#aleria

Underneath the veil of night two lalafell were running as fast as they could. “Come on Lalatov…! Just a little bit more.” Aleria called out to him in a hushed tone.

Their work day had gone on for longer than they anticipated.

Not that it had been either of their faults. Sometimes you just had more produce to sell than usual. 

Aleria passed the empty wagon towards Lalatov. Both were taking turns pulling it home, so neither of them would get too tired. He gripped the handle and continued running ahead, “What are the odds Chelinka will be fast asleep when we get home?” Normally they would make it back in time to at least tuck her in but this was cutting it too close.

“Well considering it’s past her bedtime. I would prefer she be asleep.”

“You’re right.” Lalatov paused, “And also if she’s asleep she won’t yell at us.” 

“Also very true.” 

Chelinka could be quite a terror when she was mad. 

Especially with her budding powers that apparently they had both passed onto her. Neither of them had seen it coming but it only made sense.

The only real problem was that Chelinka seemed to have some powers that they didn’t have. 

The first time Chelinka burped out a stream of fire both parents looked to each other expecting the other to nod in understanding. Only to find out that no one in that room knew where the fire breathing could have come from. 

With every step they took their home grew closer and closer until they found themselves at the front steps of the house. “We made it!” Lalatov hunched over and rested his hands on his knees. Not really sure what imaginary timer they were running against but at least they didn’t get there as the sun was rising again. 

Aleria looked down at the candy in her hand. It was a kind of rock candy that Chelinka always begged for her to bring over and over again. Aleria would have to constantly remind her that she needed to chip at the candy slowly and not eat it in one bite. 

Having this meant that hopefully Chelinka would go easy on the scolding.  

At least, this time she would. Hopefully.

As always their arrival back home was announced with a secret knock on the door. This was what Lalatov had come up with as a way to make sure there was no way Chelinka would open the door to strangers. 

Aleria started the secret knock but felt her blood run colder than it already was when the door simply just opened on its own. She stood frozen in terror as the door opened fully, revealing a dark room inside.

Without even a second thought Aleria ran inside, clutching onto the candy in her hand hard enough to almost break it. 

“Chelinka! Chelinka answer me!”  

Though her daughter did not come running out from a hiding place as she hoped she would, there was a sign of life, albeit briefly. Aleria heard a shallow breath coming from the bed beside her. “Chelinka…?!” It could only be her. It had to be her. 

The bed was still messy from earlier in the morning. Which was strange in of itself since Aleria knew that Chelinka always folded the blankets after she woke up. “Chelinka, sweetie?!” Aleria climbed on top of the bed and was met with the sight of her daughter covered with a warm blanket, sleeping soundly. 

“Chelinka…” She must have fallen asleep waiting for them. That was it. Her daughter was still here and still safe. No one had taken her away. Everything was okay. “Chelinka. We’re home.” She extended her hand out to wake her daughter, even if it was for just a moment. 

Chelinka was hot to the touch. 

At that very second, Lalatov returned from outside, closing the door behind him. He noticed Aleria knelt down on the bed beside a sleeping Chelinka. “Oh? Did our little babycorn get ahead of us and actually go to sleep early?” Wouldn’t have been the first time that happened. Lalatov laughed to himself a little but noticed something was off. 

“Aleria…?”

Her eyes were wide open, her teeth clenched in fear. “Chelinka! Chelinka! We’re back! You have to wake up!” At this point Aleria was practically shaking their daughter awake. “Chelinka it’s mama! Please!” No matter how much she begged or screamed, Chelinka’s eyes didn’t budge. 

Lalatov rushed to Aleria’s side, “Aleria, Aleria. What’s happening? Talk to me.” He climbed onto the bed and knelt down next to her. From here he could finally see the state Chelinka was in. 

Her skin looked pale, beads of sweat were covering her face. Lalatov could tell that she was struggling to breathe. “Chelinka…” He placed the back of his hand on her forehead, feeling the same heat that Aleria felt. Had something happened after they left? 

As far as he could remember she was fine yesterday. Last night Chelinka was jumping on the bed and running around as she usually did. If that was the case then why…? 

Aleria picked Chelinka up from the bed as carefully as she could and put her ear to Chelinka’s chest. “S-She’s still breathing. I-I can hear her heart…! S-She’s…She’s…” As long as there was still a heartbeat then Chelinka would be fine. She knew this, she knew. Aleria looked up at Lalatov with fear filled eyes. “...What’s wrong with her?” She sobbed. 

The scariest thing was that Lalatov had no idea. “I…I don’t know…” Lalatov had always pledged that he would do anything to protect his family but how was he going to do that when he had no idea what he was up against. 

As scared as he was, he had to try and get it together. For his family’s sake. It was time to get scared later. That’s when he remembered something from his childhood. “M-Maybe she just has a fever?” He remembered having them a lot, especially when he was younger. His mother would take care of him while he spent days bedridden. 

Aleria nodded, a bit of calm began to wash over her. “R-Right…! I h-had fevers too!” Her’s were particularly bad, according to the doctors back in Garlemald. “Me being sick were the only things that would stop them from testing on me…” She placed her finger under Chelinka’s nose until she could feel warm air coming out from it.  

“But then why isn’t she waking up?! Lalatov…?!”

He was at a total loss. “I-I don’t know…” Though he wasn’t sure what was wrong with Chelinka, that didn’t mean he couldn’t try to help. He raised his hand up towards her and concentrated. Lalatov closed his eyes and let his healing magic wash over her. 

Aleria held her breath. All she could do now was hope for the best. Surely this would be it. Any second now her daughter would open her eyes and everything would be okay.  

Right now it didn’t matter if Lalatov was always at the bottom of his class. Or always being told he would never amount as anything as a conjurer. His daughter needed him to pull out all the stops. It didn’t matter what happened to him. 

As long as his family was safe. Nothing else mattered.  

“Lalatov please stop!!” 

Lalatov gasped, stopping immediately. Though he wanted to ask if something was wrong for some reason he couldn’t find the strength to speak. Which would have probably been his first clue why Aleria had begged him to stop. 

Aleria let out a shaky breath. Though her hands were shaky, her hold on her daughter was tighter than ever.

Eventually she found the strength to speak again. “You looked like you were getting sick…” The fear that Lalatov himself would pass out alongside Chelinka filled her mind and wouldn’t get out, no matter how hard she tried. 

“I can’t lose you too…” 

Lalatov was able to catch his breath. If he had tried any longer it probably would have been the point of no return. After all this was over he made a mental note to thank Aleria for saving his life. Again. “You’re not…You’re not going to lose any of us.” That was a promise. 

“You couldn’t get rid of us even if you tried…!” Lalatov smiled weakly. 

Aleria let out a little giggle, smiling through her tears. Somehow this gave Lalatov hope that they would all make it out of this alright. As long as they stuck together. 

Though Lalatov’s efforts appeared to be in vain, it was far from the truth. Some color did return to Chelinka’s cheeks and she wasn’t as warm as when Aleria first found her. Her face looked a lot more peaceful too. Like he had gotten rid of a nightmare alongside a part of her sickness. 

Aleria crossed her legs and cradled Chelinka closer to her. “It’s going to be okay sweetie…I promise.” She brushed away a lock of hair from her eyes. “We brought you a yummy candy…! Just for you!” Though she wanted Chelinka to wake she still was careful enough to lower her voice. 

It wasn’t going to be easy but Lalatov had to say it. For the sake of their daughter they both had to step outside their comfort zone.

“Aleria…” He scooted closer to her. Now that he was closer he noticed that Chelinka was holding onto her mother’s dress. “I think we need to find her help” Lalatov took a deep breath.

Given what just happened, he wasn’t going to be able to help just by himself. “Outside help.” 

Aleria’s reaction was instantaneous. “NO!” Aleria took Chelinka and hugged her limp body against her own. It only made sense for her to react this way. Lalatov knew this. “We c-can’t what if they…they…they…!” 

“I promise-they aren’t going to take her away.” 

“You can’t know that…” Aleria shook her head, closing her eyes. “They always find a way to take you. No matter how much you fight.” 

Lalatov placed his hands on Aleria’s cheeks as gently as he could. Her whole body was shaking, her breathing was fast, too fast. “Do you remember what I said to you on the night we got married?” On what was perhaps Thanalan’s most foggiest night. 

Aleria looked right at him and nodded. “...Do you mean before or after it started raining?” 

“It was after! “ Lalatov let out a laugh, mixed together with a sob. “I told you. I promised you that I would never let anything happen to you or our children.” Even if it cost him his life. That part had been silent inside his head but he knew Aleria heard it despite that. 

“...And then I said I would do the same.” Aleria sighed, “No matter who or what got in my way.” There was no way in any hell that she was going to lose her family again. She would fight to her very last breath to make sure that never happened. 

“Which is how I know Chelinka will be safe.” There it was, the same stupid little grin that let Aleria know he fully believed in what he was saying. “Both of us will be with her. If anyone tries anything-we’ll stop them.”

“No matter what.”

“No. Matter. What.” Lalatov echoed. 

There was nothing either of them wouldn’t do to protect her. 

“Okay.”

That was all she needed to say. Lalatov pushed himself off the bed and started to gather their traveling supplies. Whatever he thought they would need he grabbed, no matter how small. Any weapons they needed to carry they could hide in their wagon like always. 

He was leaving nothing up to chance. 

Aleria looked down at Chelinka. There was the faintest smile on her face. “Aren’t you lucky? You’ve got a papa and a mama that will be with you forever and ever.” If only everyone could be so fortunate. 

“Even when our bodies give in. That’s probably not going to stop either of us!” Lalatov yelled across the room.

Well, when he was right he was right. “It’s true.” Aleria kissed Chelinka’s forehead, adjusting her in her arms as she climbed off the bed. “You aren’t going to get rid of us that easily, my little babycorn.” 

There was no more time to wait. Every second that passed by was just making things riskier for Chelinka. They would have to rush to Ul’dah to make up for lost time. And even when they got there, neither of them knew where to go for something like this.

But, they were going to find a way. For Chelinka’s sake. They had to. 

They were going to. 

“Are you ready?” Lalatov was waiting outside, the wagon ready to go. He reached out his hand towards Aleria. “We’ll all be safe. I swear, with all of my hearts.” 

Aleria closed her eyes and grabbed her husband’s hand, squeezing it tight. “Yeah. Let’s go.” 

Chelinka could feel herself moving.

Was it them? ‘Mama? Papa…?’ No matter how hard she tried to open her eyes, she couldn’t. Her body felt so tired. All she wanted to do was go back to sleep but everything was moving so much it was hurting her tummy. She heard herself let out a groan. 

As soon as she did, she felt a hand on her head. ‘There, there sweetie. We’re almost there, don't worry.’ She heard her mama’s voice talking to her. Chelinka liked it when her parents pet her on her head. This made her feel a little calmer. 

A little after that Chelinka found enough strength in her to open her eyes, just slightly. 

Though most everything was a blur she didn’t quite recognize where she was. This didn’t look like their home. Or like anything near it. ‘What…?’ It was a little scary but knowing her mama and papa were here made her feel a little less scared.

‘Sleepy…’ She heard her mama humming the lullaby she always sang to her.

Maybe she was just dreaming? That could be it. 

Whatever the case.

Chelinka knew she would be okay. 

“Mrrrpgh…?”

A ray of sunlight hit Babycorn right in the face, rudely waking her up from a midday nap.

Not one she had taken willingly mind you, but one caused by the act of her slipping on a head of lettuce. Babycorn yawned, if it was still light outside then she must not have been sleeping for that long. 

Or maybe she had slept so long it was the next day?

Who knows really. 

As she pushed herself off the bed she looked around the room. It didn’t look like any infirmary she recognized. In fact it looked more like her room actually. “Oh. I’m in my room.” Maybe someone carried her here? It made sense, lotsa people tended to just pick her up and carry her places.

One of the many advantages of being as small as she was. 

Even if she was taller than a handful of people here and there. Though maybe it was her pom that made it easier for her to pick up and go. Lunya and Vertical did often use it to pick her right off the ground. Like a radish.

Speaking of radishes. Babycorn realized she was pretty hungry. Who knows how long it’s been since she’s eaten?! At least a couple of minutes for sure. “Okay! Kitchen time!” She shouted out to no one in particular. 

As soon as Babycorn sat up she heard something tumble to the ground beside her. “Oh-!” Looking down she noticed a tonberry doll laying on its side. “Eek!” Had she knocked them down?! That was such a big drop for someone as small as that! 

“I’m so sorry!!” Babycorn rushed to pick the tonberry up. “I didn’t mean to knock you down!! Uwuauwauwuawuauuwahwauhbwabuwau…” 

One would think that Babycorn’s remorse would come from how much time she’s spent with Cherrypit and his living toys, but really, she had always had a soft spot for inanimate objects. 

“Here I’ll give you a hug to make you feel better!” She gave the tonberry a tight tight hug before placing it back on the side of the bed where Cherrypit usually placed it. With that taken care of it was time to get back to food hunting! 

“Right-! Let’s….let’s…” 

That was odd. 

Babycorn wiped at her eyes. For some reason or another there were tears. Not just on her eyes, but all over her face. “Ah…” She guessed that she had cried in her sleep.

It wasn’t unusual for her to do, nightmares were something that she was more than familiar with. In fact, she had a mental list of every nightmare she could remember having ever since she was a kid. 

But the weird thing was that she didn’t feel like she had a nightmare. Babycorn couldn’t remember her dream at all.

Which was really weird. Usually she could remember it like she had almost been there. Though to be fair, that was sort of a new thing. 

“I know I didn’t have a nightmare.” Babycorn placed her hands right on her heart. “It felt like a nice dream…” Like the kind that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy afterwards.