New resolve

Kael is lying unconscious on his bed. The right side of his face and his chest are completely bandaged.

The priest used life mana to heal Kael's injuries back from the brink of death. He managed to stabilize Kael, set his bones, and seal all of Kael's internal injuries.

At the priest's level, however, life mana is not a cure-all and can only act like stitches. Kael's injuries would have to heal over time. The priest estimated a one-month recovery time.

As for Emi, she only sustained minor head trauma and had mana deficiency from mana overuse. She was led to sleep in her room.

Melinda is sitting at Kael's bedside holding his right hand with both of hers. She strokes the back of his hand with her thumb more to comfort herself than him.

The center of Melinda's brow is raised while her eyes are wet. Thoughts of remorse fill her head.

She regrets how weak she is. She might have reached him sooner that day but past chains hinder her desire.

She regrets leaving behind a problem like those four adventurers. She wishes she had killed them all but she knows she is not cold-blooded.

She regrets not being by his side that day, not taking him to the chapel personally as a mother should have.

She regrets wanting him to stay dependent on her a little longer. She should have wanted him to be strong. Perhaps if he had awakened that day, he would not end up in this state. It is silly to believe that her desire could have affected Kael's outcome, yet, the guilt is still there.

All her regrets make her feel inadequate. She feels like an inadequate parent pretending to be a good mother. How strong was her bond with Kael? Was she only acting like a mother and not actually one? Perhaps fate knew she would fail and decided to leave her barren.

One emotion towered over all these other feelings, fear. She had nothing left when she came to this town. When she found Kael, it felt like she finally had something once again. Kael is the center of her life, and she almost lost him yesterday.

Melinda decided that she would give up anything so long as Kael could live a happy and healthy life. If it is a life where he is strong and happy away from her, she would accept that. If he no longer wants her as his mother, she would accept that too. Right now all she wants is for him to open his eyes.

'I won't be selfish again.'

Her resolution made, she falls asleep next to him.

It is several hours when she wakes up. She feels a warm hand patting her head. She looks up to see Kael's gentle eye fixated on her and his concerned expression as he gently strokes her head.

"Don't be sad Mama. I'm still here," Kael gently whispers out.

Tears start to well up in Melinda's eyes as she takes Kael's hand and tightly holds it against her cheek to rub it.

"Hey Mama, I'm a little hungry. Do you think you could get me something to eat?"

Melinda stands up in a hurry wiping away the start of some tears while nodding her head.

"Yes, yes, of course, baby. Anything for you. Mama will get you some food."

Melinda rushes off out of the room to hurriedly prepare some food.

While Kael is feeling a little hungry, the truth is he wants to be alone for a little bit. He sits up in his bed, the skin under his bandages itchy. He doesn't feel any pain, something he finds strange. He attributes it to whatever his mother did for him while he was unconscious.

He looks down at his hands, how frail they are. His face scrunches up into a frown. Frustration. He fills with frustration at how weak his body is, how he failed to protect Emi.

As time goes on, each time he doesn't awaken is another year behind his peers. Then there are the people who were born before him, like the four adventurers in the alley. They were strong enough to do what they wanted and he couldn't stop them. If someone stronger than his mother came along, what could he actually do?

He doesn't know how talented he is, however, he cannot afford to wait. It was time for him to grow up. He would not spend time being a child and would invest it all to grow stronger. He would learn everything he could before he awakens. Most importantly, he would do something about his frail body.

'I won't be helpless again.'

Next door Emi lay on her bed staring at the ceiling. Her mind replays the scene from yesterday. When she remembers Kael coming to her rescue her heart speeds up before it chills when she recalls his collapsed body. She raises her dainty hand and looks at it before clenching it, a few sparks crackle around her hand.

Before yesterday, she would not have cared about getting stronger. So many people in the world don't care so why should she be any different. Her dream life was a peaceful one with Kael. Yet when danger sought them out yesterday, she felt like such a life was impossible without strength.

'I won't need Kael to protect me again.'

Emi thinks about Kael sleeping next door and how hungry he'll be when he wakes up. She gets up and goes down to the kitchen to see Melinda there cooking.

"Oh Emi, you're up? How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling better Auntie Melinda. Are you cooking for Kael?"

"Yes, I'm making some soup for him since he woke up not long ago."

Emi looks a little relieved and asks, "Can I help?"

"Of course, come over here."

As the two prepare ingredients for the soup, Emi looks over at Melinda and asks, "Auntie, can you make me stronger?"

Melinda has a little look of surprise in her eyes and sees Emi's determined ones. "I can only help you with some training methods. Understanding your affinity is all up to you. You will have to go through some pain. Are you sure?"

Emi nods without breaking her gaze.

Melinda has an idea of what drives Emi before nodding approvingly. "If it turns out you have some talent I can get you into the academy in the capital."

It is Emi's turn to be surprised. After all, the academy was where the most talented in the nation were groomed. For Melinda to be able to get her in means she must have some status.

"Let's talk about it after we finish." The two busy themselves and make some stew which they take to Kael upstairs.

Both of them have a shock and nearly drop the tray of food when they enter the room. Kael is sitting on the side of the bed stretching his body with his chest bare. He had taken off all of his bandages.

Kael forces them to shove their concerns down when he walks over to them with a sunny grin on his face. "Smells good, let's eat!"