Memories of Anamesa

I set the last basket down and marched straight into the house. Mom barely looked up from chopping vegetables. "You're done already?"

I crossed my arms. "You planned this."

Mom smiled innocently. "Planned what?"

I squinted. "Ever since I got injured, you knew I wanted to train. But instead of letting me do anything dangerous, you just gave me a bunch of chores that would still build my strength."

Mom set down her knife, resting her chin on her hand. "Oh, wow. You finally figured it out?"

I gasped. "YOU ADMIT IT!"

She chuckled. "Honey, I'm your mother. Did you really think I wouldn't notice you trying to throw yourself into reckless training the second you healed?"

I opened my mouth. Closed it. She had a point.

Mom smiled, patting my head. "You're my son. And you're still a kid, no matter how mature you act. I just wanted to make sure you are strong enough before you go running off on your little adventures again."

I huffed. "You could've just let me train normally."

She raised an eyebrow. I flinched. "O-or maybe this was… actually a smart idea. And I'm grateful. And I love you."

Mom's smile turned smug. "I thought so."

Later that evening, I was sitting outside with Lily, watching the sunset. I watched as she tossed a rock in the air, catching it absentmindedly. "So. A whole month of nothing but chores, huh?"

I exhaled. "Yeah."

She grinned. "Sounds rough."

I shot her a look. "You could've helped, you know."

She laughed. "And miss the greatest show of suffering I've ever seen? Not a chance."

I groaned, leaning back against the grass.

"…But you do seem stronger now," Lily admitted after a moment. "Not as scrawny."

I smirked. "Not as weak?"

She snorted. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

I sighed, staring at the sky. "Tomorrow, I really start training."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Sure you do."

I turned to her, grinning. "Bet you won't be able to keep up."

She smirked. "Bet I will."

The challenge was set.

And this time?

No more chores.

Tomorrow, the real training began.

....

"Hey Alex!"

I froze, midway through the window.

No.

No, no, no.

I had been so careful this time. Waited until she was distracted. Moved silently. Made sure the floorboards didn't creak. And yet-

I turned my head slowly, praying that maybe - just maybe - I had imagined it.

Mom stood right behind me, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

How.

How did she DO that?!

"...How did you even hear me?" I asked, genuinely baffled.

Mom smirked. "Mother's instincts."

I narrowed my eyes. "You're using a skill, aren't you?"

She simply smiled. "Oh? Skill?"

I shut my mouth. Did skills exist in this world? Probably. After all, I had the status screen.

"Where are you going so early?" she asked, still watching me like a cat sizing up a cornered mouse.

I thought fast. "Uh... early morning meditation?"

Mom raised an eyebrow.

"...Training?"

The eyebrow went higher.

"Lily needs help!" I blurted.

"Oh?" Mom said. "With what?"

"...Life."

Silence.

Then, a sigh. "Fine. Go."

I blinked. "...Wait, really?"

"Mmhmm."

I eyed her suspiciously as I slowly climbed out. "You're not gonna make me do anything when I get back, right?"

Mom smiled sweetly. "*Of course not, honey."

I narrowed my eyes. "You're lying."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

I stared.

Mom stared back.

...I decided to run before she changed her mind.

Soon, the crisp morning air filled my lungs, jolting me awake. The village was already stirring - people bustling about, shop owners setting up, the smell of fresh bread and herbs drifting through the air.

Suddenly, I felt a presence behind me. 

I turned just in time to see Lily sprinting toward me, both hands raised.

I grinned. "Hurry up, slowpoke!"

She didn't slow down.

Uh oh.

THWACK.

For the second time that morning, I crashed to the ground - this time thanks to a well-placed kick to the knee.

I groaned, curling into a ball. "Oh, lord, I really am weak…"

Lily offered her hand.

I considered it.

Then, I spit into her clean, outstretched hand. Mwuahaha. You deserved it kiddo.

She stared.

Then, without hesitation, she punched me in the stomach.

I curled up on the ground again.

"I deserved that," I wheezed.

"You did."

Once Lily was done asserting dominance, I finally managed to stand up. She was watching me closely, arms crossed, expression unreadable. What was up with this world and overpowered women?

"...You good?" I asked.

"I dunno," she said casually. "Are you?"

I shifted uncomfortably. Why was she looking at me like that? 

"I mean," she continued, "you're acting all serious today. Like, more than usual. Did the month of slavery break you?"

"It did, but that's beside the point." I exhaled, stretching. "I'm starting my real training today, Lily. I need to get stronger."

Lily blinked. "For what?"

I paused.

How could I explain?

That I didn't want to feel helpless again. That the creature that attacked us was only the beginning. That this world was dangerous, and I needed to be ready for whatever came next.

I gave her a half-smile instead. "Because it's cool."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Uh-huh. Sure."

"It's true!"

"Mmhmm."

She poked me in the ribs.

"LILY, STOP POKING ME"

....

We found a quiet spot on the outskirts of the village, a wide, grassy area with a few scattered boulders and logs.

I breathed in deeply, letting the crisp air fill my lungs.

Time to get started.

I began with stretches. Basic mobility movements, stuff I remembered from gym class back on Earth.

Lily watched, perched on a rock, eyes sharp.

"Alright," she said after a while. "Do something cool."

"Stretching is important," I grumbled. "Unless you want me pulling something."

"You're four. You don't have anything to pull."

Ignoring her nonsense, I moved on to strength exercises.

Push-ups: Got to ten before collapsing.

Jogging: Lasted four minutes before tripping over a root.

Jumping over logs: Nailed three before falling face-first into the dirt.

Lily was losing her mind.

"Amazing." she said between cackles. "Truly inspirational."

I sat up, glaring. "Lily, please, I'm fragile."

"Clearly."

.....

After an hour of getting bullied, I finally flopped onto the grass, exhausted. Lily sat beside me, unusually quiet.

The sky had turned a soft orange, the sun slowly dipping beyond the trees.

"So," she said, voice oddly serious. "You're really doing this, huh?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I have to."

Lily was silent for a moment.

"Since that day…" she murmured, "I haven't been the same."

I turned to her, surprised. Had I heard her correctly?

She kept her gaze fixed on the sky, but her fingers dug into the fabric of her dress, clutching it tightly, as if grounding herself. "I still hear it sometimes," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"The growling," she continued, a shiver running through her body. "The way it chased us. The moment I thought we were going to die. The moment I thought you died. I couldn't move. I thought I was next."

I stopped breathing for a second.

Lily - bold, sharp-tongued, unshakable Lily - was shaking. She curled into herself slightly, her arms wrapping around her knees, her posture tense.

"I close my eyes, and it's still there." Her voice was small, fragile, like if she spoke too loudly, the memory would come to life again. "Every night. I hear its growl. I see its fangs. I... I... I just can't. I can't handle it."

I felt my chest tighten. I swallowed hard, watching the way her shoulders tensed with every breath, like she was bracing for something to attack her - even now, even here, in the safety of our village.

I had thought we were past it. That the fear had faded once we returned home, that the worst of it had ended that night.

But Lily… she had been carrying it with her this whole time.

Alone.

I took a slow breath, trying to keep my own emotions steady. "Lily…"

She blinked, looking at me, and for the first time, I saw something in her bright, fierce eyes that I had never seen before.

Fear.

Not just fear of the monster.

Fear of feeling weak. Fear of being helpless.

She quickly looked away again, blinking hard, like she was trying to push back tears.

I hesitated. I wasn't good at this kind of thing. I wasn't good at comforting people. But looking at her now, curled in on herself, struggling against something she couldn't even fight-

I couldn't just sit here and do nothing.

I reached out, hesitantly at first, and placed my hand over her shaking shoulders.

She stiffened.

I didn't say anything. I just… held it there. Grounding her.

After a moment, she let out a shaky breath and, slowly, relaxed her grip.

"I… hate this," she admitted, her voice strained. "I hate that it still scares me. I hate that I can't sleep without hearing it. I hate that it makes me feel like…"

She stopped herself.

Like she didn't even want to say the words.

Like admitting it would make it real.

I squeezed her hand gently. "Like you're weak?"

She flinched, just a little.

That was it.

That was what scared her the most.

I exhaled, choosing my words carefully. "You're not weak, Lily."

She let out a bitter laugh, but it was tired.

"Then why does it feel like I am?"

Her voice cracked at the end.

And that broke me.