Infinity| A Time After

+Months+

___Alice___

It's been an entire 3 months.

Three months of tears. Three months of fear. And agony continues to swallow all hope as the war proceeds.

By now, a search effort lead by the remaining Lances was launched. Finding Dicathian soldiers and civilians, gathering them before sending them secretly to the sanctuary. By now, a little less then half of the civilians hide safely within the sanctuary. Those who were already caught were either turned into slaves, or killed if they fought. The soldiers regrouping in a separate part of the sanctuary, which was discovered not long after...Arthur's death.

The effort to save our people quickly turned even more deadly at the arrival of new Retainers and two more Scythes. Enemy ships came a lot more frequently with civilians of Alacrya. From what I could gather from the soldiers, many towns were burned. And the next battle was to be held at the wall.

I'd been working tirelessly, healing as many soldiers as I could to the best of my abilities. Elder Rinia continues to help me, in a way, train me to better use my healing capabilities. I was now at the point where I could construct basic surgical instruments with my mana or break down and heal tissue and even bone. I was one of the many healers called to administer aid to the injured.

Though, it wasn't just injured citizens and soldiers I tended to.

I monitor Tessia also, and that's whose rooms I'm walking into. Her room was dimly lit with candles. Tessia herself laying in bed, curled on her side facing me. The blanket draped around her, covering her chest and lower body. Quietly, I walk forward and sit in the chair beside her bed. She was shaking, brows furrowed, eyes shut tightly as her lips trembled. She was shrinking in on herself.

'She must be having that nightmare again..'

Laying my hand on her shoulder, I gently shook her awake. She gasped, flinching away from me with her arms shielding her stomach.

"Tessia, honey, it's me. It's just me, I didn't mean to startle you.." I say gently. Her hitched breathing slowed as she looked up at me with reddened eyes and tear stricken face.

"....A-Alice..." She trailed off as I gave her a reassuring smile.

"Can you turn on your back for me?" I asked kindly.

Tessia sighed softly, rolling slowly to her back as she pulled the blanket away from her stomach. She relaxed into the comfort of her bed, as I cast a spell while hovering my hands just above he stomach. In the three months that pasted, her stomach started getting pudgy. As the days went by, her stomach was starting to round and poke out. I moved my hands around until I felt a heart beat that was separate from Tessia's own.

It was small, the heartbeat was faster...

I stopped moving my hands, Auburn eyebrows furrowing as I concentrated. Tessia was completely still, the only movement from her was her chest moving to the rhythm of her breathing. Moving my hands to the lower left, I felt...

'Oh my god' My eyes snapped to Tessia, as her dim green eyes stare at me in worry.

"A-Alice?? Is something w-wrong..?" She whimpered as tears gathered in her eyes while she feared for the worst.

"...T-twins Tessia...there are two...." I stutter. I continued to feel around for that third heartbeat, which I found almost immediately.

It was there and it was strong. Tessia's eye widened in shock as she stares at me for a moment before moving her gaze to her pudgy stomach. Grabbing her right hand with my left, I guided her hand to lay over the lower side of her stomach. I recited the spell with my hands over hers, so she could feel what I did. After a moment, her other hand cradled the other as she pressed them softly into her stomach. She could feel the second small heartbeat and she closed her emerald eyes which weld up with unshed tears.

It stayed like this for a while. Her feeling the life which she and Arthur created with such love practically poring from her. It made me smile as I remembered being the same way. Albeit, a lot more joyful.

"Knock knock." Sylvie cautiously entered the room. She was always at Virion's side, aiding in the retrieval of soldiers and civilians alike. She's gained the upmost respect from the people of Dicathen by taking out dozens of Alacrian soldiers in the battle front. She's gotten stronger, now being able to manifest mana barriers that's could shield hundreds of our soldiers and even repel a retainer's attack.

Her prowess on the battlefield did not go unnoticed after Arthur's death. Many relied on her protection whilst fighting. Not to mention her healing capabilities which is far more superior to any of us human healers.

Even with all these accomplishments, she became...distant. Detached almost. Although, now she's been visiting more often.

"Welcome back Sylvie. Anything new?" I smiled at her kindly.

"We could only grab so much. Though Gideon is still secretly working on the "Train." But until that gets finished, we won't be able to get a lot of supplies down here." She stood beside me with a neutral expression.

"H-hey Sylvie.." Tessia opened her eyes to look up at Sylvie, who was staring adamantly at her rounded torso. The young Ausura looked at Tessia with a small, sad smile while placing her pale hand over mine and Tessia's.

"You got your work cut out for you Tess. Two trouble makers, I can see it now." Sylvie said as her smile widened. I chuckled, nodding in agreement.

"Heheh. Two in one go? What the hell were you two doing that day, eh?"

We all turned to see Virion standing in the doorway with a suggestive smirk. Tessia turned pink as she gasped at the sudden appearance of her grandfather.

"I should've tied that boy up and beat him with a stick the day I saw you hobble out of your room. No offense Ms. Leywin." He chuckles, shaking his head as he proceeded to walk over.

"Hehe, none taken. And call me Alice, Elder." He simply smiled softly at me, before nodding to Sylvie and gently caressing Tessia's head.

"Only if you quit addressing me as 'Elder', I'm sure we are well pass the point of formalities." Shaking his head with a shallow sigh, he turned to me with a serious face.

"How are they?"

"The children are healthy and growing. Nothing is wrong so far, as long as she continues to eat well and stay hydrated, then they will be fine." I said simply. Virion nodded then grabbed Tessia's hand. He seemed to zone out until Sylvie suddenly turned toward the doorway.

"C-COMMANDER! SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT WE HAVE A PROBLEM!"

_______***********_______

CLIFFHANGERRRR!!!

Sorry this is a bit shorter then usual (300 words less then usual), exams are nearing so there isn't much time for me to continuously write.

BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THIS BOOK IS ON HOLD!!!

Hell no, this book is my baby and I have so many ideas for the plot line.

You guys are soooo in for it once it hits the climax—not that kind of climax you dirty minded hooligans (/>€<)/

See you next chapter, which is next Saturday!