"Barbara, I think it might be best if you reconsidered." Timothee whispered to me just as I was feeling better, taking my hand and kissing it once more. "This is a great opportunity, dear. Besides... Dwarf Altairs knows Fae Aurora."
I fell silent; Dwarf Altairs was no longer there. He had returned to his pavilion, feeling unwell. I sighed, folding my legs wearily, fists clenched on my thighs. Timothee gently stroked my back, trying to soothe me.
I was still pondering Fae Aurora's last words. "I just don't understand why he doesn't want to train me himself, Timmy."
"Let it go. Don't dwell on it. If you think about it too much, you might fall ill. It's getting late, darling. You should take a bath and rest," Timothee squeezed my hand.
"Timmy, don't you find it a bit strange?" I turned to him.
"What's strange?" Timothee asked.
"I don't know. It's just that something has felt very odd lately. Ever since mom came here, the food has started to taste bland and overly fragrant. I can't quite place the scent, but it's like flowers or something similar." I shrugged.
Timothee chuckled, then slapped his forehead. "Goodness, did I forget to tell you about the large flower field nearby? I also forgot to have them cover it with a glass roof. The pollen must be drifting into the mansion."
"The problem is, it's only affecting mom, Timmy?" I mumbled.
"Honey, I don't understand what you're talking about." Timmy offered his opinion.
"You're right, this is a bigger issue." I winked and smiled at him. "Maybe I'm just overthinking it." I waved my hand, trying to divert the attention.
"I'll have them cover the roof with a glass one." Timothee murmured.
"Well. Whatever." I mumbled then got up to head to the bathroom. I planned to take a shower and then meet Asher and Sawyer who were working on something in their room.
I ignored some troubling thoughts that had been bothering me and went straight to take a shower. After the shower, I didn't immediately go to Asher and Sawyer's room. I stopped by Fae Aurora's room, seeing she was already deeply asleep that afternoon.
"Let her rest, Luna." A voice so sudden startled me.
"Dave?" I raised my eyebrow. "Haven't you returned to the pavilion yet?"
Dave looked awkward and scratched the back of his neck which I'm sure wasn't itchy, his eyes avoiding mine as if hiding something.
"I...uh, actually came back to check on you," Dave admitted, his cheeks turning slightly pink.
I felt a warm flutter in my chest at his words, but quickly pushed it aside.
"Well, I'm fine. Just needed a break from all the noise," I replied, trying to sound casual.
Dave nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he finally turned to leave. "Alright then, I'll let you get back to your rest. Take care, Luna."
As he walked away, I couldn't help but gaze intensely at his back. Maybe there was more to Dave than I had initially thought.
cough! cough!
I was startled when Fae Aurora coughed, prompting me to quickly rush to her bedside.
"Mom, what's wrong?" I asked anxiously as I rubbed her back.
"I-I'm sorry, dear. I must have caught a cold," Fae Aurora replied weakly, her voice raspy and eyes watery.
I immediately gave her a glass of water. "Are you sure it's just a regular flu, mom?" I pressed, worried about her health.
"It should pass in a few days, dear. Don't worry," Fae Aurora reassured me with a weak smile before drifting off to sleep again.
Like it or not, I nodded in resignation because of it, I had no other choice. With sluggish steps, I headed towards Sawyer and Asher's room. Both were still sound asleep, with faces that looked clean and peaceful.
I smiled at them, feeling relieved they were not involved in the drama I was experiencing. As I was about to leave the room, suddenly Sawyer's door opened, and he came out with a sleepy face.
"You're up?" I asked, patting his shoulder. "Yes, just now," Sawyer replied, yawning. "Is grandma already better, mom?"
I squatted and held Sawyer's shoulder, "Not yet, darling. But don't worry, we will pray together for her recovery." Sawyer nodded and smiled broadly, "Okay, mom." I stroked his head lovingly, "Go take a bath, I will invite you for dinner.
Do you want to eat something?" Sawyer shook his head weakly. It seems that hearing about Fae Aurora falling ill made him depressed.
I hugged him and gave him a kiss on his forehead, "Don't worry, darling, grandma will surely recover."
After that, I went to the kitchen to prepare a simple dinner. Asher was already up and he helped me willingly without taking a bath first. I thanked him with a smile, and we chatted while cooking together.
"Daddy isn't having dinner with us tonight, mom?" Sawyer asked with a sad face.
I smiled softly and stroked Sawyer's head. "No, my child, your daddy is meeting someone to sort something out."
"Ever since that night's attack, Dad seems to hardly ever see us practice," Asher chimed in. "Is something wrong?"
I sighed and pulled both of my children into a hug. "Daddy is trying to keep us all safe."
Both kids fell silent. Sawyer pouted. "What do you mean, mom?" he asked innocently.
"You'll understand as you grow older, sweetheart," I replied, kissing their foreheads. "Now, let's have our dinner and get ready for tomorrow."
"So when can Daddy watch us practice again? We're tired of being trained by Mr. Frog," Sawyer asked again, his voice pleading.
"You'll practice with Daddy again once everything is settled, dear," I answered with a gentle smile. "Until then, we must stay focused on our training and prepare for the battles ahead."
Sawyer looked even sadder at my response. I tried to cheer him up, "But don't worry, daddy will definitely be home before you sleep, and tomorrow morning we can have breakfast together as usual."
Right when we started to enjoy our dinner, a chilling blast of wind suddenly swept through our home, blowing out the candles and plunging us into darkness.
"Stay close to me," I whispered, sensing danger.
As my eyes adjusted, I could make out a shadowy figure looming in the doorway. My heart raced, but I quickly ushered Sawyer and Asher behind me, summoning all my courage. The intruder, cloaked in darkness, advanced towards us with a menacing aura.
With precise and practiced movements, born from years of secret training, I managed to fend off the attacker, ensuring my sons remained unharmed.
However, in the heat of the confrontation, the intruder vanished into the night as swiftly as they appeared, leaving us with more questions than answers.
Despite the fear, I felt a fierce determination swell within me.
"It's okay, we are safe," I assured my sons, hiding my own trembling hands. Yet, in my heart, I knew this was far from over.
Blood mysteriously oozes from my hand, quickly drying and leaving behind a numb trail that is unsettling. How could it be that suddenly, an intruder appears from the silence? Through which gap did he sneak in? And how could he freely step into our mansion, which is tightly guarded by many guards outside?