After Mia's meeting to teach her people how to cast the Life Replacement Spell, it became the talk of the town for the next few days.
Kids and teenagers excitedly discussed how they would use the spell on their significant others, pets, or parents, while the older generations earnestly advised their children and grandchildren not to use the spell on them, reasoning that they were already advanced in age.
Mia and Heya found themselves not excluded from these conversations.
"If anything bad ever happened to the Blood Drops Clan, I will use that spell on you," Heya announced at dinner that night.
Mia chuckled, "I am so powerful," she said, teasingly, "Do I need your protection, little one?"
Deep inside, she felt a bit nervous hearing that. She would never want Heya to sacrifice his life for her, ever.
Heya, seemingly not grasping the weight behind Mia's playful reply, continued to inquire, "You are carrying our baby right now. If I ever cast a spell on you, would it protect the baby too?"
Mia eyes filled with affection. The dinner table, bathed in the warm glow of candlelight, became a haven for their intimate conversation.
"The Life Replacement Spell is a powerful and ancient magic," Mia began, her tone gentle. "It's designed to safeguard the life of the person on whom it's cast, and that includes the life within them. In essence, yes, it would protect our baby."
Heya smiled upon hearing that answer, and it seemed like a relief washed over him.
Mia raised an eyebrow, "You're not actually going to cast that spell on me, are you?"
Heya turned his face up from his dinner plate toward Mia, smiling, "Of course, I would. Why wouldn't I?"
"Oh, no," Mia pleaded, "Please don't. I am much older than you; if anything, it should be me sacrificing my life for you."
Heya chuckled, "Nonsense," he said, returning to scoop his dinner into his mouth before continuing, "I am the husband; I have to be the one taking full responsibility for the princess and our baby."
Hearing this response, Mia's face blushed red, and she lightly hit Heya's arm. "Who is your wife? Talking nonsense all day and night."
Heya just laughed, "Alright, alright. Eat your dinner now, Royal Sorcerer."
After finishing their dinner, the couple made their way to the little long chair placed in front of their house. From there, they could see the little kids playing in the village field, running around as their moms gossiped on the side, keeping a watchful eye on their playful antics.
Both of them enjoyed the scene, finding solace in the lively transformation of their once dark and desolate abode.
Mia suddenly sighed, "It has been a week," she said, "I wonder why Father hasn't given us any reply back."
Heya was silent for a few seconds before his hand found its way to pat Mia's head and caress her hair, "Your father is the highest ruler of Antara land. He must just be busy. Let's hope we will get a reply from him soon, yeah?"
Mia leaned into Heya's comforting touch, finding reassurance in the rhythmic strokes of his hand through her hair.
"You're right," Mia said, her gaze fixed on the playful scene unfolding before them. "I just can't help but worry, especially with the impending threat and the baby on the way."
The following days passed in a mixture of routine and anticipation. Mia continued her life, strengthening her magical skills, while Heya dedicated himself to various tasks that contributed to the well-being of their community.
Until that one night when Mia was violently shaken from her sleep by a horrible dream.
Her screams woke Heya, who was sleeping beside her, in an instant.
He quickly pulled Mia into his embrace, saying, "It's okay, you're fine. No one is here to hurt you. I am here. It was just a dream," he affirmed, patting the back of his girlfriend without knowing the details of her nightmare.
Mia was never like this. No matter how bad her nightmares were, she would never get caught off guard and lose her cool like this. So, this was new to Heya too.
Seeing his girlfriend crying so hard, her body shaking violently from the sobs, it broke his heart a little.
After her cry calmed down for a bit, Heya quickly got up to take a glass of water and handed it to her, watching her calm down with each sip.
He sat back down next to her on the bed again after retrieving the glass. "What did you dream of?" he asked softly, taking Mia's hand into his own and rubbing his thumb on it to comfort her.
Mia looked at him, horrified. "Do you think it will come true if I spell it out for you?"
Heya smiled, understanding Mia's anxiety. "It's okay if you don't want to tell me, but if it helps you calm down, then I am here to listen to you."
Mia shook her head, letting out a sigh. "Can you promise me something, Heya?"
"Hm?" he tilted his head in question, "What is it?"
Mia gripped hard on Heya's hand. "Don't ever cast the Life Replacement Spell on me."
Hearing her command, Heya imagined that Mia must have overthought his words a few days ago during dinner and brought a nightmare to herself. Heya laughed softly, "So that was what your dream was about?"
Mia didn't answer. Instead, she looked at Heya with teary eyes. "I can't live without you, Heya. I don't want to live without you."
Heya patted Mia's head once again as he warmly gazed into her teary eyes. "Silly one, you can live without me. You were living just fine before I came into your life, don't you?"
Mia shook her head violently, like a child saying no to her parents. "But that was before. I can't live without you since the first time I fell for you."
Heya didn't overthink this conversation and just tried to find an answer that would help his girlfriend calm down and get back to sleep. "Alright. I won't leave you all alone."
"Don't abandon me," she pleaded.
"Won't abandon you," he affirmed.