New family(1)

Ethan Lowell had a strange dream. It was like memories of life belonging to another person. But Ethan can't remember any detail except the moment of that person's death. The feeling of pain was very realistic, as with each beat of the heart, blood and, with it, life slowly left the body. How limbs become colder and colder, and consciousness slowly drifts to eternal darkness.

It was awful and scary, but the person in the dream wasn't scared. He was calm, and maybe even slightly glad.

And for Ethan, it was scarier.

***

From intense fear, Ethan woke up. His body was drenched with cold sweat, his shirt uncomfortably stuck to the body, and his heart was so loud and fast like it would jump out of his chest.

"A dream..."

His voice was weak.

"Fuuh... It was just a dream."

Ethan was relieved, and all the built-up tension left his body.

"Ahh..."

His mind was too preoccupied to notice until now. His head hurts, and his body feels lethargic. And the environment feels familiar, but Ethan's memories are fuzzy.

"Where am I?"

He was in room with one big window on his left side. The curtains were opened, and warm morning sunlight was pouring in. Ethan was in a half-laying position on a warm, cozy bed. The bed was near the window, but Ethan could only see the sky and the big tree's crowns in the distance, which were touched with little fresh green leaves. Near the bed was a nightstand with a magic table lamp and a bell on it.

Besides the bed and nightstand in the room, there was also a wardrobe, work desk, and chair near the desk. And there were two doors. One door was to Ethan's right side, and the other was to the right side of this door.

All the furniture was white, and the doors were brown. All were made from wood of good quality.

As he tried to recall when the room's door on the right opened with a creek. Ethan looked at the door.

There stood a girl. Her hair color was wheat, and her eyes were brown. She was wearing a maid's dress with a mop in her hand. Her expression was utter disbelief, and when Ethan tried to ask about where he was, the girl ran away.

Thud... It sounded to Ethan like someone had crashed into something.

"....Aaahh"

It was a young girl's cry of pain. Ethan was bewildered.

After some time, he heard someone's hurried steps. It became louder and louder until the room door opened and a young woman and maidservant, who had run away earlier, came in.

The young woman was in her mid-twenties and dressed in a somewhat casual but stylish dress, fitting for a noblewoman. Her hair was black and braided. And her ruby eyes were moist when she looked at Ethan.

"You are finally awake, Ethan."

Her voice slightly trembled and was quiet, like a whisper.

"Aunt Brenda!"

"Yes, it's me."

Brenda answered quietly, sat down on the edge of the bed, and lightly embraced Ethan. It was warm and reassuring, so Ethan's mind was put at ease, and one memory resurfaced in his mind.

***

It was the memory of one evening. Ethan was in his home, and his family was gathered in front of the fireplace. His father was reading a newspaper from the capital, and his mother was teaching Ethan. Although Ethan wasn't very eager to study, nonetheless, it was his favorite time of the day. In the daytime, his father was busy with work and his mother with her research.

Evenings at this time of year were usually cold, it was the beginning of March after all. But Ethan didn't feel that way, the reason for that was the burning wood in the fireplace and the harmonious atmosphere in his family.

But this harmonious atmosphere was broken.

It was due to loud booming and something crashing. Shortly after, one of the mansion guards rushed in and said that the mansion was under attack by an unknown enemy. His father took his sword from the wall and rushed out with the guard.

Afterward, there were screams, sounds of clashing weapons, magic rifles shooting, and spells crushing. It was frightening, but Ethan wasn't afraid. Because his father was a very powerful knight. And Ethan was with his mother.

With time, the sound of fighting started to become quieter, when suddenly a strange shadow appeared inside the room. It was tall and pitch black and had a pair of long arms with three razor-like fingers on each palm. Ethan's mother tried to cast a spell, but shadow was faster. It opened his ugly, full of needle-like teeth mouth and let out a silent scream.

At that moment, Ethan lost consciousness.

***

In fright, Ethan pulled away from Brenda's embrace. His eyes were wide open, and his face was bleached white. Brenda was baffled by such an intense reaction. But Ethan didn't notice her reaction, he was too shocked.

"Someone attacked our mansion..."

Ethan said weakly.

"What?"

"Someone attacked our mansion!"

Ethan repeated it louder. And seeing his aunt near him, something clicked in his mind.

"Right! We must save them!"

"Ethan?"

Brenda was shocked. Moments ago, Ethan was calm, but now he behaves as if he's gone crazy.

"Ethan, you need to calm down."

"Noo! ... My home is in danger! We must hurry!"

Brenda closed her eyes, and her lips slightly trembled. But it was only for a moment. When she opened them, they were calm and clear, as if she had made up her mind.

"We can't do that, Ethan."

"Why?!"

"Because it was a month ago. You were unconscious for the whole month."

"Wha..."

Ethan's expression was as if he had lost his soul. He can't comprehend what she said. A month ago? He was unconscious for a whole month. It was unbelievable.

Seeing Ethan's reaction, Brenda embraced him tightly. Her eyes were moist.

"You appeared inside this mansion a month ago, deep at night, unconscious. There was a letter with you, written by your mother. It said to take care of you. We immediately felt that something was wrong, and my husband rushed to your house with guards."

Her voice trembled, and it was difficult for her to recall the events of that day. Nonetheless, Brenda continued her story.

"When they reached your home, it was already too late. The mansion was razed down, and there weren't any intruders, only traces of a fierce fight and bodies of guards and servants."

She took a short pause.

"At least we didn't find the bodies of your parents. And if we consider that letter, they must be alive but can't show themselves."

It sounded more like Brenda was trying to convince herself than Ethan.

"They... alive?"

"Yes! They must be!"

Brenda said reassuringly. It was enough for Ethan.

Feeling the warmth of her embrace, his eyes moistened, and he started to sob quietly, which turned into an intense wailing later. Brenda didn't say a word. She just gently stroked his hair.

***

And after half an hour, Ethan calmed down.

"Calmed down?"

"Um...Yes."

And as if in agreement, his belly grumbled. Ethan's face color instantly became a little redder. Seeing his cute reaction, Brenda smiled and turned her head to the maidservant.

"Lena, can you bring something to eat?"

Ethan forgot that there was another person. And after seeing that Lena's eyes were red and puffy, as if she had cried recently, and realizing that someone else, other than his aunt, saw him crying, Ethan's face blushed even more. And Lena, after hearing her master's request, responded cheerfully.

"Yes! I'll do it!"

And ran out of the room, almost tripping on the way tangled in the hem of her dress.

"This girl is too eager..."

Brenda sighed softly.

"While we are waiting, can you tell what happened on that day a month ago?"

Ethan nodded his head.

"Uh, I don't remember clearly."

"It's fine. Try to relate what you remember."

"It was evening, and we were sitting in front of the fireplace. Father was reading a newspaper, and mother was teaching me."

"Alright, what happened after that?"

"There was a loud boom, and one of the guards ran in. He said that someone attacked our mansion. My dad went out to help guards, and I was with my mom, and there was..."

Ethan's body trembled.

"Don't be scared. I am with you."

"Um... There was a really scary shadow."

"A scary shadow?"

"Yes, it rose from the floor... And it had long, sharp fingers... It opened its mouth, and I don't remember what happened after that."

"Shadow Fiend, it can explain why there were traces of demonic energy and why you lost consciousness."

"Demonic energy. Was it a demon?"

"Yes, and a rare one. But don't let it bother you. You need to recover first. Leave the solving of this matter to us adults."

Ethan tried to say something when the door opened and maidservant Lena, holding a tray, came in. She was a clumsy girl, and as if to prove it, she tripped again. But managed to keep her balance and the tray in her hands. All the people in the room breathed a sigh of relief. And Brenda, afraid that something like that might happen again, stood up from the bed and took the tray from the maidservant's hands.

She returned to the bed, sat down, and placed the tray in front of Ethan. There was a plate with porridge and a silver spoon.

"You can eat now, Ethan."

Honestly, Ethan didn't like porridge much, but nonetheless, he tried to take the spoon. But he didn't manage it. His body was very weak, and the spoon fell down. Seeing this, Brenda took the spoon and started to feed Ethan. The porridge was delicious.

After the meal was over, Lena took the tray and left, without any accidents at this time.

Brenda, too, stood up and headed to the door. She was at the door when she remembered what she forgot to say and turned around.

"From now on, you will be living with us. This room will be yours. And if you need something, ring that bell."

She pointed to the bell on the nightstand.

"And also, Ethan, welcome to the Anselm family."

Brenda smiled warmly and left.

Ethan was alone in the room. Within one day, he lost his family and made a new one. With mixed emotions, he began to sob again.

[Aren't you tired of crying?]

It was an unfamiliar, low, and slightly arrogant voice.

"Who's there?!"

[It's me, your consciousness.]

It was a long day for Ethan, and hearing an unfamiliar voice was the last drop. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted.