Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 92 (Part 1)
It was three years ago when Margaret’s son, Matthew, suddenly collapsed. A trading company announced the discovery of a gold mine and recruited miners on a large scale. Tempted by the generous pay, Matthew applied to become a miner.
And just two months later, he was brought back home, unconscious.
Though he was breathing, he showed no response to any external stimuli. No matter how desperately Margaret called out to him, he remained unresponsive.
Many magicians examined him. Since there were many other victims besides him, even high-ranking magicians from the Magic Tower were dispatched. A grand mage even inspected Matthew’s condition.
But no one could figure out what was wrong. When the other victims gradually regained consciousness, the dispatched magicians soon left.
And thus, Matthew was left unattended.
The Richmond Marquisate didn’t provide a penny for the medical expenses. They only spouted nonsense, claiming he had a preexisting condition.
Then, a path to treatment opened up.
Margaret was worried that this new hope might only lead to greater disappointment. She had been let down so many times already. After being scammed five or six times, she was on the verge of giving up.
But the magician she met today was different.
He didn’t ask for money upfront.
He spoke confidently about being able to treat Matthew, but without any sense of pressure. It was as if curing him was the most natural thing in the world.
So, Margaret allowed herself a glimmer of hope. She might be disappointed again, but this time, she wanted to believe.
“Please, please.”
Margaret stared endlessly at the entrance leading to the basement from the first floor. Ever since she finished preparing lunch, she had been standing there like a statue.
Step, step!
The sound of footsteps echoed. The basement door opened, and the magician, who was also the owner of this house, appeared.
“Were you waiting?”
“Oh, yes. How is my son?”
“He’s here.”
Matthew floated into the air and came forward, still with his eyes closed.
Disappointment washed over Margaret, and she collapsed to the floor.
“Oh! It failed… didn’t it?”
“Not at all. He’ll wake up within 30 minutes at the latest.”
Rodin stretched lightly and glanced around. He slowly walked towards the direction where a delicious smell was coming from.
Matthew, still floating in the air, followed behind Rodin.
Margaret hurriedly followed behind Rodin.
“Is it true? Will my son really wake up?”
“Yes. He’ll wake up soon. By the way, how long has he been unconscious?”
“Three years. It’s been three years. Sniff.”
“Hmm, it’s been a long time. He should start with porridge first, and he can have solid foods after a month. It will take some time for his strength to fully return.”
They soon reached the prepared parlor where lunch was ready. Bianca was waiting with utensils in her hands.
“Big Brother Rodin! Hurry up!”
“Why didn’t you start eating first?”
“I couldn’t. Grandma Margaret said I had to wait for you, Big Brother Rodin.”
“Really? Thank you.”
Rodin sat down and naturally picked up his spoon.
Matthew, still unconscious, was seated in one of the chairs. Margaret quickly approached and examined Matthew’s body.
She placed her hand under Matthew’s nose and leaned her ear against his chest.
It was certainly different from before.
His breathing was no longer labored or forced. It was weak but gentle.
Margaret also touched Matthew’s skin. It no longer felt feverish.
His body temperature had come down, and his breathing was steady. He seemed no different from any ordinary person.
“Oh!”
“Ugh…”
At that moment, Matthew furrowed his brow. Struggling, he opened his eyes and looked around.
His neck was weak, making his head movements stiff. He seemed short of breath and couldn’t speak well. But he forced himself to produce a sound.
“Mo… ther.”
“Matthew, my son. Can you recognize me?”
“Mo… mother. Crying?”
“No, I’m not crying. I won’t cry anymore. I promise. My son.”
It was a tearful reunion after three long years.
Bianca put down her spoon, tears streaming down her face.
On the other hand, Rodin focused quietly on his meal without a change in his expression.
After everyone finished eating, Rodin put down his spoon. Then he called out to Margaret in a low voice.
“Margaret.”
“Yes, magician.”
“How about 40 gold per month, including your son’s share? Once your son recovers a bit more, we’ll adjust the pay then.”
He proposed a monthly salary of 25 gold for Margaret and 15 gold for Matthew. He planned to increase it up to 50 gold depending on their work later.
“Are you sure about this? My son is a kind and diligent boy, but he probably won’t be much help right now.”
“It’s no problem. This place is mostly for children. Just having an adult around is a big help.”
It wasn’t just a formality. Children learn a lot simply by interacting with adults in their daily lives.
Having an adult presence was especially important for Bianca, who was at an age to learn about the world.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“And please, you don’t have to call me ‘magician.’ Just use another title. My name is Rodin. You can call me ‘Mr. Rodin,’ or if that’s uncomfortable, ‘boss’ is fine too.”
“Understood, boss. I’ll call you that.”
“Alright. Whatever you prefer. Ah, and since the annex is vacant, move in there. It’ll make it easier for you to prepare meals.”
“Understood.”
Margaret bowed her head politely and helped Matthew out of the parlor.
She thought it would be more comfortable to feed him in a room away from prying eyes.
After Margaret and Matthew left, Bianca resumed eating. Even though the food had grown cold, she still enjoyed it.
Though the major issue was resolved, there was still much to do.
The first thing was to visit the market with Margaret to get new cooking utensils. Pots, pans, cutlery, bowls, and more—so many things were missing that they had to load them onto a cart.
In the evening, Rodin introduced Margaret and Matthew to Larry. Even if it was just for dinner, they were going to see each other often, so a proper introduction was needed.
Explaining the events of the past few years to Matthew was also important.
Matthew had no memory of the past three years. He collapsed in the mine and woke up in a stranger’s home. It must have been bewildering.
Margaret briefly explained what had happened.
She told him about the woman he had promised to marry, who had left, and how he had been unconscious for three years. She also shared the story of her own accident at the diner.
There was a lot to tell.
After all the stories, the next morning came.
Peace returned to the house.
Matthew adapted surprisingly quickly and immediately began exercising. He knew that to get his body back to normal, he had to move around.
Margaret spent a lot of time with her son after preparing meals. She helped him with his exercises and cheered him on.