A loaded question comes with a loaded reply!

When he asked that question, Eliza softly bit down on her lower lip, a action that would have been very sexy if there wasn't a nervous look in her eyes. She didn't look like she wanted to answer him, but after awhile she let out a sigh. "I guess you'd know about this sooner or later, best to rip the band aid off quickly. Come sit on the couch with me." The feminine boy didn't really fancy the way she was talking, it didn't really sound like she had anything good to tell him. Although he had no clue as to what the subject was that made her so hesitant to answer him.

Ashley followed her and sat down right next to his mother on the couch. He tapped his finger on his thigh, the tip sinking into his soft skin as he waited for his mom to pipe up. "So. Ashley, you're getting older now and I think that I can trust that you'll be able to fend for yourself if I am not here to protect you." Ashley was a little confused by her statement, surely there was more to it then just her getting him ready to live on his own, right? "I mean thank you, but you've left me home before when I was much younger, I don't see how this is any different." Eliza let out a soft sigh. "I-it is, trust me. Back then it was only for a few hours when I went out to hunt or bought something, you see Ashley, I have bedn meaning to tell you that I plan on taking a pretty long trip." Now THAT made more sense to him, Eliza never once talked about wanting to go sight seeing or was willing to leave the house for any reason unless it was to get food. What could have changed.

He opened his mouth to try and dig a little deeper, but she must have saw this coming as she gently pressed her finger against his lips to slience him. "I will be visting my mother's, and your grandmother's, grave. For how long I'll be gone........... Maybe a few months at best."

"Her grave......? Well, that's understandable. But, why can't I go with you? I mean it would be nice to actually visit the place with you, it could be like a little road trip!" A slight frown crossed the magic knight's face as he made the suggestion. "I would love that buddy, I really would but I need you to stay here and keep watch on the house, besides it's dangerous. I wouldn't feel right with bringing you with me when there's a chance you could get hurt." Now it was Ashley's turn to frown, slight annoyance creeping up on him as his mother kept acting dodgy.

"But you're training me to get stronger and defend myself. And it's not like anybody ever comes into our neck of the woods anyways." He said, trying to poke holes into her reasoning. He always hated it when Eliza left and those trips only lasted for a hour or two at most, who knows how much of a nervous wreck the poor boy would be if she was away for months on end! He just wouldn't be able to deal with it. "Listen, buddy, I understand that this will be new for you, I don't want to leave either, but this isn't up for discussion. I have to go alone. Trust me if there was any other way I would take it, but there isn't, im sorry...." At this point Ashley couldn't help but feel a little hurt by this, why was she pushing him away all of a sudden? "You're not even making any sense! If there is a real reason for you going alone then just tell me, if not then just let me go with you! Seriously, your making me think that you just wanna ditch me or something!"

"That is not true!"

"Then why won't you let me go with you?"

"I already told you, I have my reasons!"

"Which would be!?"

Eliza eyes turn a bit softer as she opened up the palm of her right hand. "Im sorry Ashley, would you please just let this go?" The magic knight pleaded with him. "No, not until you give me a actual answer!" When Ashley said those words Eliza's palm began to crackle with power. This wasn't something she was really eager to do, but he wasn't going to drop this and she has been waiting for years. She couldn't wait any longer. Thrusting her palm forward, the limb only being a few inches away from his face. The younger male flinched away but by then it was already too late for him. A small magic circle formed in her hand as a strange multi-colored dust flew out and entered his nose. The effects kicking in seconds after it entered into his system. He really didn't stand a chance.

As his eyelids became heavy Eliza looked away. Not wanting to look directly at him. Hopefully after all this was done, he'd understand why she needed to do this. But before that happened Eliza couldn't help but assume that he'd be cross at her, maybe even hate her, but that was a price she was willing to take if it meant doing what needed to be done. Once the spell took it's full effect Eliza leaned over and placed a kiss on his forehead. "Be good." She whispered gently before going upstairs to pack her bags, returning minutes with everything she'd need on her journey.

The day went and soon night took it's place. The sun going down and the moon taking it's place as Ashley woke up from her sleep spell. The thought of this just being some dream being dispelled immediately once he saw that he had passed out on the couch. His mother really did put him under a sleeping spell, and once that sat it, the first thing he felt was a feeling of sadness and regret.

What did he do to make her run out like that? Was it because he pushed her so much about the issue? It was always something of a taboo topic with her, but was it really enough to make her run off just like that? Soon Ashley pushed himself off of the couch and began to pace around the house, with no real goal in mind. However as he walked around his somber mood slowly but surely turned sour, as anger began to creep up on him.

She didn't even leave him a damn note! What the hell! Surely visiting her mother's grave wasn't so important that she'd **** her own son to fall asleep and leave with a last minute warning! He wasn't going to take this standing down! So with his anger and curiousity mixing together. Ashley began to gather some food and water, getting ready to take chase after her.........

(Yo. The author here again. Hope your enjoying this so far, so I meant to say this before but I got a smooth brain and forgot about it. But please feel free to comment your feelings about the chapters if you have any. No matter what it is, if it is praise lay it on me, if you have some problems with the plot, lay it on me, if you wanna call me a dumb poo, poo, pee, pee head. Then go ahead and do so! I wanna hear it!)