An Upward Stairway, Leading to Descent

[Brill]

Summer. Dusk on the 3rd Brightening of the 1st Cycle of Cryxatum. Era XI

… .

Night was beginning to lay down it’s star dotted blanket upon Riparia as Brill approached the building to his home. After leaving the Green Goblin Tavern, and parting ways with Zan’Raak, Brill had spent the rest of the late day at the Riparian Falls. He had sought solace in it’s beautiful gardens and serene streams, he had always found that the Falls offered him a sense of peace, but on this evening, his thoughts denied him such a comfort. Brill had spent his time brooding over the prospects of his future… .
He began to ascend the stairway that led to his apartment with staggering foot steps. The paint on the wall had long begun to peel, the dim light cast a forbidding shadow, and every step he took produced the moan of the plank’s ageing wood. It was a sad state of affairs, and the dire atmosphere did nothing to lift his spirits. As he approached the top, however, he heard a faint meow, and wry smile materialized upon his face.
“Blue,” he softly exclaimed. “Are you hungry? Or have you come to see me?” The small cat that was waiting by his door approached him and began to nuzzle against his leg. “I haven’t seen you for so long.” He gently picked her up and carried her in his arms, together, they entered his apartment.
Blue, as Brill called her, was a stray. He could hardly remember the first time he found her wandering the halls, it being such a long time ago, but when he first saw her, he was instantly enamored. Brill was fond of cats, and this kitten had won his particular affection. Blue had a very handsome gray coat, it was lightly dashed with thin white lines that ran vertically across her back - it gave the illusion of rain falling through an ashen sky. Her eyes were a shade of blue rich with a sense languidness and mischief, but it was her stoic personality that Brill found most endearing. Blue seemed to be at an almost constant sate of boredom and disinterest, it’s what made her a prized companion to Brill. Though she stayed near him, it was obvious that her mind was on her own kitty affairs. He preferred it that way.
Brill set her down by his feet and took a brief moment to search for matches so that he may light the lamp. “I hope my mother picked up milk today, otherwise, I don’t know what I’m going to feed you, Blue.” She yawned as she waited patiently. Brill opened the lid to the icebox and reached inside to retrieve the bottle, luckily, his mother had indeed picked up some milk. He opened his cupboard, took out a small saucer, and poured as much milk as he could into it. As he kneeled down to lay the dish in front of her, Blue let out a rather dry meow as a “thank you”. Brill smiled as he watched her lap the milk up from it‘s container and softly sighed before drinking the reaming milk in the bottle.
“Well,” he began to say. “I don’t suppose you… .” Brill was interrupted by the sound of the door being opened. It was a noisy old thing and failed him many times when trying to sneak into his room on late nights.
“Brill,” called his mother. “Are you home?”
“Yes,” he replied.
“I thought I heard you. I was next door having tea with the neighbor.”
“Charming.”
“She says hello.”
Brill shrugged. His neighbor was a girl only a few years older than he. She had recently come to Riparia from the nearby city of Natura. Suddenly, he found that the thought of her has beginning to irritate him.
“Brill, son, come here. I want to talk to you.” His mother gestured for him to sit at their old round dinner table. Brill simply did as he was told and quietly made his way to his usual seat.
“I didn’t get a chance to speak to you yesterday. How did you spend your birthday?”
Brill shrugged.
“Well, you’re finally eighteen, son. Have you put any thought into what you’re going to do now?”
Brill shrugged again. How was it that his mother knew everything?
“Well,” she continued. “I have something for you.” She reached into the front of her apron and retrieved a small envelope. “Happy Birthday, son,” she said as she handed it to him. Brill was quick to respond.
“Mom, no! I don’t need anything! Come on… .”
“Don’t be rude,” she snapped. “It’s a gift from your mother. Now take it.” Brill warily took the envelope for her hand and stared at his mother. “Go on, go on,” she encouraged. He broke the wax seal and opened the envelope to reveal a bank voucher; it was totaled at one thousand, four hundred, and fifty Crowns.
“No!” Brill slammed the bank note unto the table. “I can’t take it. This should… .”
“Brill,” she said sternly. “Don’t use that tone with me.” Brill bit his lip and slumped into his chair. “Son, understand. You’re a man now. It’s time you start to live on your own.”
“B-but how?”
“You’re father and I had long ago started putting money away for you. Ever since he passed away,” she cleared her throat a softened her voice. “Ever since he passed away, I’ve been putting money aside.”
“Mother,” Brill began. “I - I can’t just leave you. Who’s going to take care you?” His mother smiled softly and sighed.
“Brill, you’ve been a good son, but it’s not your job to take care me. I’m you’re mother, let me take care of you.” Her eyes began to glisten and she gingerly wiped underneath of them with her shaking finger. “Now that you’re old enough, you need to start taking care of yourself. You don‘t need me anymore.”
“But mother, what about you?”
“Oh stop.” She rose up from her seat with a slight sniffle and smiled. “I wont have you arguing with me, now get ready for dinner.”
“Yes mother,” replied Brill. “Thank you.”
As he went into his room, he could faintly hear his mother talking.
“Oh, hello, Blue! I didn’t know you were here! You’re such a cute kitty. Does the wittle kitty want some milk? Oh yes she does! Such a good kitty!” Brill smiled for a moment and his mother called out: “Brill! Where’s the milk?”

* * *

After finishing his small and humble meal, Brill went after Blue as she padded towards his room and pawed at his door.
“Oh, are you sleeping here tonight? Well, I’m not allowed to have girls in my room, but we’ll keep it a secret, ok?” Together, they walked into his barren room. He lit the lamp he kept on the floor as the cat curled itself up at the foot of the bed. Brill took off his shirt and made his way into his sheets, scooting Blue aside with his feet.
Brill dug into his pocket and retrieved the bank note. He stared long and hard at it. He wasn't sure what to make of it. Deep down, he really did want to leave, but somehow, it didn't feel right. He quickly dismissed his fears and stuffed the note back into his pocket. It was sily, after all. He would figure out what to do tomorrow. Perhaps he would take up Zan's offer.
He reached underneath his bed and retrieved an old and tattered book he had found long ago. “I hope you don’t mind if I read for a bit,” he asked Blue, but the cat was already snoring lightly. He gently turned the pages of the archaic piece of literature and found the place where he had left off.
“Tobin had finally made his way through the dense jungle,” he read. “As he reached the clearing, the sound of the ocean’s waves became louder. He looked out into the horizon and could see nothing but the blue, crystalline waters, of the Great Sea stretch far into an endless sky. Tobin’s quest had finally ended, but his adventure was just beginning - a whole new world awaited him beyond the azure waters. At last, he could begin to explore the fantastic worlds of the great Telath, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and accomplishment as he stood on the golden sands of Alleria’s coast. This was the beginning of something great… .”