and electricity; where inside was scattered with broken plates and grimy utensils; where her Mama's former passions were discarded ungracefully all over the room; where her 'bedroom' was merely just a worn and tattered couch.

And yet.

This odious hut was also the same place where it faithfully provided a roof and shelter over her and her Mama's heads.

It was also the place where it was once exuded an air of cosiness and before Hell broke loose, her parents had lovingly added their personal touches and decorated their home in an aesthetic manner.

They used to have such sweet, memorable times together before the inevitable hellacious times befell upon them. It was the home where it housed several memories of her Papa, baby Ren, and her vivacious Mama playing around carefreely.

And yet.

I have to leave now.

Away from the hut where her ailing mother was probably asleep by now. Alara did not want her Mama to bid her goodbye and thus she gave her the medication which would induce her into sleep quickly.

She did not want her mother to say farewell because it wasn't goodbye.

I will see my Mama again.

Her sole relief was that in her absence, her reliable godfather, Jonek Jonjej, would be caring for her sickly mother.

But not for long. I will be back before you know it, Mama.

I promise, Mama. Wait for me.

Sometimes, he wished he wasn't so tenderhearted. Alara had been stormy-faced all day and it didn't take much for him to realise that he had put that glum expression on her beautiful face. Now that he was fully caught-up with his soon-to-be partner's personal situation- thanks to reading the confidential files Valesque had sent him when he asked for it- he found that he could relate to her.

After all, he too had experienced experiences that tore him apart and ripped his heart out.

However, he could no longer stand her terrible attitude any longer. She wouldn't even speak to him whether he gently nudged her back; nor would she even react to one of his more noisome habits- as Tania de Allura, one of his many friends back at the Agency- called it.

And that irritating habit of his was singing nonsensical songs that he'd made up himself. That wasn't all- he will cheerily beatbox along as he sang, which in his opinion, is undoubtedly quite an extraordinary feat. Maren Santos was delivering a one-man performance, and his audience was neither booing or even telling him to shut up- let alone praise him.

His sigh of disappointment ended the show. Alara was still gazing out at the sea, and he could tell that she was being lulled to sleep while the boat rocked her as her eyes slowly closed.

He thought back pensively to the last sentence she had mumbled to him, and that was when she found out they were traveling to the Agency via a boat.

"Were you expecting a more lavish style of entrance, milday?" he had joked playfully while trying to get a reluctant grin to appear on her face. "My apologies, milday, the Agency prefers things to be done in a more discreet manner- and a functioning boat with a shabby appearance fit the bill."

"Never judge a book by its cover, milady. I promise you that the ride will be a smooth-sailing one I swear-"

"Smooth-sailing? With your sonorous voice ringing next to my ears every time you choose to exercise your darn vocal cords, you'll be incredibly fortunate to not be thrown into the sea during the journey." Alara had thundered at him, and her blotches of red had started forming in her cheeks.

Her words had stung at him, and they still did. But he could understand her. She'd just been ripped away from her family- just like Renald was in an almost similar fashion, except that hers had been one of consent, while the latter was one of force. And he was there, and so she hurled her pent-up fury and grief at him like stones, forcing him to bear the brunt of it.

But still.

He turned to check on his downcast partner, and found her to be dead to the world. At least in her sleep, she seems to have dreamless dreams, as if she was plagued by nightmares, such a serene look would not be plastered on her face.

The boat rocked once again, and Maren knew that it was a matter of time where they would soon reach the remote island that was where the Agency was located.

Cognizant of the fact that Alara would like to bid farewell to her hometown, he took stalks of lemongrass herbs from her satchel and threw it into the river.

"Why do you always carry around aplenty of lemongrass herbs with you?"

"They remind me of my Mama and home. I like to think that if I ever die or leave this place, I will pay homage to my home by gently putting them in the river. It's a beautiful sentiment, is it not?"

The somewhat morbid conversation he had with Alara had somehow stuck with him, and as he gazed at the lemongrass floating in the sea, he found himself agreeing with her.

It was a picturesque view, especially because of the fact that lemongrass's stalks have a lovely gradient and hue. There were green tints on the upper stalks while pale yellow coloured the lower ones, making it appealing to observe. The clear brilliant water reflected the sun's dazzling rays and made it seem as if the cluster of herbs were shrouded in a halo.

It took his breath away as he rarely took his time to enjoy the wonders of nature, and Maren let loose off all the tension and resentment in him by simply listening to the melodious cacophony of the birds and relish the breeze's gentle caress on his face.

Just as the moon began to take over the sun's watch, Maren had finally rowed all the way to the secret entrance of the Agency, which was at the end of the riverbank and surrounded by massive amounts of Artemisia silver surfers- dainty silver leaves - as well as mugworts too.

"Alara, we're here."

"Hmm?" murmured Alara lazily, her eyes still heavy with sleep.

"We've reached the Agency."

Immediately, chocolate brown eyes opened, any hint of weariness gone.