Alex woke up, blinking at the brightness that filled his grand chamber. Sunlight poured through tall arched windows, illuminating marble floors and velvet drapes. The ceiling soared overhead, adorned with carvings and the family crest gleaming in gold. The faint scent of roses drifted in from the palace garden. He found himself in his canopied bed, silk hangings parted, and linen sheets cool beneath him. His parents stood nearby, their noble bearing softened by worry and love for his well being.
Sera Azurestorm sat on the edge of the bed, the velvet coverlet barely shifting beneath her weight. She gestured for Shane Drakethorne to join her; he crossed the room and sat beside her, his boots making the faintest sound on the stone floor. Sunlight filtered through the windows and warmed the gilded chairs and a writing desk stacked with parchment. Sera then leaned over to gently grasp Alex's shoulders, helping him sit up straight as he blinked awake from sleep.
Alex looked at his parents with anticipation as he would finally find out why Princess Eva said he could heal someone from death and why his level being 1 didn't make sense.
Sera Azurestorm, knowing well enough this can't be hidden anymore, looked at Shane Drakethorne, who was still hesitating somewhat. Her azure blue eyes looked into Shane's black eyes as if to say We can't let this be hidden anymore, and let's reveal everything.
Shane Drakethorne, understanding his son's desire and situation, looked at his son's azure eyes and began, "Son, do you remember when you were little and had just started training with me? I asked if you could heal anything. You remember, right? You replied that you couldn't, and even when I guided you to imagine healing, you didn't succeed."
Alex Drakethorne nodded his head and replied, "Yes, I remember that time, but I thought back then you were just testing me on visualisation. You know the result after trying multiple times. I wasn't able to heal anyone, not even myself."
Shane Drakethorne nodded, recognising that Alex had not forgotten anything. He continued, "That was a lie I told you to check whether you could heal or not. I used visualisation as a pretext to get you to use your healing powers. But you weren't able to use it, and we ended that discussion and continued with other training."
Shane Drakethorne paused before delivering the words that would shatter the way Alex would look at himself. "When you were born, your mother was in a very dire state and was breathing her last breaths, but suddenly, golden light radiated out from you, and your mother was healed, and all the troops nearby were also healed. So, when you claimed you couldn't heal, I was shocked. I discussed this with your mother and grandparents. They all were shocked because we had believed it was you, and we still believe it was you, because we didn't see anyone else on the battlefield using it, and those golden particles radiated out from you."
Alex struggled to take in the revelation. Overwhelmed by emotion, he crawled across the sheets and embraced his mother. Tears welled up as sunlight streamed through the windows, casting patterns across the tapestries and rug. His mother's gentle embrace and reassuring touch steadied him, her warmth and comfort amid the sun-filled room. She slowly slid her hand on his back as she slowly moved her hands in slow motion to calm him.
Alex turned his head toward his father to listen to it more; his eyes were still moist with tears that had just rolled down. Shane Drakethorne continued, "We have tried to find everything that resembles healing someone from a deathbed. There are tales of some doing it in the past, but the ones that come close at present to that power are saints and saintesses of the holy kingdom, but they, too, will struggle to do it alone."
Alex felt like an imposter at this point, unable to use the power his parents spoke of. He said it with sadness in his voice. "But you know, right, I can't use it. Even now, no matter what I do, I can't use it."
Feeling her son's sadness, Sera gently reassured him as she moved her hand slowly along Alex's back. "No need to think of this anymore, Alex. You don't need to use it. We love you even if you never remember how to use it again. Just laugh and play—we will protect you."
Alex Drakethorne felt how wronged he was to think that if he couldn't use that miraculous healing power, then they wouldn't love him. He vowed to himself that he would train hard and never let his parents down.
Seeing Alex's determination and that he had calmed down, Sera Azurestorm and Shane Drakethorne exchanged relieved looks, their smiles returning. Sera laughed, her shoulders relaxing, and addressed him warmly: "Alex, my child, no need to be serious; we are here, and as long as we are here, no one will dare to harm you without being passed by us at first."
The atmosphere finally relaxed. Sera and Shane's shoulders dropped, the tension they hadn't realised building now melting away as they saw their son, Alex Drakethorne, returning to normal.
Alex Drakethorne, recalling the conversation with Princess Eva, remarked, "Princess Eva says she is level 8, but I almost matched her in speed when we raced, and I am only level 1. She says all the others our age are at level 4 or above. Princess Eva is such a liar, right, Father and Mother? I won't marry such liar in the future."
As his parents were finally beginning to relax, Alex surprised them with another revelation.
Although it caught them off guard, they resolved not to hide the truth and risk hurting his feelings again.
Sera and Shane looked into each other's eyes, their eyes worried about this revelation hurting Alex more than the previous one. But Sera nodded her head as if to say we can't hide this again and make him distrustful towards them in the future.
Alex, who had relaxed, felt his hurt grip him as he saw his mother and father looking tense and exchanging worried glances. He said, "Don't tell me she is telling the truth. No, that can't be right, tell me that she is telling a lie." He moved his head back and forth between his father and mother.
Shane Drakethorne, wanting to confirm that Princess Eva was right, gently replied, "Princess Eva is telling the truth, Alex."