F/R Drabble (Team Lancer related)
Looking at the night sky that seemed to stretch endlessly, a young woman clutched a necklace in her hands. In the wind from the open window, the woman's blond hair flowed like the sheer curtains beside her. Putting her forehead to the necklace, she prayed hard to the stars above, that could barely be seen that night.
She slowly moved the necklace over to her pregnant belly, as if passing her prayers to the child in her. The woman held the necklace in place, feeling the heartbeat not of her own, but still within her. It was odd, almost magical feeling.
The small heartbeat calmed her down as she took in a deep cold breath. She would die. She’s already dying. But in turn, a small life would take her place. She was scared but excited for that moment to arrive.
If the stars were kind, she would be able to see her child grow before she took her last breath. She looked up at the dim night sky, breathing in the cold winter air for what might be the last time.
There was a small knock on the door.
The woman wanted to get the door herself, having forgotten that her hands have become too weak to roll her wheelchair herself. It wasn’t that long ago that she had lost the ability to walk on her own.
“Come in” she answers, turning her head to face the door diagonally behind her.
A young man walks in, smiling at her, there was a tinge of sadness he couldn’t hide. She couldn’t blame him, how could he face his sister’s death calmly? Alain was always one to love deeply and to hate deeply.
He placed the white lilies he bought gently on the side table beside her. “How’s the night sky?” he asked, pulling a chair and sitting beside her. He looked at the dark sky out the window, knowing there weren’t any stars to welcome them tonight.
The woman nods gently, “it’s beautiful as always".
She recalls when he asks if she was sure, if she was ready to give her magic to the next successor. The young boy protested with all his might, sobbing between his words. She knew her body, she knew why he had reacted this way.
But it was her wish to be a mother, and she had to, in the name of the Astrophel family.
The Astrophels were a family that worshipped the stars, they looked to them for guidance and believed that their powers weren't of their own; but bestowed by the twinkling miracles of the night. It was said that their ancestors were once truly one with the night, and those who pass on will help keep the flame of the torches in the sky. But they had forgotten the teachings and lost their synchronicity with the stars. And when the descendants have truly understood the teachings, the Astrophels will once again be able to stand within the ranks of the lights of the night in life. Generations of Astrophels synthesised their magic into the next, in hopes of finding their way back to the heavens.
Their magic was unique, and required one to have the ability to carry a child in order to master it. It was possible for those who did not to possess magic circuits, but it was often much weaker. The womb was of utmost importance, with most of the magic passed on from the time of birth. With the new life taking that of the one who brought them to this earth.
From the time an Astrophel carries the next generation in the womb, the parent grows weaker and weaker, until the parent withers away as the child grows. And the cycle repeats.
She thought maybe it was a curse she was born with, as an Astrophel, a young girl who was exceptionally strong in magic, but in turn, her body grew weaker with age. Maybe it was the curse of those who worshipped the stars instead of the sun. The night and the dark instead of the light and vitality. Maybe their magic costed their life. She knew too well her pregnancy meant she was stepping into her grave. But it was something she needed to do.
She could only hope her child would not be like her. She could only pray her child would be more like her uncle -kind, caring, smart, stubborn and brave. This child was both the hope of the Astrophel family and the fruit of her love with a man who was not a mage, but was merely a brave man. The man with hair and eyes the colour of charcoal, who came like the summer breeze and left her heart feeling warmer than ever.
The siblings sat in silence, admiring the night sky and the stars hiding behind the veil of clouds.
“The doctor said it’s tomorrow."
“Yeah I know..seems like it’s gone by in a flash. What are you gonna name them?"
“Alice, if it’s a girl ..And Alain Junior if it’s a boy."
“What!? No, that’s a terrible idea!"
“But I thought I should name my child after a great man."
“...You already know it’s a girl, don’t you?"
The woman giggles in response. “But I’m telling the truth, you are a great man Alain. You’re going to be even greater, I just know it! On top of that, you’ll be a great uncle!” the elder sister adds, placing her left hand gently on her belly.
“But you won’t be here to see it..” the young man chokes on his words, tears starting to stream down his face, “I’m going to miss you so much sis, so so much. Please, can you stay instead? Please please please..” his words disappear into his sobs.
“Me too Alain, me too,” she tries to stop her tears, swallowing to keep them down. She guides Alain’s hand over to her pregnant belly, "but you’ll have Alice, she’ll be great. You two will be so good together, I just know it."
Alain sits up straight, and wipes the tears beneath his glasses, he tries to calm his breathing. “Hello Alice", he says to his sister’s belly, “I’m your uncle. And my name is Alain. And you’re gonna be fantastic, just like your mother was. She was a great woman indeed, brave, strong-willed and gentle, and I love her so much.” he says, looking into the eyes of the woman before him.
“Thank you” she mouthed, barely a whisper. She was sure Alice would be happy even after she joined the stars.
[This might follow up with a more Alain perspective of the situation, including more on Alice’s dad and Alain crying- i mean what]
