Part 4. Story of Soliphileset.
Steve was standing outside. At first he wanted to drop everything and go to the nearest inn, but when he got out in the fresh air, he changed his mind. He remembered the day he came home.
It was late in the evening, and it was raining the worst possible rain outside the window - there were no others in the Crossroads. Steve showed up at the Goft Manor suddenly. He was standing in the hall dressed as a raider and didn't know where to go. The servants stood there and looked at him like a ghost. When he went to Forlie, they parted in silence.
He found his brother in his room. Forlie at the table was rewriting something from the book. He stared stupidly at Steve coming in, not knowing what to do.
- Alive and unharmed," Steve broke the silence with a stupid smile.
Then they talked for a long time. It wasn't as easy to convince Forlie to go with him to the Riverland as he had hoped. But having demonstrated the magician a couple of artifacts obtained during his travels, he managed to light a fire in his brother's eyes. Leaving Forlie to pack, Steve went to his mother.
He was expecting to meet her at the entrance or while sitting at her brother's, but she didn't show up. He found it on the veranda. Despite the late hour, she was standing there looking at the thunderstorm. The wind threw drops of rain on her face and whipped her black hair. She didn't even look at Steve.
- You're alive," she said. - What are you going to do next?
- We're leaving.
- "We"? - she turned to her son.
- Forlie and I will open a magic shop and sell artifacts.
For a second, he thought she was going to rush at him, but nothing happened.
- As you wish," Felicia nodded and turned her back on the rain.
They never spoke again. Although the training camp took two more days. The last time he saw her was when they left; the mother finally whispered something to Forlie and left.
When Sarrug went outside and found Steve there, he created a shop and sat down comfortably.
- You're much more like her than you'd like," he said thoughtfully.
- Bullshit! She hates me even now!
- For example, you're both stubborn sheep," Dad continued. - But that's not what I meant. Everybody's mistakes are unique. Why do you think she let you go then, huh?
Without waiting for an answer, he continued:
- You're right, all she did as a child was knead and ignore you, concentrating on Forlie. And then the story with these raiders. We had time to bury you. And then, like thunder in the middle of the day, you come back safe and sound, with fire in your eyes and flame in your heart.
Steve looked at his father incomprehensibly.
- She tried to raise her successor in Forlie, but she raised you as her successor. Against her and your will. You're the one who got the part of her that makes her throw herself at the dragon in the middle of a family dinner. The power that is more important than any magic is determination and purposefulness. Your mother saw herself in you.
- Then why did she let Forlie go? - Steve asked.
- Your brother has learned much more over the years than sitting locked up in a book and learning from us.
Sarrug stood up, piercing his back.
- Although, to my mind, if you two hadn't been as careful as the apple of your eye, he would have done a lot more. Your irrepressible care only hurts him.
Steve was going to object, but Dad got ahead of him:
- If you're going to say it wasn't, why did you make such an easy deal with the demon? The guy can shut the volcano erupting with a click, and you're running around wiping away the snot after him," Father gave up, as if he was trying to keep those thoughts away. - Okay, thanks for the evening, I'll get back to you as soon as I hear something.
He bowed down and disappeared in a flash of teleportation. Sophia came out slowly to Steve.
- Is this the first time I've seen my father decide to talk about my mother, your work? - Turning to her, he asked.
- I can't inspire the right emotion, but I can push. The impulse was his - I just made it stronger," she explained.
- Thank you," she said, looking at the stars, thanking Steve. - I didn't think you'd help me.
- That's what Balaelle was waiting for," Soliphileset said thoughtfully. - He doesn't expect me to help you. It's against our nature. He certainly doesn't expect me to do that.
- Why? Why not? - Steve wondered, waiting to hear a story.
The Succubus just smiled mysteriously and looked at the stars with a smile. Finally, very quietly, she said:
- Because some mistakes are not made twice," Sophia shaken her head and drove away her dark thoughts. - Come on, dear husband, let's get the shop in order.