He looked to his right and saw Aunt Marcy and Sigurd waiting for him. As if afraid his mother would stop him from speaking again, Sigurd hurriedly took two steps forward to Ed's side.
He handed him a sheathed sailor's knife.
"Ed, take it. This is my favorite knife. You must use it well. I hope your voyage is as smooth as a sea breeze."
Ed took the knife, buckled it directly onto his belt, and gave a satisfied nod before pulling Sigurd into a bear hug. Although Sigurd was often unreliable, he cared for Ed like a brother, and Ed would have regretted not giving him a proper goodbye.
"Don't worry, I'm far stronger than you. The next time you see me, I'll be a super-rich man," Ed said with a confident smile after releasing him, making Sigurd chuckle.
"Then I'll have to give you a lot of headaches to dig some gold coins out of you... Ouch, Mom, not again!" While Sigurd tried to hide his true feelings behind a joking smile, Aunt Marcy pulled him back by the head and hugged Ed once more.
"My child, I may not be your biological mother, but I have always considered you my son. As a mother, I hope you stay safe and sound. Sometimes, some things aren't worth risking your life for."
"You must learn to make the right choices. Your mother protected you to the very end. I hope you will always be healthy and safe. Remember to come back often. When you return, I want to see you just as healthy and in one piece as you are now. Otherwise, don't blame me for being strict and breaking a few bones to cure you of this treasure-hunting obsession."
As she spoke, Aunt Marcy, who had always presented a strong, reliable front, seeming unshakable, couldn't hold back her tears. Both Sigurd and Ed were utterly shocked; it was the first time either had seen her cry.
It took her a full minute to calm down. Then, wiping her tears, she released Ed from her bear-like embrace, patted his shoulder, and glanced at Sigurd, who nodded helplessly and walked away. She then turned back to Ed.
"Go, like a petrel, spread your wings and fly into the storm! Don't worry about Raila; I'll take care of her for you. Although she's only seven years younger than me, she sometimes strikes me as unreliable. I still don't understand what you see in that older woman," Aunt Marcy said with a faint smile, shaking her head, giving Ed a mini heart attack.
"You know about it?" He asked in a hushed tone so Sigurd wouldn't hear, his voice shocked.
"Of course, I know. There are only twenty meters between our houses. Anyone who's entered your courtyard at night has heard the two of you, especially Raila's screams. I wonder what you do to make her so loud," As Aunt Marcy laid her cards on the table, Ed felt so embarrassed he wanted to dig a hole and hide.
He had told Raila repeatedly not to be so loud, but the more he told her, the more excited she became, screaming even louder, especially late at night when she thought everyone was asleep.
"I..."
"You don't have to explain. It's your life. Raila may be unreliable and ten years older than you, but she's a good woman. Compared to someone from outside, I'd rather my children find a girl from home Island, at least then I can keep an eye on my daughter-in-law."
"By the way, I've already spoken with Raila about this. I've verified she truly loves you. I'm proud of your taste in women, but what about you? Do you love her as much as she loves you?" Aunt Marcy asked with a serious expression, making Ed feel as if he were facing his mother-in-law and asking for her daughter's hand.
"Yes, I do. You might not believe it, but I was captivated by her the day I saw her. It's only recently I gathered the courage to talk to her. After a few coincidences, we finally got together. She's exactly the type of woman I've always dreamed of," Ed replied with equal seriousness, holding Aunt Marcy's hands to convince her of his sincerity.
"That's good. Then you can rest assured about her. I'll look after her while you're away. But as a word of advice from a woman: you'd better return to her from time to time."
"If your love fades with distance, I wouldn't be surprised if someone else steals her away. A woman has needs that can't be fulfilled by memories alone," After saying this, she ruffled Ed's hair, gave him a sweet kiss on the forehead, and walked back to Sigurd.
Ed simply waved silently, not knowing what else to say, and started down the path. A moment later, Sigurd's voice called out from behind, making him pause.
"Ed, remember to tell me about your treasure hunts when you return! Maybe you can even bring back some treasures to share with your good brother!"
"What are you saying, you little brat? Who's the elder here? If Ed said it, that would be one thing, but have you no shame in asking your younger brother to bring you treasures? Is this what I taught you?"
"Ow, stop hitting me, Mom! I was only joking!"
Turning back, Ed saw Sigurd being scolded and lightly beaten at the gate of Aunt Marcy's courtyard. He couldn't help but smile, the sadness of leaving familiar people easing slightly.
He turned and continued walking. On either side, golden wheat fields swayed gently in the refreshing afternoon breeze. Soon, Ed arrived at Raila's house. Now that Aunt Marcy knew about their relationship, he felt no need to sneak in like a thief.
All the girls were busy playing in the field behind the house, without TVs or phones, they could hardly stay indoors, which worked in Ed's favor.
Raila was in the kitchen, packing lunch. Since her husband's death, she'd been managing the small farm with her daughters. The workload wasn't heavy, which explained her energy at night, if she were exhausted from the day, she couldn't have performed so passionately in bed.
Saddened by the thought of leaving her for who knew how long, Ed wasn't in the mood for pranks or initiating their usual intimacies. He quietly walked up behind her, wrapped his arms around her, and buried his face in her back.
"Huh? What's wrong, dear? You're so quiet today, this isn't like you," After waiting a full minute and finding Ed still holding her silently, Raila asked with a hint of concern.
"Nothing. I just wanted to hold you... The time has come." At his last words, Raila's body trembled; she understood what he meant.
"When are you leaving?" She asked after a moment of silence, bracing her hands on the table for support.
"At dusk. It's a reliable treasure-hunting group recommended by Priest Patrick, so at least I won't be betrayed by my own teammates. You don't have to worry," Ed spoke calmly, though he could feel her tension beneath her composed voice.
"...That's good. But still, watch your back. You can't expect strangers to risk their lives for you. Please come home safely, after all, soon there will be a little guy waiting to see his father," Raila removed Ed's hands from her stomach, turned out of his embrace, and faced him. With a gentle palm on his cheek and a smile that belied her sadness, she spoke seriously, her expression meant to encourage him and hide her own sorrow, but it wasn't until Ed let down his guard that she dropped the bomb.