Chapter 88 - Murk

*Cough, cough*

"Ack!" Aurelie coughed on her handkerchief and saw the bloodstain on it. She immediately hides it in her pocket to prevent others from seeing the blood. She's currently in her room waiting for Geraldine to enter and give her medicine for her sickness.

"How are you feeling?" Geraldine asks as soon as she entered the room and gave her the cup of tea that contains the medication.

"I'm good," Aurelie answered and drinks the tea without pause, feeling the warm liquid sliding on her throat and warming her body. 

Geraldine looked at her as she observed Aurelie's condition. One week ago, Aurelie was still able to walk and do simple chores around the house but after one afternoon, her legs buckled, and didn't have the strength to carry her body up. 

Since her legs give in, Aurelie only stayed on the bed and they would only bring food to her room and assist her with the other needs. 

Geraldine could feel Aurelie's mana slowly fade away as days pass by. She doesn't want to count the remaining days that Aurelie's gonna live but Geraldine couldn't do anything but count to prepare for the day she will use the medicine to Aurelie and also for the Emperor's knights arrival to take Alexjin away and bring him to the palace.

"Are you in pain, right now?" She asked softly while taking the cup away and put it on the table.

"I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me and focus on the children and yourself," Aurelie grasps Geraldine's hand firmly and looked at her with seriousness. It hurts to think that she'll be gone soon but thinking of all the help Geraldine gives to Alexjin, she can rest in peace knowing that he has grown up well and can live on his own without her support.

Geraldine could only look at her with pity and holds her hand back as they both shared a moment of silence. Even though nobody spoke a word, it's still the loudest emotion.

"Please, take care of my son, Alexjin," Aurelie sobbed and holds Geraldine's hand tighter.

"Yes, I'll make sure that he will be safe," Geraldine smiled and put Aurelie's hand at her side and tucked her in. She was about to go out when Aurelie spoke again.

"Geraldine, I still didn't regret that I entered and stayed in your room when you got sick. I'm happy that I was able to care for you when you're at your lowest. Besides, you're like a daughter to me," Aurelie gives her huge smile before she coughs again.

"Thank you and you must rest well," Geraldine hurriedly close the door and run to her room before the others would see her reaction. She closed the door as she slowly falls to the floor and clenched her chest due to the heavy feeling inside her.

"Daughter? Mo - mother?" These words came out of her tongue that seems foreign and unknown. She has never considered Aurelie as a mother figure to her but a friend who she can trust. 

"Now that I thought about it. Aurelie always cares for me as her daughter and here I am treating her like--" Geraldine wasn't able to continue speaking the words as it was hard for her to say.

Going down to the basement, she looked at the lines drawn on the wall. Then she picked up a piece of charcoal that she used to write and cross out another line from the wall.

"Three days," She muttered as she stared at the lines for a long time, "Three days left for her to live."

Her head snapped to the side and her eyes went to the flower inside the crystal container. It is the rare flower that she preserved years ago and she combined it with her mana to let it stay fresh and waited for the day that she will use it. 

"I need to prepare everything for the next three days," She breathes out as she started to panic. She could not believe that the day would finally come. She waited for four years for her real battle to begin.

Taking the necklaces with her, Geraldine went outside to find Alexjin and the children who have been training for the whole afternoon. When they saw Geraldine going to them, they immediately halt their training and greeted her. She waved her hand and sit on the log that Alexjin put for her to rest especially when she watched their training.

"Master!"

"I'm sorry that I disturb your training but I have something to say," As soon as she said those words, the group immediately sit on the ground and their attention focused on her.

"But before I talked about our topic for today. How was your training for the past four years?" She asked and the group looked at it each with their eyebrows furrowing.

"The training is hard, master but were able to get it through together and work as a team," Maxwell replied as he looked at his group. 

"And it also opened up our own skills and abilities as well. I never knew I could do this when I was young," Daisha said as she created another doll made of mud and cradle it.

Geraldine nodded her head in understanding as her eyes went to Alexjin who is burning her with his stare, "What about you, Alexjin?"

"I don't have anything to say master but I just want to let you know that I am happy to stay at your side and serve you," Alexjin said softly with his voice flowed like the wind.

Geraldine smiled at his words and cut their eye contact. She sighs deeply and closes her eyes for a few seconds to prevent herself from being emotional.

"If anyone of you has complaints, you can tell it to me right away." Geraldine coughed and waited for them to speak but no one dared to open their mouth.

"Master, is something wrong? Why are you talking like this is the end and you're gonna leave us," Leo said as he bites his lips as the rest of the group looked at him in shock. Even Geraldine was surprised by his words.

"Aww, Leo," Geraldine smiled and gestured for him to sit next to her. Then she patted his head, "You have grown Leo. How I wish you could have enjoyed your childhood playing around."

Geraldine felt something on her chest, she felt guilty about training Leo when he's only eight years old before but since he trained when he was still young. He became flexible with his skills and wanted to learn more as he grew up which is the same as Chase.

"No, master. I'm thankful that you give meaning to my life," Leo smiled brightly as Geraldine patted his head again. Then she went back to face the group again.

"I am also thankful that I've met you all in this life and spend the rest of my days with your company. I wish that you will still work together as a family in the future and no matter what happened, you will stick and help one another. No family left behind!" Geraldine's relaxed expression became serious to let them know that she's earnest about the topic.

"Also, I want you all to be tough and if possible avoid making emotional connections especially outside this group. Trust no one and always remember that emotions are a luxury. Don't focus or pay attention to it and use your brain instead. Emotions can lead you to your death bed but the brain can save you from your grave."

The group nodded their head in understanding and glued her words into their mind. Geraldine paused for a few seconds before she continued.

"There will come a day when you needed to make a choice. A path that you needed to take and you must choose wisely," She paused as her eyes went to Alexjin as she continued speaking, "One is the path that you'll go down if you let things run their own course. It will be tremendously difficult and painful. The other path is unknown and it's a gamble, it might be better than the first path but it also could be worse."

"It will be your calling to which path you will take. Will you take the risk or not? It's your choice," she continued.

Even though what she said is for everyone, she is directing it to Alexjin. Then with a smile, she said, "Alexjin, could you check up on your mother and prepare tea and biscuits as well."

"I can do it, master." Aaila raised her hand to volunteer but one meaningful look from Geraldine. She backed down and lowered her hand.

"Yes, master." Alexjin immediately stands up and jogs towards the house to check on her mother.

Geraldine's attention went back to the children as she gestured for Leo to go back and join the group. Then she looked at them with eyes blazing with red light.

"Starting today this group will be called The Murk."