Side Story 15: Mother (11)
We fell silent for a long while in that state.
“Is this brok…”
“No. this orb is confirmed through testing with precisely thirty eight people within the duchy who are in parents and children biologically and twenty eight people who are siblings, thirty people who are grandparents and grandchildren. When they calculated the equation before creation, they also counted in possibilities of blood and mana being diluted. So this only reacts with the closest kin; between a parent and a child.”
So there was no possibility of me being a distant relative or a long lost sister of Abel’s birth mother who may be alive somewhere like a cheesy soap opera.
Though how clearly Hades dealt with the issue was astonishing to me, the problem was…
“I gave birth to Abel? But I don’t remember anything.”
“I said I don’t either.”
“Father, then…”
Hearing what we were saying, Abel suddenly folded and stretched his fingers a few times counting, then freaked out.
“Just how old was mother when she had me…”
Shocked, Abel stared at Hades like he was looking at an uncivilized beast.
Ah, that was understandable…
As I was twenty five now and Abel fourteen, it would mean that I gave birth to Abel when I was eleven and have done the deed with Hades even earlier than that.
About ten? I suppose? Was Deborah 10 years old now?
Seeming that he was recalling Deborah like I did, Abel gave out a dispirited laugh with his mouth agape.
“Just what kind of…”
“No, what are you thinking?!” Hades shouted and Abel charged into my arms at once. We held each other, shaking.
“Mother, is this true?”
“I can’t really say. I almost came back from death when I was eighteen, but I don’t have memories of times before that.”
“Huh, are you kidding me?”
Hades shot up and was beating on his chest in frustration. Looking at him doing so, I couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter. Abel looked at me curiously.
“But I don’t think your father would be such a bad person. Mom’s body probably wouldn’t be ready to have you when I was ten.”
“I-Is that so?”
Looking at Hades relieved as Abel stopped staring at him with disbelief, I added.
“Though I can’t say that for sure since each individual’s growth speed varies…”
“Aisha!”
“Ah, it was a jest, a jest.”
What a sight it was, Hades’ face red and blue from anger.
Seeing me who was crying before and now acting mischievous even, he let out a sigh and sat on the floor with his legs sprawled.
“I know that you don’t like recalling that event, but when I met Gaionia in Orcus the first time,”
“Yes.”
“At first he told me to just go back if I value life. He said that I would fail ‘again’ anyway.”
“Again… what do you mean?”
“Well, I couldn’t understand that either. But now that I think about it, well…” Hades halted, hesitant to say it. “It seemed that wasn’t the first time I’ve gone to find Gaionia in order to undo your curse.”
“What?”
Abel in my arms also flinched in surprise.
“I assume that I have already failed once. Gaionia showed me you left behind after I died. And told me to go back.”
“What are you talking about? Are you saying that you came back from the dead?”
What kind of horror-thriller time loop story is this?
Why am I suddenly recalling now, a terrifying horror movies where the same day keeps repeating itself until the aim is fulfilled?
“Probably? And it must be due to your brother’s help that was possible.”
“Then, then what was I like left behind?”
“I have also seen you with a child, probably between you and me. I think that…”
“…is Abel?”
“I don’t know for sure. I’ve only seen the newborn baby. But it was you in this life who asked me to look after Abel when he was five. Not you in any other lives before.”
“Me? How is that possible?”
“Abel, do you recall your mother’ face when you’ve met her in Orcus?”
Hades asked Abel and he shook his head.
“I only recall the name Genus. I remember all the kids around my age I’ve met at the time and all the magical beasts, but well… I cannot remember mother’s face, as if someone erased my memory intentionally.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“See? Let’s just say that was because Abel was young, it would only be natural that I remember your face at least, no? But even I cannot remember just your face, as if that part is fogged. If Gaionia hadn’t shown me that situation again, I wouldn’t have remembered it even now.”
“Then that back then… was Aisha Heathcliff’s body?”
And I thought that my body from previous life that recalls the fetters of the curse had asked Hades to look after Abel…
‘Come to think of it, that was when the curse was still unbroken. It’s only natural that I wouldn’t have been able to die since Abel was alive.’
If it was another body, I would have had to wake up from that body after my brief visit to Korea. Since I wasn’t able to kill Abel just yet.
But I entered Aisha Heathcliff’s body instead. Though it was weird, I assumed it was due to a trick by Procreathor and did not think much of it.
Then again, that didn’t make sense. If I had received a new body even before I have killed Abel, that would mean I have escaped the fetters of the curse.
Wasn’t that curse the only thing my omnipotent sibling could not intervene?
In other words, I was, in fact, Abel’s biological mother in this life.
Since I could not afford to have Abel remember my face, I would have erased both Hades and Abel’s memories when I left him to Hades…
‘And then I must have gone to Procreathor’s world after that. Since he would have known that I was preparing to die. He would have wanted to stop me one way or another. He must have also placed everything accordingly once again for my sake, since I who would have to return due to the curse…’
It hurt my head to calculate the situation I had no memory of, but I could make a rough guess.
In order to keep the suicidal me alive, and in order to undo the curse, it was surprising to think how hard Procreathor must have thought things over in order to create this situation.
“Wonder if he didn’t die from overthinking,” I muttered to myself, then held my cheeks in shock.
“Then does that make me secretly 6 years older than I am now? No, before that…”
Holding Abel looking up at me with curiosity in his eyes, I turned to look at Hades sitting quietly by me, I teared up.
“You. Just how many times…”
Even before giving birth to Abel, I had met Hades and fell in love with him and even back then, this man risked his life and jumped into hell for me.
Though I don’t remember, I would have tried to stop him on his first attempt as well. While Hades must have gone to find Gaionia despite my persuasions, and…
‘And even this time again’
And in the end, he granted me a miracle.
“Huahhh…”
“What? What’s the problem now?”
“Mother…”
“W-what am I for you to go…go this far like a fool…”
And I thought there would be no reason for me to cry after killing Gaionia.
Understanding what I couldn’t finish saying, Hades smiled and held me and Abel.
“I’m sorry, huuu… and thank you. Thank you for liking and loving someone like me. For saving me and Abel. If- huu, if it wasn’t for you, I…”
“‘Someone like me’? Abel.”
“Yes, father.”
Abel escaped out of me and Hades’ arms.
He seemed quite excited from finding out that he is me and Hades’ son by blood, he seemed to be holding back his emotions, and spoke with the tip of his lips twitching.
“Mother said something to deserve a beating again, right?”
“Yep.”
“Don’t beat her up too bad, though!”
Smiling, Abel ran out of the room. I smiled at Hades with a teary face.
“It would be troublesome if you are this moved every time. You’d get tired of it.”
“Hng… hiccup!”
Looking at me from the other side, he gave a small laugh and wiped away my tears from my cheeks and spoke.
“I would be living in every life, many times over, whenever for your sake anyway.”
* * *
“Anyways, it seems like that’s how it went!”
Aisha came looking for Michael the moment the sun was up the next day and confessed all the things she found out through the magical artifact.
Because she seemed so happy, Michael merely smiled with her.
“Come to think of it, it would be more surprising if we killed Gaionia that easily in one go. It makes more sense that we have failed before.”
“Anyways, really… He is too good for me. How much more would we have to suffer if we hadn’t met Hades?”
“Right. He is an impressive man.” Michael diligently agreed to Aisha’s earnest praising of Hades. “Then all that’s left for you is to be happy. No need to worry about the Childe either. He was grinning ear to ear when he was having snacks with Deborah this morning for some reason.”
“Heh heh, true.”
“I have a request.”
“Hm? A request?” Aisha tilted her head at the sudden request.
Michael spoke with a slight smile. “Is it okay if I have Deborah stay here? I was hoping that you would take care of her rather than raising her in the temple.”
“Why all of a sudden?”
“I’ve been thinking it over for a long time. The reason I came here this time was also…it was because I was worried about you and the Childe, but I was also intending on asking you to look after Deborah.”
“I wouldn’t mind it. Rather, I’d love to. But, wouldn’t you be lonely? You’ve spent your time with Deborah up until now…”
“I’m fine. It’s because Deborah likes this place more.”
Suddenly, Michael’s expression looked bitter as he said he’s fine with a smile.
Aisha wondered, then noticed slight longing in Michael’s expression.
To say that everyone has found happiness, Michael had yet to…
‘He hasn’t met Abela yet.’
Ignis’ lover’s soul should still be wandering around somewhere.
Though Michael would have a lot he would like to say when he meets his lover, he couldn’t know where her soul was wandering in yet.
“Haum…”
Looking at Michael yawning loud with tired eyes, Aisha laughed quietly.
“Sleepy?”
“Ah, sorry. I keep feeling tired nowadays.”
“Then get some nap.”
Rising and sitting on the bed, Aisha tapped on her thighs.
“You’re telling me to sleep with my head on your lap?”
“Why not? You used to do it often back in the day.”
“I don’t want to die with my head burnt off. I would like my death to be as peaceful as possible.”
“It’s fine. My husband is busy now.”
“Hah you…”
Laughing, Michael reached the bed and lay on his back with his head on Aisha’s lap.
His eyes closed automatically feeling her hand running through his head.
“It’s all over now, Ignis. I’m sure We will all be happy.”
“Right.”
Well, the fetters of the curse were broken, and Aisha, who would be left by herself, also had Abel and Hades with her…
So it would be a happy life even if he died like this.
Michael agreed and gave a slight nod.
‘Still… it would have been nicer if I could see you being happy by your side a little longer.’
He had some curiosity.
It wasn’t only his dark elementalist abilities that his sibling Procreathor had left for him.
Michael still had the ability to foresee the future.
The truth was, he had seen himself quietly dying about a month ago.
Since how he looked wasn’t so different from now as he closed his eyes, he noticed that he didn’t have a lot of time left.
That was why he had left Deborah in Aisha’s hands.
‘Why would that be?’
His sibling Procreathor would know that Michael Lighart’s life is ending short…
With his ability, he could make Michael live a little longer, and enjoy a peaceful life beside Aisha after the curse was over.
But Michael had seen that he did not have much of a future, and decided to comply with it.
“This is nice…”
Aisha’s caring touch wasn’t half bad.
Michael decided on merely enjoying this moment of peace.