After waking Emily from her sleep, I made my way back downstairs to assist Mom with her various tasks and responsibilities. She was busy preparing lunch, so I offered a hand where I could. Soon enough, Emily joined us, her hair still slightly tousled from her sleep. With a pleasant familiarity, Mom and I plated the food and set it lovingly on the dining table, filled with our usual assortment of comfort dishes.
Once we finished our lunch, I shared a brief, affectionate kiss on Mom's lips before we all headed out of the house. It was part of our daily routine, a comforting ritual that I cherished. However, I sensed that Mom had something weighing on her mind. As she walked, I could see a hint of contemplation in her eyes, though I chose not to pry into her thoughts, respecting her unspoken boundaries.
*Alena's Point of View*
From my seat at the dining table, I observed as Ray and Emily departed for their training session. A wave of nostalgia swept over me, recalling the complexities of my relationship with Ray post-incident. Despite the passage of time, the thought of crossing any romantic boundaries with my son left me feeling apprehensive.
"How I wish I could just be with you without any concerns," I whispered to myself, contemplating the presence of Riya and the implications it had on our bond. With a sigh, I resolved to embrace my feelings more fully, recognizing my admiration for him as more than just maternal affection. After cleaning up the dining area, I approached the window, gazing outside where Ray and Emily trained, feeling a mixture of hope and uncertainty swell within me.
Ray and Emily were both dedicated in their cultivation practices, honing their skills each day with an ardor that seemed almost unrivaled. Their natural talents shone through in their progress, suggesting they would inevitably achieve great heights in their cultivation journeys. However, as I observed them, a knot of anxiety tightened in my chest, overshadowing my admiration for their prowess.
I found myself pondering my future, particularly in relation to Ray. Questions twisted in my mind like a persistent vine: "Will I ever truly be able to remain by his side?" With his potential for greatness, and Emily's undeniable aptitude, I felt an overwhelming sense of inadequacy. I knew my flaws all too well; earlier in my life, I had suffered a severe injury that incapacitated my Qi veins. The incident—an accident borne from youthful recklessness—had left a lasting impact, and the reality was stark: my Qi was forever compromised, and there was no remedy in sight.
Although I frequently urged Ray to be cautious and to prioritize his safety in the face of challenges, I could not shake the feeling of hypocrisy. I was grateful for them both, yet I selfishly feared that my presence would impose limits on their potential. "Even if I were to be with him, what good would I be? A constant reminder of what could have been." The self-doubt swirled within me like a tempest, mingling with the flickering hope that Ray returned my affections. This internal struggle was an enigma I grappled with constantly.
Rather than allowing these thoughts to consume me, I resolved to push them to the periphery of my mind—if fate had a plan for us, perhaps, in time, it would unveil itself. "If it's meant to be, then I will remain close to him, even in the afterlife," I reassured myself silently, drawing strength from that affirmation.
As I glanced at Ray, a gentle smile instinctively crept onto my face, momentarily lifting the weight off my heart. In that fleeting moment, he turned his head toward me, and our eyes met, deepening the connection we shared.
*Alena POV End*
My attention was then drawn to the window, where I could see my mother gazing out with an expression that appeared unusually content.
The sight of her smile filled me with warmth and curiosity. "Has she finally emerged from the burdensome thoughts that weighed so heavily on her?" I wondered, feeling hopeful that perhaps a shadow had lifted from her heart as well.
With a deep breath, I instinctively closed my eyes, pushing aside my swirling emotions and doubts. I redirected my focus to my cultivation. It had always been my refuge, a disciplined practice to calm my racing thoughts and allow me to channel my Qi, even if it was far from what it could have been.
As I began to reenter that focused state, I embraced the determination to cultivate my mind and spirit, seeking growth and peace while letting the complexities of life unfurl as they may.
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After our evening of cultivation, my mom and I had dinner together. During our meal, her demeanor noticeably shifted; she appeared to be more relaxed compared to our earlier interactions that day. Afterward, Emily and I retreated to our room.
Initially, the plan was to engage in some meaningful conversations or activities together, but instead, we found solace in each other's presence, embracing and allowing the exhaustion of the day to wash over us as we drifted off to sleep. However, sleep eluded me, my mind racing with worries.
"I really need to work on my mind and spirit, so I can learn how to remain calm," I thought, reflecting on my mom's situation. The realization struck me that I couldn't simply wait for her to make decisions about her future. Time was limited, especially with my impending departure for the academy. Her hesitation about joining me weighed heavily on my heart.
I understood that I needed to deepen our relationship, to show her that she wouldn't be alone if she chose to come with me.
Leaving her behind could prove dangerous, especially considering Jack's unpredictable nature. He could easily exploit her solitude. Having made up my mind, I resolved to act without delay.
Gently extricating myself from Emily's embrace, I quietly rose from the bed, determined to take the necessary steps to secure my mom.
I exited my room and went downstairs. My mom's room was very close to the kitchen, once I reached her room, I just knocked on the door, and after what feels like 1 minute, she opened the door.
"Ray, what happened?" She said while rubbing her eyes
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There will be another chapter on regular time today.
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