To Remove the Abyss

[AH, THE pain has subsided.]

That was Julian's first thought when he finally regained consciousness.

He couldn't count how many times he had passed out from pain while Saint Forrester was putting his new heart in his chest.

"Julian, baby, how are you feeling?"

[Mother…?]

Julian was pleasantly surprised.

Of course, he vaguely remembered his mother telling Winter and their father to go ahead. But since he was in too much pain back then, he thought he was just having a nice dream.

But he wasn't dreaming.

"Mother," Julian said, smiling weakly at his mother. "You stayed for me?"

"Of course, baby," his mother said while wiping the beads of sweat on his forehead. "Your father and brother would have stayed as well if they didn't have an arrogant god to kill."

Julian's smile grew wider.

[It's warm… my family's love for me is warm…]

"How are you feeling, Julian?" his mother asked worriedly. "Does it still hurt?"