Sparring Match

Amelia and Noah, their meditative states interrupted by the strange events that had unfolded, opened their eyes simultaneously. The serenity of the forest was replaced by a sense of bewilderment as they discovered Akihiro lying unconscious on the ground.

Amelia gasped, her eyes wide with concern. "Akihiro! What happened?" She hurried to his side, shaking him gently to rouse him.

Noah's face bore a mixture of confusion and anxiety as he knelt down beside Akihiro. "Is he all right? Did something go wrong during the meditation?"

Akihiro's eyelids fluttered, and he remained unconscious, his breathing steady but shallow. Amelia and Noah exchanged concerned glances, their minds racing with worry and questions.

Amelia, her voice trembling, said, "We need to get him home. It's not safe for him to be like this out here."

Noah nodded in agreement, his concern mirroring his sister's. "Let's carry him. We can't leave him here."

Together, they carefully lifted Akihiro, cradling him between them, and began to walk back to the village.

As they walked, the siblings couldn't help but wonder what had caused Akihiro to pass out. They knew that Akihiro had been going through a lot lately. But this sudden unconsciousness was something they hadn't anticipated.

Amelia turned to Noah, her brow furrowed with worry. "Do you think it has something to do with his recent headaches and eye issues? Maybe he's just exhausted and overwhelmed, Its all my fault."

Noah considered her words, his gaze focused on their unconscious brother. "It's possible, but it seems more severe than just exhaustion. We should ask him as soon as he wakes up. You shouldn't worry too much ."

As they approached their home, their mother, Sarah, rushed out to meet them. She gasped when she saw Akihiro's limp body in their arms. "Akihiro?, What happened to him? Is he okay?"

Amelia's voice quivered as she replied, "We don't know, Mom. He passed out during our meditation session, and we have no idea why. It's all my fault ."

***Sob***Sob***

Sarah's eyes filled with concern as she ushered them inside the house. "Please don't cry Amelia. Let's get him onto the couch and see if he wakes up soon. We can then assess the situation."

With utmost care, they laid Akihiro on the couch and waited anxiously for him to regain consciousness. Minutes passed like hours as they watched over him, their worry growing with each passing moment.

Finally, Akihiro stirred, groaning softly as he opened his eyes. He looked around, confusion evident in his expression. "What... happened?" he mumbled weakly.

Amelia leaned in close, relieved to see him awake. "Akihiro, Are you okay, you passed out during our meditation."

Akihiro's brows furrowed as he tried to recall the events leading up to his unconsciousness. After a moment of reflection, he shook his head. "I... I don't remember."

Noah interjected. "Akihiro, you've been under a tremendous amount of stress due to your headaches. It might be your body's way of telling you that you need to take a break, to take care of yourself."

Akihiro's face softened, and he nodded weakly. "Maybe you're right. I've been pushing myself too hard. I didn't realize it was taking such a toll on me."

Sarah placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Akihiro, it's okay to ask for help. We're here for you, and we'll support you every step of the way."

Akihiro nodded, "I understand, Mom."

With a smile, she added, "Now go get some rest; your dad will be home soon."

As Akihiro walked to his room, he turned back and pleaded, "Please don't tell father about this."

As he entered his room, the silence in the house became palpable. They were all deeply concerned about Akihiro.

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Next morning, Akihiro woke up feeling slightly better than the day before. He stretched his limbs, letting out a yawn, and made his way to the bathroom to freshen up.

As he splashed water on his face and brushed his teeth, his mind brimmed with thoughts about the events that had unfolded recently.

"I wonder how everyone is doing today", he thought, hoping for a moment of normalcy amidst the turmoil.

Akihiro called out to his mother, "Mom? Amelia? Noah?" Silence echoed through the house. He frowned, realizing that they were not around. Perhaps they had gone out for some reason, he pondered. However, that justification was short-lived as a loud boom resounded from the direction of the forest just outside his home.

Boom….

His heart raced as he instinctively knew something was amiss. Without thinking, he darted out of the house, following the sound towards the forest. As he approached, the aroma of smoke stung his nostrils, heightening his concern. Staying low, he crouched behind a bush, peering through the foliage to take in the scene before him.

There, amidst the smoky haze, he saw his father Richard, Amelia, and Noah engaged in an intense sparring session.

Richard their father, the master of the sword crackling with black lightning, fixated his intense gaze on his children, Amelia and Noah, who stood poised for the upcoming spar.

Richard lunged forward, his sword arcing through the air sliced towards Noah, who reacted swiftly, his lightning-fast reflexes serving him well. He sidestepped and countered with a lightning-charged arrow, aiming for Richard's side.

In a blur of motion, Richard deflected the arrow with a deft sweep of his sword, sparks flying as the arrow ricocheted off into the distance.

Richard smiled, "You damn brat… you've improved."

Noah, with a grim expression, retorted, "You haven't seen half of it."