Five days have passed since Lucas returned to the Nightstar Estate.
The moment they collected themselves, his mother Violet instantly tried to rush towards him and hug him, ignoring his appearance. Yet, Lucas managed to stop her in time by stretching his bloodied hand in front of her, giving the excuse that it was better not to touch him due to all the dried blood and effects of the potions he took.
They weren't stupid; everyone there, including Violet, understood what he really meant when he asked not to be touched...
After that, he went to his room and asked for some days alone to collect himself and rest, which they naturally had no choice but to oblige his request.
It took at least 16 hours for most of the effects to leave his body. At the very least, he could finally fall asleep, and that is what he did. On the fifth day, he was still asleep on his bed, recovering.
**********
Currently inside Lucas's room was Violet as she was sitting on a chair besides Lucas's bed, who was sleeping on the edge in front of her.
His sleeping face was honestly quite cute as he seemed to be sleeping peacefully.
The moment Lucas went inside his room, she waited until he fell asleep, even if it took almost 16 hours, so she could properly check up on him.
After 2 days of continuously sleeping, she got worried that he wasn't waking up and called for a doctor.
Luckily, as the doctor examined him, he told her that he was just extremely exhausted and would wake up in a few days.
After that, she hasn't left his side and kept tending to him. Her health didn't deteriorate, luckily, since Alexander or Lucielle kept checking up on her as well.
Black bags could be seen beneath her eyes that had dried out from crying as she gently kept stroking Lucas's cheeks.
Even though she was relieved about his physical state, she was still worried sickly about his mental state, seeing how he didn't let her get too close.
"I am sorry, dear... I failed you as a mother," she said under her breath. Immense guilt was all that she felt currently as she gazed at her son.
Like that, she sat there with her son as 5 hours had passed, and the sun started to set and the moon started to rise.
Suddenly, Lucas's eyes started to twitch and then fluttered open slowly, surprising Violet immensely, but she collected herself and backed away a little scared that she might frighten him.
Still a little dazed from waking up after 5 days and feeling extremely sluggish, he pushed himself up against the side post of his bed.
"Hmm? So the effects are finally gone, huh..." Lucas said a little tired as he noticed that his body is back to normal.
Noticing a gaze directed at him, he turned to his right surprised seeing his mother there watching him silently with a small smile yet worried look.
"Mom..."
His heart felt like it was getting ripped apart as he saw the dry tear marks on her cheeks and the baggy eyes.
"How are you feeling right now, dear?" She asked a little nervous still while in dilemma if she should approach him or not she doesn't want to see such a reaction of him again when he rejected her 5 days ago...
"A little sluggish but fine for the most part," Lucas said with a small smile as he looked down noticing he his wearing a sleeveless black t-shirt and black pajamas.
He didn't take a shower or anything like that because of the effects of the potions so he just lay down on his bed until he finally managed to fall asleep.
It was a little embarrassing to know that someone must've dressed him but as long as it was his mother or Lucielle he didn't mind it too much.
"Are you sure you are fine? I could call a healer to come and check you again," snapping him out of his thoughts was his mother's worried voice.
'Again?'
He was a little suspicious at what she meant with again but decided to let it go.
"Mm, I am sure. I am feeling much better now; you don't have to worry," Lucas said nonchalantly yet his mother didn't really believe him.
As he took a good look at his mother, he noticed she was fidgeting with her body a little.
'Why is she so nervous around me? And what is with this weird distance I feel between us...'
Suddenly he remembered that when he arrived with his grandfather, he was still a little out of it and didn't let his mother approach him due to him not wanting to instinctively back away from someone touching him.
'I still hurt her in the end huh...'
Realizing why she is so nervous he got off the bed making his mother even more worried as she complained,
"Lucas wait you should still lie down for now and rest a little more."
"It is fine mom I must have been asleep for a few days right?"
Lucas said as he started walking towards her.
Arriving in front of her,
his mother looked nervously at Lucas, not understanding what he is thinking currently.
Suddenly surprising her even further and making her entire body go stiff was Lucas who suddenly gently embraced her.
Realizing what happened her body relaxed as she hugged him back as her head was leaning on his chest since she was a head shorter than Lucas now.
As she was finally relaxing and feeling the warmth of her son, she started noticing that his body was trembling, understanding that Lucas was pushing himself for her. She embraced him more tightly as she whispered,
"It is okay... you are safe now, Lucas."
"...I am sorry."
Hearing his sudden apology in a hoarse voice, she looked up to him only to see his face turned sideways.
He didn't want his mother to see his expression right now.
"Lucas... this isn't your fault... you experienced something that no one ever should have, especially a child your age."
"No. I... I knew that revealing my identity as the White Devil would have consequences... I was arrogant and thought I could handle them all by myself. Everything that happened was my own fault; it was my punishment."
Lucas spoke, still not meeting looking at her face and preventing her from seeing his.
"...Punishment?" his mother asked bewildered, not understanding just what he did to deserve such punishment.
"Yes... for being too arrogant... for being too weak... for taking this life of mine for granted... for being a coward... for acting like someone I am not..." He spoke each reason through gritted teeth.
His mother looked surprised as she looked at the side of Lucas's face as he told him his reasons. He wasn't done...
"I don't want to experience these feelings ever again. I swear, Mom, I will not hold myself back anymore... I will destroy anyone from now on who threatens you or anyone else I care about. I will have my revenge on Karciel... no, not just him but the entire demon race; I will make each one of them suffer. I will make anyone suffer who stands in my way. I will destroy anyone who dares to stop me. Even if the world will hate me 'again'. I want to make sure I enjoy my life no matter the cost and live with everyone I care about peacefully in the end. Even if I sound selfish, I will not stop until I reach my goals."
Lucas said with great resolve as his eyes darkened a little, any normal person hearing him would start to fear him and get as far as possible away from him.
As Lucas turned his head slowly around, scared to see his mother's reaction and finally saw the expression on her face, his heart trembled, and his eyes widened as his mother was... smiling.
She was smiling while looking straight into Lucas's eyes with relief and pride in her own eyes.
"I see..."
She said as she placed both of her hands on each side of Lucas's cheeks, cupping them gently.
"I am glad, dear. Glad that you finally found a path you want to take. Just know that as your mother, I will always support you on your path and never hate you even if everyone else does..."
'It is almost exactly what father said... are they both crazy? No... this is what actual parents are, something that... My previous self couldn't understand.'
"I see... thanks, Mom," Lucas said as he genuinely smiled for the first time since the incident.
He felt like the chains that bound his entire two lives were finally gone.
He felt like he could see more clearly now.
He felt like he could breathe much easier now...
He felt free.