Lost

Fresh Start

" Ah, my little man is all grown up!  Basil, I knew this day would come , but I didn't think now.  You don't have to move out right away. Y-you could just continue living here with your dear mother." 

" I think if I want to take my new fishing job serious, I need to live alone. Don't take it personally, mom. "

 Basil smiles towards his mother,Thea.

 While her face was mostly covered by her farmer hat, he could tell she was worried. The way her mouth slightly twitch while she smiled at him. She was always worried since the beginning. 

Basil didn't remember much from his childhood, oddly. Fuzzy memories of voices he couldn't recognize. All Basil knew he was different, so he rarely socialized with the others. There was others reasons.

He was a 'cursed child'

 Basil would hear Villagers say under their breathes. They would only say it when his mom wasn't around.

Basil wasn't exactly sure they were referring to beside the grey patches on his skin, but that's what he guessed.  

He didn't know why they were there honestly. His mother wouldn't really tell him. She would change The subject when enough up.

 Honestly, the patches only really bug him when he was being stared at. He would cover most of them with his outfit. It was pretty normal to him. He didn't know why everyone made a real fuss.

 Luckily, the Villagers here only fear him, keeping out of his way. They were all nice to his mother.

" I know, dear." Thea walks towards her son, pulling him into a hug. It was clear her 'little boy' wasn't so little as Basil is taller and more stocky.  "I just want you to be safe.."

" Well, I think I can handle myself. Beside, you can visit. It's just the little house beside the the dock. " Basil waits for his mother to let go before going over and grabbing a box from the table, quickly turns back towards his mother, " If you ever need me, I'm you're Villager. "

"Thank you. You know,  You're right. Anything else you need before you go? "  Thea asks, changing the subject.

"Could you walk with me there? " 

Basil could help smiling as his mother's face has lit up, happy for her son to ask for help. He knew she loved helping others. Especially him. 

" Of course, kiddo." Thea grabs another box before following son out the door, "Let's take it slow.. I want to help decorate."

===

Basil was happy it was earlier in the morning so not many villagers were up.  Looking around, only few were about, mostly heading to the main town hall to restock on items as most of the stuff for other profession were stored there. 

 Basil glanced behind him, looking for his mom, making sure she was following. He was in front while his mother was in the back, seemly admiring all the new flowers that were planted by the bell recently.

"Uh, what are you planning to plant this year? "  Basil suddenly asks, wanting to do do some small talk while they walk.

"You know, the usual. " Thea replies, " I'm thinking about picking up a side hobby. Could I get your opinion? "

"Yeah, you can. "  Basil keep a eye on her as he walks.

"Well, I was thinking about taking up painting. I seen few nice painting at the town hall, so I think I could give it try. A Villager here even runs a art class, so I could maybe learn a thing or two." Thea shrugs, " I could even paint you something. " 

" Hm, I'll agree if you paint me looking cool. " Basil chuckles at his own joke, " Maybe holding a massive fish!"

"  You're already cool, kiddo. However,  I'll be sure to paint the best piece for my favorite person in the world. You bet- oh.."

Thea stops walking once she notices the little house beside the dock. Basil could tell she noticing every little perfection.  Basil already knew what he was in for after buying from the Elder. 

It needed fixing up.  It hadn't been lived in for few years since it had been lived in. It the last resident was another Fisherman was turned into a witch from a storm.

Other say this place is cursed and it passes to whoever moves into this house.  He kind of forgot of that when  when he invited her down. 

Quickly, he turns to face her, ready for the rants.

 " Mom, it just needs bit of fixing. "

"A bit? Isn't this the cursed house? " Thea quickly walks past Basil and awkwardly opens the  door which was already slightly open.

Inside was just as messy and very dusty. Old things belonging to the old fisherman was still here. It was only a single room house, so you could mostly just see everything once you open the door.

"Basil..." Thea groans, cant really believe her son would buy this. "Cursed and small."

 Basil walks in , laying down his box on the ground after carefully pushing past his mother. He liked it, so he didn't care one bit. It was only him anyways, so why care?

"It's only me, mom. I like it here. I wanted to make a place my own. I wanted this, so don't chew the Elder out. " Basil could tell his mom look bit upset. Sometimes she worries bit too much.

". Basil, I-Just be careful, okay?  "  Thea began to sound like she wanted to say something else , but changed her mind. 

Basil wanted to ask, but his mother just picked up a broom and began to sweep up the dust on the ground. Maybe she tell him later.

==

By the late afternoon, everything looked better. Sadly, large chunk of things couldn't be salvaged, including the bed. Guess he wasn't sleeping in one tonight until grabs his old one back at the house. 

Basil didn't mind as he find many cool things.

Basil kept the many of the cute, wood carved knick·knack the old fisherman had. Maybe Basil could pick up carving wood too.

 It honestly sounded so fun. He also found few pictures, which Basil never had the heart to get rid of. 

Despite turning into a witch like others said, they probably were still a living being just like him. They deserved to keep their memory alive.

Basil even kept their old, worn out rods.Even if they couldn't be used.

" Well, we cleaned out mostly everything. All we need fix few boards and the windows. " Thea said after laying back the broom in the corner. She looked but wore out.

"It's getting late, you should head back. " Basil tells his mother, looking out the window before turning back to his mom, " Don't want a zombie mom.  "

" Will you be okay? I heard of a storm might come tonight. " Thea came over and gave her son a goodbye hug. 

 " I'll board up the windows and stay out of the storm. Tomorrow I'll swing by and grab the rest of my things. " Basil returned the hug before getting few stray boards from near the old furnace.

 Thea just nods and leaves the house, leaving Basil alone to finish up before he had his first night in his new home.