Prologue - Keep Your Eyes Wide Open (2)

Everything was normal at first. As usual, I woke up just as the spring sun Calidis peaked over the horizon, working through the morning chores. My mom had already left for her job. As for my dad...

"How are you feeling today?" I gingerly opened the door to my parents' bedroom. There, laying on the mattress, was a gaunt man, barely able to lift his arms.

"Spry as ever, Cecilia," the man -- my father -- chuckled, his voice hoarse yet nearly silent. "Here to serve me up that bitter concoction?"

"It's medicine, dad. You know this."

"And how much did that medicine cost?"

"Only a few copper, I swear. Ms. Odell knocked down the price after I helped organize her herb stock."

"...you and your mother both..." He knew it was a lie. We weren't particularly well off compared to the others in the village. While my mother did make more than average, my father's illness meant we could only save a couple coppers at most -- a large copper if we're lucky, a large bronze if we weren't. Sometimes, the other villagers would give us some food or medicine, but they all had their own families to take care of. Still...

"You don't have to worry dad. We've almost saved up enough to head towards the capital. We should be able to find you a cure there. It's only a few more days."

"A few more days for five years now."

"It's for real this time." Well, in a hundred days, but close enough.

"Haha, I'll take your word for it," he coughed. "...you know I'll always love you, right?"

"...yeah, dad. I love you too." I gave him a kiss on the forehead before taking my leave.

"...I'm sorry..." Although I had already left the room, my bat ears heard his muttered words. If his tear ducts still worked, he would've cried too.

But there's nothing to be sorry about, dad. I'm the one who wanted to help you and mom out. So, it's fine. I could never say those words aloud, but that's what I believed. Their sad looks only wanted to make me work that much harder. And we were so close too. It's only one more season. One more, and we'll finally be able to head to the capital. And then dad will finally be cured.

So, I can't stop now.