3. Blooddebt | ✓

2. Remember To Tell

"Sometimes, I wonder what to do with you," Thunder laughed and exhaled a helpless sigh. He could only ponder if this brat had resembled Rowan when he was young because Elianna sure wasn't this impish.
 

 ━━━━━━━━━━  

 Rivia: Ajayib, Town of Central Rivia, Elianna's Residence  

• Elianna •

"You're both back," Elianna smiled when she heard the door being pushed open.

"Mother!" Arell chirped, dashing through the room and went towards her. His small hands held firmly onto her arm as he placed something soft in her hand. She wondered what it was and brought it close to her. An earthy floral scent wafted into her nose and she recognised it immediately, "Lavender?"

"Yes, we picked a bag of it," Thunder mentioned, placing a hand on her shoulder before moving past her. "I'll go ahead and pass it to Kiran."

Elianna bent slightly and told Arell, "Could Mother trouble you to walk us to the sitting area?" 

"Of course!" Arell replied excitedly, tugging her hand gently as he moved slowly in a direction. When he stopped, he reminded, "Please sit slowly, Mother." 

"Thank you, mea lux," Elianna smiled and carried Arell up into her hold, settling him on her lap. She asked, "Up to the dunes again?" 

"Yes!" The child chuckled. 

"Did you give trouble to Thunder again?"  

"N-No," Arell stammered guiltily and she immediately caught his lie. Frowning, she flicked on his forehead gently. 

"Arell, what did I say about lying?" she scolded softly. "Whenever you're out of town, it's not safe and you've got to listen to Thunder. Don't make him run around just to catch up to you, do you understand?" 

"He didn't make me run around!" Thunder shouted from outside the qa'a after he overheard their conversation. 

"Always trying to cover up for you," she sighed as her fingers combed through the soft strands of her son's hair, removing a leaf that was stuck within his hair. 

"Mother, Arell is sorry," Arell fidgeted on her lap. "Arell promise to be good." 

"That's my boy," she grinned, leaning down and planted a kiss on his forehead. Smoothing her hand down to his back, she laughed and requested of her son again, "Let's have you washed up, there's sand in your hair, mea lux." 

"Really?" Arell sounded confused, but he reached his hand out and held onto hers. The child guided them out of the qa'a. 

"Where are you going with him?" Thunder asked, approaching them. 

"There's sand in his hair," Elianna mentioned. "I'm taking him to the bath." 

"I'll take him," Thunder reached to hurl Thunder up into his hold. The child had let go of her hand and she quickly frowned. 

"I can do that," she sulked, knowing that everyone had always stepped in whenever she tried to do something. They kept forgetting that she's adept even without her sight and bathing her child is definitely one thing she can do.

"Eli, I'm heading to the bath myself too," Thunder laughed. "Plus, he's a big boy now. Right, Arell?" 

"Yes!" The child exclaimed. 

"He's only five!" Elianna gasped. 

"Exactly," Thunder chuckled. "Five means that Arell is a big boy who can bathe himself already. Come on, I'll take him from here."