After a long, relaxing bath, I walk out of the bathroom wearing my pyjamas and a towel wrapped around my head and quietly walk over to the suite room's living area. Not wanting to disturb everyone else's sleep, I quietly switch on one light and then proceed to lean back on the sofa and stare into space. The stillness of the late evening along with the dim light exudes a calm ambience that I haven't felt since coming to this town. There's always something to be busy about whether it's good busy or a stormy busy. Sleepiness silently wraps my body like a comfy blanket which naturally causes my eyelids to feel heavy. Blinking slowly, I allow my eyes to close for just a moment. Still need to dry my hair.
Dream World
The hazy sight slowly clears up to reveal a lush green archway illuminated by white flowers blooming all over it; the same white flowers of the winter tree.
"Wow, this is unexpectedly romantic."
Before I could further express my amazement, the leafy branches of the willow tree sway and lightly graze my back, beckoning me to follow the dirt path that's been smoothly laid out in front of me.
"What's the hurry?"
The willow tree continues to sway rather impatiently.
"Okay, I'm going now."
I step barefoot into the dirt path and steadily walk while admiring the never-ending archway. The slight chill emitting from the white flowers doesn't bother me much. Just that, the more I see the white flowers, the slower my pace becomes since they remind me of him. My feet abruptly stop moving. Not so far away, I can see a person walking in this direction.
His white hair glistens like silver under the illuminated white flowers. Upon noticing me, he hastens his pace and when he is close enough, my hand reaches out to his forehead without realising it. The image of my hand stained with his blood flashes before my eyes and the memory of that day, when I found him lying on the ground unconscious and badly injured causes my hand to tremble and my eyes to sting with tears.
Bewildered by the sudden change in my emotional state, he grabs my trembling hand away from his face with a firm grip and says some words to soothe my emotion. "Everything's alright now, I'm here."
Hearing his voice again after what feels like so long put a stop to the flashback. Feeling the gentle brush of his finger under my unfocused teary eye, I close my eyes and take a deep breath in and out. One more time; deep breathe in and exhale. I slowly open my eyes with the thought of pulling myself together, however instead I unintentionally lock my gaze with his striking blue eyes. I can't ever get used to how mesmerising those pair of eyes are.
While I'm lost in his eyes, he asks about my condition. "Have you calmed down?"
I absentmindedly nod.
"Are you truly alright?" He rephrases his own question followed by elaborating on his concern over my well-being. "Do you still feel light-headed, nauseous and short of breath?"
That's when I come to my senses.
Light-headedness, nausea and feeling short of breath are the collective symptoms of mana exhaustion. As to why he thinks I'm experiencing mana exhaustion, well, I have a pretty good guess.
As to how I should respond to his concern, should I choose a roundabout response or be honest?
He leans in close until our forehead touches and murmurs, "Please, say something."
Just like that, I made up my mind.
I pull away first and show him a reassuring smile before speaking. "I'm perfectly healthy, Leon, or should I call you Captain like the rest."
He's immediately stunned.
I could not help but laugh seeing his adorable reaction. Then, my gaze goes down towards our hands. He hasn't let go of it this whole time which is very unlike him. Continuing on this good feeling, I wriggle my hand out of his firm grasp so that I can interlock our fingers together instead.
"Walk with me?" I ask, tugging at our interlocked fingers. "I'm curious to see where the end of the path leads."
Waking up feeling ticklish on my neck.
"Archie..."
I sleepily call out the culprit and instantly our youngest appears from the corner of my eye. When I try to raise my upper body, my neck hurts from sleeping in an uncomfortable position so I just lazily melt myself down from the sofa to the carpet on the floor. Archie climbs onto my stomach and sprawls himself on top of me. I feel like I'm forgetting something, however yet again my mind is overcome with sleepiness.