Azure was carried gently to his room and gently laid down on his bed. His breathing was shallow, lips slightly parted as if gasping for something just out of reach. The dried blood along his nose stained his pale skin, and his face had lost the usual life in it, appearing sickly and fragile.
The doctor arrived soon after, carrying his satchel of tools and medicines. Count Wilson stood silently beside the bed, arms folded tightly. Lady Fiona hovered over the headboard with a cloth in hand, while Glenn and Rowan stood a step back, unsure whether to step closer or stay put.
After a few minutes of careful examination-pressing Azure's temples, checking his pulse, and casting a minor diagnostic spell- the doctor stood upright with a deep sigh.
"His mana core is unusually weak," He said. "But from the condition of his mana flow, it seems a significant amount of mana was used. This strain... it's put a pressure on his brain. It's not from any past injuries- it is from overexertion."
He took a glance at Count Wilson. "He's a child my lord. A man core this delicate can't handle such output. He must have pushed himself too far."
Fiona's brows furrowed. "But...he's not cast anything publicly."
The doctor shook his head. "It might have been in private. Regardless, he needs complete rest now. No magic usage, no stress, no emotional agitation for the time being. Please be careful-next time, it won't be this mild."
He handed Fiona a small pouch of medicine. "Twice a day. He should recover if he doesn't push himself again."
As the door clicked shut, silence returned.
The room felt strangely cold. Once, it had been vibrant-with crystal figurines, soft toys, enchanted lamps, and little glowing feathers that danced in the rain. But now, the colours were gone. The walls looked bare, with just a bookshelf and a few artifacts remained.
Wilson took a few steps forward and sat on a little chair. He looked at his son's face for a long time.
'when did this room become so empty...?' He wondered.
He remembered once standing here, watching Azure laugh as he played with a light orb. That was before she died. Before he locked himself up in his study. But he handed Azure's care over to the maids and servants. And now, he realised-he had barey looked properly at his son in years.
"I didn't even realise his mana was this fragile...Would things have been different if I had just tried to talk to him back then?"
Fiona sat by Azure's side and gently wiped his face with a damp cloth. She looked at him with a faint mixture of guit and sorrow.
She had always admired Azure's beauty, maybe even envied it once. She wanted to cherish him, like the child she had dreamed of. But the moment they met he had looked at her with such hatred-accusing her of stealing his father, of killing his mother.
'I was afraid of the child,' she admitted silently. 'So I took the easier path. I turned away.'
But the smile he had given her recently-soft and unsure-had stirred something in her chest. And now, watching him like this, unconcious and fragile, made her chest ache.
'I should have tried to understand him. He was just a boy-a lonely, hurting boy.'
Meanwhile, Glenn and Rowan stood stiffly near the window. Their expressions were conflicted.
"He's... different now," Glenn muttered, almost in a whisper.
Rowan nodded his head, hands folded tightly. His sharp eyes were still cautious, but their was a hint of unease in them-maybe even concern.
They hadn't forgiven Azure, not yet. The memories of his harsh words and sneering looks weren't easily erased. But this... seeing him like this, broken and pale, didn't sit well with them either.
"...Wierd." Rowan finally muttered, eyes flicking to Azure's face but quickly turned away.
Just then, Azure stirred in his sleep. His brows furrowed, and a quiet whimper escaped his lips.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
-Inside Azure's Dream-
I stood in darkness.
There was no sky. no ground. Just an endless stretch of light. But just then, flickers of light began to form-like shards of memory forcing their way into existence.
I found myself standing in a large room. Count Wilson stood before me, angry.
[Just what kind of behaviour was that during the wedding, Azure? Why were you behaving so rudely to everyone?]
My voice answered back before I could even think. Cold. Indifferent.
[I didn't feel like it.]
What kind of response was that? Was that even me?
[This brat-! Listen, if you act out in the dinner this evening then I won't be easy on you!]
The scene shattered, replaced by a long dining table. Everyone was dressed neatly. I stood up and screamed-
[You were the one who killed my mother! You married father after killing her! I'll never forgive you!]
My vice trenbled, filled with hatred. Fiona's eyes widened.
Again the vision shifted. Another memory. Then another.
Me, throwing things in my room. Me, ripping a book apart Rowan gave me. Me, sneering at Glenn's swormanship. Me, pushing Rowan off the boat as I laughed loudly.
The flood of scenes didn't stop. One after another, they crashed into me like waves.
And then it all stilled.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Azure's eyes flew open.
His breath hitched as tears began to spill down his cheeks. He sat up slightly, his shoulders shaking.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
The words spilled out before he could stop them. They weren't rehearsed. They came from deep within, drawn from pain and guilt that wasn't entirely his-but felt too real.
'Why am I crying?' He thought, confused.
Those were the original Azure's memories. That wasn't him. He hadn't done any of those things.
And yet...
The tears wouldn't stop.
Maybe... maybe this body still carried the heart o a child who had only known pain and lonliness. Maybe some emotions lingered in the blood and bones, too strong to ignore.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
-Somewhere in the dark-
A figure stood in front of a glowing blue screen. Azure's sleeping form was reflected in it.
The figure chuckled darkly. Then laughed.
"Serves him right! Now let's see how far he goes with his magic!"