Mother's Gift

After Vincent had drifted into slumber, he found himself immersed in a realm of darkness—a lucid dream, he presumed. He questioned whether this was the typical landscape of a lucid dream, but his musings were interrupted by a sudden presence he could sense. Someone else had entered his dream. Curiosity piqued, Vincent turned around, only to be astounded by the sight before him—his mother stood there, adorned with two pairs of exquisite white dove wings.

Confusion flooded Vincent's mind as he grappled with conflicting thoughts. "No, this must be a figment of my imagination," he reasoned, attributing her presence to his own conjuring. Yet, he couldn't dismiss the lingering words of Azrael about his mother's ascension as an angel. Doubt and perplexity swirled within him, prompting him to approach the situation cautiously.

"Son," his mother called out, her voice brimming with love. "My dear Cadmean, come here." Despite the lingering doubt of whether this was real or a mere figment of his dreaming mind, Vincent couldn't resist the pull of his mother's embrace. The sensations felt just as tangible as before—the warmth of her hug, the gentle caress of her hand on his head. In that moment, all the tumultuous events that had befallen him seemed insignificant. He released all the pent-up emotions he had harbored since the day his mother fell into a coma—pain, helplessness, anger, and the sheer joy of seeing her well. In her embrace, he found solace and a momentary respite from the trials he had endured.

Dominion Cadmean, too, enveloped in the embrace, shed tears in unison with her son. After all these years of separation, the reunion with her child stirred a bittersweet ache within her. "My child, you must have faced immense challenges," she expressed, her voice filled with empathy, as she held him tightly.

Vincent remained silent, still uncertain of the authenticity of the moment. After several minutes of embracing and shedding tears together, he reluctantly released his mother and locked eyes with her, his own eyes reflecting sadness and confusion. Summoning the courage, he finally mustered the words, "Are you real?"

As an angel, Dominion Cadmean possessed a sensitivity to the empathetic waves of emotions emanating from her child, and she couldn't help but share in his melancholy. With a mixture of sadness and affection, she replied, "I am real, my child. I took a temporary leave from heaven to see you." Vincent nodded, reassured, and embraced her once more.

In that fleeting moment, he wished time could stand still, allowing him to bask in the warmth of his mother's love indefinitely. Yet, reality often proved to be a disappointing companion. Just as the system warned about the approaching time limit, Vincent was about to voice his protest, but his mother interrupted him, expressing her gratitude for the opportunity and promising to conclude their meeting soon.

Feeling the urgency of the situation, Dominion Cadmean explained, "My child, I do not belong here. I have fulfilled my purpose and destiny, and now it is time for me to return to my rightful place. But before I depart, let me bestow upon you a gift." Placing her hand gently on his head, she murmured words under her breath, causing her hand to glow momentarily before settling back to normal.

Perplexed, Vincent was about to inquire further, but he was abruptly overwhelmed by a surge of information flooding his mind, causing him momentary distress. His mother clarified, "Your mental space has not yet fully unlocked, my child. That is why you experience such pain. However, take this." She

channeled more energy into her hand, which emitted an even brighter light before touching the ground.

The radiance spread throughout the once murky expanse, transforming it into a serene landscape—a picturesque blend of an ocean on one side, mountains on the other, and a path leading into the unknown. It was a mental haven of tranquility. "This is the best I can do for now, my child. The rest shall be up to you," his mother revealed.

With time slipping away, Dominion Cadmean swiftly slit her wrist with a delicate nail. The blood that trickled forth molded itself into a seed. Summoning a bowl of blood from her pocket space, she placed the seed within it. As the seed absorbed the crimson fluid, it bloomed into a vibrant shade of red. In a trance-like state,

Vincent received the implantation of the seed, and his mother slipped a ring onto his finger.

In that moment, his senses returned, and he disregarded the ongoing influx of information, focusing solely on his mother. But before he could utter a word, the system intervened, stating that their encounter had reached its limit and was about to eject him.

Clasping him tightly in her arms, Vincent's mother whispered, "My son, of whom I am immensely proud. I know you will achieve greatness wherever you go. Although our time together is fleeting, please remember that I will be with you every step of your journey. So, grow stronger and reach for the heavens, where we shall reunite. But beyond that, strive even higher and become the one who stands at the pinnacle."

"You will be extraordinary, Vincent, and this time, I shall bear witness to your every endeavor," she assured him. Filled with determination, Vincent replied, "Yes, Mother, I will give it my all." Dominion Cadmean smiled in response, and then the system ejected her from the astral realm. Though her absence left an ache in Vincent's heart, he knew it wasn't a permanent farewell.

Deciding to depart from the space as well, Vincent called out to the system, his voice laced with uncertainty, "System?" It promptly responded, "Yes, Vincent." Seeking reassurance, he inquired, "You are on my side, aren't you?" The system confirmed resolutely, "Yes, I am, now and forever. I will stand by your side. All that I do is for your well-being." Muttering to himself, Vincent whispered, "For my own good."

Vincent refrained from further comments and requested the system to lull him back into slumber. Meanwhile, in the realm of heaven, Vincent's mother awakened after being expelled by the system. She discovered Gabriel cooking in her celestial kitchen, though angels had no need for sustenance—it was more of a pleasurable experience than a necessity. Sensing her reawakening, Gabriel approached her and enveloped her in a tender embrace. Dominion Cadmean clung to Gabriel, tears of newfound relief streaming down her face.

"It's alright, Ariel. Everything will be just fine. Nothing will harm him," she comforted Gabriel. Ariel continued to weep in Gabriel's embrace, lamenting that she had missed witnessing her son's growth.

As Vincent awoke, feeling groggy, sluggish, and somehow transformed, he refreshed himself with a cold shower before settling on his bed to delve into the contents bestowed upon him by his mother. As he perused the information, shock and disbelief coursed through his veins.