14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd17fd7XnZI
Nerya was hanging laundry in front of the house, the cool autumn wind tousling her hair. Just then, she heard a familiar voice from behind: "Nerya..."
Nerya froze. When she slowly turned around, her brother Zephyros was standing before her. The four long years that had passed had hardened his features, giving him the maturity of a seasoned warrior. Nerya didn't even notice the laundry slipping from her hands; with eyes filling with tears, she ran toward her brother and embraced him tightly. Zephyros pulled his sister into his arms, breathing in her scent. This embrace melted the silence and longing of the past four years in a single moment.
Zephyros's eyes eventually drifted toward a pair of eyes watching him curiously through the gap in the door. "This little boy... is he your son?" he asked, his voice softening. Nerya: "Ah, Kael..."
Kael walked toward Zephyros with tiny, hesitant steps. He looked at this stranger, who felt oddly familiar, with curious brown eyes. Zephyros knelt down to Kael's eye level and reached out to pat his head. The moment his hand touched Kael's hair, he felt the dark power within the boy, if only slightly. He flinched inwardly but did not show it.
"Hello, little one... So, you're my nephew. You look so much like your mother. I hope your temperament isn't like hers, ha ha!"
Nerya was surprised. She had been wary of her brother's reaction. "Zephyros... I thought you would be much angrier when you learned about the situation."
Zephyros sighed as he continued to stroke Kael's head: "I heard the truth of the matter from my father, Nerya. It seems you've been through very difficult times as well. Of course, my heart still doesn't fully accept my sister being with a demon, but there's nothing to be done... Nerya, do you plan on living in this village forever?"
Nerya answered, pulling Kael closer: "I will try to stay out of sight, at least until Kael reaches a certain age." "And what about your illness?" Zephyros asked with concern. "It's fine, I've managed to halt its progression for now. I'm quite alright."
Zephyros frowned: "Nerya, you are constantly spending mana to keep the curse from spreading. This toxin needs to be purged from your body as soon as possible." Nerya: "My father mentioned a plant called Astra-Lumina." "They say it can cleanse all curses. However, he said it only grows in the ruins of the Northern Kingdom. That's why it's currently impossible for me..."
Zephyros: "I was stationed in the Northern Kingdom for almost four years, and I never heard of or saw Astra-Lumina even once." Nerya interrupted: "Father said it is in Galthar."
Zephyros's face changed instantly. "Galthar? For a human to go there is the same as committing suicide, Nerya! There must be another way..." "It doesn't matter, Zephyros... You're exhausted from your journey anyway, come, let me get you some tea."
While they were reminiscing, on the other side, Abaddon had been sent to the border to join his brothers. The Demon Realm would receive support from powerful noble families in the event of a potential attack, and Abaddon was considered one of the most prominent members of these families.
Present Day:
Kael had gone stiff at his mother's words. The cold hatred he had nurtured in his heart for years had given way to regret. He couldn't hold back his sobs as tears streamed down his face. The anger he felt toward the father he thought had abandoned him and his mother had actually existed in the shadow of a great sacrifice. Far from wanting to harm them, his father had been a shield against his own race to protect them.
Nerya wiped Kael's tears with her hands: "As you can see, my son, your father is not someone who would send men to harm you. Someone else must be behind this."
Kael looked up at his mother: "Mother... Weren't you speaking with Father through communication magic? I never saw you talking."
Nerya smiled sadly: "A few years after these events took place, your father was called to the border in the Demon Realm. Even though the war is over, that place is in a state of constant conflict. The spell for communication magic needs to be renewed every two weeks; it isn't unlimited, my son. Since then, I have only been able to correspond with him through letters."
Nerya pulled a box full of letters from under the bed and showed them to Kael. Staring at the letters in shock, Kael suddenly stood up and gripped his mother's hands tightly. There was a determination in his eyes never seen before.
"Mother... I'm going to the Academy in two days. I will work harder than ever and grow even stronger. And I will go and get the Astra-Lumina for you! I will repay the sacrifices you both made for me."
Nerya hugged her son, deeply moved. With a faint smile, she said, "Having you by my side right now is the greatest gift for me, my son." For a moment, in Nerya's eyes, the image of a young, small Kael appeared in place of the strong youth standing before her.
Just then, Zephyros walked in. Noticing the emotional atmosphere, he smiled slightly: "You two have certainly made up for lost time! I hope Kael doesn't have any more questions in his head. I don't want to be showered with questions all along the way!"
Kael: "Ah, Mother, by the way, I've reached the 4th Circle since I left!"
Kael raised his hand. Suddenly, four bullets of fire formed around him and began to spin at high speed. The heat of the fire instantly changed the air in the room. Nerya was in shock; she was speechless. "The 4th Circle?" she murmured to herself. "How could the child I sent away as a 2nd Circle just a year ago develop this fast?"
Nerya turned to Zephyros and asked: "Zephyros, what kind of training did you give my son?" Zephyros shrugged with a smirk: "Don't look at me like that, Nerya. Kael is no ordinary child. I just gave him a little direction."
Nerya looked at her son with pride: "Congratulations, my son. But remember; each circle is harder than the last. Don't let your rapid progress make you complacent; do not fall into rehavet." "Don't worry, Mother, I will continue my training at full speed."
When they went outside, Kael's gaze drifted toward the forest for a moment. His mind went back to the past, to his memories with Ashaell. In fact, everything had started that day when Kael ventured deep into the forest. Zephyros had to call out to the daydreaming Kael a few times before getting a reaction.
"Kael! You've drifted off again. It's almost dark. Say goodbye to your mother, we're leaving."
After hugging her son one last time, Nerya turned to Zephyros: "Ah, Zephyros, by the way, I need to go to my father's side in a few days." "I understand. Send me word, and I'll have a secure carriage prepared for you."
The two boarded the carriage and left the village. As night fell, only the sound of the wheels could be heard on the desolate road. Kael was moving toward the Academy in the darkness, with his mother's stories and his father's letters in his mind. The journey was passing in silence, but Kael was much more determined than before... he had set himself a new goal: "Astra-Lumina."
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