Everlasting dream (18+)

The morning was quiet and peaceful, the kind that promised a beautiful day ahead. Once hidden behind a blanket of grey clouds, the sky began to clear, revealing a stunning sun that just started to peek over the horizon. It bathed the forest in the colors of warm yellows and vibrant oranges while the wind whispered through the pines, causing their needles to dance and rustle.
, uncovering dewdrops that clung to the grass, making the world glitter and sparkle.
But to Aster, this beautiful scene was lost. The forest around him was a blur of green and brown. The trees and bushes were nothing but an obstacle.
His clothes were soaked with sweat, his breaths ragged and heavy, his muscles screaming in protest. Yet, he had only one goal: to run.
His sister, unconscious, was secured to his back, her limbs tied together around his body, her head lolling against his shoulder. He ignored the pain, the exhaustion, the fear. He just ran. Alone, surrounded by the dangers of the forest, away from home.
'Just keep going,' Aster urged himself mentally, his lungs burning with each heavy breath. He adjusted his hold on his sister's thighs, his fingers digging into the softness of her legs. 'Almost there,' he lied to himself, pushing his body beyond its limits.
In the quiet of the previous day, as his mother dozed peacefully in his lap, he found time to think
Even so, it wouldn't stop all the goblins; there are simply too many of them. It might wound a couple, slowing down the rest slightly.
When Aster reached the destination, the mist was almost gone. It was still early, so the air was chilly and crisp. Aster could see his breath escaping his parted lips in tiny puffs of white steam.
He approached the seemingly random spot in the forest—a natural, rocky wall covered in moss and vines. Waist-high grass and bushes surrounded it, making it difficult for him to reach one particular part of it.
In complete darkness, Aster moved slowly and carefully through the tight corridors and narrow gaps until he finally reached the main cavern. He stumbled forward, almost tripping over the loose, uneven stones illuminated by the bright light streaming in from a hole high in the ceiling.
The familiar, steamy air filled his lungs as he took a deep breath, the faint scent of sulfur and wet stone invading his nostrils. The bubbling water echoed throughout the cave, reminding him of the many happy memories they had made here
birthdays, holidays,
her boots, revealing her cute, slightly dirty feet. Her pink toes curled slightly, making him chuckle. He put them under her head, trying to make lying here more comfortable.
With that, the boy turned around and rushed outside through the dark, tight tunnels. His footsteps echoed and bounced off the stone walls, mixing with his heavy, exhausted breathing. He had a lot of work to do today, and resting was not an option.
"Aster!" Nivalis whispered, her voice a little shaky. Her blue eyes watered, and a gentle smile appeared on her lips. "H-How did it go?" she asked, her gaze quickly scanning her son from head to toe. "Is she alright, honey?" she asked, looking up at him.
He glanced around the cave, noticing how empty it felt without all their stuff lying around. A place where he spent most of his life suddenly became unfamiliar.
"Alright..." Nivalis nodded, exhaling deeply, relieved to hear everything went as planned. "Are you okay?" she asked, gently cupping his cheek, her thumb tracing along his cheekbone. "You look exhausted, sweetie."
Aster leaned into her touch, his hand holding hers. "I am fine, Mom. Just a bit tired, that's all. But I'll manage," he mumbled, smiling weakly. "Are we ready?" he asked, glancing at the pack beside his mother.
"Yes," Nivalis answered, pulling her hand away. "All our clothing and cooking utensils, rags, sewing stuff, your drawing materials, all our herbs... pretty much everything important I found around," she whispered, gesturing towards the heavy-looking sack made from their blanket. "Blankets and the remaining food are in the leather backpack, which I'll carry, along with my bow and arrows. It is not heavy, so I should be fine," she said, gently massaging her injured thigh.
— "Mom, I can take the backpack," Aster insisted, already reaching for the backpack. "You just take your bow."
Nivalis allowed her son to help her put it on and adjust the straps and buckles. "See? Nothing I can't handle," Nivalis smiled, trying to hide the pain from just standing. She was unsure how she would manage the trip. It typically took them an hour to reach there. But now? It would be a miracle if they could arrive before the afternoon.
"Mhmm..." Nivalis murmured, biting her lip. "It helps... thank you, honey."
Nivalis took a deep, calming breath, the smell of pine filling her nose. 'I don't know for how much longer I can keep going... How will I make it?' she asked herself, her blue eyes slowly opening to see her son.
His small hands continued to massage her hurting thigh. 'He's too young to worry about all this. To be burdened by such things. The food, winter prep, safety... It should be my responsibility, not his.'
"I'm sorry, sweetie," Nivalis suddenly apologized, looking down at him.
"Huh? For what?" Aster asked, pausing the massage.
"For everything... I... I am the one who should take care of you. You shouldn't have to worry about anything other than having fun, playing with your sister, and enjoying your childhood," she whispered, gently cupping his face.
His excitement made her giggle, momentarily forgetting her worries. "You're right. It will be nice," she said, pinching his cheek lightly. "Alright, I feel better now. Let's keep going?"
"Are you sure? You can rest a bit more if you want," Aster said while helping her stand up.
His plan became a disaster. Their breaks became increasingly frequent, while their walks became much slower. Three more hours of walking, but they had only made it halfway to the hot spring. It is a miracle that goblins haven't found them yet.
He tried to help as much as possible, making her lean on him more and rubbing her sore muscles during their breaks. But it wasn't enough. At some point, Nivalis couldn't take it any longer. She just fell to the ground, letting out a cry of pain.
"I'll carry you," Aster said, his voice
. "Don't worry, Mom."
"I-I... I'm too heavy, honey, and..." Nivalis tried to protest, looking up at him through her tears.
Aster whispered softly, "Shh, shh," as he sat beside her face and gently tugged down her hood. He stroked her silver hair, weaving his fingers through the strands, whispering, "Everything will be alright, Mom." Then, he pressed his lips against her forehead.
Nivalis clung to him, her arms wrapped securely around his waist, her face pressed against his chest. Aster hugged her back, gently stroking her hair. They stayed like that for a few minutes, holding each other closely.
Aster moved everything to the nearest bush and hid it. He then took a small knife from his boot and quickly marked the nearby trees, making sure the marks could be seen from a distance. All they had left on them were their knives and a bow; everything else he would retrieve later. After putting the knife back in his boot, Aster returned to his mother. "Are you ready, Mom?"
"I am," Nivalis replied, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Alright," Aster said, placing his arms under her armpits and helping her to her feet. His knees shook with the effort, but he remained steady. Once Nivalis stood, Aster turned around, his back facing her. "Just lean against me and relax your legs," he instructed, bending forward slightly.
"O-okay," Nivalis mumbled, wrapping her arms around his tender shoulders and pressing her chest against his back. Her son was too small for her, making her knees touch the ground. She simply relaxed her legs and let her entire body weight rest on her boy.
"
" Aster said, gritting his teeth. 'I can do this,' he thought, taking one careful step after another. His lower back was already screaming in pain. "
" he told her, struggling forward.
"Honey... Just... Stop. You'll hurt yourself. Let me walk. I think I feel better now," she whispered, her heart pounding furiously, worried for her son's health. She could see how much strain his petite, little body was under. "Please."
Aster's mind was filled with thoughts of magic and how amazing it all seemed. He could actually create fire right from his hands just by thinking about it! What could be cooler than that? Nothing.
Even now, he could feel his lungs gathering mana with every strained breath he took, even though his breathing sounded like he was dying. He was not. Aster was, like, ninety-five percent sure of it.
This raw mana gets concentrated in his arteries, lazily drifting around his body, doing nothing. Whenever Aster needs to, his heart changes the raw mana, making it fire-like. It just starts to feel warm inside, so it's all just a guess. Aster likes to call it the "ignited" mana.
It was quite risky to attempt, though. Aster had discovered yesterday that his fire could burn his skin. His palm remained intact only because the flame of his spells hovered high enough above it.
He decided to start with the smallest amount of mana possible and gradually increase it to be extra cautious. A single tiny drop of ignited mana into his left leg would do. He chose to do only one leg to compare the difference between the two.
'Slowly... Slowly,' Aster repeated in his mind, imagining a little droplet of mana inside his chest, like a glowing ember that traveled through his veins, heading towards his left leg. It took a while, but eventually, he felt it — a barely noticeable, warm sensation in the middle of his thigh.
His leg didn't burst into flames, which was a relief. In fact, it didn't even feel painful or uncomfortable. There was just a faint feeling of warmth, as if his skin had been touched by the sun but from the inside. 'Now, let's see the effects,' he thought, taking a few more steps, comparing the difference.
.
Aster thought, imagining two droplets of the same size. It took Aster a while to navigate them to his left leg, and this time, the warm sensation was slightly stronger and lasted a bit longer.
"Let's go. I feel a bit better now," Aster whispered, helping his mother get onto his back.
"Are you sure, sweetie?" Nivalis asked for what felt like the twentieth time. "I can try to walk for a bit," she added weakly.
Aster pushed himself, knowing the sooner he arrived, the sooner he could rest.