1

Four years ago, Crest was cutting carrots, celery, and onions up and tossing them in the soup. He wasn’t good at the whole cooking thing, his mom was much more adept than him at doing so, but he was giving it the old college try. Not that he wanted to, but he needed to. His mother had fallen under illness, one that was so crippling she could hardly get out of bed these days.

He tasted what he had done. His face twisted. It tasted awful. Well, he never proclaimed to be a good cook anyway. While it might have been bad to him, his mother would find it to her liking either way. She was just nice like that.

Crest turned the heat down on the stove.

“Mom!” He called out. “The soup is ready.” He poured her a bowl and made his way into her room. Appearing from beneath her covers, Shepa sat upright to eat. Crest placed her bowl on a nightstand next to her bed, got a chair and sat down.

“Alright mom,” he said with a weak smile, picking up the bowl. He held a spoonful of soup to her face. “Open wide.”

She opened her mouth and received the food. After a couple of scoops, Shepa held up her hand. “Alright that’s good enough. Thank you dear.”

As he set the bowl back on the nightstand, his hands shook. They had been shaking for quite a while, and more frequently than ever nowadays. What a position he had found himself in. He had lost his father and brother, and now……he was losing his mother. She was pale these days, and she had to give up her clothing business. They were only making it off what Crest made in the market. It wasn’t enough, they were falling behind on their rent.

There was more important things than moolah though. It was important for them to stick together. Because they were all they had.

Sighing, Crest parted his mother’s hair which covered her face.

“I was going to head out to shop for a few things,” he said. “Was there anything you needed?”

“No…but…” Shepa squinted her eyes. For some reason something was bothering her. Something other than a shopping list. It was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t quite place it. “Crest aren’t you…. supposed to be somewhere today?”

Wait a minute, he thought. A sweat ran down his forehead. How could he forget? “You’re right! I almost forgot. Today is the day that Alabaster leaves. I have to see him off.” Jumping to his feet, Crest ran into the hallway. “See you mom. I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay honey be safe,” she called out after him as he disappeared.

2

Crest walked around the shipyard of the Gaicise District of Beros looking for his friend Alabaster, when he spotted him and his crew loading their giant ship, Sea King. On board was Lester. Passing up a box from a ladder was Mario. And below the ship was Alabaster. As Lester received the box from Mario, he took notice of Crest coming their way.

“Hey, guys it’s Crest!”

The guys turned around.

“Hey Crest, how’s it going?” Mario waved.

Alabaster smiled. “Well, if it isn’t the golden child here to see us off. How are you young man?”

Crest crossed his arms. “Doing great. Was out doing a little shopping, but I came here first. I didn’t want to miss you.” Tilting his head, he looked a bit down. “So you’re uh….really leaving huh? Things will be different without you.”

“Crest there’s far too many women out in the world for us to stay right here.” Alabaster explained. “We have to experience them all. One day you’ll understand.” Laughing heartily, he ruffled Crest’s hair.

While Alabaster was a fine teacher, and had taught him well, Crest had known him as a man who couldn’t control his more ‘lustful’ nature. In essence, he was a pervert. An old pervert at that. Crest didn’t give him shit for it though. Live and let live and all that.

But what he couldn’t let go was that he was being left behind again.

He knocked away Alabaster’s hand. “Will you come back one day Alabaster? There’s still so much I want to learn. And I’m counting on you to teach me.”

Leaning over the side of the ship, Lester laughed. “Your boy is an eager one Alabaster. Tsk, tsk. For shame. How can you leave the poor child hanging?”

“Time waits for no man,” Alabaster wagged his finger. “And when there’s women to be found, I don’t wait either.”

Holding his head down Crest sighed. He looked glum.

Shrugging, Alabaster let out a heavy breath. “But I suppose there’s still more for you to learn. I can’t have the Whirlwind Wolf technique being besmirched by a sloppy swordsman, so I guess I’ll have to come back one day to teach you the rest of what I know.”

Crest’s face perked up, and he smiled. “Thanks Alabaster!” Pumping his fist, a devilish smile overcame his face. “I’ll be waiting for you right here when you get back.”

“I’m counting on it,” said Alabaster. Just then he remembered something. “Oh, that reminds me, I have something for you.” Walking over to some supplies near the ship, he started rambling for something. A few seconds later, he pulled up a bag. “Yeah……this is the one.” He placed the bag in Crest’s hand, it was heavy. “Here. It’s some extra moolah I’ve been holding on to just for you. Go buy you and your mom something nice.”

Speechless, Crest didn’t know exactly what to say. “Alabaster…uh…t-thank you. I mean…” His lip quivered. “Thank you.” He hugged him. It caught Alabaster off guard for a moment. It was the longest hug that he had ever received, but he wasn’t complaining. It was nice. Almost cozy. But also, sort of sad. After all, this would be the last time, either of them would be seeing each other for a while.

3

The evening had come. Whistling a happy tune all the way, Crest returned home with groceries and a bag of moolah. It was enough to pay three months’ rent.

“Mom, I’m home! I have good news!” He made his presence known. Laying the moolah and the groceries out on the living room table, he made his way to his mother’s room. “Mom?” He repeated. This time in the form of a question. “I’m here.” Entering the room, he noticed that his mother’s eyes were closed. She must have been sleeping. But he knew she hadn’t taken a bath yet, so he had to wake her up.

“Hey mom,” he said hovering above her. “I’m going to run you a bath so you need to get up.”

She didn’t respond.

“Mom.” He pushed her shoulder. “Mom, get up.” He said gently, pushing her a little bit more. But……nothing. His face was deadpan. “Hey, mom…..wake up.” ……nothing.

A grimace showed on his face.

“Mom?” He choked. Suddenly he felt faint. Dizzy even. The room seemed to spin and he felt lightheaded. No way was this happening. Not to her. Not like this.

“Mom? He tried to smile, practically strangling on his spit all the while. This wasn’t normal. In fact it was wrong. Horribly wrong. “Come on mom, this isn’t funny. You gotta wake up.”

All at once, it seemed like the color drained from his face.

“Mom?”…….A single tear welled in his eyes. Anxiety gripped his chest like a merchant would grip his money pouch. Heartbeat after heartbeat his sorrow intensified. “M-m-mom?”

He must have called her name a dozen times. To no avail. To no response. And there would never be a response. Not again. Not ever.