MIST: AFTER THE APOCALYPSE

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Year 2775, 3rd Sun

Vicinity Twelve (Diton)

Months turned into years, and Aradag's once emotional frown faded into a hollow blankness that captured his being. After spending so much time at sea, his hopes of seeing his mother again diminished, leaving in their place a shell of an ambition.

He had started in Demoor, his hometown, checking city after city and knocking at door after door. His course continued into the great sea and every shore it held, drew unto the Glistening Abyss. Upon reaching the five-year mark, Aradag arrived at his final stop, Vicinity Twelve, Diton.

Extravagant was the only word Aradag could use to describe this parade; dozens of people dressed in sunsets and sunrises flocked around him, showering him in blessings and gifts. He glanced at the floats overhead, noting that all of them represented his persona or his deeds along the years. He did wonder how Diton had heard about his small acts of kindness throughout the (isolated) vicinities.

The welcome warmed his cold heart.

After a while, a pair of knights emerged from Diton's castle to escort him inside. They introduced themselves by profession as opposed to name, but the young man didn't dwell on it. Soon Aradag found himself face to face with the Count himself, the latter of which was beaming. Aradag did not understand why the nation was so happy to see him. He really didn't, but who was he to turn down such hospitality?

"Ah, Mr. Spectro!" the Count called upon seeing Aradag walk into the dining hall. "A pleasure to meet you, lad!"

My mother has been missing for five years and you say it's a pleasure to see me? "Likewise, Your Excellency."

"Ah, have a seat! I hear your journey has been most exhausting. Would you like some tea?"

"Sugar-free, if you please." I hate sugar-free. I hate this. This guilt...

No sooner had Aradag given his reply when the Count called a maid. It felt like a blink of an eye when he looked up and found a mug being offered to him. "Your tea, sir."

"Thank you." Does it go away?

The Count had also ordered a cup of tea, and so both men took to silence as they sipped their beverages. Aradag heard the Count's cup being placed on a table, which he took as his cue to do the same, prompting the latter to speak.

"So, Mr. Spectro, I take it your search has been plenty disappointing so far."

Aradag paused to inspect the Count's face, which upheld its bright smile effortlessly. "Yes, Your Excellency. I have searched far and wide for my mother but to no avail. My last hope lies within Diton." It's suffocating...

"That's unfortunate." The Count's smile faded into a frown as he looked to be deep in thought. "Very unfortunate... you have my utmost sympathy."

Aradag was not sure why, but the tips of his fingers had gone numb. "I thank you for your warm welcome, Your Excellency, but the sheer extravagance, I am not deserving of it." The Count's eyes were on his as he changed the subject. "If I have been unable to find the woman who has loved me more than the sun, so much so that I am starting to believe she is well and truly gone..."

"Is there no trace? Nobody evaporates into the air without a trail, son," the old Count chuckled, causing Aradag's heartbeat to pick up.

If those words had been uttered five years ago, the young man would have given the Count a less stoic response. "We are all eventually clouds in the air, nay?"