Lowell

Chapter 3

Do you think we'll make good parents?" Hanna asked over the roaring campfire. She was staring at her large swollen belly. A few days and then she'd be a mom. And, now as the nine months were ending she was finding that she was in no way ready to be a parent.

Lowell was looking to the sky earnestly. He wished he could fly. If he could fly then none of this running would need to happen. The woods on the plains of Ilyccia were thick and green. He only was able to see the sky through a small break in the trees. They were making their way to Zaphias. It was dangerous.

They were making a gamble. Myorzo would be over Zaphias soon. It had been too dangerous once the conflict in Mt. Temza began to stay in Dahngrest. The war was just beginning. The flames stoked now that Hermes had crafted his monstrous machines. Lowell had warned him, but it had been too late.

The fool.

He hated that he had to rely on others. Pharaoh would not help a human. Belius and Khroma were tied up in battle that when they had started running had already been cross continents. Astal and many others had forsaken him. Condemned Lowell as a traitor for his actions. The only hope he had was that Duke and Elucifer could pull through for them. It wasn't fair for Hanna. Had this war never happened the two would be living a normal life. Lowell had been ready to give up everything to live with Hanna. He still was. "Probably not. We don't have any experience dealing with kids. I even more so than you."

She was poking her stomach nervously. "What if they hate us? What if we're such terrible parents that our kid hates us?"

Lowell rolled his eyes. "I doubt we'll be that bad."

"But, we're stupid and immature! I still make dick jokes. How can I raise a kid when I still make dick jokes?" she exclaimed and almost spilled her plate of food.

Lowell just shook his head. He loved Hanna so much but always found her ability to worry over stupid things ridiculous. "I'm way older than you and I still make dick jokes. Trust me we'll be fine."

She looked him harshly in the eyes. "How can you be sure?"

"Because you are a wonderful woman. Wonderful women always make good moms." He smiled widely at her and she stared harder. "Plus, you're beautiful."

"I'm not buying it," Hanna said. "My mom was a 'wonderful' woman. Amazing at her job. Totally, beautiful. Terrible mom. She actually forgot my birthday more than once."

Lowell sighed. "I doubt we could ever forget this year." He doubted anyone could. The war was just starting. May the Goddess bless the souls that escaped its grasp.

While Flynn and Yuri became a strongly tied duo they started off as more or less enemies. After their first encounter, the two avoided each other. Flynn making more of an effort than the latter. Being bitten in the arm was not a good catalyst for friendship.

Flynn stayed near his mother and hanged out with other children. While Yuri went off on his own and kept to corners and played alone. Flynn asked about him once. "Why's he so mean?"

Sven a boy with wily brown hair looked at him as he passed a ball around. "It's cuz' he's a halfer."

Flynn cocked his head to the side confused. "Halfer?" He'd never heard that word before.

The other children nodded along earnestly. "Yeah, that's what my mom says." Well, if Sven's mom said so it had to be true. Mothers never had reasons to lie when you're a child except for good causes. "Mom said that halfers are crazy and that the church only keeps him because if you do bad stuff to 'em you get cursed."

"Are you sure?" he asked. Even if Yuri was strange saying he was bad luck seemed a bit far-fetched. Sven yelled at him for accusing his mom of lying. Flynn understood his anger and backed off. Moms aren't liars. He still eyed from the boy who played all alone with sticks and mud. If everyone thought Flynn was bad luck he might become mean too.