Hope, a word that people cling to in times when it might seem hopeless; and it was that same hope, that Nero clung to as his wife threw up more blood.
It was 7ALB, the twenty-two-year-old Nero panicked as his wife's condition was getting worse. Her skin was pale and her breath weak, blood was coming out of her mouth and ears as Nero and the underground city's doctor were trying to help her.
A year ago, a disease infected the Calri River, spreading throughout the upper city, and making its way down towards the undercity. The disease targeted the weak and the malnourished, which was most of Dazarek's population.
As the doctor faced Nero, his eyes brought news that utterly broke the elf's heart, "I think your wife is not going to survive till next summer."
"NO SHE CAN'T!!!" Nero yelled in fury as he grabbed the doctor's collar, "THERE'S ANOTHER WAY!! I KNOW THERE IS!! PLEASE!! JUST PLEASE!!" He begged as tears fell from his face.
The doctor stared in pity, although he was used to this sight, it didn't mean it didn't displease him, "I-I'm sorry mister Nero, I'll let you have your peace with your wife." The doctor left the room, all while Nero groveled in his sorrow.
But just like always, whenever he was sad, someone was always there for him, "D-don't cry will ya?" Manai joked, wiping blood from her mouth. Seeing his injured wife exerting herself, Nero instinctively rushed to her aid.
"Manai, please don't overexert yourself," he pleaded.
"I-I was only talking dumbo," she replied, completely unserious. Her state was horrifying for Nero to see, bandages covering her all over, and even her eyes were blocked from his view.
Nero sat with his fists on the floor, rage and sorrow consuming him, "W-Why! Why are you still joking around?!"
"Because I'm scared," Manai instantly responded, catching Nero off guard. But as he realized what she had said, her words felt like a knife going through his heart, "Do you realize I'm leaving you and Mino behind? I can't… bare the thought of not being there for both of you, so I want to ignore it."
Nero's eyes softened as he held her bandaged hand, "I'm sorry, it's just… when you act like that I also get scared, and I get reminded of what I will lose, I'm terrified not to see your smile every time I come back from getting food, I'm terrified to tell Mino where mommy went, I'm terrified to-"
Before Nero could say more, Manai shut his mouth, and with his watery eyes, Nero saw Manai's trembling mouth, "Please," she begged, "Don't make me more scared." At this, Nero stopped mentioning her illness, instead, he held her tight, as the two talked about the random things they always talk about.
But as it was getting late, Nero went outside of their little room to get Mino back. He looked around, seeing that the state of the people around him wasn't too dissimilar. A lot of crying due to fallen family members, skinny due to the little food that was going into Dazarek, and hopeless, due to their bleak future.
As Nero went down some stairs, he opened the door to see his now three-year-old daughter, playing with the child of his best friend, "Mino! Mommy's alright now," Nero called, trying his best to hide the tightening in his throat.
Sitting on one of the chairs was Ga'Trul, his face sympathetic to the state Nero was in, afterall all, a few months ago his wife also fell to the same disease.
"Okie, I'm going to get my shoes," the little girl remarked as she waddled over to where she had left her shoes. But while she was trying to put them on, Ga'Trul came up to Nero, whispering questions about his wife's condition.
There was utter horror on his face as Nero painfully retold what the doctor had said. Manai was someone who held heavy importance in Ga'Trul's life, but his tears weren't that of his pain, they were that of Nero's, "I'm… sorry," the orc whispered, trying not to get the two kids' attention.
Nero gave him a weak smile as Mino came up towards him, "Why are you crying, uncle?" The little elf goblin asked, her green eyes spoke of so much innocence, one Ga'Trul didn't want to ruin.
"N-nothing, do me a favor would you? When you see your mommy, love her lots 'kay?" The orc asked, leading the little girl to nod. Nero and Mino left the house, waving goodbye as Ga'Trul could only watch on with sorrow.
For the next few months, Nero and Manai's friends visited them daily, bringing gifts to the family even when they had very little. Ga'Trul, Manai, and Nero would sing songs every day, songs that they used to sing when they were kids themselves.
But one night, as Nero's family was about to sleep, the very weak Manai suddenly held Nero's hand, getting the attention of the elf, "What is it?" He asked, sitting up. But as he was rising, Manai pulled him back to lying down, "What's the problem Manai?"
"Nero," she called, "Remember when me and my mom found you on the shore of the river?" The elf's ears perked as flashes of that memory entered his mind.
"Yeah?" He asked in a puzzled tone, not knowing where this was going.
Manai smiled, "It was my favorite memory ya'know, my first time seeing my prince in wet rags," she joked, causing Nero to chuckle. But after a silent bit, Nero, with his other hand, ran his fingers through the goblin's hair.
"Yeah, me too, I have seen a lot of princesses around Zeroth when I was younger, turns out my perfect princess was a silly goblin who can't even express herself correctly," replied Nero, as he heard Manai laugh a bit.
Another silence filled the room, but it was interrupted as Manai opened her mouth again, "Nero, could you cast a light?" Manai asked while Nero heard a bit of ruffling in the shadows.
"What for?" He asked.
"...Just do it… please." As Nero heard that last word, he chanted the Magic Art Illumination. And there, in the little hole they call home, Nero saw the brown eyes of his beloved Manai, with the whites of them being bloodshot red.
"Manai!" Nero yelled in a quiet tone, "You'll hurt yourse-" But before he could continue, Manai put a hand over Nero's mouth. The disease Manai bore made even opening one's eye painful, so bewilderment and horror came over Nero's face as he stared at her eyes.
But the more he looked, he saw her smile, a gentle smile, one she rarely presents, "That's the face," she remarked, her voice course and rough. With her hand, Manai reached out for Nero's face, touching it as she gently caressed it, "My dear Nero, oh how much I love you," she uttered, causing the elf to start tearing up. But as Nero was crying, Manai's eyes turned under her, clutching her belly with her little hands, her dear Mino was sleeping comfortably in the presence of her mother, "My beloved Mino, I hope the future treats you well."
Manai moved her hand again, putting it on top of Mino's head as she caressed it. The night was long for Nero, as he and Manai talked for hours, but as tiredness overtook them, the two called it a night, as they closed their eyes, and slept.
Nero heard rustling beyond the dark abyss of his dreams, one of a child talking to someone. The streetlight illuminated the small hole where Nero and his daughter were, causing the elf to reel back as his eyes were trying their best to get used to the light.
"Oh! Daddy's awake now!" Mino called in an excited voice, rushing towards her father's side.
Shocked by her energy, Nero asked in a groggy tone, "What's got you so hyper?" The elf asked.
"Mommy's going to be very strong today!" The little girl confidently remarked, as Nero was reminded of the talk he had with Manai the previous day.
"Is that so?" He asked in a joking tone, "Why'd you think so?"
"Because she's sleeping very well, no matter how much I move her to talk to her, she doesn't wake up like normal."