Allisa… why did you have to say that- When my daughter said those desires to become an adventurer I felt all the hair on my body stand up. My mother in law glared at me, her pupils constricted into needles, then my father in law clenched his hands.
"Al-"
My mother in law slammed her hand on the table and stretched her finger towards my face.
"What have you been teaching her?!"
"I did- didn't teach her anything!" I exclaimed. Did they not change at all?
Yes, yes we moved due to Melinda's duties. Before we even left her parents got into an argument with me.
Trying to steal her… Ugh! No, we agreed to go together… Now I'm being blamed for my own daughter?
"No- I don't believe you! A girl shouldn't be an adventurer, it's dangerous!"
"Mom!" Melinda followed her mom's actions and struck the table. "Allisa's almost fifteen, we've taught her how to protect herself!"
"Ye-Yeah!"
I think due to Melinda's sudden action, my mother-in-law shrunk back to her couch. Even my father-in-law's fists were unclenched.
"Mel-"
"Don't blame him for what she wants!"
"B-"
My wife huffed and leaned back in her chair. Yukina, Allisa and I stared at her; she never was this adamant… she never even raised her voice at her parents before. For her daughter's dream…My Melinda is amazing.
"Allisa'll be fine as an adventurer."
"Mel-"
No one spoke for a moment; then, Melinda had me explain what we went through.
Starting from Untergrant's destruction; our trip as renegades…. Everything we did for Allisa so she'd be fine. It wasn't little… I spent day in and out teaching her how to heal.
Her talent… it's beyond me. It took me months to heal a cut fast. For her? It took just two days. It hurts my pride as a healer to admit someone's better… but my pride as a father couldn't be higher.
Unfortunately, her physical condition won't allow her to fight by herself. My own daughter has the capabilities. She even got recognized and earned some… astonishing special skills.
Healing? No problem, in frosted peaks she could keep Yukina alive. Even with Yukina's wounds Allisa kept her stable. Her learning rate for first aid was beyond what I have seen.
Alas… Her special skill currently. She can cause someone to fall asleep. Which… she's been using on her adopted sister. Though it is concerning how much she's been using it.
"...Mel, is he telling the truth?" My mother-in-law asked. Her voice was full of doubt, and curiosity.
"He is…" My wife confirmed with a nod of her head. "I think… my daughter's decision of being an adventurer fits her."
It's unfortunate…
Allisa became so fearful of the world; it aches my heart seeing her cower.
A hailstorm ensued, mainly my wife standing up for me. That hailstorm was short, however, my mother-in-law was extremely pale at the end.
She let out an audible loud cough before saying anything.
"I'm sorry… Um, it's just adventuring is dangerous. Are you really sure, Allisa?"
"I-I am..!" My daughter started off low then became loud. "Dad has been teaching me like he said!"
"Um… honey, can we have the doctors teach her?"
Before Melinda and I could respond, Yukina popped up suddenly. "I think Allisa would be fine."
"Oh, you can speak?" My mother-in-law popped off. "Why do you think that?"
"She and I had to travel through frosted peaks together…" Yukina started to scratch her neck. Nervous. "James and Melinda already said that… I think… she'd be fine.".
"...Haah… Alright… but for our only granddaughter to become a proper one— James!"
"Uh- yes?!"
"Teach little Allisa more!"
When I quickly nodded my head, my in-laws calmed down and relaxed in their seats. But their attention changed to Yukina.
Yukina was rubbing the eye she hurt. Is it starting to bother her? I'll check it out once we're home.
Once she was done, she kept that eye close and jumped when her grandparents grabbed her attention.
"Is- is something wrong?"
My mother-in-law brought her hand to her chin and squinted at her. It was long, deep and concerning… And knowing her it was something random.
It got so concerning, Yukina started scratching at her neck again; she kept her only open eye fixated at the table.
"Really Yuki— how old are ya?"
"I'm fourteen…" Yukina instantly replied.
"You look a lot older than that."
"..."
"Now tell us the truth! We need to find someone your age!"
"I'm fourteen! I'm the same age as Allisa!" Yukina's face turned red at her words— she pointed at her sister harshly. "And I don't want a husband— no I don't want a pa- partner!"
"C'mon-"
Sure was a boy before…So much for her constant yapping about a man's pride.
Yukina was heavily blushing, the itching on her neck was increasing. Over the past year she's been with us, she's been more girly. Welll, mainly her reactions to being teased.
Even now that's obvious, she and her grandmother kept bickering. Her face went from heavily blushing to now her entire body being red. However, things calmed down when that happened— my mother-in-law seemed to lose her energy and started coughing.
"Alright, honey, calm down." My father started rubbing her back. "Welcome to the family, Yukina."
"...Thanks…" Yukina glared at us with her one eye open.
The interrogation of Yukina started. Mainly it was my father-in-law. My mother-in-law was quiet for some reason.
It started off the same as Allisa. It was a test of her linguistics skill; I never realized this but Yukina did have a slight accent. Usually a slight hiss at the end of s's.
It was barely noticeable, only until my father-in-law pointed it out. Heck, even Yukina tilted her head at it. But, it didn't dock her grade from him.
Alas, did her actual strong suit come. Mathematics, my daughter struggled with her division and multiplication. Most of the time it took her a minute to answer. However, Yukina answered them instantaneously. Without fail she popped off every answer.
After her grade, she straightened her back and had a prideful look.
"Good, good. Adventurer too, right?"
"Yes."
"With those skills you'd do fine." My father-in-law shrugged. By skills, he meant her linguistics and mathematics skills, obviously. "Do you use magic or do you use a sword to fight?"
Yukina lifted her palm up, and a tiny orb of flames appeared. "I'm… pretty weak physically. Magic's my strong suit."
"Fire?"
"Mhm."
"Do you have a teacher? I know some individuals." My father-in-law proclaimed, he had a small smirk on his lips.
"Mm… I do. She's… currently away at the moment."
'Shen' is who she's referring to. Those two got close during our trip here; closer than we could think of.
It was a horrifying thought to have our adopted daughter around a vampire— the vampire that almost killed her. Then us…
My father-in-law tilted his head, I could see the genuine curiosity on his face. "Who's your teacher?"
"Her name is Shen…" Yukina stated.
My in-laws straightened their backs at the name.
"D-Did you say Shen?"
"Mhm…?" Yukina stared at them with a thirty degree tilt of her head.
"As in Shen the Cunning Fox?"
"Yes. Though, I'm unfamiliar with that nickname, it is Shen."
My father-in-law covered his mouth; did she do something to them? Why is he so scared? Has she been taunting the entire Gabri's?
"O-Oh… You- you'll be fine then…"
Yukina shrugged and leaned back. The fireball above her palm was snuffed out. Afterwards the silence was awkward. After that "reveal" no one wanted to speak.
******
"James."
"Y-Yes?"
…
All the girls left my father-in-law and I alone. He had his head lowered and a… saddened… look…?
"I apologize for our argument." He apologized whilst clasping his hand. "Seeing Melinda… so happy… I sincerely apologize."
"It's it's-"
I felt my words get caught in my mouth. Did something else happen…?
My father-in-law was itching his hands… vigorously… His mouth was twitching hard.
"Please take continued good care of her…"
I managed to calm my heart. And I focused my mind.
"Father, what happened? Why are you saying all of this?"
"..."
We sat here… for a while. My father-in-law didn't want to say anything. But… eventually he took a breath in and started explaining.
"Melissa… she won't be here for much longer." He stared off, his voice was quiet and I had to lean in. "Keep… keep this a secret between us. Please…"
"What's wrong with her?"
"..."
"Father, what is wrong with her?"
Is she sick? Is something going after her?
My father-in-law covered his face before answering me. "Melissa has an incurable disease. Something's growing in her lungs, we can't stop it.
We tried consulting for help. Even with the most advanced healing, we can't stop it."
"..."
"James… my son, please forgive her for what she said." From covering his face to bowing, I felt nothing enter my throat. "Even… even before she was diagnosed she regretted her actions and words to you."
"...I already forgot what she said." I mumbled and I followed his actions. "...Can you let me try?"
"Try?"
I nodded my head and stared into his eyes. "Did you see Yukina's eye?" As I asked him I pointed at my left eye. "Her eye died, it had a hole gouged out of it. So… Let me try and heal mother."
"..."
His eyes were glaring at me, his lips were contorted into a grimace.
"I'll… I'll talk with her…"