Chapter 46: Dreams and Prayers

Luca was sleeping soundly on the floor of his home that night. In his dreams, he held a sword in his hand, surrounded by countless tails. They swayed and lashed toward him from all directions. Luca gripped his sword tightly and slashed at them one by one, cutting them down with swift, precise strikes. But no matter how many he defeated, more tails kept coming. In the middle of it all, a small doll with a cat's face stood on a rock, singing in a strange voice, "Luca, Lord of Tails! Luca, Lord of Tails!"

Meanwhile, Luca's mother, who was sleeping some distance away, stirred awake. She could hear murmuring in the dark. At first, she thought she was imagining things, but then she clearly heard Luca's voice: "Attack the tails! Defeat the tails! Defend!"

She turned toward him and saw him waving his hands in the air, his face tense as if he were in battle. Her brows furrowed in confusion.

"Luca?" she called softly, shaking his shoulder gently.

After a moment, Luca fell silent. His breathing returned to normal, and he slept peacefully again. His mother sighed, shaking her head with a small smile before lying back down.

The next morning, Luca woke up feeling refreshed. He stretched and yawned, then noticed his mother sitting nearby, rubbing her eyes. She looked tired, as if she hadn't slept well.

Luca frowned. "Mom, you should sleep well at night. It's good for your health."

His mother blinked at him, then gave him a long, tired look. In her head, she thought, You were the reason I didn't get good sleep. But instead of saying anything, she sighed and lay back down to take a short nap.

Luca shrugged and went to wash up before starting his morning training. He spent some time practicing his movements, swinging his wooden sword and repeating his dodging drills. After finishing, he sat down for breakfast, enjoying the simple meal his mother had prepared.

As he ate, his mother suddenly said, "Luca, come with me."

Luca paused, his spoon halfway to his mouth. "Where, mom?" he asked, puzzled.

His mother simply smiled and stood up. After finishing his meal, Luca followed her outside. They locked the house, and his mother led him toward the village border. As they walked, Luca noticed a beautiful building ahead. It stood tall with elegant carvings and intricate designs, its presence both grand and peaceful.

Luca asked his mother, "Mom, why are we at the temple?". His mother replied, "Of course to pray, Luca."

The temple had a calming presence, and the air around it felt almost sacred. The people of Waldria worshipped heroic spirits—great men and women who had done noble deeds beyond what ordinary people could achieve. It was believed that these spirits continued to watch over the people even after their time had passed.

Luca followed his mother inside. The temple was spotless, its floors gleaming, and the scent of incense lingered in the air. At the centre of the main hall stood a large idol, surrounded by five smaller ones in a semicircle, each representing a different heroic spirit.

His mother knelt down and clasped her hands together in prayer. Luca stood beside her, listening as she whispered, "Please, great spirits, look after my son."

For a moment, Luca hesitated. Then he also lowered his head and silently joined her in prayer.

After they finished, they stepped outside and sat on a stone slab near the temple entrance. The temple was surrounded by trees, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. The cool, fresh air made Luca feel relaxed, as if all his worries had been carried away by the wind.

Luca stretched his legs and let out a satisfied sigh. "This place feels nice," he said.

His mother smiled. "It does, doesn't it? That's why I wanted you to come here. Sometimes, when life gets tiring or difficult, just sitting here can help clear your mind."

Luca nodded. He closed his eyes and let the peaceful atmosphere settle within him. For a while, they sat in comfortable silence, listening to the soft rustling of leaves and distant murmurs of villagers offering prayers inside.

After some time, Luca turned to his mother. "Mom, do you come here often?"

She nodded. "Whenever I have time. It gives me peace. And today, I wanted to share that with you."

Luca smiled. "I like it here. Maybe I'll come again."

His mother patted his head, and together, they sat for a while longer, letting the temple's peaceful aura surround them.