Oh, right. I finally remembered. That old man's granddaughter was named Shionne, wasn't it? I almost forgot.
I remembered how he had spoken of her with great pride, boasting about her talents in the art of archery, as well as her proficiency with the sword, although she seemed to prefer the bow.
As I glanced at the young girl who was engrossed in her conversation with her grandfather, I couldn't help but feel a sense of discomfort.
Could it be possible that she was the same Shionne my wife had seen in her vision?
With a heavy heart, I decided to leave and turned to walk away from the old man and his granddaughter. My footsteps were slow and deliberate, echoing loudly in the hallway.
***
Leon's POV:
As the door creaked open, I instinctively tried to stand up, but as soon as I saw my father, I slumped back down onto the cold wooden floor. He looked tired, and his face was etched with worry lines.
"Where have you been, Father?" I asked, hoping to distract him from whatever he was thinking.
"I just talked with an acquaintance." he replied with a smile, but I could sense that something was troubling him. I didn't push the matter further, though, knowing that he wouldn't tell me anything.
"Hey, Leon..." he said, and I looked up, but I couldn't meet his gaze. His voice had a seriousness to it that caught me off guard. "Do you mind if I talk to you for a second?"
I was surprised by his sudden request, but I nodded in agreement nonetheless.
"What have you seen in that dream?" he asked abruptly, and I felt a jolt of panic shoot through my body.
My dream had been so vivid, so real, that it felt like a memory. It was terrifying, and honestly, I wanted to forget it as soon as possible and erase it from my mind. But with my father asking me about it, instead of putting the nail in the coffin and sealing it away, it was opened, and the sealed memories came rushing back.
I couldn't find the words to respond, unsure of how to express the horrors I had seen. I think my father also knew that I was trying so hard to forget, so why was he asking me this?
"I just have to know," he said, sensing my confusion.
"...I don't know. I don't really remember much about it. Sorry," I said, but my father seemed to know that I was hiding something.
He sighed and leaned back in his chair, studying me for a moment. "Leon, if something is bothering you, you can always talk to us. We're your family and we're here for you."
I felt a lump form in my throat, but I forced myself to speak. "It was just a nightmare, Father. I don't remember the details."
But that was a lie, and we both knew it. I knew that no matter how hard I tried to forget, the images from that dream would remain in my mind as if it were an itch I couldn't ignore. The girl lying lifeless on the ground, her body drenched in blood. The looming shadow that towered over me. The sickening sound of metal as it made contact with me, followed by a dull thud. It was all etched in my memory, and I could still see it when I closed my eyes.
As I was thinking this, my father broke the silence that was starting to permeate the whole room.
"If you're scared to talk about it, then I won't force you. But I hope that, in time, you'll be able to tell us about it. It's not good to keep these things bottled up, Leon. They can eat away at you if you let them."
I nodded, feeling a little bit unsure of how to respond.
***
After that, my father went outside for a bit, saying that he was going to talk with my aunt.
I was now sitting in the bed, feeling a sense of monotony as I had grown so accustomed to lying here.
I had been here for what felt like weeks, but I couldn't quite remember how long it had actually been. I couldn't help but worry about how long we had been here, but since the healers here had not said anything about it, I guessed it was okay to stay for a little longer.
Tessia was still sleeping soundly in the bed next to me. I watched her for a moment, relieved to see that she wasn't having any more nightmares. Her chest rose and fell in a slow, steady rhythm, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for the peace that had settled over her.
Eventually, I made my way to the bathroom.
As I stood in front of the mirror, I gazed at my reflection. It was the same person staring back at me, but something felt different. Perhaps it was the exhaustion weighing me down or the constant worrying, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of being emotionally drained.
As I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I realized that nothing had changed about me. I still wore the same expression of defeat and despair that had become all too familiar over the past few years.
Taking a deep breath, I recited the water ball spell and watched as a shimmering sphere of water appeared in my palms. I splashed the cool liquid onto my face, hoping to shake off some of my grogginess.
It had been a restless night, with Tessia experiencing a nightmare that had kept me up for most of the night. I stayed by her side until she fell back into a peaceful sleep, but it left me feeling exhausted.
As if the night wasn't enough, we were woken up by our mother's sudden scream in the morning. Confused and disoriented, both Tessia and I were taken aback as our mother hugged us tightly. It was an intense hug that felt as though she was trying to prevent us from leaving, and it left us feeling bewildered. It was as if she was afraid to let us go, as if she was trying to protect us from something she couldn't even name. Her sudden outburst had left both Tessia and me feeling confused and disoriented, and I couldn't help but wonder what could have caused her to act that way.
After looking up once more and staring at my reflection, I turned away from the mirror and headed back to the room.
"Like this, grandfather?"
"Yes, just like that. Raise your hands a little so that your barrier will be able to shield your vital points."
"Okay!"
As I entered the room, I heard two voices, one of a young girl and the other of an older person. The older person's voice had a charismatic feel to it, but I couldn't be sure of their age.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I walked over to the window to get a better view of the courtyard below. From the window, I saw the young girl practicing barrier magic under the guidance of the older person.
But then, suddenly, a vision filled my mind, causing me to freeze in place. I saw the same girl from my vision lying motionless on the ground, and I heard a voice urging me to run, calling out my name, "R...un...Le...on."
My mind couldn't process everything that was happening, and before I knew it, my mind went blank.
***
Shionne's POV:
I looked up, my attention drawn to a sound that resembled someone fainting, though it might have been a product of my imagination. Despite the uncertainty, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.
"What's wrong, Shionne? Do you want to take a break?" my grandfather's voice interrupted my thoughts, as I turned to face him.
"No, grandfather," I replied, shaking my head. "I thought I just heard something."
With that, we continued practicing barrier magic, our focus on honing our skills.
"Okay, try to block this, Shionne," my grandfather instructed, as he readied his bow, and notched an arrow.
Without hesitation, I began to chant the incantation, "Shield of protection, surround me now!," and summoned a barrier in my hand. As the arrow hurtled towards me, I attempted to block it with my barrier. These arrows were designed for practice, so the tip was made of rubber and wouldn't cause any harm. My grandfather had chosen them to ensure my safety while I learned the ins and outs of barrier magic.
However, to my dismay, the arrow pierced through the barrier upon contact, though thankfully it didn't go all the way through.
"You have to focus on strengthening your barrier, Shionne," my grandfather said, his voice firm yet encouraging. "With enough focus and concentration, you can block even the fiercest of attacks."
Undeterred, my grandfather nocked another arrow, and I focused intently on strengthening my barrier. I tried my best to block the arrow, but once again it managed to penetrate the barrier.
"Okay, that's all for today," my grandfather said, noticing my disappointment. "Don't be too hard on yourself, Shionne. You're getting better at it."
"I have still a long way to go," I said, feeling a bit discouraged.
"That's true," my grandfather agreed, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "But progress is progress, no matter how small. Even though you have a long way to go, you are shortening that distance step by step." He ruffled my hair playfully, eliciting a giggle from me.
"Now, let's go back. I will teach you healing magic in my office," he said, turning towards the entrance of the hospital.
I looked up once more, feeling like I was having an uncomfortable itch that couldn't go away, no matter how much you scratch it. That window was calling to me, beckoning me to come closer and investigate. My grandfather noticed my restlessness and stopped in his tracks, turning to face me with a quizzical expression.
"Hmm? What is it, Shionne?" he asked, tilting his head to the side.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether or not to voice my thoughts. But curiosity got the better of me, and I blurted out my question.
"Do you know who's accommodating that room?" I pointed towards the room with the open window.
My grandfather followed my gaze and nodded. "Ah, that's Leon's room."
"Leon?" The name sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite place it.
"He's a former member of the Asura house," my grandfather continued. "I'm sure you've heard of the talentless son of the Asura house?"
I nodded, my memory coming back to me in a rush. Yes, I had heard of him. He was the black sheep of the Asura family, lacking any discernible sword talent. It was said that he had been disowned by the head of the Asura house.
But how had he ended up in the hospital?
"I heard he fought a Lizardman to protect his sister, even at the cost of his own life," my grandfather said, a note of admiration in his voice. "That was truly heroic, don't you think?"
I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. Protecting your loved ones even if it means sacrificing yourself was the most heroic thing I had ever heard of. I couldn't imagine being in such a situation myself, but I knew that if it ever came to it, I would do the same for those I cared about.
As we continued on our way, I couldn't help but steal a glance at Leon's window, wondering what kind of person he was. Despite his lack of talent in swordsmanship, he had shown bravery and selflessness in the face of danger. It made me wonder what other hidden qualities he possessed, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for him.
Maybe one day I would get to meet him and learn his story firsthand. But for now, I pushed my thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand—learning healing magic from my grandfather. After all, I had a long way to go before I could even dream of matching the bravery of someone like Leon.