Valen.
It meant 'healthy'. When I knew what that name meant, I was already sick, so it felt like a cruel irony to me. Perhaps, my grandfather wanted me to grow up healthy, unlike my grandma who I resembled the most.
After I found myself in Valmeier's body, I started to introduce myself simply as 'Val', so every time people called me, I would be able to feel like they were actually calling me, and not Valmeier. Just a little silly trick of the mind.
I had hoped, I had wished, but I had never ever thought that someone would utter that name as they called me.
But why was it, that the name came out of Natha's mouth?
"What--"
I stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the demon walking toward me. I was too stunned to even make a move, and before long, he stood in front of me.
With that moonlight gaze, he said it again. "Valen."