The next morning, soft sunlight filtered through the small cracks between the stones covering the cave. The air was still cold, and the atmosphere inside felt quiet, with only the faint sound of Izzan's breathing breaking the silence. He woke up slowly, sitting on the bear skin mat he had made the night before, feeling exhausted from the heavy events of yesterday. Suddenly, a soft voice made him jump.
Mira: "Izzan...?" Her voice was gentle, almost like a whisper. Izzan quickly turned, his heart pounding. There, his mother, Mira, was beginning to open her eyes. Her body still looked weak, but her consciousness was starting to return.
Izzan: "Mother!" Izzan exclaimed, his face full of relief. He rushed to her side, holding her hand. Mira tried to smile, even though her body still felt very weak. "What happened...? Where are we?"
Before Izzan could answer, Athena displayed a health status panel for his mother:
Mira Elric's Condition
Body Temperature: Stable
Mana: 30%
Burns: 60% healing
Status: Weak, malnourished.
Izzan: "We're in a cave, Mother. Father is here too, but he's still unconscious. I've done my best to help both of you."
Mira looked at her son with pride, though her eyes were tired. "You saved us, Izzan... Thank you." Her voice was weak but filled with warmth. She gazed at Izzan with curiosity and slight concern. "But how did you manage to save us? I know you're only seven years old. What could you possibly do?"
Izzan smiled, recalling his skills and accomplishments. "Actually, I've learned a lot since I was young. I can summon golems, create flames, and I even defeated a huge, dangerous bear. His name was Grizzle."
Mira looked surprised and impressed. "You can do all that? I didn't know you were already so talented..."
But the pain in her body started to make her feel faint again. She stroked Izzan's face with pride. "You're a genius among geniuses on this continent. We're so proud of you."
As they spoke, Athena provided advice:
Athena: "Considering your mother's condition, Izzan, she needs more fluids and nutrients to speed up her recovery. Purified bear blood can help maintain her nutritional balance for now."
Izzan: "Okay, Athena. I'll make a potion from the purified bear blood."
But as Izzan stood to start, his mother suddenly grabbed his hand, her face filled with worry.
Mira: "Izzan... What are you going to do?"
Izzan gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm going to make a drink for you, Mother. You need energy to recover. Don't worry, everything will be fine."
Flashback:
Izzan suddenly remembered a critical moment from his previous life, where he was poisoned during a secret mission. In that situation, he had to use all his limited medical knowledge to survive. He made an emergency potion using ingredients he found nearby.
In the flashback, Izzan first searched for natural ingredients that could be used as an antidote. He found several medicinal plants around the mission site, like Gynoria, a plant with strong detoxifying properties, and Essira, which acted as a pain reliever. He began by gathering the two plants, then boiling them in water until their extracts were released. He also used Pure Charcoal Powder to filter the poison out of his system. After boiling, the potion was stirred until it reached the desired consistency, and he administered it to himself to fight off the poison.
Back in reality, Izzan frowned, but now with a stronger resolve. He turned to Athena. "I'll do the same thing. I've survived situations like this before. I can make a simple potion to help Mother."
With Athena's assistance, Izzan began mixing the available ingredients, including purified bear blood and some plants they had found along their journey.
Athena: "Add the extract from the Veridale plant, mix it with the Roldek seeds you gathered yesterday, and boil it with bear fat to create a healing effect."
Izzan: "Veridale and Roldek... Right! This is just like before..."
After some time, Izzan finished making the simple healing drink and brought the cup to his mother.
Izzan, with a faint smile: "Mother, drink this. It may taste bad, but it will help you recover."
Mira looked at the cup hesitantly, but she trusted her son. She drank the potion, and a bitter taste immediately filled her mouth.
Mira: "This... is very bitter..."
Izzan: "I know, Mother. But taste isn't important right now. What matters is that you get better."
Athena: "Exactly. Nutrition is more important than taste. Focus on recovering your body."
As Mira drank the potion, Izzan and Athena exchanged a small laugh (Athena's laugh sounding through the system's voice), and suddenly, Mira felt a chill run down her spine.
When Mira finished the potion and the bitterness began to fade, Izzan saw that her condition had slightly improved, though she still appeared weak. Filled with curiosity, Izzan finally decided to ask about the pendant his father had given him before losing consciousness.
Izzan: "Mother, this pendant... Father gave it to me. Does it have any special meaning? He also mentioned something about an 'uncle' before he passed out. Who is this uncle, and what really happened?"
Mira looked at the pendant in Izzan's hand, her eyes reflecting old memories full of emotion. Her voice was weak but meaningful.
Mira: "This pendant is a relic from our past. I am the daughter of a concubine of the King of Elaria. Your father, Aldric, was a shadow knight commander working directly under the King's orders. His work was very dangerous, and they often faced powerful and mysterious enemies."
Mira took a deep breath, appearing lost in tense memories.
Mira: "When Aldric and I met, we fell in love. Despite his position as commander keeping us apart often, we decided to marry. We chose to leave Elaria and move to Solus Fortress, seeking a quieter and more peaceful life."
Izzan: "But what happened, Mother? Why did Father mention 'uncle' before passing out?"
Mira: "The uncle he referred to is your father's brother, a very powerful mage. His name is Uncle Alaric. He has deep knowledge of ancient magic and often helped Aldric in his missions."
Izzan: "And what about the attack? Who attacked us?"
Mira: "I'm not entirely sure. However, from the information we gathered, it seems there's a group seeking to control the ancient magic power your father and Alaric possess. They likely targeted us to steal information or power from us."
As Mira told the story, Athena displayed a status panel to assess her condition.
Athena: "Your mother's condition is stable. However, she still needs time for full recovery. Ensure she continues to receive enough nutrition and rest."
Mira then looked at Izzan warmly.
Mira: "Izzan, thank you for taking care of us and fighting so hard to save us. You've grown much more mature and brave than your age suggests. We need to find a way to deal with this threat."
Izzan: "I will, Mother. I'll make sure we get through this and protect Solus Fortress."
As they spoke, Izzan felt the weight of responsibility growing heavier. With renewed determination and spirit, he began preparing a plan to save his family and confront whatever threats might still be lurking.
Athena: "The first step is to regain strength and secure our current location. After that, we can begin searching for more information about the enemy and finding Uncle Alaric for further help."
With a strong resolve, Izzan started preparing for the next steps, ready to face the challenges ahead.