Supreme Magus novel Chapter 3406

"I hope you went easy on her, Ripha. My mother is a gentle soul." Lith sat on his bed, sighing in relief.

"Of course I didn't. I had to hit her as hard as a sack of bricks." Menadion scoffed.

"What? Why would you do that?" Kamila was flabbergasted.

"Because there was no roundabout way to make Elina stop." Menadion replied. "She needed the harsh truth delivered by a friendly voice."

"So not by you." Lith groaned.

"Very funny. The next time do it yourself, smartass." Menadion said. "For what is worth, Elina thanked me after. She can't have taken it too bad."

***

In the following days, nothing changed in Elina day-to-day behavior so Lith assumed that once again his paranoia had played tricks on him. When the day of the departure arrived, everyone assembled in front of the Warp Gate in the barn.

"Don't worry if you have forgotten to pack something." Lith said. "We're staying in cities with their own Gates so we can come back here anyt- Farm me sideways!"

"Is anything wrong, dear son?" Elina had just walked through the door dressed like no one in the family had ever seen her before.

She always wore demure clothes but this time there was not a centimeter of skin exposed despite the heat of summer. She had a parasol to keep her hands busy and everyone else at length.

Worst of all, her smile didn't extend to her eyes which looked sad and dim. It was as if someone had taken her joy of life, shoved it inside a closed lantern, and left only a small opening for the light.

Elina kept her distance from Lith, giving him plenty of personal space.

"I'm fine, Mom. The question is: are you?" Lith used Invigoration to give her a quick check-up, discovering she was as fit as a fiddle.

"I'm fine, thank you. You are so caring, son." Even her chuckle sounded fainter, almost muffled.

"No problem, Mom." Lith found himself covered in a cold sweat as he regretted ever raising the issue. "Our first stop is the Royal Palace. Are you ready?"

"One moment." Kamila shapeshifted her clothes into a beautiful day dress and so did everyone else.

Elina's dress was so ample and dull in color that a casual observer would have thought she had recently become a widow.

"Want to go together, Mom?" Lith offered her his arm, knowing how awkward Elina felt whenever she was surrounded by nobles.

"Nonsense, son." She refused, clinging to Tista instead and sending a chill down his spine. "You have a wife. Kami should have the honor of standing by your side to avoid misunderstandings. Isn't that right, dear?"

"Sure, Elina." Kamila repressed a gasp.

It was the first time that Raaz was absent and Elina turned down the opportunity to be escorted by her son.

'Congratulations, I think you've broken your mother.' Kamila said via mind link.

'I noticed.' Lith replied. 'I need a solution. Now.'

"How come you chose to start our vacation from the Royal Palace, Mom?" Rena asked, trying to lift Elina's spirits. "We've been there plenty of times."