Mia then looked at the window with a longing gaze. She seemed to be recalling some dear memories to her.
Then, she took a deep breath and started.
"I never told you about my mother, did I?" She asked.
Acht shook his head quietly and let her continue without interrupting her story. Mia appreciated this small gesture from Acht and continued.
"My mother was a great person. It's not even me being biased. But, my mother was just simply the greatest person I have ever met. She was kind, strong, determined, and always positive. She worked hard to keep our family safe and healthy. She also tried to engrave all of her positive traits into me."
Acht looked at her hands. It seemed that she was fighting something inside of her since she had unconsciously tightened them into a fist.
"I had always looked up to her as a great figure and as my hero. She was my true hero that was capable of making dreams possible. Not only me, but every person saw her as the brightest light in our small hometown."
"However, one day… 6 years ago… She and my father decided to go to the nearby river to get some water and also to fish for dinner. It was not the first time they did this so it wasn't something weird or even remotely dangerous. I recall that I begged them so that I could go with them… At the time, my mom just chuckled and said 'Wait here and I will get you something good.'"
A small, sad smile appeared on her face as she looked down. Acht could see how she was fighting the urge to cry with all of her power so that she could continue the story.
"Then, a few hours passed and they didn't come back. I thought that maybe they couldn't get enough fish so they took some time to get some more. I didn't think much about it.
"But, a few more hours passed and the night fell. That's when everyone started worrying and they went out to search for them. However, they couldn't find them near the river. That's when they thought that they might have been attacked by some kind of animal or beast. That's why they decided to search in the forest."
She stopped for a moment to take a deep breath and also to try and regain her composure. The struggle she felt at the moment was nothing that Acht could fully understand. So, he didn't say anything at all. He had nothing to say anyway.
"Not even a few minutes passed of searching and they found them. My dad was injured slightly but he was not in a lethal condition. As for my mother… She…Hick…Hick." Finally, as if a dam broke, she started crying with a muffled voice.
Acht's face frowned as he could already imagine what she would say next. He could understand how painful it was for Mia.
A few moments passed before Mia was able to regain enough composure to talk.
"She had already died by the time they found them. I couldn't even see her one last time before she left us. What is even more ironic is that the monster that took her away from me is… The Golden-Scaled snake." She said and touched her injuries slightly.
Acht's eyes widened slightly as he heard the last few words. He could only feel a bitter feeling she felt when the same monster that took away her mother could also potentially take her father away.
It was extremely painful and also something that could destroy her completely.
"Twice… The same monster will take my only family… Hick… This is unfair!"
A few tears fell down from her cheeks and tainted the blanket. A burning sensation filled her chest.
Acht looked at her silently.
"I have never felt so powerless in my life. My father is dying in front of me and I could only watch from the side. This really hurts, Acht! It really does."
"... Do you feel weak?" He finally spoke and asked a question. Many would think it wasn't the time to ask such a question.
However, Acht still did so because he knew it was the best thing to say at that moment to stop Mia from falling into the abyss of despair.
Mia looked at him with tears still falling from her cheeks.
"Yes, I am weak. Way too weak!!" She said,
"Do you want to grasp your own fate in your own hand and protect the people important to you?" He asked another question.
"Yes! I want to. I don't want to see my loved ones die in front of me or get hurt at all."
Acht then nodded and stood up and approached her before pulling her into his embrace.
He could feel her resist for a split second before she hugged him back.
"Become strong, Mia. That's the only way for you to protect your own self and everyone around you. This world is unforgiving and cruel. It could take away all your happiness in a second. That's why you should treat cruelty with cruelty It's how shit works."
"B-But… Can I even do that?" She asked.
"Yes, you can. Everyone can become strong if they have the ambition to back it up. You have a chance to change your own self. But, let me say that the journey to the top is hard and ruthless. It needs a strong mindset and an unwavering will."
Mia went silent for a moment. Acht took that opportunity and pulled himself away and continued.
"I can't guarantee that you will be able to become strong enough. But what I can say is that I will help you with everything I have. It's the least I could do. Everything else is in your own hand." He said.
Then, he extended his hand toward her.
"Choose, Mia. It's your own life and your own decision. I can't force you to do anything. All I could do is give you a small push at the start."
Mia looked at his hand for a long time.
Then, she said,
"Is death a probability?"
"Yes," Acht answered honestly.
He can't just lie about something like this. For a great reward, there will always be equally high risk. That's how things work and that's how the journey is for those who desired power and lusted after greatness.
Many died while chasing this seemingly unattainable goal. Many more lost their will in the middle of the journey. It was very cruel and could destroy a human in a moment and make his seemingly unbreakable will become nothing but ashes.
But, it seemed nothing that made Mia lose her new, ever-growing desire.
She clenched her fist and then extended her hand toward Acht slowly.
Acht grabbed her hand and tightened his grip on it.
He then smiled slightly and said.
"Welcome in, newbie."
Mia chuckled slightly and wiped some of the tears that stuck to her cheeks.
"Please spare me these words."
As they joked like that to lighten the heavy atmosphere, the door was kicked open and one of the women came in hurriedly.
"Sali woke up!" She shouted happily.
Mia couldn't believe her ears and immediately tried to stand up. But, Acht stopped her and then pulled her up into his embrace.
"I will help you. You are still injured after all."
Mia blushed slightly and nodded her head silently.
"Mm, thank you."
Her heart beat fast in her chest as if it was about to explode. She was genuinely happy at that moment. So happy that she could barely contain her emotions inside her and not start jumping and dancing.
Then, the three walked out of the room and went to the place where Sali rested. They found him lying there with his eyes open.
"Dad!!" Mia shouted.
"Mia!! How are you, baby!" He said with his eyes watering from cheerful happiness.
Acht helped closer to Sali and then retreated to let the father-daughter duo have a moment for themselves.
"Oh, thank god! Thank god that you are safe!! I…Hick… I am really sorry. I am really sorry, Mia!" He said.
"It's ok, dad. It's ok. Everything is fine now." She said,
"When I saw the snake taking you away… I remembered the sight of Merenda getting bitten by that monster. I couldn't see you die in front of me. I couldn't allow that snake to take you away from me… Even if I had to give my life instead."
Sali said with a determined look. Acht could see how much he meant with those words. He was genuinely ready to give his life away just so that Mia could live and that told many things about how much he loved her and cherished her. She was the only thing that his wife left for him after all.
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