16 "Surfacing Memories"

Back in Snowdew...

"Morning Doctor, how are Azzy's parents doing? It's been two months, and I am worried. Should I not just ask for our alchemists to make one?" Kayla had been worried about Azrael's parents every day for the past month.

Every chance she got, she had gone to Azrael's house to check on his parents and prayed to the gods that they would be safe. Every time the situation never got better but only worse as the position spread.

Azrael's parents were put under a spell to stop the movement of the poison but left their consciousness awake. They had heard Kayla's prayers every time but could not even give a single thank you.

Inside the minds of Jack and Alana, all they could think about were what Azrael had gone through. All they had in their minds were how in pain and offbeat Azraels life has been in the past few months and how it must have been their fault.

"*Azrael, please come home safe. I know what I said before, but there were times when you don't need to burden the responsibility alone when there are others you can trust who want to help you.*" Jack thought to himself; although not being able to move, a tear still formed and fell down his face.

He remembered the times when Azrael used always to smile and be childish and do things that regular kids should do. He remembers when he first picked up his child and through his was blind because of his grey-like eyes. "*Ah, hahaha. I remember when I thought our child could not see. I was freaking out a bit, but the doctor said that it's just pigmentation. Now that I think about it, I guess he looks just like my grandfather, your great grandfather. I wish I could have brought Azzy to meet his other family members. It would have been nice to have more family around the home.*" jack smiled internally. Unable to move, all the emotions built up, and all expressions were made in his subconsciousness.

More flashbacks surfaced; jack saw how when Azrael said his first words and the words being "papa," and with that, his smile that reached from ear to ear. When Azrael first started to walk and run. How at every moment his son achieved something he had been by his side. He knew deep in his heart that no matter what, he was going to survive and see his son achieve greatness as a warrior and as a person in the future. He could not bear the feelings of sadness, happiness, and a mixture of other emotions to hold them in and ended up just overlooking him.

On the other hand, Alana thought how careless she had been; she knew her and Jack's backgrounds were not normal and that they could never hide forever and live normals. "*I got so used to living peacefully I forgot about how troublesome the world can be!*" She cried subconsciously, sniffling, sobbing. "*I thought that we finally got away from that life, but why is it back? Just why can't we live a peaceful life in this cursed world? Please, my children, I am really sorry to put you all through this.*" just like jack, a tear fell down her cheek, but no other movement had been shown.

Alana was having other flashbacks of how Azrael enjoyed her food, how he always called out to his mother for help. Azrael, who seemed to of grown, used always to call on his mother to help, and she would be there to help him. But, she has felt as if she failed her son, not being able to protect him, not being able to keep him safe, not being able to help when he needs it. Alana, a mother, a wife, hated how she let her family down. The strength she had built up was useless, as she lied down poisoned.

Lucy, who had no idea what had happened, ended up staying with Kayla in the Lucidis residence. Once arriving there, lucy had not had friends to play with, but Lucy never seemed to mind in the end. She started to play with the maids and started school as well. After a while, that became her life, Waking up to have breakfast with nobles, getting ready for the school day, school, lunch breaks, school, and then getting to play with Magnus and the maids and eventually meeting other royalties kids and learning to interact with them.

From time to time, Lucy would ask about her mom and dad. But each time, they lied bitterly say "Your mom and dad are away on a mission."

"I can't do this anymore; I can't keep lying to her." Kayla started to cry to herself. The tear fell down; her back towards the wall began to slide down the wall. "Why is everything going wrong for Azrael? Who did this? Who targeted them?" a feeling in her chest started to swirl around, building up frustration that made her want to shout. Right before she was about to shout, she heard Lucy coming around the corner; she wiped her tears and stood up smiling.

"Kayla!! Big sis!!" Kayla looked at Lucy, who had called out to her. Lucy's face was glowing with cuteness and happiness. Negligent of what is happening around her. Kayla felt even worse, "*Please god, I never want to see Lucy's glowing face ever dim.*," Kayla thought to herself as she pulled a small smile and picked up lucy.

After that, more time passed, and things seemed to be calm; only those who awaited for Azrael had been tense because if he could not make it back in time, he would lose his parents, which would be beyond devastating for Both Azrael and Lucy.

Somewhere in the lucidis residence was Kayla's mother who thought to herself while now that I think about it, inking tea "*The world we live in is truly ruthless, not giving a care whether you are a man or women, child or Adult. In the end, you still face suffering, and no one dares to take pity on you because why should they? Do they go through pain as well? Sometimes worse than what you experience. Do we ever get away from this suffering? No, we don't; instead, we either find a place to hide and never come out, or we die. But there is still one option left, and that is to survive and grow from the pain. So will Azrael grow? Or will he die/retreat?*" As of that, she drank her last sip of tea and put the cup down and sighed.

The wind blew by; the leaves took up by them and leaving the residence to wander outside soon produced to set the mood for the future, and calming winds gave rest to the restless.