I Can See Evolution Paths

Arthur and Mithra returned to the Expedition Branch. Arthur wanted to exchange the expedition points earned from their previous discoveries.

The attendant checked the records.

[Expedition Contribution Points: 6,000]

Arthur’s eyes widened slightly. "Six thousand?"

Mithra nodded. She explained that their discoveries during the expedition were extremely valuable, especially considering the information they had recovered.

Arthur immediately thought of his mother. He asked how much he could convert into gold.

The attendant explained the exchange. Arthur started considering converting everything.

Mithra immediately stopped him. "Don’t."

Arthur blinked. "Why?"

Mithra explained that sending Maria five thousand or six thousand gold immediately would probably raise questions. Maria knew Arthur. She would wonder where her son suddenly obtained that much money. She might even refuse it because she thought something dangerous had happened.

Arthur considered this. "That’s true," he said.

Mithra smiled. "Send her a little first."

Arthur nodded. He exchanged only five hundred Expedition Points for five thousand gold.

Arthur looked at the gold. "Still seems like a lot," he said.

Mithra laughed. "That’s why I said a little."

Arthur decided to send the rest later. He looked at the remaining points. "I’ll save the rest," he said.

Mithra nodded. "Good."

Arthur smiled. "Then I’ll have more to surprise her with later."

Mithra looked at him. "You’re definitely your mother’s son," she said.

Arthur immediately headed toward the Information Building. His real goal was mail from home.

He checked the incoming letters. Nothing.

Arthur’s expression fell slightly.

Then the attendant checked again. "Actually, there are several," he said.

Arthur’s eyes brightened. "Several?"

A bundle of letters was handed over. Arthur recognized the handwriting immediately. Maria. There were also messages from people in Greenleaf.

Arthur smiled. "They really sent a lot," he said.

Mithra watched him quietly.

Arthur gathered the letters. "Let’s find somewhere quiet," he said.

Arthur, Mithra, Vedas, and Melo sat in the Academy garden. Melo lay comfortably across Arthur’s lap in her small form. Eden hovered nearby, listening.

Arthur turned the letter over in his hands.

He recognized the handwriting immediately.

For a moment, he didn’t open it.

The paper was ordinary.

A little worn from traveling.

Nothing special.

But it had come from home.

Arthur smiled quietly before breaking the seal.

"...Mom."

He unfolded the letter.

The first line was simple.

Arthur,

Are you eating properly?

Arthur stared at the sentence.

Then he laughed softly. "Of course that’s the first thing she asks."

He continued reading.

Are you sleeping enough?

Don’t stay up all night reading.

And don’t tell me you’re too busy to eat.

Arthur’s smile grew.

He could practically hear her saying it.

Then came the questions about the Academy.

Are the professors treating you well?

Have you made any new friends?

Are you getting along with Mithra?

Please make sure you aren’t causing trouble.

Arthur paused. "...Why does everyone assume I’m causing trouble?"

Mithra glanced at him. "Because you do."

Arthur looked offended. "I don’t."

Vedas quietly looked away.

Melo did the same.

Even Eden suddenly became interested in a flower.

Arthur stared at all of them. "...Traitors."

And then he continued reading with a smile.

I know you’re old enough to take care of yourself now.

But you’re still my son.

So I’ll probably keep worrying anyway.

If something happens, write to me.

Even if it’s something small.

I’d rather receive ten letters about ordinary things than one letter telling me that you needed help and were too afraid to say anything.

Arthur’s eyes remained on the page.

He didn’t speak for a few seconds.

His fingers gently tightened around the letter. It was strange, he thought, how a few lines of ordinary handwriting could reach all the way from Greenleaf and still land exactly where it needed to.

Then he smiled. "...She’s still Mom."

Then Maria specifically asked Mithra to write.

Mithra blinked.

Arthur laughed.

Then Maria asked to hear Vedas and Melo’s thoughts too.

Vedas immediately became embarrassed. "She wants to know how I feel?" he said.

Melo sat up proudly. "I wonder what I should tell her," she said.

Mithra giggled. "It seems I finally have a reason to write a letter," she said.

Arthur smiled. "We can just write one big letter," he said.

Melo tilted her head. "Would that be okay?"

Mithra nodded. "Of course." Then she smiled. "It might even be interesting to see whether Maria can tell who wrote which part."

Vedas scratched his cheek. "I don’t mind, but I don’t know what to write."

Mithra gently suggested, "Just tell her you found another home in an ancient city filled with Goblins."

Vedas became quiet. Then smiled. "I can do that," he said.

Melo raised her head. "I can tell her the whole story through my dreams later," she said.

Arthur laughed. "That might take a few letters."

Melo looked pleased.

Arthur started writing his own section. But then paused, as there were things that he didn’t believe he should write in the letter.

The Dawn Kingdom.

The ancient ruins.

The dangers they’d faced.

The things he still didn’t understand.

Not because he didn’t want her to know. He remembered the promise he’d made when he first decided to become a Beast Tamer.

He’d always come home with stories about all the places he’d seen.

He wanted to continue keeping that promise.

Which is why writing it in the letter wouldn’t do it justice. He wanted to see her face when he told her himself. He wanted to sit at the same table again. He wanted to tell her everything without a piece of paper between them.

So instead, Arthur wrote about the Academy.

About the Student Council.

About the field trip.

About the strange people he’d met.

About all the ordinary things that didn’t sound important.

Somehow, those were the things he wanted her to know most.

Then Arthur wrote that Mithra’s dad was actually the principal.

Mithra immediately leaned over. "Hey," she said.

Arthur laughed. "What?"

"Do you really have to mention that?"

Arthur grinned. "Of course."

"Why?"

"I doubt you’d tell her."

Mithra’s cheeks puffed slightly. For perhaps the first time, Mithra actually pouted.

Arthur burst out laughing.

Mithra crossed her arms. "It’s embarrassing," she said.

Melo smacked Arthur with one tail. Vedas gently tapped him too. "Mean," he said.

Arthur looked between them. "You two are taking her side?"

Mithra laughed.

Arthur continued the letter, mentioning the upcoming field trip. The Academy had voted for a Secret Realm. They were going to the Everglades. He was excited.

At the bottom of the page, Arthur paused.

He thought about what else to write.

There were countless things.

Instead, he wrote:

Love you, Mom.

I miss you.

Take care of yourself.

Don’t worry too much about me.

He stared at that last sentence.

Then Arthur smiled and added:

Actually... you can worry a little.

I’ll see you soon.

He put down the pen.

For a moment, he simply looked at the letter. "...I can’t wait to go home."

Arthur passed the letter around. Vedas wrote. Melo wrote. Mithra wrote. Eden added a tiny message and a small drawing beside it.

Arthur read everyone’s sections. "I can’t wait to see her soon." He then looked at the letter one last time and then he smiled. "Let’s send it."

Mithra nodded.

Vedas smiled.

Melo settled back onto his lap.

Eden flew happily beside them.

And for a little while longer nobody hurried. Tomorrow, they would all start preparing for the Everglade.

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