"Forgive me for my outburst," I asked of my wives as I stood before them in our bedroom. "I had a moment of weakness. Expect a drastic course of action within the next two weeks."
Altris raised her eyebrow and gave me a face of confusion.
"What are you talking about?" She asked with irritation in her voice. Behind her, Gwendolyn laid in bed facing away from us while holding our son close to her.
"I'm going to go above and beyond. I know I just got back, but starting tomorrow, I'll be having an extended stay at the academy. I'm going to work with the research team."
"You're just gonna leave again? What about the kids? The academy is three cities away, Gou."
"I'm aware. But I can't just stay here while knowing Tsuki is cursed. I'm going to do everything in my power to fix this."
"What if it can't be fixed?" Gwendolyn jumped into the conversation, not turning to face us. "What if this is all for nothing? Let's just give Tsuki the best life he can have before his time is up."
Tsuki let out a tiny burp in his sleep and Gwendolyn caressed his head. Her fair-skinned fingers ran through Tsuki's soft white hair. I walked over to Gwendolyn and got on one knee by the bed. I rested my hand on her shoulder and lowered my tone.
"Please, don't say things like that."
"What else can we do?!" Gwendolyn said as she quickly sat up and turned to face me. "By your words, Tsuki was cursed by some deity? In my words, there's no hope! The best we can do is give our baby a chance to have his father in his life who doesn't work all the time, has time for him, and a loving family before he's gone!"
"I understand how you feel, Gwen..."
"Do you?! You don't seem like you care at all!"
"Gwendolyn!" Altris was shocked. She put her left hand to her mouth in disbelief.
I stood up from my resting position and looked at Gwendolyn. Well, "stare" would be a better choice of words. It felt like time froze for me. I don't seem like I care? Of course I care. Tsuki is my son too.
"Gou...I didn't mean that. I'm sorry." Gwendolyn tried to grab my hand, but I stepped back. Altris clearly sensed that the tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. In an uncomfortable tone, Altris spoke up.
"Look, why don't we all just take a walk, or something? To clear our minds?"
"No, thank you. I need to pack my things for my journey tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm going to meet with Luca and possibly with King Matthias as well. I'll see the both of you later." I finished and turned to leave the room.
"Wait, Gou..." Gwendolyn called to me, but I had already closed the door as she said my name. I understand her, it's most likely just stress and she needs time to cool down. Still, to hear something like that, especially if it comes from your wife, hurts. I'll get passed it, though. I always have. Just like we'll all get passed this curse.
□ □ □
"Wow, Gwendolyn." Altris said to me as we stared at the door Gou had just walked out of. I felt horrible. Gou looked like he hated me because of what I had said. To be fair, it was incredibly insensitive. Gou grew up in a home where his father was physically and emotionally distant while his mother didn't bother trying to build a connection with him. Because of that, he has some issues with parenthood, and I've basically reinforced all of that with what I said.
I let out a sigh and rolled back over to look at Tsuki. I looked into his crimson eyes and couldn't even see myself in him, only his father. A perfect copy.
"Gwen," Altris began as she sat on the end of our bed. "You and I both know how bad Gou wants to help Tsuki. If I heard them, then you obviously heard his talk with Adeline outside. Isn't super hearing the main thing of the Oraphim?" She asked while pulling my elongated and pointed ears playfully.
It's true, I did hear them. The Oraphim tribe are known for their ability to heal and their long, pointy ears. Also known in the North Continent as "Forest Devils" but that's irrelevant here. I heard everything that happened. I heard Gou crying, I heard Adeline joining him, and I heard his words to her. Despite that, I was still rude to him.
"It is. I heard everything. It's just...hard to accept."
"What is? The fact that Tsuki is cursed, or the fact that Gou thinks he can help him?"
"Both, really. One part of me wants to save Tsuki at all costs, but the other part of me wants to be realistic about this kind of thing." I pulled Tsuki closer to me, hugging his tiny body and supplying him with warmth. "Either way...I want Tsuki to live a normal life." I felt a tear begin to form in my eye as my voice began to shake.
Altris gave me a soft hug from behind me while also caressing Tsuki's head. Strands of her long, curly black hair fell on my face and on my silky blonde hair as well. "I feel the same way you do. But please, don't be too rough on Gou. Even if things end up not working in the long run, he's going to try. It's the thought that counts, right?"
"Yes, you're right about that. I just don't want to get my hopes up, that's all."
"Let's put our trust in our husband, like we've always done. Okay?"
"...Okay."
I don't want to get my hopes up just for Tsuki to succumb to the curse. But, if there is a chance, then I will also stand alongside Gou and contribute as much as I can. I want to give Tsuki the life I never had. My parents gave me up and put me in an orphanage as a baby. I left and managed to survive in the Lush Forest all by myself until I was found at twelve and adopted. I want Tsuki to have what I had at twelve, but from the start. Life offers many things, and I want my children to take as many opportunities as they can get.
"You should go talk to Gou before he leaves."
"He already left."
"Wait, really?! I didn't hear the door open or close?"
"I did."
"Oh, right."