Book 11: Chapter 31


    Son Theres no point in you waiting here. You cant help Lucia.


    I raised my head up in a hazy state from Lucias bed. I turned around to see Mommy Vyvyan holding a small bottle in her hand. She sighed. I am not willing to acknowledge what Father said, but what he said was true, my dear son. Lucia doesnt have enough mana to nurture the child in her body.


    Are you saying that this is the same for all elves? Are you saying that she cant raise a child just because of her background? If that was the case, why did you want for me to marry Lucia in the first ce?


    Vyvyan sighed. She then walked up behind me and softly replied, I never supported your marriage with her from the start. Your child with Lucia is a vition of the Gdriels tribe to begin with. Son, you should marry somebody with the same lineage superiority as you. That way, you will be able to give birth to a normal child; even I would do. This is how we elves have continued to reproduce and survive until now. Elves encourage free love, but those romances may nevere to fruition. Thats why the integrity of elven mana has been able to be maintained.


    I turned my head around to look at Vyvyan. I smiled helplessly. This is the first time Ive felt elves were such cruel creatures. Two people loving each other, and yet they cant be together. And the reason that they cant be together isnt because of their family backgrounds, but because of lineages and mana stopping them from having children!


    Vyvyan sighed. She handed me the bottle in her hand. This is the elven spring water. You can get Lucia to wake up for a while by using this pure elven mana. However, she can only stay awake for a while, as the child will instantly absorb virtually all of the mana.


    Mom, I want to know something. I took the bottle. I looked at Vyvyan. Who exactly does this child belong to?


    Vyvyan froze She kept silent for a long while. She lowered her head and interlocked her fingers. She didnt answer my question. However, that was the equivalent of answering my question. I sighed feeling hopeless. Its not your fault, mom. Its not your fault. Im very grateful that you helped Lucia and I and put up with my wilful desires.


    I reached my arm out to hug Vyvyan. She wrapped her arms around me gently. She rested her head on my shoulder. I could feel her shaking a little. She hugged me and softly replied, Its all right. Its all right, my son. Its all right, my dear son. Im your mom. Mommy will protect you no matter what you do, when or what you want to do. Mommy will always protect you.


    I stroked moms back. Uhm, Mom. Mom, I want to take Lucia away.


    Where to? Troy City or the North? Troy City is situated in humanitysnds. There is no mana there. The temperatures in the North are extreme. Where do you want to take Lucia to? asked Mom, with a sigh. She then shook her head. Lucia cant go anywhere until she gives birth. She must stay here, for this ce is closest to the elven spring and has the highest level of mana. She requires the elven spring water to stay alive. I know that you want to keep Lucia by your side, but you cant take her away.


    Ill stay here by her side, then. Ill stay here, no matter how long it takes. The North has Freya, while Troy City will be secure and sound. Even if something does happen to it, I wont return. The entire world cantpare to my Lucia.


    I walked up to Lucias side and gently raised her head. I carefully poured the elven spring water into her mouth. I supported her head as I poured the liquid that was now Lucias life force in.


    Your Highness


    Lucia!


    I knew it was you muttered Lucia, apanying it with a soft giggle. She couldnt turn her head, but she tried to hold my hand with her powerless hands. She shut her eyes. Because only you only you would be so gentle with me


    Its all right. Its all right now, Lucia. Im here with you. Im back. Im here with you. Im fine. Im right at your side.


    I tightly hugged Lucias powerless body. Lucia leaned on me with a blissful look. She opened her eyes to look at me. Thats great. I am d you are here. I am d you are here


    I wont leave again. Ill stay by your side until youre okay. I wont leave your side. I promise you that Ill always stay by your side. I wont leave you. I promise!


    Uhm Your Highness I believe you With you by my side, I feel much more reassured reassured


    Lucia head was a little shaky on my chest. She smiled blissfully. We interlocked our fingers on one hand while I stroked her belly with my other. I quietly and gently recounted my experiences in the North. However, I didnt mention anything about Ling Yue to avoid aggravating her.


    Lucia silently listened to me in my arms with a reassured and blissful smile. She didnt say anything, but her hand tightly holding onto mine told me everything.


    I dont know how long I spoke for or when she fell asleep. When I noticed she had fallen asleep, she was already deep asleep, with her short hair sprawled on my chest. She didnt release my hand, nevertheless.


    I smiled, and then ced her back down. I then pulled the nket over for her. I looked at her forehead and gave her a gentle kiss on her lips. Goodnight, Lucia.


    I didnt leave despite saying goodnight. Instead, I sat back down and held her hand. I sat there and looked at her face in silence.


    <em>I said I wouldnt leave, so I wont. I want to stay here by her side. Lucia beared with all of this while I was away. She beared with all this pain with her small body, yet didnt shed a tear in front of me. Im here by her side now, so I want to protect her from her side.</em>


    <em>Nier doesnt need me to stay at her side. Shes very well. Lucia is too understanding, so she never asked me to stay by her side. Im her husband, though. I made an oath, saying that we would never separate when we got married, and we still dont want to separate from each other.</em>


    <em>And so, I will not let any harm befall Lucia. I will not let harm befall our child. I will stay by Lucias side until she can take the initiative to embrace me.</em>