Chapter 39 — Don’t y with gods


    <strong><span ss="userText">[Aster]</strong>


    <span ss="userText">The night was peaceful as the moon shone brightly,<span ss="aiText"> illuminating the sky with its pale light. <span ss="editText">No clouds covered<span ss="aiText"> its glow, and the stars sparkled above. The <span ss="aiText">forest was calm, its inhabitants sleeping peacefully in their nests, dreaming<span ss="editText"> sweetly<span ss="aiText"> about tomorrow.<span ss="userText"> Only the crickets<span ss="aiText"> chirped<span ss="userText"> asionally, and an owl hooted somewhere in the distance.


    <span ss="userText">In three days, Silvia will finally turn ten years old, a day that her entire family eagerly awaits. The family is sound asleep in their warm bed inside their cozy cave, where Nivalis is lying on her back while her two children snuggle up against her on either side, using their<span ss="aiText"> mother''s body as a pillow. Her arms were wrapped around their petite bodies, and her soft bosom acted as a perfect headrest<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">It was a usual night, just like any other night before; however, something wasn''t quite right<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="editText">Aster <span ss="aiText">had a strange feeling that he couldn''t quite exin. A sense of unease lingered in the back of his mind.<span ss="userText"> A feeling that eventually made him wake<span ss="aiText"> up in the middle of the night, his eyes blinking sleepily.


    <span ss="aiText">He<span ss="userText"> yawn<span ss="aiText">ed, stretched, and rubbed his eyes, trying to see better in the darkness. <span ss="userText">While his eyes<span ss="aiText"> adjust,<span ss="userText"> his<span ss="aiText"> ears<span ss="userText"> focus on<span ss="aiText"> the sounds around him.<span ss="userText"> He heard a strange noiseing from his sister''s side of the bed. It was a whimper. A small, pathetic whimper that made his heart skip a beat with worry.


    <span ss="userText">But Aster struggled to see his sister in the cave''s darkness, only able to make out her silhouette. He tentatively reached out and touched her bare shoulder, whispering,— "Sis?" Unfortunately, there was no reply, only a weak moan. Aster asked again, "Are you okay, Silvia?" He shook her gently, hoping to wake her up, and felt the sticky wetness of her sweat on his palm. It was strange for her to sweat because the cave wasn''t hot right now, and the fire had almost gone out.


    <span ss="aiText">"Ngh... n-no..." <span ss="editText">Silvia <span ss="aiText">mumbled quietly<span ss="editText">. H<span ss="aiText">er weak, hoarse voice sounded so miserable, so vulnerable, that <span ss="userText">it made Aster worry.


    <span ss="userText">— ''Is she having a bad dream?''<span ss="aiText"> he wondered,<span ss="userText"> frowning slightly<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="userText"> "Silvia, wake up. You''re having a bad dream," Aster whispered, shaking his sister more firmly. Though he tried to wake her up, she didn''t respond.


    <span ss="userText">He leaned closer to his sister better and saw her pale face glistening with sweat. Her cheeks were flushed, and her face scrunched up as if in pain. Her small hands were tightly clenched into fists, gripping the nket. Her silvery hair was sticking to her forehead, and her breathing was shallow andbored, broken only by incoherent mumbling under her breath.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="userText">— "Mom," he called out <span ss="editText">immediately <span ss="aiText">to his mother<span ss="editText">, squeezing her shoulder<span ss="aiText">. Nivalis<span ss="userText"> groaned in her sleep<span ss="aiText">, slowly waking up.


    <span ss="aiText">"W-what is it, darling? What''s wrong?" Nivalis asked, her voice heavy with sleep, rubbing her eyes and looking at her son.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="userText">— "<span ss="userText">Something is wrong with Silvia<span ss="aiText">," Aster replied, concern evident in his voice.<span ss="userText"> "She''s sweating and mumbling in her sleep. I can''t wake her up," his voice trembling a little.


    <span ss="userText">"Hmm?" Nivalis mumbled, still half-asleep. She blinked a few times, trying to shake off the drowsiness. She then turned to her daughter, who was curled against her, shivering slightly.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis''s expression immediately changed, her wide blue eyes showing concern. She gently touched her daughter''s cheek, immediately noticing how sweaty she was and feeling the warmth radiating from her skin. Nivalis furrowed her brows and said, "You''re right... She''s burning."


    <span ss="userText">"Silvia? Silvia, honey, wake up," Nivalis said with concern as she gently shook her daughter, but Silvia didn''t react. Her daughter''s eyes remained closed. "Silvia, please, wake up," she repeated, <span ss="userText">cupping<span ss="aiText"> her daughter''s cheek<span ss="userText"><span ss="aiText">and caressing it softly with her thumb.


    <span ss="userText">Finally, Silvia opened her golden eyes. She was barely awake, and her gaze was unfocused. "Mommy...?" she mumbled weakly, her voice hardly a whisper.


    "Oh, thank the gods," Nivalis eximed as she let out a breath she didn''t realize she was holding, feeling relieved that her daughter had finally opened her eyes. "Are you okay, Silvia? Can you hear me, my love?" Nivalis asked, gently stroking her daughter''s silver hair tofort her.


    <span ss="userText">"Y-yeah... Mommy, I''m not feeling well," Silvia whispered sickly<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="userText">"I-I don''t know, but... I''m cold... So, so cold... My whole body hurts..." <span ss="aiText">she murmured, her eyelids too heavy to keep open.


    <span ss="aiText">"Aster, honey, could you fetch me water <span ss="editText">and <span ss="aiText">a <span ss="editText">clean piece of<span ss="aiText"> cloth?" Nivalis asked, looking at her son, who nodded and immediately jumped off the bed, going towards the kitchen. <span ss="aiText">Nivalis then carefullyid her daughter on her back, supporting her head and neck, and took a better look at her. She noticed the girl breathing heavily, her <span ss="editText">t <span ss="aiText">chest rising and falling rapidly, glistening with sweat.


    <span ss="editText">Her son<span ss="aiText"> quickly returned with the things she asked for,<span ss="userText"> a<span ss="aiText"> wooden<span ss="userText"> bowl filled<span ss="aiText"> with water and a <span ss="editText">piece of <span ss="aiText">cloth, and handed them to his mother<span ss="userText">, his hands<span ss="aiText"> trembling a little<span ss="userText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"Thank you<span ss="aiText">," Nivalis said, taking the bowl <span ss="userText">from his shaky hands. "Here, my love, drink some water," Nivalis said as she brought the wooden bowl to her daughter''s dry and chapped lips, which were already slightly parted. She poured the liquid into her mouth, making sure she didn''t choke. Her daughter took small sips, swallowing with care.


    <span ss="userText">"There you go," Nivalis murmured, wiping away the stray drops of water from the girl''s chin.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia''s lips curled into a slight smile. "Thank you, Mommy," she muttered weakly. "P-please <span ss="userText">put more logs<span ss="aiText"> on the fire<span ss="editText">...<span ss="aiText">" Silvia pleaded, her lips trembling<span ss="userText"> and her teeth chattering a little.


    <span ss="aiText">"Of course, my love. Just wait a little," Nivalis said soothingly,<span ss="userText"> putting the<span ss="aiText"> wet cloth on her daughter''s forehead. <span ss="aiText">Silvia gave her a weak smile, taking a deep<span ss="editText">, <span ss="editText">ragged <span ss="aiText">breath.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis stood up and walked over to collect a few logs from the corner of the cave. She carefully ced them onto the fire, causing the dying mes to dance and crackle with<span ss="aiText"> renewed vigor<span ss="userText">. After a few minutes, the warmth radiating from the burning wood filled the cave, making the air inside feel a lot warmer. "Is it better now, Silvia?" Nivalis inquired, returning to her daughter''s side.


    <span ss="userText">"Much better..." Silvia nodded, not opening her eyes. "Thanks," she added<span ss="aiText"> with a <span ss="editText">faint <span ss="aiText">smile.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis sighed as she gently stroked Silvia''s flushed cheek, holding her hands with the other. Her mother''s caress made the girl rx<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> letting herself fall into<span ss="aiText"> a deep, peaceful sleep<span ss="userText">, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm<span ss="aiText">. "Poor thing..." Nivalis whispered, not wanting to let go of her hand, her expression filled with concern.


    <span ss="userText">— ''I don''t know anything about this world''s diseases. Is this a normal thing, or should we worry about it?'' He thought, looking at his sleeping sister, his heart pounding wildly. <span ss="aiText">"Is she okay, Mom?" Aster <span ss="editText">finally broke the silence<span ss="aiText">, unable to hide his worry, sitting beside his mother.


    <span ss="userText">She made a long exhale.<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">It happens<span ss="aiText"> from time to time<span ss="editText">, honey.<span ss="aiText"> When I was young, I had many fevers, too. It''s normal<span ss="editText">,<span ss="aiText">" Nivalis answered, giving her son a reassuring smile, her hand resting on his bare leg, rubbing it gently. <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Don''t worry, darling. <span ss="aiText">Let<span ss="userText">''s<span ss="aiText"> let her rest and see how she is in the morning," she continued, kissing her son''s head.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="userText">— "O-okay," the boy<span ss="userText"> whispered<span ss="aiText">, leaning<span ss="userText"> against<span ss="aiText"> his mother, <span ss="userText">his golden eyes full of worry as he watched<span ss="aiText"> his sister''s chest rise and fall<span ss="userText">.


    <span ss="userText">Throughout the night, Nivalis and her son could not sleep as they were too worried about Silvia''s health. They stayed awake, keeping a close eye on her and remaining alert if anything happened. <span ss="userText">Her condition didn''t seem to improve, though. Silvia kept shivering and sweating all night, speaking incoherently, and periodically waking up toin about feeling cold, no matter how<span ss="aiText"> high the fire was or how many nkets her mother and brother wrapped her in.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis was worried as the morning light pierced through the sides of their wooden door. She didn''t know how to help her daughter and feared that her condition might worsen even more. Since she didn''t have any medicine to treat her, all Nivalis could do was only give her enough water and food and keep this little girl warm. And pray for her daughter''s recovery.


    <span ss="userText">Looking at her children, she noticed that her son had finally fallen asleep, lying beside his sister, his face buried in her hair. He had his hands wrapped around her waist, holding her tightly. The boy got exhausted from staying awake all night.


    She took a damp cloth and carefully shifted the nkets to clean her daughter. She wiped away all the sweat from her body, treating her arms, legs, belly, and thighs with her motherly care. Once she had cleaned her thoroughly, she dipped the cloth into the bowl, wrung it out, and gently ced it on Silvia''s forehead to try and ease her fever. Silvia''s flushed face twitched a bit at the sudden temperature change, and she mumbled something, but her eyes remained closed.


    <span ss="userText">...


    <span ss="userText">When Aster plucked the Moonflower, it started to change<span ss="aiText"> its color<span ss="userText">, glowing<span ss="aiText"> softly. The white petals turned into a bright shade of<span ss="userText"> blue<span ss="aiText">, making the whole flower shine like a sapphire<span ss="userText">, just <span ss="userText">like his mother''s eyes. But as seconds<span ss="aiText"> passed, it was evident that the <span ss="userText">blue color couldn''t cover<span ss="aiText"> the entire flower, as if there was a force stopping it. The blue coloration was confined to the edges of the petals, with the middle<span ss="userText"> part<span ss="aiText"> remaining pure white.


    As the blue glow faded, a new color emerged. It was a shade of gold, just like his sister''s eyes, gradually recing the white center of the flower. The sight was breathtaking; the two colors harmonized with each other beautifully, <span ss="editText">symbolizing his love for his mother and sister.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis''s and Silvia''s eyes were wide with surprise and fascination. The coloration was mesmerizing, and they couldn''t tear their gazes away.<span ss="aiText"> Aster''s golden eyes shone from happiness, and his smile was beaming, proud of his creation.


    <span ss="aiText">"Oh, honey<span ss="editText">...<span ss="aiText">" Nivalis whispered in disbelief<span ss="userText">, not sure how to react.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Asty! Why did you<span ss="aiText"> do that<span ss="editText">!<span ss="aiText">?" Silvia suddenly shouted at<span ss="aiText"> her brother, <span ss="aiText">her hands crossed over her chest. "Didn''t you hear Mom''s story?<span ss="userText">!<span ss="aiText">"


    Aster was at a loss for words and looked down, unsure how to respond. He started worrying.— "Well, shit. Did I make them angry instead? What should I do now?" he wondered. "Maybe I shouldn''t have done that..." his hands started trembling as he held the Moonflower tightly, afraid to lose it.


    He knew it was a stupid decision, but he did it anyway, ''It is toote to regret it,'' he realized. Without saying anything, Aster approached his mother and sister and held out the flower towards them, his eyes avoiding theirs. <span ss="userText">"T-this is<span ss="aiText"> for you. For you two," he mumbled, his voice almost a whisper.


    <span ss="aiText">"Aster... You shouldn''t have done that," Nivalis murmured, gently cing her hand on her son''s shoulder.


    <span ss="aiText">Aster looked up at his mother, his eyes <span ss="editText">meeting hers<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="userText">— "I just wanted to make you two happy," he exined, a sad smile on his lips.<span ss="userText"> "That''s all<span ss="aiText">," he added, offering the<span ss="editText">m the flower again<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"Mom?" Silvia called out, looking at her mother with confusion, unsure<span ss="editText"><span ss="aiText">what to do.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis looked at her son and sighed deeply, her expression conflicted. "You made us happy, my sunshine. But still, you should never do something so reckless," she said, cupping his face with her hands.


    <span ss="userText"><span ss="aiText">— "Sorry," he muttered, lowering his gaze <span ss="editText">again<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">"It''s okay, honey, we''re not mad.<span ss="aiText"> Just a little worrying, that''s all," Nivalis reassured her son.<span ss="userText">She should be angry at him for picking the flower but couldn''t bring herself to scold him. Not after seeing the breathtaking sight of changing colors. Not after realizing what this meant. <span ss="userText">The boy simply wanted to make her and his sister happy, and this was all that mattered.<span ss="aiText"> "You didn''t mean any harm, Aster. Besides, you made us very happy. The flower is gorgeous and has the same colors as our eyes," she said, her voice warm as she smiled at him, her thumb caressing his cheek.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="userText">— "Do you mean it?" Aster asked, looking up at her with hope in his eyes.


    <span ss="aiText">"Mhm, of course," Nivalis nodded, ruffling his hair. "Right, Silvia?" she turned to her daughter, giving her a worried look.


    <span ss="userText">"<span ss="aiText">R-right, Mom," Silvia replied,<span ss="userText"> nodding, <span ss="aiText">her anger fading away<span ss="editText"> as she realized<span ss="aiText"> that her brother risked only to make them happy. "<span ss="userText">Thank you<span ss="aiText">, Asty," she<span ss="userText"> smiled<span ss="aiText">, looking at the flower, admiring its beauty. "<span ss="userText">It<span ss="aiText">''s beautiful," she said, her golden eyes twinkling.


    <span ss="userText">"It is. Truly magnificent flower,"<span ss="aiText"> Nivalis said, nodding approvingly. She turned her attention back to her son<span ss="editText">,<span ss="userText"> taking the flower from his slightly trembling hands,<span ss="aiText"> and <span ss="editText">hugged him<span ss="aiText">, pulling him against her. "Thank you, my little boy," she said, kissing his forehead<span ss="userText">.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="userText">— "You''re wee," Aster mumbled,<span ss="userText"> finally breaking the hug<span ss="aiText">. He<span ss="userText"> smiled<span ss="aiText"> at his mother and sister, happy that he could make them happy.


    <span ss="userText">...


    <span ss="userText">Aster woke<span ss="aiText"> up <span ss="userText">in thete evening<span ss="aiText">, his face buried in the silvery strands of his sister''s hair. He<span ss="userText"> groaned<span ss="editText">, rubbed<span ss="aiText"> his eyes, trying to get rid of the drowsiness, and stretched, yawning loudly.<span ss="userText"> He just dreamed<span ss="aiText"> about <span ss="editText">how<span ss="aiText"> he picked up the Moonflower. A <span ss="editText">faint <span ss="aiText">smile appeared on his lips,<span ss="userText"> recall<span ss="aiText">ing the<span ss="userText"> moment.


    <span ss="aiText">"Are you finally awake, sleepyhead?" A soft voice spoke right next to him. Aster felt a pair of arms wrap around him<span ss="editText"> from behind<span ss="aiText"> and pull him close to the very familiar, warm, soft chest.


    <span ss="userText"><span ss="aiText">— "Mmh, Mom," he mumbled sleepily, resting his head on his mother''s breasts and listening to her calming heartbeat. The smell of his mother filled his nostrils. <span ss="aiText">"How is she?" <span ss="userText">Aster asked, looking at his sister whose silver hair covered her face.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Still<span ss="aiText"> the same.<span ss="userText"> Her fever<span ss="aiText"> hasn''t dropped yet," she answered, her shoulders <span ss="editText">sagging <span ss="aiText">slightly.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="userText">— "Is she going to be okay?" Aster asked, tilting his head back, his golden eyes meeting his mother''s.


    Nivalis smiled down at him reassuringly and removed a strand of hair from his face. "Of course, my sunshine. She will get better soon. Now, let me take care of your hair. You''re a mess," Nivalis started tob his hair behind his ears, her fingers gently running through the silvery strands.


    Aster nodded, but he couldn''t help worrying.<span ss="userText"><span ss="aiText">— "I hope so," he mumbled, feeling helpless. <span ss="userText">He could only do nothing but wait and hope for the best. "Did you stay awake all day?" he asked, enjoying theforting feeling of his mother taking care of his hair. <span ss="userText">It felt nice.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes, I didn''t want to leave her alone," she answered, <span ss="userText">trying to make a small ponytail<span ss="aiText"> out of his long hair<span ss="userText">, tying it with a leather ribbon. "There<span ss="aiText">, that''s better," she smiled, satisfied.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="userText">— "Thanks, mom," he replied,<span ss="userText"> returning<span ss="aiText"> her smile. <span ss="userText">After that, t<span ss="aiText">hey stayed silent for a moment, just watching<span ss="editText"> Silvia<span ss="aiText">''s chest rise and fall with her ragged breathing. <span ss="userText">Nivalis<span ss="aiText"> rubbed her son''s <span ss="editText">shoulders<span ss="aiText">, trying tofort him, her blue eyes shimmering in the light of the fire.


    <span ss="userText">"Don''t worry, honey," she said, pressing his head deeper into her bosom. "Silvia will be alright. It''s just a simple cold," she assured him. Aster didn''t reply. He closed his eyes and lost himself in his mother''s arms, leaning against her.


    <span ss="aiText">After a while, Nivalis broke the silence, saying, "<span ss="userText">How about some dinner, hm?" Nivalis suggested, her hand rubbing his belly. "You should eat something, honey," she added.


    <span ss="userText">— "Y-yeah, I guess,"<span ss="aiText"> he admitted, his stomach growling<span ss="userText"> slightly<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">"Let''s go, I''ll make something for you," Nivalis said as she got up from the bed. Her knees made a creaking sound as she stood, probably due to sitting for too long. She stretched her back and rubbed her eyes, slightly red fromck of sleep. "After you eat, we should try to feed Silvia as well. It''s been a while."


    <span ss="aiText">Aster nodded and followed his mother to the kitchen<span ss="userText">, not bothering to<span ss="aiText"> cover his<span ss="userText"> nud<span ss="aiText">ity<span ss="userText">. It is too hot inside the cave<span ss="aiText"> anyway, thanks to the roaring fire<span ss="userText">. Even Nivalis<span ss="aiText"> only wears a<span ss="userText"> light<span ss="aiText"> green <span ss="editText">top <span ss="aiText">that reaches just below her <span ss="editText">ass cheeks<span ss="aiText">, barely covering her private parts.


    <span ss="userText">She prepared a quick meal for him, a soup made with mushrooms they had picked a few days earlier and some dried meat. The food was as delicious as always, and he began to eat it eagerly, washing it down with a cup of tea brewed from pine needles. However, those mushrooms reminded him of a dream he just had. He couldn''t help but wonder, ''What if she got sick because of that flower?'' his eyes kept drifting back to his sister, and his heart was filled with worry from realization. ''What if this is not a simple cold?''


    His thoughts began to race.<span ss="aiText"><span ss="userText">— ''Mom said that gods would punish anyone who took a Moonflower by taking away something they hold dear...'' he recalled. ''And what the most precious thing I hold dear is...'' his gaze locked on the bed where his sister was sleeping, ''My family.''


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis noticed her son''s expression and guessed what he was thinking about. She gave a long, tired sigh. "<span ss="userText">She will<span ss="aiText"> be fine, honey. <span ss="editText">Don''t worry<span ss="aiText">," she tried tofort her son, patting his back. "These things happen," she added, forcing a smile<span ss="userText">.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="userText">— "B-but, mom..." Aster whispered, his voice shaking. "Is it<span ss="editText">my fault<span ss="aiText">?" he asked, his golden eyes staring at his mother, full of guilt.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis''s expression softened, and she gently hugged her son, bringing him close to her body. "<span ss="userText">How is this your fault, honey?<span ss="aiText">" she tried to reassure him, stroking his back, herrge breasts pressing against him.<span ss="userText"> "We can''t control<span ss="aiText"> these things. It''s nobody''s fault, honey," she cooed.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="userText">— "I-<span ss="userText">I picked the Moonflower... Remember?<span ss="aiText">" Aster protested, his voice trembling. "<span ss="userText">You said it yourself<span ss="aiText">, <span ss="editText">M<span ss="aiText">om. Gods will<span ss="userText"> take<span ss="aiText"> away something<span ss="userText"> dear <span ss="editText">from <span ss="aiText">the person who does it, right? <span ss="userText">I don''t have anything more<span ss="aiText"> precious than Silvia... and you..." he admitted, breaking the hug. <span ss="aiText">His eyes were fixed on the ground.


    <span ss="userText">"Aster, honey," she said softly, cing her finger under his chin and tilting his head, her blue eyes meeting his. <span ss="aiText">"Honey, no," she shook her head and cupped his face. <span ss="userText">"It''s likely just an old fable for children to teach them that picking unknown nts in the forest can be dangerous,"<span ss="aiText"> she exined, her fingers gently brushing against his cheek<span ss="editText">s<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="aiText">"And even if the <span ss="editText">story is real<span ss="aiText">, I doubt <span ss="editText">gods <span ss="aiText">would be so petty to punish a child, <span ss="editText">sweetheart<span ss="aiText">," she added.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="userText">— "Okay..." he mumbled, not sounding convinced <span ss="userText">but desperately hoping his mother was right.


    <span ss="aiText">"I am sure it''s not because of the flower," <span ss="userText">Nivalis sighed and gave her son a gentle smile, kissing his forehead.<span ss="aiText"> "Come, let''s go back to Silvia. We need to feed her," she said.


    <span ss="aiText">Aster nodded, his gaze drifting to his sister once again.<span ss="editText"> T<span ss="aiText">he mother and son returned to the bed, where Silvia was still asleep, shivering slightly, her brow furrowed. Nivalis sat beside her and checked her temperature by touching her forehead, letting out a worried sigh afterward. She gently shook Silvia''s shoulder and whispered, "Wake up, my love."


    <span ss="aiText">The girl stirred a bit, her golden eyes slowly opening. Her expression was nk<span ss="editText">,<span ss="aiText"> and her gaze unfocused.


    <span ss="aiText">"Silvia, honey, I need you to eat something," Nivalis whispered, brushing her damp hair from her face.


    <span ss="aiText">"Ngh... n-no... mom," she mumbled, shaking her head weakly.


    <span ss="aiText">"Please, darling, it''s important. You need to eat," she repeated, her voice a little more insistent.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">U<span ss="aiText">gh..." Silvia groaned, trying to lift her head. But her whole body felt too heavy<span ss="userText"> to<span ss="aiText"> move. She let out a soft whine, closing her eyes.<span ss="userText"> "O-Okay<span ss="aiText">..." she finally relented, her voice hoarse.


    <span ss="aiText">"Thank you, <span ss="editText">sweetie<span ss="aiText">," Nivalis sighed, relieved. "Here, I''ll feed you, don''t worry," she said, holding a spoonful of soup to her lips.


    <span ss="userText">Aster watched them with concern. Silvia appeared to be in a terrible state. Her skin was of a sickly pale color, unlike her usual beautiful one, and it waspletely wet from<span ss="aiText"> the sweat. Her breathing was shallow and uneven, her eyes were ssy and unfocused<span ss="userText"> whenever she opened them, and her long, silver hair was aplete mess.


    After half a bowl of mushroom soup, Silvia could not eat anymore. Nivalis wiped her daughter''s mouth with a cloth and said, "That''s my good girl. Do you need anything else? Perhaps something to drink?" Nivalis looked at Silvia while caressing her cheek.


    <span ss="userText">"No... th-thank you, Mommy..." Silvia mumbled weakly. "Just let me... s-sleep... please..." she added, her eyelids fluttering shut.


    "Okay, my dear, have a good night''s sleep. I''ll stay here with you," Nivalis whispered, kissing her daughter''s forehead gently, her lips lingering for a moment before she pulled back.


    Nivalis let out a deep and tired sigh as she looked at her daughter. "<span ss="aiText">It''s good that she ate a bit," Nivalis said to her son, noticing the worry on his face. "Don''t worry, honey. She will be fine. Just give her some time to rest, and she''ll recover," she reassured him.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="userText">— "Mhm," Aster mu<span ss="editText">tter<span ss="aiText">ed,<span ss="userText"> but a worried look on his face remained, his golden eyes glued to his sister. <span ss="userText">He can''t<span ss="aiText"> stop thinking about the possibility that<span ss="userText"> he<span ss="aiText">''s the reason for her illness.


    <span ss="userText">Mother and son were sitting next to each other inplete silence, only<span ss="aiText"> the crackling sound of the fire filling the room. The<span ss="editText"> mes illuminated their fac<span ss="aiText">es,<span ss="userText"> showing<span ss="aiText"> the concern etched onto them. Aster looked at his mother''s tired face and noticed the dark circles around her eyes.<span ss="userText">— "Mom," he<span ss="userText"> whispered<span ss="aiText">, touching her soft <span ss="editText">thigh<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">"Hmm?<span ss="aiText"> What is it?" Nivalis asked, giving her son a faint smile.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="userText">— "Why don''t you rest for a bit? I''ll stay awake and watch over Silvia. If she needs something, I''ll call you," Aster<span ss="userText"> tried<span ss="aiText"> to <span ss="editText">convince <span ss="aiText">his mother, squeezing her thigh a bit, his golden eyes locked with her blue ones.


    <span ss="userText">"No, honey, I-" Nivalis started, but Aster interrupted her.


    <span ss="userText"><span ss="aiText">— "I''ll watch over Silvia tonight. I slept the entire day anyway. Get some sleep, please,"<span ss="aiText"> he insisted, his gaze pleading. "<span ss="userText">Please<span ss="aiText">, <span ss="editText">M<span ss="aiText">om," he begged, patting her naked thigh.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis stared at her son for a moment, considering his offer. She then let out a long, exhausted sigh. "Alright, honey. I''ll rest a little," she conceded.<span ss="userText"> "But promise me you''ll call me immediately if anything happens, okay?"<span ss="aiText"> she said, her eyes tired.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="userText">— "I will, Mom," he <span ss="editText">said<span ss="aiText">, nodding.<span ss="userText"> "Promise," he smiled.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis smiled back. "Thank you, my love," she thanked him<span ss="editText">,<span ss="aiText"> kissing his cheek<span ss="editText">, and<span ss="aiText"><span ss="userText">removed the <span ss="userText">only piece of clothing she<span ss="aiText"> wore<span ss="userText">. "I appreciate it."


    <span ss="userText"><span ss="aiText">— "No problem," Aster smiled. "Sleep well, Mom."