Chapter 88 One day Left
The sun slowly climbed above the horizon, its pale golden light slipping through the thin curtains and spilling gently into their bedroom. Dust motes drifted lazily in the warm glow, and the quiet of early morning wrapped the room in a calm, almost sacred stillness. The faint sounds of Whiterun waking up distant footsteps, a far-off hammer striking metal, birds calling from rooftops filtered softly through the open window.
Alex lay sprawled on the bed, his breathing slow and heavy. His face looked exhausted, lips slightly parted, his body completely relaxed as if it had been pushed far beyond its limits the night before. Every muscle seemed slack, drained, and unresponsive clear evidence of their intense adult battle. In contrast, Astrid lay beside him looking refreshed, her eyes clear and sharp, her expression relaxed and satisfied.
Astrid slowly sat up, the sheets sliding down her skin as she yawned quietly. She stretched languidly, arching her bare body with unhurried grace, her arms lifting above her head as her back curved slightly. The morning light traced the lines of her figure, giving her an effortless, confident allure. She let out a soft sigh, rolling her shoulders as if loosening the last remnants of sleep.
Her gaze then drifted toward Alex. For a moment, she simply watched him the faint rise and fall of his chest, the way his brow was relaxed yet tired. A small, amused smile tugged at her lips, mixed with fondness and a hint of sympathy.
"Good morning, darling," she murmured softly, her voice warm and intimate.
Alex didn't stir. He remained deeply asleep, completely unaware of the morning light or Astrid's gaze. Seeing this, Astrid didn't try to wake him. If anything, her expression softened even more she clearly felt he had earned his rest.
She leaned closer, careful not to jostle the bed. Her hand rested lightly near his shoulder as she brought her lips close to his ear and whispered, her voice barely above a breath, "Good job, love. I'm truly satisfied. Rest a little longer… so you'll have your energy back."
She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, lingering for a brief second, her lips warm against his skin. Alex shifted slightly in his sleep but didn't wake, his expression remaining peaceful.
Astrid straightened up, quietly gathering her clothes so as not to disturb him. She dressed in her usual daily attire, moving calmly and efficiently. Before leaving, she cast one last glance at Alex still fast asleep then gently closed the bedroom door behind her.
The house remained quiet as she descended the stairs, the wooden steps creaking faintly beneath her feet. With purpose and a light mood, Astrid headed toward Lucia's room on the first floor, ready to begin the day.
When Astrid arrived at Lucia's room, she stopped just inside the doorway. The morning light filtered through the small window, casting a gentle glow over the bed. Lucia lay curled beneath her blanket, her breathing slow and even, her face relaxed and peaceful. One arm was tucked under her pillow, the other resting loosely at her side, fingers slightly curled. There was something achingly innocent about the way she slept, untouched by worry or urgency.
Astrid watched her for a few seconds longer than necessary. Her expression softened, eyes warm with quiet affection. A faint smile appeared on her lips before she finally stepped closer to the bed.
She sat on the edge and leaned down slightly, careful not to startle her. "Lucia," Astrid said softly, her voice gentle and coaxing. "Wake up. It's already morning."
Lucia stirred, her eyebrows knitting together as she shifted under the blanket. She turned her head slightly and let out a small, sleepy sound. "Mmm… just a little longer, Mama," she murmured, her words slurred with sleep.
Astrid couldn't help but chuckle quietly. She lifted her hand and brushed her fingers over Lucia's cheek, her touch light and warm. "Hey," she said teasingly, her tone playful. "Do you want to go shopping with Mama? If you keep sleeping like this, Mama might leave without you."
Lucia's eyelids fluttered. She blinked a few times, still struggling to wake up, then slowly pushed herself up a little. Her eyes were half-open as she yawned widely, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. "I dooo…" she said, her voice dragging, followed by another soft yawn.
Astrid smiled at the sight, her expression brightening. "Alright then," she said warmly. "Mama will wait for you. Go on change your clothes first."
She gently patted Lucia's head once before standing up. Lucia nodded sluggishly, rubbing her eyes as Astrid turned and walked out of the room.
Astrid stepped into the hallway and leaned lightly against the wall, listening to the faint rustling sounds from inside as Lucia began to move. With a calm smile and an unhurried breath, she waited for her, letting the quiet morning continue to unfold.
After finishing changing her clothes and washing her face, Lucia stepped out of her room looking like a completely different person. Her hair was still slightly damp, her cheeks pink from the cold water, and her eyes sparkled with fresh energy. She adjusted her clothes one last time, then hurried down the hallway with quick, light footsteps.
"Mama!" Lucia called out brightly as she ran toward Astrid. She stopped in front of her, standing up straight with obvious pride, hands clenched into small fists at her sides. "Let's go!! I'm all neat now!!"
Astrid smiled at the sight, her eyes soft as she took in Lucia's excitement. She bent down slightly and smoothed Lucia's hair with her hand, nodding approvingly. Just as she straightened up, her expression shifted her brows lifting slightly as something crossed her mind.
"Ah " Astrid said, tapping her finger lightly against her chin. "We should write a note for your Papa, telling him we're going out shopping."
Lucia tilted her head, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion. "Why?" she asked slowly. "Isn't Papa coming with us?"
Astrid's smile stiffened just a little. She looked away for a brief moment, lips pressing together as she searched for the right words. When she looked back at Lucia, she wore an awkward but gentle smile. "Well… last night, Papa worked very hard to make Mama happy," she said carefully. "So it's better for him to rest a bit longer."
Lucia blinked. Once. Then twice. Her confusion only deepened. She leaned forward slightly, her small hands gripping the hem of her shirt. "Huh?" she asked honestly. "Was it really that hard that Papa needs to rest?"
Astrid froze for half a second then laughed lightly, a little too quickly. She waved her hand dismissively and gently turned Lucia's shoulders toward the door. "Yes, yes," she said, clearly dodging the topic. "You'll understand when you're older."
She crouched down to Lucia's level, her voice brightening deliberately. "Now, come on. Let's go. If you want to buy something later, Mama will buy it for you, okay?"
Lucia hesitated for a moment, still looking puzzled. But like most children, her thoughts didn't stay in one place for long. Her eyes widened, the confusion melting away as excitement took over. A big smile spread across her face.
"Really?" she exclaimed, bouncing slightly on her feet. "Yay!!!"
Astrid laughed softly and took Lucia's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Together, they stepped out of the house, the morning air fresh against their faces, ready to spend the day shopping for what they needed Lucia chatting happily beside her, already forgetting her earlier questions.
Some time later, Alex slowly drifted back to consciousness. His brows twitched first, followed by a faint groan as awareness returned to his body. The warmth of the bed felt heavy, almost too heavy, and when he tried to shift, a dull ache spread through him.
"…Ugh," he muttered under his breath.
He opened his eyes halfway, squinting as morning light filtered in through the window. His entire body felt sore, especially around his hips, a deep, lingering ache that made him wince. He let out a long breath and rolled slightly onto his side, one hand pressing against the mattress for support.
"Hooaam…" He yawned widely, eyes watering as he forced himself upright. "It's morning already, huh…"
As soon as he sat up, he hissed quietly. "Tch ow… still hurts." He rotated his shoulders and carefully stretched, moving slowly as if afraid any sudden motion would punish him. "That Astrid…" he muttered with a tired half-smile. "She really didn't let me rest."
After a moment, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, pausing until the room stopped spinning. He rubbed his face with both hands, dragging his fingers down his cheeks before letting out another sigh. Once steady, he changed into his clothes, movements still stiff but deliberate.
Downstairs, the house felt unusually quiet. The familiar sounds Lucia's footsteps, Astrid's voice were absent, leaving only the soft creak of the wooden floor beneath his feet. As he entered the living room, his eyes caught sight of a single piece of paper placed neatly on the table.
He frowned slightly and walked over, picking it up.
As he read the note, his expression shifted first to mild surprise, then to a complicated mix of amusement, embarrassment, and disbelief.
(Love, Lucia and I are going out shopping first. We might come back late because I want to look for something Lucia wants. And about last night I really enjoyed it. I hope we can do it again.)
Alex's fingers tightened slightly around the paper. A faint shiver ran down his spine, and he exhaled slowly through his nose. "…She really wrote this," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
He leaned back against the table, eyes staring at nothing in particular as he folded the note once. "For some reason," he said quietly to himself, "the more she does it, the wilder she gets."
A small, conflicted chuckle escaped him. "I honestly don't know whether that's good for me… or not."
The room remained silent, the note still warm in his hand, as Alex stood there for a moment longer sore, thoughtful, and very much awake now.
Alex lowered himself onto the edge of the chair in the living room, the wood creaking softly beneath his weight. He leaned back, elbows resting on his knees, fingers loosely clasped as his gaze drifted toward the window. Outside, the city of Whiterun was fully awake now footsteps passing by, distant voices blending with the clang of a blacksmith's hammer but inside the house, everything felt still.
His thoughts grew heavy.
(Just one more day…) he reflected silently. (After that, we'll trap the dragon and head straight toward Alduin. I have to be ready.)
His eyes softened as Astrid's face crossed his mind her confident smile, her sharp eyes followed by Lucia's bright, innocent grin. His jaw tightened. Slowly, his right hand curled into a fist, knuckles whitening as he clenched it hard.
"I have to become absolutely strong," he said under his breath, his voice low but firm. "And I have to come back without even a scratch." His fist trembled slightly. "I don't want Lucia to become an orphan again."
He exhaled slowly and straightened up, resolve replacing hesitation. "Hmm… is one day of grinding enough?" he muttered. "I should check my status window."
Alex closed his eyes for a brief moment, focusing inward. The familiar translucent interface unfolded in his mind, lines of information settling into place. His eyes moved subtly, as if reading something only he could see.
"…Hmm," he murmured. "I still have quite a lot of perk points I haven't allocated."
His brows lifted slightly as his attention shifted downward. "Ah my Alteration is almost at one hundred."
He leaned back again and brought a hand to his chin, thumb and forefinger pressing thoughtfully against it. His gaze narrowed. "Can I push it to one hundred today?" he wondered aloud. "Especially with Sovereign Mind… I don't need to worry about Telekinesis' negative effects."
His eyes lingered on the name of the skill, unmoving. The longer he stared, the more his expression shifted from curiosity to suspicion.
"I got this skill from Mora…" he muttered slowly. "But can it really be just this? It should be far more powerful than this, shouldn't it?" His fingers tapped lightly against his chin. "And why was I even able to obtain this power in the first place…?"
Frustration crept in. He dropped his hand and ran both hands through his hair, fingers digging into his scalp as he leaned forward. "Aaagh!!" he groaned. "If only this system could talk damn it!!"
He let his hands fall and took a deep breath, shoulders rising and falling as he forced himself to calm down. "Well… whatever," he said quietly. "At least this system saved me when I was threatened by Mora." A faint, reluctant smile crossed his face. "I shouldn't complain."
Suddenly, Alex straightened and slapped his cheeks lightly smack, smack as if snapping himself awake. His eyes burned with renewed determination.
"Alright," he declared, voice filled with energy. "I've decided. Today is the day I grind my Alteration skill using Telekinesis. Yesss!!!!" He clenched his fist again, this time with confidence. "Just wait, Alduin I'll defeat you easily! Hahaha!"
He walked over to the table, grabbed a piece of paper, and quickly scribbled a note for Astrid:
(Today I'm going to train for tomorrow. Don't wait for me; I'll be back at night. Just prepare dinner, okay?)
Placing the note neatly on the table, Alex took one last look around the quiet living room. He smiled faintly and let out a steady breath.
"Alright…" he said softly. "Time to head out of Whiterun."
With that, he turned toward the door body sore, mind focused, and resolve unshaken.