A sharp, burning pain coursed through my soul.
It jolted me awake.
The scenes I had witnessed — the nightmare, the slaughter — it was all still fresh in my mind. I gasped for air, trembling as I tried to make sense of where I was.
Then I saw them.
My father — battling the skeletal nightmare with relentless fire, his flames scorching through the armor of the Death Familiar.
His blade gleamed with divine fury, and above him soared a massive phoenix, its blazing wings illuminating the heavens.
It cried out—a long, defiant screech that sent shivers through the atmosphere. Its crimson gaze met mine for a brief moment.
Then it dove.
Flames engulfed the battlefield as the skeletal figure staggered under their holy intensity.
Then my mother appeared, summoning not one, but two more familiars. One was a floating eye with wings; the other, a graceful crane with feathers that shimmered with sacred light.
They bolstered my father's strength, and together, the inferno intensified.
"KKKAAAAAA…!"
The skeleton screeched as its dark armor cracked and melted. My father extended a burning tendril of soul-fire from his chest and reached forward.
"I won't let you return to your master!" he roared, his voice echoing like thunder.
The skeletal creature's ghostly soul emerged, trying to flee.
But father caught it in his fiery grasp.
"GRRYYYAAAAAAGGGHH…!"
And then… it was incinerated.
Gone.
Disintegrated.
Silence returned to the skies.
…
What did I see before?
That vision… the horror of it all…
Why did I think they had died?
"Hahh… hahh…"
"Leon, stay with us!"
My mother's voice — gentle, soothing, real — reached my ears.
Then came my father's.
"Leon!"
They were here. Alive.
Warmth returned to my heart.
I tried to respond, but darkness claimed me again.
And I drifted into unconsciousness.
.
.
.
When I finally awoke, I found myself lying on a soft, warm bed.
Above me was a canvas tent, the leather stitched with colorful tribal patterns. Wooden furnishings surrounded me — carved by hand, with a child's charm. Some of the furniture was even decorated with rough little toys.
One of them caught my eye — a wooden doll with silver hair and a blue dress. A striking resemblance to Aquarina.
Where… am I?
As I sat up slightly, the tent's flap opened, and someone peeked in.
"Leon, are you awake yet—ah?! Leon!"
Aquarina rushed inside, eyes wide with joy and worry. She threw her arms around me, hugging me tightly.
"Aquarina…?"
"You're okay! You're really okay!"
Her soft white hair brushed against my cheek, and her tiny hands gripped mine.
I returned her hug gently, brushing her hair as she pressed her head against my chest.
"I… I'm fine," I whispered, though my body still felt cold.
"You sure?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"Yeah… Just… what happened? Where are my parents?"
"They're just outside eating," she said softly. "They were here a little while ago."
"I see…"
I leaned back onto the pillow with a long breath of relief.
"We're in the Amazon Tribe now. Your parents brought you here after… after that thing."
That thing…
"Do you know what happened to me?" I asked.
Aquarina nodded. "Auntie Faylen said… you were hit with a curse. A really bad one. The skeleton thing — it didn't even have to cast a spell. Just looking into its eyes… it showed you a horrible vision."
"…So it was all a curse?"
Aquarina nodded again. "Uncle Allan burned it up. You were just caught in the nightmare it gave you… but your mom healed you after."
A curse…
It felt so real.
Every second of it. Every agonizing moment.
I thought I had lost them.
That vision — it broke something inside me.
"I really thought they were gone," I whispered. "It was so vivid… I saw them die. I saw myself die…"
Aquarina's hands squeezed mine tightly.
She looked into my eyes, her sapphire gaze firm but filled with concern.
"Mom said… when we feel scared, we should think of the people we love," she murmured.
My heart clenched again — but this time, it wasn't from fear.
"Thank you," I said quietly.
Aquarina held my hand and gently petted my head.
And then the tent flap opened again.
"Leon!"
Both of my parents rushed in, hugging me tight from either side.
I nearly started crying again as their warmth embraced me.
"I had such a horrible dream… I… I love you. I love you so much…"
"Oh, Leon…"
"We're here. We're always here," my father whispered, kissing my forehead.
Aquarina was squished between us, giggling softly despite the moment.
I should've felt embarrassed.
But right now, I didn't care.
Because they were alive.
And so was I.
And that nightmare — that fear — had been washed away by their love.
But within my chest… something stirred.
Something strong.
Something fierce.
A blazing resolve, unlike anything I had ever felt before.
I will become stronger. Strong enough to protect the people I love. Strong enough to make sure that nightmare never becomes reality.
…
…Okay, that sounded a bit cringe. No way I'm saying that out loud.
But still…
One day…
I'll be someone who can stand tall beside them.
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