I decided to look after Hiro Maeda, a young, albino, seventeen-year-old, senior high school student, lying in a hospital cot in critical condition along with his father, mother, and older brother. After saving him and his family from the horrid car accident, I felt the need to stay with him as he recovers. I sat in a worn-out chair in the corner of the small, darkened hospital room, thinking of what just happened.
Out of everyone else in the Maeda family, Hiro had it the worst after the crash. He had severe injuries, especially to his throat that caused deep trauma to his vocal cords. It was obvious that he'll struggle with the fact that he won't be able to speak the same way again.
It was hard on Todd Lindburg since he is Hiro's best friend. He didn't want to appear in his room. He couldn't bear the sight of his friend this way. I don't blame him. Todd asked me to keep an eye on himself, to keep him company. I couldn't refuse.
If I only keep my guard up, I could have sensed the other–
"Poor soul," a disembodied voice whispered. My eyes widened and quickly scanned the room. Out of instinct, I stood up quickly.
"Who's there?" I shouted. I felt a presence before me, but I couldn't see who could have made that sound. Suddenly, a glowing silver mist manifested in front of me, on the side of Hiro's bed. The mist shapeshifted into a woman, dressed in pale blue robes, flowing spectral hair, and luminescent blue eyes. Her gaze shifted to me, looking into my glowing green eyes.
"It's been a while since I've seen those eyes. How is Xanthima after all this time, young Erastus?" My jaw drops slightly, as I feel a sinking sensation in my chest when my real name was said. Who else knows who I am? My master and several others know, but I don't know her at all. I walked toward Hiro's bed, ready to strike at a moment's notice if she tried to pull anything malicious on Hiro or me.
"No need to be defensive. I'm no threat." Suddenly, I realized that she does look familiar, someone that I met thousands of years ago. Xanthima said I wasn't ready to know about her kind yet. It just made me more curious to know about her and her race. Easing from my tense posture, I couldn't help myself but ask her. I had to ask her.
"How do you know me? Who are you?" She gave me the gentlest smile I have ever had.
"Doesn't matter how I know you, but I am Aszalia. An astral."
"An astral? What are these astrals? I have to know. Xanthima never told me about you or your people."
"I see. You'll meet me soon. I'm just a projection appearing before you. In fact, I came to warn you." I gave her a puzzling look.
"About?" Aszalia put her hand on Hiro's cheek, caressing it. Suddenly, her expression changed, filled with much sorrow.
"Him. He's going to die in a few weeks from complications of his injuries." It was hard to believe that I doubted her word. I've learned to be quite a skeptic from what I have seen in the past. Hiro isn't dying, he's–
"He isn't dying. The doctors say he's going to recover in a couple of months. That he's–"
"He'll die. I can see it, Erastus." She looked at me with such assurance. That Hiro was fated to perish.
"Forgive me, Aszalia, for being skeptical. I can see inside his body with the Emera. He seems stable." Aszalia sighed in disappointment. Aszalia, passing through the bed that Hiro lies on, put her right index finger on my forehand. A sudden premonition manifests around me.
Right before me, I see the doctor, with a pained look. Todd sobbing and screaming hysterically in Krystal's arms. I, myself, was tearing up at this sight.
"Time of death. 4:22 PM." Todd kept crying and yelling, trying to reach Hiro's bed.
"No! No! Noooo! He can't be dead! He can't be!" Abruptly, the vision ends. Tears flowing down my cheeks. Aszalia wipes my tears, feeling the warmth of her hand.
"I..." I am speechless from what I just saw.
"Now, you know what will happen, but you can save him, Erastus. Only you." Intrigued, I wanted to know what I had to do.
"What is it?"
"You have to cast Dragon's Blessing on him." I quickly step back. No! No! Dragon's Blessing!? That Curse!?
"You have to be joking, Aszalia!" I exclaimed. "That spell killed millions of Anglicans and you want me to cast it on Hiro!? Without his content!? It almost killed Todd too!" I was furious and fearful of that spell since its scroll went missing from an Anglican vault several years ago.
"I know. It's his only salvation."
"In what way!?" I exclaimed.
"Dragon's Blessing is a spell that orientated from my world. I know a lot about it. It may convert the target into some mythical creature and give the target several months to live before they perish. However, the conversion will allow the target's body to heal mostly or completely."
"Since when does Dragon's Blessing do that?"
"It always has been that way. Think of it as a hidden ability. So, it'll heal Hiro here, but he'll have to break the spell before well...you know the outcome." I shifted my gaze to Hiro, lying in bed, completely asleep and unaware. I can't–
"I can't do that to him, Aszalia."
"And why not? He's the voice of bliss after all. You need him."
"It's wrong. It's–" I just realized what she said. Hiro's the voice of bliss!? Then... I couldn't help myself but rant and put all of my frustrations and anger on Aszalia.
"Then it's also selfish then If I cast the spell on him without his consent and that I need him to complete Xanthima's mission, I make me look like a selfish and greedy person looking out for himself! Even Hiro's life will still be at risk!" I couldn't help but tear up again out of anger. Aszalia looked at me, with much concern on her face.
"I understand. Think over but choose soon. I fear that he'll wake up and once he does, well...you won't be to do it after the fact." Aszalia disappeared like thin air. I sat back in my chair and thought a lot about what I'm going to. It was clear. Either choice, I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. The next day, I consulted Todd about this when he visited. He, too, was conflicted as I am. Yet, he told me, if there was any chance to save him, to do it. The next night, approaching sunrise, Aszalia came back again, asking what my decision was. I stood in front of her and gulped, anxious about what I'm going to tell her.
"Teach me how to cast Dragon's Blessing."
"As you wish." After she taught me and disappeared again, I readied myself to cast Dragon's Blessing. Suddenly, Hiro opened his eyes and began to be aware of his surroundings.
"H-Huh?" Hiro said sluggishly. "Who are you?" I sighed.
"I'm sorry. Forgive me." A flash of light happened as I nearly completed the spell. And now it was done. I made my decision...
