Zeal had a recollection.
( He's right, the sky did turn to crimson that day and then I- )
My eye was in pain as much as it did that day.
"Zeal! Are you alright?"
I replied while out of breath. "I'm fine, Ms. Aneres ... I don't have any more doubts, please do it."
I went nearer to Ms. Aneres to apply the liquid to me; she then proceeded to apply it to me.
"Try to resist the paper you are holding as much as possible young Zeal. If the liquid on your body turns red and the paper you are holding burns, then it will confirm that you possess a contract. It is a response that the contract is denying something that isn't part of you." She stated as she put away her things in her briefcase.
"What do you mean, Ms. Aneres? How does that work?"
( She is a spell caster master- in all the books I read while searching for magic's origins. I have yet to read anything about the spell formula she is using. )
"The paper you are holding contains a soul; these kinds of paper are distributed to us spell casters."
"A soul?"
( This is getting interesting. )
"Yes, paper like these are used by an exorcist to seal evil souls that wander. You holding that paper is necessary, and the liquid serves as a catalyst to enable the soul so that your body will think, or instead, the contract will think that there is a trespasser inside you that violates the contract done, causing it to burn the paper."
( That's amazing. I'm guessing that the liquid is special, and I serve as a medium to draw a spell formula and to think that exorcist exists in this world; I have more to learn. )
"I think I get it now; thank you for telling, Ms. Aneres."
"Hm-mh, we just have to wait now."
And so we waited. But, the liquid never turned red, and the paper didn't burn.
Ms. Aneres kept observing me for a whole 5 minutes, and then.
"Mr. and Mrs. Noir, this answers your questions."
"Thank you so much, Ms. Aneres. To thank you more properly, please feel free to make any demands."
Lupel said that like it's expensive to get tested for one.
"No need, Mr. Noir, I had enjoyed my time in here, and I wouldn't want to take your time."
Ms. Aneres looked at me and smiled as she stood; we all stood.
"I would love to chat more with young Zeal but, the next one is far from here, so I'll take my leave."
Ms. Aneres walked out of the house while Lupel escorted her out. Lilia embraced me, and I hugged her back.
"Sweetie, go prepare for dinner ... tomorrow we're gonna be back to our normal lives, I promise."
I didn't ask anymore, just followed what she told me to do. Tomorrow comes; I did my sword training as usual and chores. I prepared to leave the house, but Lilia stopped me. She was blocking the door.
"What are you doing, mother? Why are you blocking the door?"
"Where do you plan to go, sweetie?" sweat drips from her face as she looks all worried.
"Well, I plan to go to Zia and meet her-."
"No!"
I was shocked; it was the first time I heard her shout at me. Unknowingly I was crying. Lilia saw me crying. She kneeled in front of me and hugged me so tightly.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She repeated this 10 times and Lilia started to cry, causing me to tear up even more.
"Mother ... I- did I do something wrong?"
"No, no, no, you're mistaken, sweetie."
Lilia looked at me in the eye, rubbed the back of my head, and patted my head ...
"I- I was just worried, worried that, that I don't know where you are, what you might be doing, scared to lose you."
Maybe I was reckless that I didn't value my own life, hesitant that all this is yet just a dream, that I ignored the people close to me in this world ... No, this is my world now; maybe it's time to accept that I might have been just dreaming all along back then, it's time I treasure them.
"I'm sorry, mother, I did something to make you worry ... I can't imagine how worried you are right now but, I'm here, aren't I?"
"Mh-mh, that's right, you are safe and sound because ... you are my talented son."
We both giggled as we embraced each other while crying.
"Hear me, mother, I promise that I won't do something like this ever again; I won't make you worried about me anymore, alright?"
"No, no, sweetie. You are my son, and it's just right that I should worry about you; it's the least mommy can do for you while you are away."
Lilia- ... Mother wiped her tears and mine, comforting me and acting strong, she showed me what a wonderful mother she is. She smiled at me and gave me one more hug ... it was a hug that could make me all warm inside. I responded by hugging her even more tightly.
We both stayed like that for only a while, but it felt longer than it was; it was a nice feeling. It made me want the moment to last longer. Mother then let me visit Zia only if I bring my com-device with me.
"I'll be going now, mother."
Mother nodded at me as I opened the door father came falling.
"Father??? What are you doing at the front door???"
"Ahaha, sorry, sorry, I was eavesdropping on you two." He says as he scratches the back of his head while standing up.
"Dear, if you heard us, then why didn't you join us."
"Well, I didn't want to interrupt between you two, but never mind that ... shouldn't you be going to Zia's house, son?"
"Yeah, I'll take my leave now, father, mother."
So I marched as I waved farewell to them. While walking to Zia's house, I recalled the old world; something like this happened. I met a girl at the old bridge I passed going to school. We spent our time together to have fun that I didn't have at school. I was seven at that time, and when I got home, mother cried, telling me I was missing for three days; she was all dirty, so we both cried until Xue told us to stop.
( If I'm not mistaken, that was around the time I started getting the weird dreams. )
"Zeal!!"
!!!
Over a distance, I heard Zia's voice calling my name. I saw her jumping and waving at me while calling my name, so I ran towards her.
"Hey, Zia."
"Hello, Zeal."
Zia was as cheerful as ever, so I was glad.
"What's wrong with your eye?" She asked.
"Nothing, just dust on my eye from running to here."
"Well, alright, let's go inside and chat!"
I nodded, and we both went in.