MTLNOVEL Chapter 15: A Step Towards Tomorrow..
Elric felt the warmth of the living room wrap around him like a soft blanket. The smell of freshly brewed tea mixed with the faint sweetness of pastries his mother had set out. Ernestina sat on the couch, her fingers wrapped carefully around a warm mug, cheeks still lightly pink from the surprise of it all.
Elric's mom moved around the kitchen with gentle energy, humming to herself as she tidied up plates and wiped the counter. Every so often, she glanced over at Ernestina with a kind, motherly smile that made Ernestina's shoulders slowly relax.
Elric sat nearby, pretending to scroll through his phone but stealing glances at them. It felt surreal. Just days ago, he was drifting through life in a haze, surrounded by people who only wanted him when he played along. Now he was here, seeing his mother and Ernestina laugh together as though they'd always been family.
"Ernestina, would you like to stay for dinner tonight?" his mother asked suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence.
Ernestina blinked in surprise and nearly spilled her tea. "Oh! I… I don't want to impose," she stammered, looking over at Elric as if searching for guidance.
Elric's mother waved a hand with a little laugh. "I already spoke to your mother on the phone when I picked you up, remember? She said she was busy at work and couldn't pick you up early anyway. She was grateful that you're safe and even happier you get to spend time with us."
Ernestina hesitated, then nodded slowly. "If it's really okay… thank you so much."
Elric felt a small spark of happiness light up inside him. He glanced down at his hands, turning them over as though trying to understand the warmth that was spreading through his chest.
Meanwhile, his mother moved to the pantry, pulling out ingredients. She started talking about the simple dishes she was planning to make ; a vegetable stew, some fried plantain slices, maybe a pot of light soup if there was time. Ernestina listened closely, her eyes lighting up at every mention of food.
Elric chuckled softly to himself. She really did fit into this space so naturally, as though she had been here a hundred times before.
At one point, Ernestina stood to help, moving next to his mother at the counter. They stood side by side, chopping vegetables and sharing small stories. Ernestina shared little bits about her mother's cooking, about how she would sometimes help prepare dinner after coming back from school.
Elric stayed in the doorway, just watching. A piece of him wanted to jump in and help, but another part of him felt content to simply watch the two most important people in his life share this ordinary, perfect moment.
Finally, his mother glanced at him and waved him over. "Elric! Don't just stand there like a ghost. Come help us set the table."
He moved without protest, picking up plates and arranging them carefully. He even caught Ernestina giving him a playful, approving nod when he accidentally set a fork in the wrong spot and had to fix it.
By the time dinner was ready, the sun had almost fully set, leaving the room bathed in a cozy golden glow from the overhead light. They sat down together, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Elric heard laughter ring freely around the table ; not forced, not coming from a party or a loud group of boys, but real and warm.
After they finished eating, his mom insisted on making a small dessert ;sweet fried dumplings. Ernestina helped dust them with powdered sugar, and Elric's fingers were sticky before he could even get one onto his plate.
As they ate, Elric felt his mind drift toward the Sin Slayer System. He almost didn't want to check, afraid it would ruin this peaceful moment. But he took a deep breath and glanced at the screen in his mind anyway.
Sin Points: [10,570]
Virtue Points: [+5]
Temptations Record: [Stabilizing]
You have reached a Positive Virtue Point!
Congratulations! You've now entered Level One Series (Upgrade: Seed Renewal).
Just 995 more Virtue Points to level up to the next stage!
Current Rank: B-Rank — Budding Redeemer.
Keep going! Every choice counts. 🌱⚡
His eyes widened slightly. The Virtue Points had finally gone positive. He almost laughed out loud but bit his lip instead, his chest rising and falling with relief and wonder.
Ernestina noticed his sudden stillness and leaned closer. "Are you okay?" she whispered, her voice so gentle it barely reached him.
Elric looked at her, then nodded. "Yeah," he said, his voice soft and true. "For the first time in a long while… I really am."
She smiled at him, and he saw the tiny spark of pride and warmth in her eyes.
As the evening grew a bit late, they moved to the couch again, sharing small stories and half-watching a movie that played in the background. His mother called Ernestina's mom once more to confirm she would drop her off later, reassuring her that Ernestina was happy and safe.
In that living room, with Ernestina by his side and his mother softly dozing off in her chair, Elric felt a deep, heavy comfort settle into his bones.It wasn't just a good day. It was a promise.
After a while, Elric's mom glanced at the clock and stood up, brushing crumbs from her hands.
"Oh! Ernestina, your mom is probably waiting. Let me take you home now," she said warmly.
Ernestina's eyes widened. "Oh! Yes, thank you so much," she said quickly, standing and smoothing her skirt.
Elric followed them to the door. As they stepped outside, the late afternoon sky had started to turn soft shades of pink and orange. Elric walked Ernestina to the car and opened the door for her.
She paused, turning to face him. There was a gentle warmth in her eyes, the same light that had guided him out of his darker days.
"Thank you for today," she said softly.
Elric nodded, his voice low but steady. "Thank you too. Get home safe."
For a moment, it felt like the world had gone still ; just the two of them standing in that quiet glow. Then she smiled, slipped into the car, and closed the door.
Elric watched as the car pulled out of the driveway, waving until it turned the corner and disappeared.
With a deep breath, he stepped back inside. The house felt quiet now, but not empty. There was a warmth that clung to the air, a reminder of the laughter and the new bond he had started to build.
He trudged upstairs, feeling suddenly heavy with relief and the strange, sweet tiredness that came after a good day.
In his room, he sank onto his bed and lay back, staring up at the ceiling for a while. His thoughts drifted to Ernestina's shy smiles, his mother's gentle teasing, and the strange peace that had settled into his chest.
A small smile tugged at his lips as he finally closed his eyes.
"Tomorrow… I'll keep trying," he whispered to himself.
Then, with the soft hum of the evening crickets outside his window, Elric drifted into sleep, his breathing slow and peaceful for the first time in a long while.😌