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*Bong* *Bong* *Bong*
"Today we gather here in the memory of Darius Spring well, beloved father, husband and member of the community. May he and his wife rest in the fields of saint pearl."
The funeral went by a blur and had left Scott feeling a weird kind of empty. The kind where you know you feel bad but can't seem to dredge up the emotion so it festers away instead.
He found himself back in his family home the one he'd grown up in, but it didn't feel like home.
Home had died already.
Scott was still looking through his parents stuff when he heard a knock on the door. Strange he didn't have anyone who would want to visit him ,not here at least, maybe a towns member who knew his father had come to offer condolences? The knock sounded again sharper this time.
He should really stop hoping for such ridiculous things....It was town officials he was met with when he opened the door.
Of course.
"Good evening Mr Springwell"
"We've come with your new orders. They have changed slightly after your father's passing to which we offer out greatest condolences."
"Of course." Scott replied not quite making eye contact.
Another official stepped out from behind the speaker and handed the nature mage a scroll.
"These are your new orders, please read them and prepare as nessacary."
"As usual your services are greatly appreciated." The officials bid their farewell and left Scott alone, again...with the scroll.
Scott knew he'd get his orders soon but hadn't expected them to be the same day as the funeral.
Well whatever hopefully he'd have a few days to sort out affairs before heading back. The Scroll was probably, hopefully just a date and if he was lucky later rather than sooner.
However Scott was not prepared for what the scroll contained.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-To Scott Springwell
You are to be permanently transferred to the blue kingdom. The details of this transaction has already been discussed with their higher ups.
The house previously owned by Darius Springwell will be repossessed by the town. You have been permitted to move your parents possessions into a storage area until you are able to move them to your current residence in the blue kingdom. The moving of items will be handled by the town and you will be able to leave them there for as long as you see fit.
You shall leave as early as possible tomorrow morning so that you may return to your position as quickly as possible.
We wish you the best of luck in your new home.
-Mayor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The scroll clattered on the floor.
And all of a sudden those feelings that had sat festering out of reach felt all to much.
Scott too dropped to the floor shaking and trying to stop himself from screaming.
Not while they could probably still hear him at least.
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He barely slept that night made busy by packing and just trying to keep himself together.
By the time it was dawn he was ready to leave. Scott walked through the house one last time, probably the last time he'd be able to...
He watched sunlight pouring through the windows for the last time, watched as the light bounced of the door hinges for the last time, watched the house truly glow for the last time...
Silent tears laced his face retracing the path of the others before them.
Scott gave the house a final look, trying to burn it into his memory, before pulling a black cloak over him and turning to leave...for the last time.
.
.
.
The sun shone bright above the blue kingdom, it marked the end of the second week since the arrival of the letter and Scott's departure.
Nom just hoped everything had turned out all right for the light mage. The tone of the letter had sounded quite serious but it might've been a case of the state being overly formal but something made Nom doubt that.
...He'd be there regardless.
Nom was distracted from his thoughts by a cart of supplies rattling towards the gate, accompanied by Owein.
"Hm what's this." Nom asked.
"It's a supply cart for Barrowhill."
Barrowhill, it rang a bell... Oh right that's where Scott was from. "I didn't know we sent supply carts there."
"We didn't before," Owein replied "But there's been a deal made. We're sending supply's over for a while in return for permanent use of the mage."
The mage?
"You mean Scott." Nom couldn't stop the chill he felt seeping into his voice.
Owein gave him an odd look, although it was hard to tell behind the armour.
"Yes, he's not the best but he seems promising enough and there's not many better options available. So he's been transferred here permanently in exchange for supply's a trade if you will."
A trade... Was that what they saw Scott as.
Why would they? No. How could they treat Scott like that?
Nominal knew how much Scott loved his home, he'd talked about it with Nom before, he couldn't imagine what Scott would feel when he found out, unless he already knew. The thought put a pit in his stomach; he couldn't imagine being practically sold from his home sure being a knight wasn't great at times. But at least they couldn't sell him away.
"Speaking of Scott I've just remembered I need to water his flowers today," the cold in his voice had become painfully evident at this point "you wouldn't mind watching the gate a little earlier than usual while I go attend to that would you." He didn't wait for an answer before starting towards Scott's house.
.
.
.
It had been a long flight back from Barrowhill, Scott's concentration on the flight spell snapped as he was right above the blue kingdoms gate. Luckily the residual magic broke the worst of his fall.
He looked like a mess, his eyes were still red from crying, his hair was knotted from the wind and his clothing hadn't been washed for a couple of days.
Scott didn't really want to see or talk to anyone yet, especially not Owein who he could hear below, prepping the first that was to be sent to Barrowhill in exchange for...him.
He hated the feeling, like he was a commodity not a person... He hadn't been seen as his own person since he was found to be a mage...
Whatever.
Scott stuck to the edges of the mountains that surrounded the blue kingdom, avoiding the main entrance and any people. Eventually he made it back to his house. The flower beds outside looked alive and well at least. That was good.
The door was already unlocked when Scott went to open it. Weird...
A voice with a certain Irish accent rang throughout the house. "Hey whoever it is I can help you in a bit but I need to finish watering first and 4c if it's you no I'm not lending you any more gold I already lent you 15 earlier."
Oh.
Scott didn't know what he was expecting but, it certainly wasn't this...
He felt a lot like crying but judging from his blurred eyesight he already was.
After the lack of response Nom had turned back only to freeze upon seeing Scott.
Saint he wished he was invisible. He looked like a mess and now Nom had to see him like this because he'd been unlucky enough to be at Scott's doing him a favour, he didn't deserve this he didn't deserve him and...
A pair of steady arms wrapped around him.
...It was all his fault.
He broke down, into a sobbing mess only held up by the knight.
Nom hadn't said anything just hugged Scott tighter and allowed the mage to cry in his arms.
Gently, he lowered them to the floor where they sat until the dobd turned to sniffles.
"Hey." Nom spoke softly, stroking the mages hair.
Scott just buried his head further into the knights shoulder.
Saints this was embarrassing. He hadn't seen Nom in what 2 weeks and the first time he does he breaks down like this.
And why? Because he was watering his plants for him? Because it's the kindest thing anyone's done for him in however long.
Scott was distracted by the sudden upward motion of Nom picking him up...
WHAT!
He clung onto the knight instinctively.
"Don't worry we're just going up the ladder."
That did not make the mage losen his grip on the knight who just chuckled under his breath.
"Okay..." Scott replied reprehensivly.
It managed to be the best and most terrifying thing ever.
On one hand Nom was carrying him using seemingly one arm. On the other hand Nom was also climbing up the ladder with one hand.
All in all, when they reached the tiny second floor and Scott was set down on the bed, he couldn't help but feel a bit frazzled.
Nom turned to climb back down but was stopped by Scott grabbing his wrist.
Shoot he hadn't meant to do that he just,
"You alright" the knights voice was calming like rain or wind chimes.
"Where" his voice cracked Saints he hated it, "where are you going?" He managed to say without his voice shaking or cracking.
Nom's face softened. "Don't worry I'm just going to make some tea."
Eye contact was made all too much so the mage stared at his knees instead.
"What kind of tea would you like?"
"Oh um lemon and ginger, if I have any."
"Alright, I'll be back in a second." Nom squeezed his hand briefly before heading down stairs to make tea.
How long had it been since someone asked if he would like something?
Probably not since his mother had been alive. It was nice to have someone who talked to him so naturally without it feeling like a chore. He didn't deserve Nom...
Small flowers pushed their way through the floor board; the delicate petals were white and yellow like a broken egg.
"I didn't know you could grow plants from wooden floors."
"Neither did I..."
Nom sat next to Scott on the bed and handed him the cup of lemon and ginger tea.
They sat together quietly drinking the tea, until Nom broke the silence."Do you want to talk about it?"
Scott thought for a second before shaking his head. "Not yet... sorry."
He leaned against the knight.
"Hey, you don't need to apologise for anything I'm here for whenever you need to talk."
"Thank you."
Nom rested his head on Scott's.
The evening light poured through the window dancing along the petals of the dandelion in Scott's window.
Maybe he would be okay afterall.