Chapter 2 — The Starting Point (5)

Altesia's POV:

I opened my eyes slightly, trying not to make it too obvious that I was awake. I saw my brother standing by the window, his eyes fixated on something outside. He seemed lost in thought, lost in his own world, as if something was troubling him.

After he closed the curtains, my brother turned to me and carefully sat on the edge of the bed. I kept my eyes shut, feigning sleep, but I could sense his presence next to me. After a few moments, he lay down next to me, his breathing even and steady.

The darkness of the room made it difficult to see, but I could sense his tension, as if he had something weighing heavily on his mind.

"Brother? What's wrong?" With a soft and groggy voice, I asked my brother what was wrong, pretending to rub my eyes to make it seem like I had just woken up. I noticed that he seemed to be bothered by something earlier when he was standing by the window, and I couldn't help but worry.

He turned to me, his expression softening as he looked at me. "Nothing, Tessia. Just thinking about some things," he replied with a gentle smile, trying to reassure me. However, I knew my brother too well, and I could tell that something was still troubling him.

I sat up and looked at him with concern. "You can talk to me, brother. I'm here for you," I said, hoping that he would confide in me. I wanted to help him in any way I could, just as he had always been there for me.

However, it seemed that he wouldn't tell me what was bothering him and instead, lightly tapped my head with his hand.

"Ow!" I exclaimed.

"Look at you, trying to act all grown up. I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me. Let's just go to sleep," he said reassuringly.

I tilted my head in confusion, but if he was insisting he was fine, I told myself there was no reason to doubt him.

As I nestled beside my brother, I felt a sense of comfort and security wash over me. I had always been close to him, and his presence made me feel safe, like nothing in the world could harm me. I reached over and gently took hold of his arm, placing it around me so that it looked like he was holding me in his sleep.

As I snuggled closer to him, I couldn't help but smile at the thought of how silly we must have looked. But in that moment, it didn't matter. All that mattered was the warmth of his embrace and the sound of his steady breathing.

Gradually, I felt my mind and body relax, and I drifted off to sleep. The rain continued to fall outside, creating a soft lullaby that lulled me into a peaceful slumber. And in that moment, all my worries and fears faded away, replaced by the love and protection of my brother.

***

Elisa's POV:

"There we go. All better!" I said, with a smile of relief, after healing the last injured villager who fought the monsters out of the village. The villagers had all gathered around, watching as I worked my healing magic to mend their wounds and ease their pain. Mr. Mihann, one of the villagers, approached me and thanked me for my help.

"Thank you, Mrs. Asura. Your healing ability is as great as ever," he said, looking at the place where his bruises should have been.

I nodded in response, feeling a sense of satisfaction in knowing that I could make a difference in people's lives. But then, Mr. Mihann brought up an important question.

"Anyways, why are there monsters in our village in the first place? I'm sure we've got that area under control, but..."

My husband, who had been sharpening his sword nearby, spoke up. "They probably came from the nearby mountains and breached the fence. We'll have to investigate that area as well."

I nodded in agreement, knowing that it was important to determine how the monsters had managed to get through the village's defenses. But then my husband added, "Don't you think the monsters are getting more aggressive recently?"

"I thought so too," I said, my concern growing. "Those that have reached our village have been increasing. I think we need to report this to the capital. They need to know what's happening."

The villagers murmured in agreement, and my husband nodded. "I'll send a message right away," he said, taking out a piece of parchment and a quill.

As he began to write, I couldn't help but wonder what was causing the monsters to become more aggressive. Something was definitely not right, and I knew that we had to get to the bottom of it before it was too late.

***

"Good work," I said as my husband came back after delivering the letter, acknowledging his dedication to his duty.

"You too," he replied, nodding his head in appreciation for the healing work I had done.

"Leonelle, why don't you go home, just for today?" I asked, concerned about his well-being. He hadn't come home for an entire week, and I could see the fatigue on his face.

"I wish I could, but I have to protect this village. I am the knight in charge, so I have to keep this village safe. Rest assured, Elisa. When this whole situation is over, I will go home as soon as I can," he explained, determined to fulfill his duty.

"Don't you miss your children?" I asked, knowing how much he loved our family.

"Of course, I do. And I'm worried about Leon, too. But I just couldn't go out and take a break while the whole village is in danger," he replied, emphasizing the importance of his role in protecting the people.

I understood his dedication and silently respected his decision. "Okay, I understand. Just be safe, okay?" I said, trying to hold back my emotions.

"Yes, I'll be," he smiled, trying to reassure me.

As he got ready for his night patrol, I couldn't help but worry about him. But I knew he was doing what he loved, and he was good at it. I just had to trust that he would come back safely.

After he left, I went back to our house, tired from the long day of healing the injured and helping the villagers.

As I opened the door to our house, I was relieved to finally be able to rest after a long day of healing and helping the villagers. The setting sun cast a warm orange glow over the surroundings, and I could feel the weariness setting in as I made my way upstairs to my room.

As I approached Leon's room, I hesitated for a moment before knocking. It had become a habit for me to do so, as Leon had asked me to respect his privacy and knock before entering his room. When I received no response, I quietly opened the door and peeked inside.

My heart filled with warmth at the sight before me: Tessia had fallen asleep in Leon's bed, and the two of them were snuggled together, looking peaceful and content.

"Hehe!" I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

As I took in the scene, I noticed that the blanket had slipped down, leaving them both partially exposed. I immediately went over and pulled the blanket up, tucking them in to keep them warm and comfortable throughout the night.

I couldn't resist showing my affection for them, even though I knew Leon would disapprove. So I leaned in and kissed them both on the forehead, silently conveying my love and tenderness. I knew I could get away with it while they were asleep, and it made my heart feel lighter to express my feelings so freely.

"Sleep well, my darlings," I whispered softly before tiptoeing out of the room and closing the door gently behind me. The house was finally quiet, and I was grateful for the peace that had finally settled in.

***

Leon's POV:

It had been three long days since I had that dream, and the uneasiness within me refused to dissipate. I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was some truth to what that girl had told me, even though I tried to convince myself otherwise. I knew that constantly dwelling on the dream wouldn't do me any good, but as each day passed by, my nervousness and anxiety seemed to be creeping up on me.

That strange girl didn't give me any specifics about when this catastrophe would happen, and that's what made it even more daunting. It could strike at any moment, and as the days passed, I felt like I was getting closer and closer to the edge. The uncertainty of what was going to happen was eating me up inside, and I didn't know how much longer I could bear it. I couldn't help but wonder if there was something that I could do to prevent it or at least prepare myself for it.

"No, that was only a dream. It has to have been just a dream. I don't need to think about it anymore," I said aloud, hoping that by speaking these words, my mind would listen and stop dwelling on the dream.

I gazed out of the window, watching as the raindrops fell from the sky, creating a rhythmic pitter-patter against the glass. The world outside was grey and dull, the clouds casting a gloomy veil over everything. The dreary weather seemed to reflect my own inner turmoil, and it was as if the rain was a physical manifestation of my own emotions.

The incessant rain made the entire atmosphere seem heavy and oppressive, and it didn't do much to improve my mood.

I had never really enjoyed the rain. The gray clouds it brought along always seemed to cast a shadow over everything, leaving my room feeling darker than usual. But at the same time, I couldn't exactly say I hated it either.

While I was looking outside, the dream I had been trying to forget came back to my mind. I found it ironic that I was trying to push it away but now it was all I could think about. But there was one particular sentence that the girl said that stuck with me, and it was difficult to ignore or forget.

'Did you think you could live like that forever? Live as a failure your whole life?'