Chapter 43 – Forest Grave
While it was still dark, Menew and Ralph took Totto and his mother…Anje, and they left the town on Stan’s back.
Ever since they had returned to the inn, Totto had continued to clutch onto his mother and cry, as if unleashing everything that he had been holding in up until then.
The mother would have had little idea what would happen after she died. And he was horrified at how she had been used to attack him.
And while he was able to get her back, he had seen her die twice now. And since he had used the same magic circles that he used for his work, it was almost as if he had used her body as an object.
He felt sad, wretched, and in pain. And his anger would not subside. It felt like it could burst through his chest.
Even though it would flow out through tears, little by little, the emotions kept welling up inside of him.
“Mother…mother…mother…”
He wailed and continued to cry without any signs of stopping soon.
Totto’s atelier was a barrier.
And so even though it was in the middle of the night, his voice would not be heard.
That was when Menew returned, and Totto was still crying.
However, he was tired and feeling dizzy. So Ralph had to support him.
He clutched onto Ralph and cried again. And they did not stop him.
Once he had calmed a little, they gave him some water. But somehow, the feeling of being revived made him sad again. And he burst into tears.
When the sky turned from pitch black to deep purple, Totto finally fell asleep. And so they carried him and went outside.
They arrived in the Mammia forest and landed. Stan then shrunk down and disappeared into the trees.
Then Totto and his mother were laid on the ground, side by side near the trees. And the two silently started to dig a hole.
Menew used the shovel in his pouch and dug carefully.
One meter wide, two meters long, and one meter deep. When he was done, Menew drew flowers to create a bed in the hole. With many colors, he drew every single flower he had ever drawn in the past.
And then preparations were complete.
He shook Totto, who then woke up and rubbed his swollen eyes. When he realized that they were in the forest, he threw his arms around his mother’s body.
“Um, Mr. Menew…”
Totto said in a quivering voice.
“Yes.”
“I…have a feeling that I was brought here before…”
“Yes.”
“Mother packed some lunch…when I was very small… But maybe it was just a dream.”
“I’m sure that it is a memory.”
“Yes…”
Menew listened quietly and patted Totto on the head.
“We made a place for your mother to rest. Will you come and see it?”
While still groggy, Totto nodded his head.
After so much crying, he felt empty now. The only thing he could think of was a single word. Mother.
Ralph then led him to the place where his mother rested. He had never seen a place covered in so many beautiful flowers before.
Totto groaned with despair.
He did not want to part with her. But she was already dead.
His mother had loved flowers, herbs and other plants. If she was given medicinal plants that happened to have flowers, she would secretly use them to decorate the room.
“Mother…she will be happy here…”
Ralph patted Totto on the back.
Menew then laid his mother on the bed of flowers. And while wishing that they would never die, he drew a tombstone.
So that Totto could come and see them whenever he wanted. Once he was at peace, then it could all return to the forest.
Anje was now in a tomb that was covered entirely with crystal. It really did just look like she was sleeping.
And there was one more wish that was made with the tombstone.
Totto was staring at his mother silently, with his hand on it, but he looked up when Menew touched his shoulder.
He followed Menew’s gaze and saw that Stan had brought the wild bear mother and cub.
“Totto. They will protect your mother. Watch.”
Menew gestured for them to come, and as Totto looked on in surprise, the wild bear placed her paw on the grave. Then the cub did the same.
And then the fruits that they ate appeared in front of the tombstone.
So when they prayed, food would come out.
“They will protect…and they will not go hungry… That was what I was thinking, but…”
Menew had recalled what Totto said about how they suffered, as they were not given enough food to eat. However, he was not good at explaining this.
However, Totto seemed to understand his intentions. And upon seeing the wild bears happily eat the fruits, he smiled at Menew.
As tears streamed down his face, he said, ‘I think mother would be very happy too.’
The sun started to rise.
The crystal shone brightly under the light.
And for some time, they stayed there, praying in front of the beautiful grave.
Awww….
Thanks for the chapter!