| BEDTIME STORY | for @unxfxected
Estinien with his ten-year old hyuran adoptive daughter, Marlene.
»Please read another story. I am not sleepy yet, papa!«
»Ah, quite stubborn, aren’t we? I shall remind you that you used the very same trick on me yesterday. As far as I remember you fell asleep whilst sitting on my lap hence I had to stay in your bed for the entire night. «
The young girl slightly shook her head, apparently in half disbelief – but the man was almost certain she knew that this was the undeniable truth. Of course she had to know.
»Yesterday was different. Please read one more! I promise to be a good girl and sleep then.«
Marlene climbed on his lap again, setting up a suitable smile for a child of her age before she lifted the book inside her hands.
The letters on the back of the book were barely readable by now albeit it had served no purpose for almost two decades – and still he could remember each letter’s shape in brighter days when he had learned how to read and to write.
The tales were simple, stories for little children to teach them about virtue and honor; yet for him they meant more than just mere words and fairytales.
They belonged to an old memory which now lived on; moments of happiness he could share with his family.
His hands snatched the book away, attempting to lay it down on the bedside table ere he noticed the expression of disappointment on her face.
At times he tended to forget she was still younger than he was as he lost his family – and even now, two decades later, his heart had not forgotten.
Those feelings, the memories, would not easily fade; the former green and fertile lands might be buried beneath endless, cold white for years already, but the whisper of the wind had not changed.
The trees were covered with snow by now, partly crushed beneath the heavy weight which was trying to overpower them for the past years, but their sight was still familiar.
One little resemblance to what was lost.
A child would never forget their parents whether they were once loved or mayhap even unloved by them. And it was the same for her.
Marlene was too young on this fateful day when she could no longer claim to have a home or a family – and, in the very end, her life had been crueler than his.
Estinien had never wished for any wealth or even proper meals every single day; being with his family had been more than enough.
Every little smile, their voices had reminded him to be alive; to be happy.
The days had been harsh, full of work and worries, but the little moments when they could take each other’s hands had been the most valuable time of the day.
Yet as Alberic started to take care of him he was reborn.
He grew up with an warm home, warm meals – nay, he was not ungrateful for the years Alberic had offered him.
Due to Alberic’s determination to raise him like his own flesh and blood, not merely as student, Estinien was able to completely focus on mastering the lance.
Without this dedication and his guidance he probably would have never become Azure Dragoon.
Albeit he was uncertain if he ever truly deserved this title…
The façade he had created to avenge his family, to protect what he had learned to love, was paid with more than just his soul and heart.
And when he looked at his adoptive daughter with the very same expression Alberic had showed him for years now, the man finally understood.
It was more than regret or guilt; mayhap it was solely easier to love someone else than to hate oneself for all eternity.
A faint hint of his smile appeared on his lips – mayhap he was indeed foolish to have found new happiness, new hope, by loving this little girl like his own.
It was not of importance that the hyuran girl was not his own daughter; only his feelings were.
»’Twould seem I can hardly say no to my lovely daughter, can I? But this will be the last time. I am minded to teach you how to read tomorrow.«
Opening the book again, browsing through the pages till he found the right one, Estinien pulled his little daughter in a soft embrace.
»For now…just stay in my arms, aye? Pray don’t be scared of behemoths after I’ve finished reading the next tale. Rest assured I will always protect you. Lest you forget, such creature is still no match for your father. Well then…«
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