The story is set in a distance future in a Magical World where Magics existed. A world where the weak revered the strong. Justice lies where the strong fists pointed to.
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"Old man, you don't have to be so worried about me, I'm strong, okay? We also can't be sure if they manage to find it."
Kousei looked up from the cup he had been sipping his tea from and landed his gaze on his beloved.
It was always like this. Whenever he got too anxious or was too excited, it was his wife who would remind him in concern or reprimands him in worry with her brows furrowed while a tired yet firmed expression sometimes etched on her aged face.
Sometimes he wondered, who was exactly the sick person between them.
He, the always anxious and excited one while she was calm and determined. Her face was rosy and her body seemed strong. Yes, she seemed healthy and for the most part, she was. Her eyes said otherwise though, her pair of beautiful green eyes were a little dull and looks tired. He knew she was hurting deep inside, slowly disappearing. That she was trying to persevered, using every bit of her energy she had to survive, for him, for their family.
He had expected her to say this. It was the umpteenth time already. Because he can't help but to be anxious, be worried. Her body was gradually growing weaker. He sighed and met with her gentle forest green eyes. Those eyes never failed to make him fall in love with her over and over again.
"Dear, Kei is on his way home. He'll be home soon. Whether he and that old senile managed to get a hand on the whatever Gaoru had been talking about or not, we'll know sooner or later. But if they didn't, we can try other methods."
Asuna let out a gentle, knowing smile. Her eyes flash with a hint of sadness that he didn't failed to catch dancing in her pair of eyes. He winched in response. He knew. He knew it all too well that if Gaoru didn't obtain whatever it was, there will be no more hope in curing her. There were definitely other plausible methods but it might be harmful to her or not effective at all. He wouldn't take the risks.
"Kousei honey, let's just wait for Kei. Don't— don't get on too much hope alright? You know my condition pretty well."
Yes, he knew. He knew it too well that was why he couldn't help but hope. Gaoru had said that there was a type of plant–no, fruit. A type of fruit that was useful for everything regarding soul or spirit. This fruit might be able to help Asuna. He hope so.
She smiles a smile that didn't failed to mesmerized him since the day they met. Asuna pat the empty space beside her on the bed as she motion for him to come with her eyes. He reclined in defeat and sat up from the tea table and joined her on the bed. He sighed and making himself comfortable on the bed before taking her hands into his. They leaned back on bed headboard and accompany each other in silent. Each drifting in their own thoughts. The light were a little dim, giving soft golden glows as it light the sorrowful pair in a regal hue.
They passed the night in silence as Kousei gazed lovingly at the woman besides him. The gaze was so full of love, that it could drown every bit of a person in those eyes. It was a beautiful yet painful sight to see. How a heavenly pair would one day have to separate.
— —
The morning the next day was sadly beautiful. The sun was shining neither too hot nor was it obscure by cloudy clouds too much. Winds bellowing softly as if caressing its lover. Flowers came out in full blooms, birds migrated while singing songs.
Kousei was seeing the later generations cultivating magics and personally training them when the news came to him.
Every newborns would naturally growth their spirit roots and energy forces within them etched deep into their soul to strengthen their life forces. A person's pure spiritual energy would circulate within his soul then flowed to his spirit root where magics would then reinforced while the excessive remains of the spiritual energy would naturally kept in his energy forces that will help to enhanced his physical body.
Asuna life's force was deteriorating dangerously fast as it seemed that her spirit forces could no longer sustained her body as the less than half of her soul left could no longer support her ever growing magic and the forces inside her.
He rushed to their room and found her on the bed, looking ever so tired and fragile. Kousei stood rooted near the doorway as he stare at his wife being attended to by medicals mage, a medical doctor that was well verse in the art of healing using magics. He tried to control his anxiety but with every breath he took, the more his hands were trembling. He curl his fists and shove them inside his pocket pants. Trying to minimize the tremble, to calm himself.
"The pills and elixirs have little effective left," one of the medical mage said aloud. "The healing magics are also no longer taking effect."
Kousei was taking each step inside the bedchamber stiffly, palms sweaty, hands trembling. Even more so after hearing what the medical mage had said. His back was ramrod stiff, he controlled his breathing making sure it was as quiet as possible. Afraid to disturb the working people inside by breathing loudly and make his presence known, lest he distract them.
"We have no choice but to mix both the pills and elixirs available and add some sealing magics as healing will be of no use." another medical mage spoke. And the other medicals mage nodded their head.
"Pills and elixirs was hard to come by as the method had been lost in ancient time. It's good that some lost methods remained although it's not of the highest quality and the alchemist were our families."
The medical mage continued to mutter to himself as his hand were busy mixing the mixtures of the crushed pills and elixirs and let Asuna drink the new mixtures both the pills and elixirs of two whole big bowls while the other were performing some hand seals with waves of hands or using a staff each persons. Sweat trickled down their forehead as the chants continue. At this time, Kousei decided to let his presence be known as he sat beside Asuna holding her left hand. She gave him a smiles of reassurance and he squeeze her hand in returned.
"Dear..."
He had so many questions he wished he knew the answers. Why did it became worst? Will she be alright? What happened?
Asuna smiled, her eyes were so gentle that it pained him. "I'm fine," she whispered. "I'll be okay." He forced a smile of his own and waited patiently for the medicals mage to finished.
By the time the medicals mage finish their work, it was already mid afternoon.
"Asuna, we managed to calm the chaos energies inside you. But I can't assure you that it'll last long. Unless Kei arrived with Gaoru, there's simply nothing we could do. The effect of the elixirs are wearing off, if this relapse, I'm not sure if it'll be as as simple as this anymore."
Toma who have been muttering to himself awhile ago spoke. He may be too honest and blunt, but that's what's the good point of him. There was no need for them to beat around the buss and goes straight to the point. Though, this time, he did seemed to be holding himself back as from what he was saying it should be, 'this is getting serious, if this happen again, she will die.'
"Oyui, thank you. Toma, Hasumi, Seyuu, Kenn, thank you." Kousei muttered softly after taking a deep breath.
"Kousei, Asuna is like our little sister, we as the big brother of course will help."
Seyuu smiles amiably. Followed by Kenn, Seyuu and Hasumi. Hearing what they had said with such sincerity, Asuna smiles with a little moisture in her eyes.
Yes, they were her families, so how could she just give up?
She will also try her best to hold on, until Kei returned. Until then..
"En."