Shiro must've been so tired after all of that... Not too long after I began petting her head as she rested her head on the bed, she dozed off. Hearing her gentle breaths as she clutches my hand gave me a sense of clarity while also helping me deal with this pain. I tried to not let it show on my face, but this was seriously no joke... Even with my wounds now closed up and bandaged, and having been given stronger painkillers, it still feels like all my insides just want to break through the stitches. But I'm glad to have Shiro here with me.
I end up finding myself brushing her hair away from her face as a few strands had gotten in between her lips. Now as I gaze at her sleeping face, free from any mask, I feel an immense sense of comfort and warmth as I smile through the pain.
"Sweet dreams, Shi-"
"Charlotte!"
Suddenly, bursting into the room was none other than my mom. I was left speechless for a second, wondering what she's doing here, but she already made her way to the bedside before I could say anything with nurses quickly following suit. Wait!
"M-mom! You'll wake Shiro."
"Wha-"
Mom ends up stopping by the bed as if she's just now noticing Shiro. I check once more, but it seems like Shiro's still sleeping.
"Phew~" I breath a sigh of relief, knowing that Shiro's fine.
"S-sorry."
"It's okay."
"In any case, what happened? Those wounds are not trivial, Charlotte."
"I know. I'm sorry for scaring you."
"Hahh!~ I swear, Luna's right. You're far too reckless."
"Hehe. I'm sorry about that."
"So? Can you explain?"
I end up explaining everything that happened to mom. A few of the nurses decided it was best to leave, thinking that the information I'm disclosing is confidential, but I didn't really mind. I also made sure our conversation was kept at a low, soft level, just in case it wakes up Shiro.
"So it wasn't Furor?"
"No. And I'm not even sure if they even work with them. But I do have one of the men in the trunk of my car."
"Wait, really?"
"Yeah. Although it was Shiro and Lisa who managed to take him down."
"Shiro as well?"
"Yeah... You should've seen it. She was amazing. If it wasn't for her, I don't think I'd be here right now..."
As I say that, I gently brush a couple fingers up against Shiro's cheek, prompting the corners of her mouth to rise up slightly into a gentle smile. She's too cute like this...
"So Shiro managed to control her mana?"
"We're not sure just yet. She only did it when she thought that I'd die."
"So you were basically her trigger?"
"Yeah."
"That's good. We can work with that. She just needs to harness that same feeling next time."
"I... I don't think that's a good idea."
I don't want Shiro to need to have to think back on tonight where I was on death's door. I know it's stupid as the events of this night will probably scar her, but I'm hoping that maybe those scars will fade in time. So I really don't want to use this night as a crutch for Shiro's mana control.
"Well, I'll let you two figure that out. More importantly, are you okay?"
"Yeah. It hurts like hell, but I can manage." I say as I tighten my hold on Shiro's hand slightly.
"Oooh? Fufu, your 'girlfriend' huh?"
"S-stop it with those jokes, mom."
"Hmmm?~ Now that's a different reaction than last time~"
I won't argue that I am a bit more conscious about the idea now. But Shiro clearly just wants to stay with me, not as a couple, but as partners; friends. I think I'm also okay with that. Our relationship feel just right as it is, and I don't want it to change.
"Well, I'm glad that you two are doing okay."
"You say that as I have this giant gash in my chest."
"Well, I can help with that a bit. I've learnt a bit of healing magic from mom, so if you like, I could maybe try and relieve you of some pain."
"Your mom? So she can use healing magic?"
"Mhmm! She's quite cool you know. It's a pity she's always busy."
I don't really hear much from my grandmother much, but to think she is capable of healing magic... As far as we all know, light magic is the best magic to use for healing. Water magic can do the same along with even fire magic although all of them are quite tricky and dangerous to pull off. Normally you'd do more damage than good. However, mom primarily uses light magic, making it much safer. It's a pity that light magic is such a rare magic to use.
"So your mom also uses light magic I assume?"
"Yup! Ah- sorry." She raises her voice, but immediately lowers it back down upon realizing it. It's cute to see mom so happy when she talks about her own mother. "So, you want me to try?"
"Sure." I trust mom enough to try and heal me. I'm hoping that maybe when Shiro wakes, up, she'll be more happy in knowing that I'm getting better.
"Hahh~ Okay, that's the best I can do."
"Waah~"
As mom finishes healing my body, the other nurses that were around watched on in awe. It's a rare sight for light magic to be used, so it was practically a show for them, especially considering that it's my mom doing it as well as nearly the whole world knows of her. Despite that however, the pain is still there, although it's a lot more bearable now. Combine that with the painkillers, I feel like I can finally breathe normally again.
"Thanks mom."
"I managed to make sure you won't bleed though the stitches, and it might already be all sealed up, but I'll let the doctors check that, hehe." She looks happy upon looking at the job she done. "Right, now I better check up on Lisa. Do keep in touch with me, okay?"
"Nn. I will."
Mom gently leans over before planting a kiss on my forehead, causing heat to rise up to my face.
"I- I'm not a kid anymore."
"Of course you are, hehe. Well then, see ya~"
She ends up leaving with a gentle grin as a couple nurses come to check on my body more closely, seeing how well my mom had did. I end up going back to gently brushing Shiro's long hair with my hand, gently twirling some strand between my fingers.