Watching the world from his own little hill was a young eleven-year-old boy named Abel Frei.
Abel was your run of the mill ordinary kid, living a simple ordinary life in a simple peaceful village in a world still largely unknown to him.
He lived his quiet life in a secluded remote village, in this small village, everyone knew one another and in Abel's case, his family stood out like a sore thumb.
His mother was an extraordinary woman that not only was she able to soothe others with her warm smile and calming voice. She was also very knowledgeable in the art of healing magic.
Then there was his father...
He was a hunter, a seasoned one of monsters and criminals. He was a strong, respectable and admired man by all who knew him.
But everything changed when Abel turned seven.
One day he mysteriously disappeared during a raid alongside several other hunters and despite a month-long search for him he was never found.
The whole village assumed he was already dead.
Deep in his heart he knew his father wasn't dead. And wanted to believe he was still alive.
He watched the villagers go about their own daily lives, letting out a long sigh and adjusted his glasses.
A very familiar voice called out to him, "Abel!"
A beautiful woman with long flowing crimson-red hair and warm amber eyes, approached him, "I have been looking everywhere for you! Where were you? You missed lunch again."
"I wasn't all that hungry. I just wanted to be alone for a while." He said, hugging his knees.
"This is where you and your father used to come to hang out, isn't it?" She asked, sitting beside him.
Gazing at the peaceful scenery with him, she chuclked, "You know this was the place your father asked me out on our first date. He made it all seem so awkward at the time, going on and saying, 'Would you like to go… uh… look at monster tracks together sometime?' I laughed my head off for a whole hour when he said that."
Abel chuckled, even though he had already heard the same story so many times in a row.
But each time he heard that same story he felt happy.
'That's nothing new.' He told himself.
While he was lost in thought his mother gently reached for his chin, "Abel! What happened to your face?!"
There was a bruise under his right eye, "Don't tell me you got into another fight!" She scolded.
Abel looked away.
Despite being the son of a hunter and a healer Abel wasn't as strong as the other kids. He had the strength of an ordinary kid but a stubborn attitude.
"I didn't want to… but they started it. Again!" He groaned.
She sighed.
She placed her hand on his cheek and casted a healing spell on it and treated it in an instant.
"Sweetheart. I know you don't like being pushed around but you can't just solve everything with your fists alone."
"Dad always told me I should never back down from a fight! No matter what!" He said, with a proud look on his healed face.
He was proud of the things he learned with his father before he disappeared. Mostly things like how to fight, hunt, and to never back down from a fight or put up with other people's bullshit.
His mother on the other hand puffed her cheeks, "Your father is a lunatic... not to mention completely reckless. That said… he is not wrong, you should stand your ground... but only when it truly matters."
Even though the pain was totally gone, Abel still frowned over what she just said, "Isn't that something you shouldn't be saying to your husband and not me? I mean... shouldn't you be defending him instead of calling him a lunatic behind his back?"
She looked away, flustered at the idea, "W-Well… that's not the point."
"Then what is, Mother? Please, would you care to explain?" He asked, wanting her to elaborate.
She glared at him and then wrapped her arms around him while cuddling him like a stuffed teddy bear, "The point is… he's a reckless idiot and you're not! You're my precious, adorable, kind, smart little boy... not some muscle-headed monster hunter!"
Abel wore a smirk at the sound of that, "If that's the case, then maybe you should stop mentioning him and accept your rightful status as the widow you are."
She gasped dramatically, releasing him and flopping on the grass, "How could you even say such a thing to your own dear mother? Why, Abel, Whhhyyyy?!"
She pouted like a little child while rolling all over the grass...
Definitely not showing the image of a wise village healer. Abel sat there glaring at her with narrow eyes and after getting tired of it he got up and dusted his clothes.
"Come on, Mom. It's time to stop your temper tantrum and go open up the shop."
She got up and smiled, "Kay~!"
***
Together they opened their little shop. They sold a wide variety of herbs, salves, and many healing potions.
His mother treated the wounded or sick villagers with her magic and knowledge of the healing arts.
"There you go, Miss Real. Your back should be feeling much better now."
Miss Real hopped off the table and stretched with a relieved groan, "Ahhhh... I am glad you were able to fix this old spine of mine dear, Thank you!"
Abel's mother gave her a warm smile, "You're welcome Miss Real. Just try not to lift any heavy boxes again, Okay."
Behind the counter Abel chimed in, "Yeah, especially since you are already an old hag just waiting to kick the bucket but hey~ keep it up, we could really use all the extra money."
His mother lightly tapped his head trying to shut him up, "Abel! Don't you dare say things like that?"
Abel was not shy about the things he said; in a way, he was a brazen person. Something instilled by his father, "But it is true, Mother."
Miss Real laughed... but wasn't happy about what he just said, "You little brat! I ought to—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Abel's mother rushed her out of the shop, nearly shoving her through the door, "Thank you for coming Miss Real! Take care, okay. Bye-bye!"
She gently closed the door and looked at Abel with a serious expression, "Abel… where did you even learn to say those things because it wasn't very nice of you."
Abel adjusted his glasses nervously, "Dad was the one who told me. People like Miss Real are the kind you can take money from without feeling guilty about it."
She sighed, "I knew your father was misguided! I'm honestly disappointed in him, too bad he's not here to chew out."
Abel went silent after hearing that.
The doorbell rang again.
"Hello? What can I get you—?" His mother said, greeting their new customer but she paused.
A tall woman stood at the door and standing beside her was a boy with a nasty bruise under his eye.
Abel stiffened from seeing them and that was because he recognized the kid.
It was the same kid who insulted his dad and the one who gave him the bruise earlier.
"Yes, can I help you?" His mother asked coldly.
The woman crossed her arms, "Yes you can. It's about your son; he went on and assaulted my son and his friends, just look at his face!"
Abel narrowed his eyes and saw how pitiful her son looked, and how furious his mother looked. And he was very proud of the black eye he gave her son.
"Look I am not here to start an argument but I think an apology is in order, don't you?"
Abel slammed his hand on the counter table, "WHAT?! NO WAY WE'RE GOING TO—"
"Abel. Don't!" His mother ceased.
"Let's not make this any worse then it's already is okay~," She said softly.
She then looked at the boy, "I'd like to know what happened, but from your son."
The boy froze.
"Well?"
Under her piercing gaze he stammered, "W-We were just playing… and he just attacked us."
Abel clenched his fist and growled his teeth at him, "That's not what happened and you know it you—!"
"Abel."
His mother's voice stopped him from saying any further.
She looked at the boy again, "Now, young man. Is that what really happened?!."
He trembled even more under her piercing glare.
"W-Well… I… I said something about his dad. I told him… that his dad was long dead and that he should stop bringing him up."
Her expression darkened when she heard that, "So you think it's just fine to mock the dead! Tell me... what right do you have to do something like that?!"
The kid nearly peed himself under her threatening gaze.
"I-I—"
SMACK!
The kid's own mother slapped him straight in the back of his head, "You damn idiot! How dare you run your mouth like that, you good-for-nothing brat!"
He cried out to her with his eyes blowing and tries running down his face, "B-But Mommy—"
"Oh, save it! And don't you 'Mommy' me, you shameful little—!"
While the two of them went on and on, Abel and his mother just froze at the sight of the grand spectacle; they even shared the same line of thought,
'Yikes… some family dynamic.'
Eventually the woman bowed her head while she forced her son to bow as well, "I am so sorry for my son's rude behavior. I promise to punish him severely for this."
That was music to little Abel's ear, the damn loud mouth deserved every slap on the butt for what he said, 'Serves you right dumbass! Hope you enjoy your punishment, Hehehe.'
"As long as he understands what he did was wrong, and I until he is able to, I will not heal his wound." She said, gently nodding her head.
"Let it be a reminder to him not to speak so carelessly ever again!" She said, and then turned to Abel trying to ease his built-up anger, "Abel… I hope you can forgive my son."
Abel just stared at her and didn't bother giving her an answer.
Why would or should he...
They both left, and Abel then asked his mother, "Why... Why did you forgive them?! He insulted Dad! So he doesn't deserve any of our forgiveness mom!!"
His mother slid behind the counter and kneeled beside him, "Abel… I know how you feel, I really do. But you can't let your anger consume you or cloud your judgment."
She patted his head, "You already gave him a black eye and his mother said she would punish him herself. I didn't even heal him, so what else could you want?"
Abel understood where she was coming from.
But he still thought he got off too easily, "I don't know… maybe a fireball to the face or a kick to the groin would have been a lot better?"
She sighed, "Sometimes punishment is necessary, yes. But… forgiveness doesn't necessarily mean forgetting and believe me, there are people in this world who you shouldn't and can never forgive."
Abel understood what she meant. In this world the weak were abused and cast aside by those with power.
And to him, maybe that's why they lived so far away from society, in a way it was for their own safety.
Theirs and countless others.
"Try to keep this in mind, Abel. Always offer kindness to those who deserve it and—"
The doorbell then rang again and a new customer entered the shop, "Welcome!" She greeted.
She turned back to Abel with a smile, "We'll finish this conversation through some dinner, okay?"
Abel smiled back, "Okay."
***
The sun began to set.
Abel and his mother closed up the shop and headed home, hand in hand.
While walking she saw a sad expression on his face, "Come on Abel, don't tell me you're still upset about what I said earlier."
"No… I really wish Dad were here. I miss him."
His mother's grip tightened, as she heard her son's voice she instantly knew how he felt, "I know... I miss him too. But... we have to do everything we can to live as fully as we can... for both ourselves and for your father. Because when he comes back, we have to show him how strong we've both become in his absence."
Abel wiped his eyes, "Right!"
"Good. I was even thinking of making your father's favorite soup for tonight's dinner."
Abel's face lit up with joy.
He loved his mother cooking. What he loved the most was her famous milk-stew.
He ate this dish with his mom and dad as a little kid and besides the warm meal, the company and bond they shared was what always made it comforting and delicious.
"With lots of milk in it right?" He added with a huge smile on his face.
She chuckled at the sound of his request, "Of course. I'll add as much as you want but just don't—"
She paused… she stopped walking and faced the road ahead of them, her eyes widened in horror, the grip on his hand tightening while it trembled.
Abel noticed her sudden pause, "Hey, Mom? Why did you suddenly stop?"
He turned to face the same direction she was facing and just that.
Everything changed.