Technomancer: Genesis Chapter 72: A Talk With Mother

Aerwyna woke up, she saw that Ezra was crying. She immediately drew close and hugged her baby boy.

"Are you alright little one? You've been sleeping for four days. You drank a lot as you were sent here, you were half awake half asleep so we didn't worry too much," she said with a concerned look of a mother who had been on edge. It was apparent that she was probably lying. She worried a lot.

Ezra just nodded. He wasn't in the mood to talk right now. She hugged Ezra again and wept.

"I'm sorry Ezra," she sobbed. "I didn't see that I was too harsh and too strict. I kept you here all the time, and that's why you left." She released her hold on Ezra and looked at him. Ezra wanted to look away but he could not. Instead, he stared at his mother's eyes.

"I kept you here. I'm sorry, you were just growing so fast. I think that it was my way of keeping you as you were. Holding you back. I wanted to protect you from the world. They will envy you, they will hate you and tear you down. I just... I don't want you to suffer from that." Aerwyna was guilty. In her thoughts, she could have stopped Ezra from running away and preventing Evan from dying.

Ezra looked away and didn't reply. He did not know how to reply. He was simply lost for words. He wanted to tell her that it was okay but he could not muster the words to say it

"In truth, Evan told me before that I was restricting you so much. I didn't have it. I tried to root out every spy in Bren, for your sake but I guess that kept me from spending time with you." Aerwyna tilted her head.

Aerwyna looked at Ezra. Her face was pained. "Are you okay? Maybe you need a little more rest. You need to eat Ezra' you haven't had anything this past two days. I'll call for the maids at once." Aerwyna said.

Again she was met with silence.

She decided to go out and call attendants for food,

"Ezra please talk to me. Do you blame me for Evan's death? "Aerwyna asked again as she returned to his bedside.

This time Ezra shook his head.

"Then why aren't you talking. You must be upset about something. I guess you just need to eat." Aerwyna said thoughtfully.

"You're just hungry right?" Aerwyna got closer. "Ezra please answer, you were on top of Evan's corpse when your father found you?"

Ezra then perked up his ears. He was curious about what happened after he had fainted. He wasn't in the mood to talk but he still opened his mouth and asked.

"What happened when I fainted mother?" Ezra looked up at Lady Blackfyre.

She smiled. She finally got him to talk.

"Well after you had left, we could not find you anywhere, the guards searched all of Fulmen. The next day Reitz decided to go to Anticourt to find you himself, he did not bring any honour guard with him. You know your father he's impulsive." Aerwyna looked to Ezra again for a reply.

Ezra just nodded.

"I really wanted to come but, it was decided that I was to oversee the affairs of Castle Blackfyre, I hate to admit it but your father is stronger than me but not by much." Aerwyna frowned at her admittance. "I just kept pacing around the castle, I worried a lot these past few days. It was such a relief when I saw you."

Ezra just stared at her. But she continued talking.

"Your father came in the middle of the battle as he was on his way to Anticourt, he ran part of the way to Anticourt when had received the hawk about Evan's discovery, he left his horse, your father is a powerful mage of course. He discovered that half the knights we lent to the Demon Hunters were injured, and it was brazen for bandits to attack Anticourt, which is so close to Bren.

"As soon Reitz came, the bandits dispersed, and we imprisoned a few of those Arcanists, we caught some of the fake bandits as well, but Reitz didn't catch the knight ranked ones they were too far back already to be routed by the Anticourt Guard." Aerwyna looked at Ezra again.

The attendants knocked and she let them in to put food on Ezra's bedside but she dismissed them immediately afterwards.

She continued her narration.

"Reitz didn't want you to be left alone you see, so he did not chase after them. He asked the knights what happened, they told him about the viscount ranked bandit so he sought your safety first and foremost."

"Where are Rycharde and the others? Where is father?" Ezra asked. Somehow his heartache had eased when he listened to Aerwyna.

"They are recuperating in Anticourt, Evan's body will be brought here for a proper burial." Aerwyna bit her lip, she saw Ezra cry about Evan, they had been close and mentioning the topic might have made Ezra cry again. It was a weird feeling for her, she remembered all the times she had wanted him to cry as a baby and seem normal, and now that he was distraught she wanted to make Ezra happy.

"As for your father, he is trying to decide what to do with the information about Duke Terros. It's a grave matter," Aerwyna sighed. Ezra's eyes welled as his mother continued.

" Everyone in Anticourt saw your intelligence, my son, so everyone knows your prowess, I am afraid I can't hide that now. It will spread throughout the kingdom about how strong you are. You know, I haven't heard about mages who could use magic crystals as you did. I head from Reitz that yo-"

"Mother, I am sorry," blurted Ezra suddenly as he interjected. "I have been too rash, I fail to look at you and others and consider your feelings. I am selfish." Aerwyna was surpriesed at the interjection she didn't expect it.

"Little one, it is alright," Aerwyna smiled gently in a consoling matter. Her tone was very gentle. " I am at fault as well. Besides aren't all toddlers your age a little selfish as well?"

Ezra started sobbing again, somehow he was able to feel more emotions,

"I'm sorry mother, I did this, I killed Evan. I didn't think of you or father. I just went as I pleased." Ezra buried his face on Aerwyna's thigh.

"No no, little one you did not kill him, you didn't, Terros did, Terros killed Evan.,"Aerywna said teary-eyed as well. "I love you, and that is what matter. For now, don't think about such things. Don't worry from now on I will be more tolerant of you, and if it is within reason, I will allow what you want. Okay?"

Ezra nodded

"Don't worry my baby, Ezra, Eat for now. I will see to it that you are happy in the future"