Everlasting dream (18+)

Chapter 95 — Bravery

[Aster]

Four long, exhausting days of darkness, fear, and silence had dragged on. Four days without food, barely catching any sleep due to constant paranoia. Aster was exhausted and endlessly hungry, wishing for nothing but to leave this hellish place, to see the sunlight and feel the gust of wind against his skin, to hear birds chirping, creaking trees, and swaying grass—anything other than the dark, cold stones surrounding them.

With each passing day, it became harder and harder to keep going... hope was slowly being replaced with desperation. 'Why is there no way out? It's not possible that such a place had only one exit.' Aster couldn't help but wonder once again as he lay atop his mother, shielding his eyes with his forearm, desperately trying to fall asleep.

Silvia lay beside him, her petite form pressed close against his for warmth. Her head rested on the boy's chest while she draped one leg over his hip; their long hair of the same silver shade tangled together and was the only thing that covered their nakedness.

With a soft sigh, Aster lowered his arm from his eyes and stared blankly into the darkness, unable to even make out the ceiling above them. Once again, they found a small nook in the wall where they could hide away for the night—or whatever time of day it was outside... Aster had no idea at this point.

The sound of Nivalis' stomach rumbling filled their tiny cave as she shifted beneath him, his flat belly echoing hers a moment later with a loud grumble. The pain in his guts made him wince, his brows furrowing slightly, only to relax a moment later when he felt Silvia's small palm massaging his tummy to soothe the ache; her delicate fingers moved up and down between navel and public bone.

— "Can't sleep either?" Aster whispered when the pain eased off, a faint sniffle reaching his ears. She was crying or was close to it by how loud her breaths had gotten. Sighing softly, he wrapped an arm around her tiny waist and pulled her up against himself. "Everything will be better tomorrow," he mumbled gently into her soft locks, just like he did the previous three nights.

"Mhm..." Silvia hummed quietly in response, halting the belly rub. The young girl buried her face into her little brother's shoulder and breathed against his skin for a long moment, just to whisper something so quiet that even Aster struggled to catch it. "Can you..." a desperate plea slipped from those soft lips before she trailed off, unable to finish her thought.

— "Yeah?" Aster replied softly, moving his lips closer to her pointy ear, his breath brushing against it when he added, "Anything."

"Could you make... a tiny light for me? Until I fall asleep?" Silvia whispered shyly, drawing random circles on the skin of his chest with her finger. "I keep imagining what's going on right now on the other side... you know," she mumbled, a shiver coursing through her entire body as she again imagined that swarm of disgusting creatures just above their heads behind the ice barrier, wet bodies slithering against each other while trying to find a way in. "Please, just a really small one..." she murmured, her moist lips pressing against his shoulder, moving with each word.@@novelbin@@

Aster raised his hand and focused on his mana, imagining a tiny ember above his palm. Her silver locks were the first thing he saw when the faintest light appeared, flowing all over her shoulders and spine, almost reaching that cute little butt of hers. Part of him wanted to look up at the ice wall, but he knew what he would see if he did so... "Better?" Aster asked, lifting her chin to see those golden eyes shimmer beautifully in his dim light.

Her eyelashes fluttered a few times when she pressed her lips against his cheek in a soft peck. "Thank you, Asty," Silvia replied with a tired smile before laying her head down again atop his chest and closing her eyes with a sigh of relief, finally seeing something other than darkness for once. "Goodnight..."

— "Goodnight," Aster mumbled back into her hair as she curled against him, her cold toes finding their way between his legs. His flaccid shaft could feel the softness of her knee and inner thigh when she did so.

Aster looked at the flame hovering above his bandaged hand, its dancing tongues casting a warm glow against the cold stone walls around them. For the last three days, he couldn't help but keep wondering how to make the spell work without constantly focusing on it, as this would make nights much less terrifying for all of them. 'There has to be a way... but how do I make it use my mana without my control? And even if I figure that out, how do I ensure it stays small and doesn't drain all my reserves at once?' he pondered, his pale face illuminated by the tiny flame as his brows furrowed slightly.

The nature of fire is that it wants to consume everything around it. If Aster loses control over it, it would likely just use all his ignited mana in the blink of an eye, causing a huge flame to erupt. That's what he did when he fought that plant creature... he just let go of all the control and allowed that fire to do its thing. But here, he needed the complete opposite. 'What if I keep doing the spell it until it becomes second nature? Like breathing,' Aster wondered, watching those tiny tongues dance above his palm.

A sigh escaped his lips, vapor swirling before his eyes as the boy shook his head. 'Nah, this isn't going to work... there's no way I can concentrate on the spell while I'm asleep,' he thought with a frown, all while imagining that little ember circling his hand. Moments later, the image from his mind turned into reality when the flame started dancing around his bandaged fingers just as he wanted it to. 'Some monk who's spent his entire life meditating probably would be able to pull something like this off... but not me,' Aster sighed again. 'What else could I try?'

Aster lost track of how much time had slipped away while brainstorming ideas, but it must have been quite a while. Tomorrow, he would likely feel groggy all day because of this practice session. He could already tell that, but it was the only chance the boy had to practice his magic, with Silvia's ice protecting them. He tried everything that came to mind, but the outcome remained the same regardless of how he tweaked the spell in his imagination.

A tiny flame above his palm refused to stay stable without his constant focus. More often than not, the fire would spiral out of control whenever Aster looked away or stopped thinking about it. Fortunately, he hadn't poured enough mana into it for that to cause any serious trouble, the worst being a burst of sparks before it quickly fizzled out.

Only when he heard his mother's whisper did Aster snap out of his thoughts, realizing just how tired and sleepy he was. "Sweetie, why are you still awake?" Nivalis asked worriedly, touching his forehead to check on his temperature.

"Couldn't fall asleep... thought I'd practice some magic, you know," the boy mumbled in response, tilting his head back to see her all while stretching his legs, a cute little yawn escaping him when he did so. His toes wiggled against her thighs, soft and smooth like the rest of her naked body. Her breast served him as a pillow, the best he could ask for.

"You're already doing magic all day... better get some rest," Nivalis muttered, brushing a few strands of hair away from his face and behind his pointy ear, admiring her son's features in the dim light of his spell. Those golden eyes stared back at her, heavy with exhaustion yet still so beautiful. "And please, don't use up too much of your mana like that... we need it when we walk," she reminded him, tracing his nose and lips with her fingertips, making Aster scrunch cutely under her touch.

The boy nodded in agreement. "I just wanted to figure out how to make light even when I sleep. It would be nice to have some light around while we're sleeping," he replied, letting out an even bigger yawn.

"Have you?" Nivalis asked with interest, putting her finger in his yawning mouth. She just couldn't help herself.

Aster tried to answer but ended up mumbling around her digit instead. "Mmmno..." A little squeak soon followed, confusion written all over his face at the sudden intrusion into his moist cavity. Such a reaction made Nivalis giggle happily, like a little girl.

"Sorry, my love," Nivalis whispered with a smile, leaving the tiny little hole of her son, a thin string of saliva briefly connecting her fingertip and his soft lips. "I used to do this with my cat when I was little. She hated it, too," she added softly, chuckling at the memory.

Pouting slightly but unable to stay mad at his mother, Aster asked with a grin, "You had a cat? What was its name? You never told us about it before."

"Her name was Lucy, white puffy fur with orange spots. And well... it belonged to my cousin, not me. They used to visit us each summer for a few weeks," Nivalis nodded with hum while her fingers gently ran through his long locks, untangling knots hidden in there. Her stomach growled again, reminding her of the reason she had woken up, but neither of them mentioned it, choosing to ignore the noise.

— "That's cute..." Aster whispered, letting her brush away the tangles. Some were quite tough ones, making him wince from time to time when she pulled too hard, but he didn't mind. It made his hair look nice, after all.

"How about I give you a little massage, hm? Maybe it will help you relax and fall asleep," Nivalis suggested after a few minutes of work, her hands moving down to his small shoulders.

A long sigh escaped Aster's lips as he nodded in agreement. "Yeah... that would be great," he mumbled quietly, feeling her warm palms gently kneading his tired muscles. Her tender caresses were just what he needed right now, making his eyelids droop and body relax further into hers. With each touch of her fingers sliding across his skin, the flame above his palm began to flicker, gradually fading until they were enveloped in complete darkness once more.

The only sounds filling their tiny cave were their shared breaths and, of course, Silvia's adorable snoring. "Goodnight, Mom..." Aster whispered, so tired that he didn't even register her loving reply; sleep had already claimed him.

...

The morning was no different from any previous one they had experienced underground... the same darkness, the same cold, the same silence. It didn't take long for them to get ready for yet another day between these jagged black walls. After Silvia made a few ice shards for them to suck on and a quick stop just outside their little cave to relieve themselves, it was time to move again, leaving behind just a few golden puddles.

Their stomachs felt like they were about to tear open, begging for any kind of food. Growls and rumbles accompanied them with every step they took through that endless maze. Each one felt like their insides were twisting into knots, but they had no choice but to ignore it.

'Ugh... I really shouldn't have stayed up so late last night,' Aster sighed, rubbing his face as he walked slightly ahead of the girls, illuminating the way with his glowing eyes. His golden irises flicked back and forth, scanning the walls and ceiling for anything unusual, boiling mana inside his chest at ready. The ground was hard to walk on, uneven and rocky, making his ankles ache terribly. Still, he pressed on, putting one foot in front of the other, clinging to the hope that they might finally find a way out today.

But as more hours passed, and the tunnels kept stretching on before them, that hope began to dim, especially whenever Aster looked at his mother and saw her pained expression and sunken cheeks. This day was especially difficult for her, always leaning against the wall as if it took every bit of strength she had just to take another step. "Are you alright, Mom?" the boy whispered, looking up at her with worry in those shimmering orbs.

"Of course, sweetie. I just... need a moment," Nivalis responded with a strained voice, taking a deep breath before letting it out slowly. She tried to offer a weak smile to her children, but it faltered quickly when another wave of cramps made her grimace in pain. "Mmm..." she hummed through gritted teeth, her forehead resting against the cold rocks of the tunnel wall.

Unsure of what to do, Aster glanced at Silvia next to him, who simply shrugged in response with a small shake of her head. She didn't look much better—pale and trembling, with sunken eyes filled with exhaustion. 'I must be looking like shit, too,' he thought, turning back toward his mother. "Lean on me," Aster finally whispered, presenting his back to Nivalis.

If it weren't for his strengthening spell, Aster doubted he would even manage to crawl right now. Every part of his body hurt, both inside and out; words couldn't describe how much. He had cuts on his neck, nasty burns on his hands, a fever that left him weak and dizzy, and the constant pressure of his ignited mana, not to mention a gnawing hunger... but he tried not to show any of it. He wanted to be strong for them. He had to be. After all, if his past life had taught him anything, it was how to endure pain. It's something he's damn good at. "Come on," he added softly, waiting patiently.

Nivalis stared at his skinny frame momentarily before taking a shaky breath. "I appreciate your help, but... no. You're still recovering," she whispered, her hand tenderly patting the top of his head. "And honestly, you look like you might faint at any moment."

Aster shook his head, having none of it. "I'm feeling great, don't worry about me. I can take it," he said firmly, showing her a forced smile that probably looked horrible in the dim light. He took her hand and put it on his shoulder, ignoring her soft protests. "Now, use the wall and me for support. It should make things easier," Aster added, waiting for Nivalis to do as told.

"I-I can help, too..." Silvia interjected weakly, her voice trembling as she watched Nivalis reluctantly accept her brother's help, clutching tightly onto his shoulder.

Before she could say more, Aster shook his head. "Don't worry, just hold my hand. It's not hard for me as long as I have my spell," he lied, feeling the weight of his mother pressing down on him heavily. His knees wobbled, a groan almost slipping past his lips at the sudden strain; fortunately, he managed to contain it. "Let's go," Aster whispered after Silvia wrapped her fingers around his wrist. Slowly, they resumed their walk, taking one careful step after another as they navigated the dark tunnels.

They made slow but steady progress, stopping every once in a while so Nivalis could catch her breath and rest for a few moments. Panic kept creeping back into Aster's thoughts with each such pause, his mind plagued by the fear that they wouldn't be able to keep going much longer like this. This could be it, their end, left forgotten in these dark, unnamed caves... 'No way. I can't let them die. All those floating corpses in the afterlife... the girls don't belong there,' he thought, scanning their surroundings anxiously. 'If only we had something to eat... anything.'

His golden eyes squinted when he looked around, hoping to see something, anything edible-looking... he was ready to eat any weird mushroom at this point, but even that was nowhere in sight. Only rocks, rocks, and more rocks.

"Let's take another break..." Nivalis panted heavily, no longer than twenty minutes after their last rest. Despite the cold temperature, sweat covered her body, and damp hair stuck to her forehead. She slumped against the wall with a soft thud, arms shaking from exertion. "I'm sorry..." she apologized quietly while trying to catch her breath. She looked like a mess, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.

— "It's alright, Mom. I was about to ask for one, too," Aster whispered in response, pressing his little behind into her lap. Silvia did the same, her head plopping on his shoulder with a soft sigh. Now that he finally sat down, his legs felt like wet noodles; they had barely any strength left. How much he wished to propose calling it a day, to find a little cave and rest for as long as possible... but tomorrow would be even harder, he knew.

'This is not good,' Aster thought, leaning against his mother's soft bosom. But the moment his cheek hit the squishiness of her breast, a crazy idea crossed his tired mind. He winced at how utterly horrible it was, a mere thought of it already making him feel sick, but... something had to be done. A man of the family must do what he has to.

Taking a few deep breaths to prepare himself mentally, Aster got up again. His knees popped in protest, and his body felt like jelly, but he gritted his teeth and ignored it.

"Sweetie... we just sat," Nivalis protested weakly when she saw him standing up, thinking he wanted to continue walking. "Let's rest for a bit longer."

— "No, no, keep sitting. I want to try something," Aster mumbled in response, casting a flame above his palm, much larger and brighter than usual. "I have an idea, but I'm unsure how to, umm... just wait and see, okay?" His voice wavered slightly at the end.

The girls exchanged confused glances between themselves, both watching as Aster started to closely inspect the jagged walls and ground around them. He turned over each rock and checked each crack, his golden eyes getting even brighter with each heartbeat as he poured more mana into his strengthening spell. His little body felt like a furnace because of it, but he needed every bit of strength and light for what he planned.

"What are you doing? Do you need any help?" Silvia asked in concern, feeling her mother's strong arms wrap around her from behind. But Aster didn't answer; instead, he kept rummaging through the rocks, mumbling something under his breath. He was careful not to walk further than three steps away from the girls so the light of his flame would still reach them.

Then, Aster suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on a tiny, barely noticeable crack in the wall. Inside it, a flicker of movement caught his eye; the dark red color left no doubt about what it was. A creature they desperately tried to avoid until now... so ugly and disgusting that you want to vomit just thinking about them. But at this point? It was their only hope for survival.

After a few heartbeats of hesitation, Aster carefully stepped towards it, fear making his bladder feel uncomfortably full. With every step, more of his light seeped inside that crack, making the creature squirm and hiss in response. "Got you," the boy whispered, pointing his bandaged hand at it. The creature opened its round mouth, showing rows and rows of sharp teeth in response.

The flame above Aster's palm suddenly disappeared, only to be replaced by a roaring inferno a moment later. The heatwave washed over the entire tunnel, fluttering hair wildly around his face. As the bright flames licked the cave walls, the girls shrieked in surprise, both getting on their feet.

In confusion, Nivalis held her dagger defensively, ready to protect her babies from whatever danger they were about to face, while Silvia desperately started making icicles. "What the hell is going on?!" the mother yelled over the deafening crackling of flames, her voice trembling from the sudden panic. The blinding light made it impossible for their eyes to adjust and see anything; Aster had trouble seeing what was happening just as much, white spots dancing across his vision.

Two seconds later, the brightness disappeared as fast as it had appeared, returning everything to near darkness. All that remained were the faint glow of Aster's golden eyes, lighting the soot-covered rocks. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, hearing their terrified breaths behind him. "Are you two okay?" Aster turned around, looking at his mother and sister, his heart beating rapidly inside his chest. Adrenaline coursed through his body; not often could he cast so much fire at once.

"What... happened? Did something bite you? Show me where it is!" Nivalis asked frantically as she rushed towards her son, her blue eyes wide. She dropped to the ground and immediately began checking Aster's entire body, her hands slipping beneath his cloak. Pale, hairless skin met her trembling fingers as she searched for any signs of a wound. "Tell me!" she demanded louder, tears threatening to fall down her cheeks.

Silvia stood beside them with an icicle, no bigger than her thumb, clutched tightly in her hand. Puffs of white air swirled between her lips each time she moved her head left and right, confusion written all over her face.

— "Mom," Aster gently stopped his mother's frantic movements, making her look into his eyes. "I'm okay," he assured her calmly, smiling to ease her worries. "I-I should've told you what I wanted to do earlier... I'm sorry. But, here... look," he sighed, trying to grab onto the charred body of a giant worm between the rocks. His bandaged fingers fumbled with it for a moment until he finally managed to get a hold and pulled it out slowly.

Aster had to suppress his gag reflex when the thing was fully revealed. Its slimy skin glistened with some nasty black liquid, and it dripped from the body onto the ground below them. The smell of burnt meat filled their nostrils, making the boy's stomach twist uncomfortably. "I... got us food..." Aster stuttered, barely able to form words through his nausea as he presented the dangling corpse of a leech-centipede to his mother. "Yay?" he added, seeing them distancing a bit from him in disgust. The word sounded more like a question than anything else.

Both Nivalis and Silvia stared at him like he was an idiot for even considering eating that thing, a creation that looked like it came straight from the depths of hell and was probably poisonous, too. He could see it in their eyes as they looked back and forth between his face and the disgusting creature he held in his hand. A few times, their mouths opened to say something in protest, but no words came out.

Yeah, maybe Aster is not the brightest bulb in the family, but... he is a brave one. And today, they will sleep with full stomachs because of it. Or at least that's what the boy hoped for as he forced himself to smile under their judgmental gazes. "W-... who's hungry?" Aster asked, wobbling the worm slightly.