Laye has lived an idyllic childhood in a small village in Funis Land. He has just been awarded a scholarship to continue his education at a school for wizards far away.

I began to dream about magic. I had heard about magic for so long! But abruptly, my thoughts returned to my mother.

I didn’t want to tell her. But I knew it must be done.

I went to look for her. I found her sifting through garbage behind our house for our evening meal.

I stood there, watching her fling trash in different directions. Her eyes remained fixated on the putrid garbage for a long time.

Then she looked up. The steeled look in her eyes told me she knew exactly what I was going to say.

“Hhhhhhh……aaaaaauuuuugggghHHHHH!” she screamed hoarsely. She began to throw trash at me.

“Stop… stop!” I shouted, dodging bones and decomposing vegetables.

“DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!” my mother rasped.

She started muttering things under her breath. Picking up the carcass of a rat and petting its head affectionately, she gradually grew silent. I waited for her to speak.

“So, my ungrateful son. You will be leaving me.”

“Actually, I’m your daugh-“

“UNGRATEFUL SON!”

She stood up to her full height- just under seven feet. My mother took two steps closer to me. I could see the feral gleam in her eyes.

“YOU THINK YOU’RE BETTER THAN THIS? BETTER THAN ME?” She ran towards me, and shook me by the shoulders. Her nails dug into my flesh. “IS LIVING OFF TRASH TOO GOOD FOR YOU?” She gnashed her pointed yellow teeth. “ARE YOU TOO GOOD FOR THIS FILTH? ARE YOU TOO GOOD FOR YOUR MOTHER, THE ONE WHO RAISED YOU?!”

to be continued………………………