The way to become the Great Sorcerer

Chapter 19: Hit by Guilt

Noah carried his son to the nearest hospital. Henry followed pursuit, also carrying his daughter, Neveah. They entered the hospital causing a scene.

 “Help my son!” Noah shouted, doctors, come dashing to him, they immediately put him into the bed, examining him. Noah just watched as the doctors do their things. He pants heavily staring at his unconscious son. Noah rubbed both of his palms to his head. Feeling a sense of panic, negative thoughts appeared on his mind. 

Another doctor approached Henry who asked about what happened to her daughter in which Henry explain in detail. The doctor leads them to a separate room for both of them. After an hour Neveah regains consciousness, crying in the arms of his father. Neveah told her father that he would like to see Larcade. Henry was hesitant but she insisted.

Henry told her daughter to sit down first. On a nearby bench for the guardians, Neveah waits. Neveah sat there for an hour not moving an inch. ‘If only’ Neveah’s tears fall down to her lap. A woman came rushing into the hospital. Neveah looked up to see her Aunt Athena, asking panicky on nurses

. She took notice of Neveah and run to her side. Before Athena can make her way to her, Henry went out of Larcade’s designated room. “Brother!” Henry looked up and saw her younger sister. He frowned when he saw Athena’s wet face, full of tears. Henry hugged her sister comforting her. “Athena.”

Henry pulls out of the hug and leads Athena to Larcade. Noah saw her wife, he smiled but his eyes hold sadness. Athena covered her mouth, trying not to break out a sob. Noah hugged her wife, feeling sorry. He kissed her forehead and said reassuring things to her. A knock on the door interrupted them. Neveah’s attention was caught. A doctor and a nurse visited the couple to inform them about their son’s welfare. 

“Hello. Are you the guardians of the child?” The doctor started, Noah and Athena nod. “It seems that the patient’s wounds were caused by a slip and fall. When the head receives a blow during a slip and fall, the outer blood vessels of the brain can be damaged. This may cause a hematoma to form, which is a blood clot that puts pressure on the tissue of the brain. This thing is called a hematoma.”

All of them listen to the doctor’s information. “But luckily it seems that your son did not cause any serious injuries.” All of the adults in the room sighed. “But when we found him, he was bleeding a lot,” Noah said informing the doctor. “Yes, since the impact of the patient's head was hard enough that it causes excessive bleeding to the patient’s head.” The doctor adjusts his eyeglasses. 

“Then, what’s my son’s treatment?” Athena asked. “In your son’s case, his hematoma will not require treatment. The body will usually reabsorb the blood from the hematoma over time. Gradually the blood in the hematoma is absorbed back into the body. The swelling and pain of the hematoma will go away. This takes from 1 to 4 weeks.” The doctor said, signing something on his clipboard. 

“Then why isn’t he waking up?” Athena glanced at the doctor. “It will take time for the patient to wake up, he will wake up by tomorrow or even in the next hours.” Athena sighed in relief, holding her son’s hands. The doctor bid goodbye and walked out of the room. The three adults sighed in relief, “Thank goodness.” Henry stated, which made Noah smile. 

Neveah went inside the room, it caught Athena, Noah, and Henry’s attention. She made her way to Athena, stopping in front of her. Athena stared at her niece, puzzled. Neveah bowed 90 degrees. All of the adults let their mouths gape open because of the little girl’s sudden actions. 

“I’m sorry Aunt Athena!” Neveah shouted expressing her guilt.   “If only I didn’t leave Larcade in that mansion!” Athena covered her mouth. “If only I didn’t feel upset, he won’t be in this hospital!” Neveah sobbed violently still bowing her head. 

Athena felt pain because of the sight in front of her. “Neveah,” Athena called, which made Neveah flinched. Athena caress her niece’s cheeks that made Neveah lookup. “It isn’t your fault, so please don’t blame yourself.” Athena gave her a gentle smile. Neveah always looked up to Athena as her mother figure since her own mother passed away when she was born. Athena was the only one beside her.

 “You helped your uncle find Larcade and that’s enough.” Athena wiped her tears away. “You told us your mistakes, that took a lot of courage. You choose honesty than hiding it. It’s enough, Neveah. So, don’t drown yourself in guilt, if Larcade sees this he would be very sad.” Neveah nodded, still crying. Feeling relieved that they didn’t blame her that Larcade was also safe.

“After since then, I promised myself to protect my cousin.” Neveah ended her story. Lucas sat there petting the cat. “Though I know that no one ordered me to do that, I still feel s**t because of it.” Athena stared into the warm pavement. “I feel like it’s been three chapters since I appeared.” Lucas suddenly said.

 Neveah looked at him with a weird, unreadable face. “What the hell are you talking about?” Lucas just shook his head dismissing him. “Welp, now I know what’s the reason, I can sleep peacefully.” He said standing up, the cat jumped off from his lap to the ground landing perfectly. “You’ve been thinking the reason on why I was so protective of him?” Neveah asked, shocked. Lucas’ only reply was to smirk.

 “That’s why your brain is useless.” Neveah gave him a deadpan expression. Lucas’ right eye twitch. He attempts to kick Neveah but Neveah dodged it perfectly. She runs away raising her arms, “Help!” She shouted while running. “Neveah you piece of s**t!” Lucas chase her, pissed off.

Both of them run around in circles not noticing a dark apparition hiding in the corner of some random house. All of its body is dark, the only different parts are his eyes, tinted with vibrant violet. The apparition smiled menacingly white sharp teeth visible. It chuckled watching Neveah and Lucas.

 It stopped when he saw Larcade approaching the two. Larcade’s frown was visible when he nags the two in which Neveah and Lucas stand there rubbing their hairs feeling embarrassed. “The successor!” He whispered with desire. Eyes widened, scanning Larcade from head to toe. “Where’s Damian?” The apparition heard Larcade asked and it paused for a moment. ‘Shit...that demon.’ He thought before disappearing into thin air. 

Larcade stared at the two who also don’t know what to answer looking from left to right. “Where could that guy be?” Neveah stated suddenly Damian appeared behind Larcade. “I’m here.” All the three of them jumped when he suddenly talked. Damian gives them all a deadpan expression. Larcade sighed holding his chest. 

“Where have you been?” Larcade asked after composing himself. Damian looked at him. “Just tracking a wild beast.” He said. “So, about Uncle Noah’s consent and Mister Eastwood, shouldn't you be going into your houses to convince those two adults?” Neveah said. Both Lucas and Larcade shuddered at the thought of their father’s stern face. Although they are scared, shitless, they don’t want their fathers to get worried. 

Larcade pursed his lips in front of their house. The remaining three standing behind him, anticipating what will Larcade do. Like three stray cats. Larcade gulped, memorizing what he will say to his father. 

“You can just enter since it’s your own damn house.” Neveah broke the silent atmosphere. The two guys beside her glared at Neveah. Larcade sighed and turn the doorknob. He enters inside leaving the three on the front porch. Neveah, Lucas, and Damian stared at the door closing. 

“So…” Neveah glanced at Lucas. “It’s my turn to talk to my dad.” Lucas said with a sigh as he walked away, not forgetting to wave his hand, “Wish me luck.” Lucas said before entering his house. Neveah and Damian squint their eyes when they realize they’re the only ones left. An awkward silence filled the both of them. 

The Maine coon sat in front of them staring intently at both of them. Damian noticed the cat and crouched down to pet it. “Aww~” Neveah cooed when the cat purred. “Now that I think of it, this adorable cutie doesn’t have a name yet.” Neveah also crouched down. She thinks of any random names that suit the beautiful feline. “How ‘bout Fluffy? Kitten? Paws? Cubby? I think all of it suits a female cat.” Neveah hit Damian’s back, feeling excited.

 Damian hissed after every hit. “It’s a male, i***t,” Damian informed, blocking Neveah’s arms. The Maine coon rubbed its body to Neveah’s leg. Neveah freeze on the spot dumfounded. 

“I know that,” Neveah said, looking away, face flushed, feeling embarrassed. Damian stared at her with blank eyes, ‘She totally didn’t know that.’ Neveah picked up the cat, snuggling with it.

 “Simba? Mufasa? Kion?” Neveah said all of the male lion names of the movie Lion King. Damian pursed his lips, not liking any of her suggestions. He exhaled also thinking names that will suit the cat. Though he didn’t know why he was willing to participate. 

“Hmm,” Damian hummed, glancing at the feline. Neveah looked at him anticipating what he’s going to say. “How ‘bout, Ashmit?” Damian suggested. Neveah grinned widely. 

“Yes, Ash!” She said cuddling the cat, the cat replied with a meow. 

“It’s Ashmit.” Damian corrected her as he pats the cat’s head. 

“Ash.” Damian snapped his head to Neveah. 

“Ashmit.” Neveah’s slowly starting to get pissed off.

 “Ash.” Damian raised his brows. 

“Ashmit.” 

The two began to argue about the cat’s name, whether if it’s Ash or Ashmit.

Larcade sighed after closing the doors. He found his brother lying in the living room, holding a game controller, too busy to take notice of Larcade. Calypso was playing some random video game, casually eating some chips. Larcade rolled his eyes and ignored his brother. He met his mother, that was going downstairs. 

“Oh my, Lar, where are your friends? I’m going, to be honest, those handsome boys are seriously the death of me. Lucas and what’s his name again Damian? Damian, right?” Athena chuckled putting her palms to her cheeks.

Calypso and Larcade stared at their mother with wide eyes and in shock. “Dang, Mom, just make sure to remember your age,”  Calypso said before going back to his game. Athena smacked his son’s head lightly that made him jump. 

“I’m just saying, it doesn’t mean that I want to be with them.” Athena pinched both sides of her younger son’s cheeks. Calypso tried to remove his mother’s hands as he begs for her to stop. Larcade laughs at the sight in front of him. 

“Mom, where’s dad?” Larcade asked looking everywhere just to find the man he’s been looking for.

“Your dad is in the room where it happens.” Larcade’s facial expression is unreadable. ‘A Hamilton reference?’ Larcade thought looking to his brother for confirmation whether she really said that. “Well, damn, I also want to be in the room where it happens,” Calypso added that made Athena chuckle.

Larcade who had enough of his mother and brother’s Hamilton reference left to go find his father. ‘I don’t think Mom knows the thing about camping.’ He passes by every room that he can think of. He stopped when he finally spotted his father. He approached him slowly, his father’s back facing him. Feeling hesitant now that he is in front of his father. He fiddled with his finger and grind his teeth. He always did this when he feels anxious. His father heard the grinding of his teeth but he was still hell-bent on not turning around to look at his son face to face.

With a second of grinding of his teeth, Noah can’t hold back and hit Larcade’s head lightly with his fist. Larcade jumped because of it. “Stop it, your teeth will damage.” Noah turned facing his son, who was looking down on the floor. The silence killing both father and son. 

“Father.”