#instead of editing

Words couldn’t describe Edea’s feelings when she first laid eyes upon Zealan.

When Ringabel first told her he had brought home a child from another world, Edea didn’t know how to react. Ringabel had been gone for a week, doing some assignment given to him by the Planeswardens, when he suddenly walked into her office without any sort of warning. She hadn’t been expecting him, as she had been told he wouldn’t be home until the end of the month, and she nearly spilled ink all over her paperwork when he slammed his hands down on her desk. He was babbling about something, and though Edea couldn’t make out a coherent sentence, she was still able to pick up on some key words. From the sounds of it, he had brought something, or somebody, home with him.

“Ringabel, Ringabel! Slow down please! I can’t understand what you’re trying to say!” she told him as she put her pen down. “You can’t just stroll in here after being gone for a week without even saying hello and then start talking nonsense!”

Moving his hands off Edea’s desk, Ringabel stood up straight. “My apologies, Edea!” he told her as he tried to compose himself. “It’s just that the Planeswardens have agreed to let us take in a child that I found during my assignment! I thought that would be a far more important thing to start with!”

“Woah, wait what?” Edea asked in attempts to get Ringabel to clarify. “Did you just say that you brought a child home with you???”

Ringabel smiled. “Yes, exactly, and we’re going to care for him for the next year! Perhaps even longer!!” he explained. “You see, when I was checking on the state of Eternia, I met this boy…”

Edea listened as Ringabel told her about the boy he had brought home with him. His name was Zealan, apparently, and he was an only child living with his adoptive father. His mother had died in childbirth, and his father went missing a few days after, and under his current circumstances he needed a better place to stay. From the sounds of it, the boy’s upbringing had been harsh, and despite having an adoptive father who loved him, the two struggled to get by. Zealan’s grandfather had disowned him from the family, and his grandmother, the only other person to care for him, had died when he was young. Edea wasn’t surprised that Ringabel had wanted to take the child in, since he had always had a soft spot for orphans, but she wished he had at least asked her before making any arrangements.

Well, child wasn’t really the proper term. Zealan was already 17-years-old, and on the last day of the year, he would turn 18 and become a legally recognized adult. Ringabel told her that Zealan had also graduated from the Sky Knight Academy a few weeks prior, and that Zealan claimed he was going to become a knight in order to search for his father. This statement struck as odd to Edea, however, as it didn’t make sense for Zealan to want to leave his own world if he had plans to find his father. Perhaps Ringabel thought Zealan had a better chance of finding his father in this world? That didn’t make any sense either though, as surely there was also a version of Zealan that existed in this world doing the same.

Ringabel, however, insisted that wouldn’t be the case. “Zealan is a very special and unique boy,” he told her. “I doubt there’s any other child like him here in our world, so he’ll fit in perfectly!”

“How can you be so sure?” Edea asked, still unconvinced. “You should know better than anybody else that each world has their version of every individual, and that having multiple in one place can cause issues.”

Still smiling, Ringabel shook his head. “You need to trust me on this one!” he continued to tell her. “All you need to do is take one look at him, and I’m sure you’ll understand where I’m coming from!”

Sighing, Edea admitted defeat. “Alright, alright. I’ll take your word for it then. Let me see him,” she said in response as she got out of her chair. She still didn’t understand why Ringabel was so insistent, but she guessed she’d just have to wait and see. She knew in the past the two of them had considered adopting a fourth child once Valentine was a bit older, but that wouldn’t have been for another few years. She wasn’t sure if they were prepared to take in a child, let alone a teenaged boy, but it didn’t seem she had a say in it anymore. Ringabel really didn’t want her telling him no.

Edea’s heart almost stopped beating when Ringabel led Zealan into her office.

At first glance, Zealan looked like a normal teenaged boy. He was tall, a bit lanky, and extremely awkward. It was when she got a better look that Edea began to understand why she and Ringabel had been asked to take him in. She could feel herself becoming overwhelmed as she continued to stare, and she was sure she was making Zealan uncomfortable, but she couldn’t take her eyes off of him. A wave of emotions was washing over her, and she couldn’t stop it; first happiness, then pain, followed by sorrow, and now…

It had been almost eighteen years prior; it was an extremely busy year, and she and Ringabel had yet to marry. Most of their days were filled with meetings and paperwork as they worked to make Eternia a better country, but the little time they had away from work they would spend with each other. They had only recently started planning their wedding, and Ringabel had already brought up the idea of having kids. Edea had been against it for the most part, and in the end she told him they would have to wait. They had much to do before they could even consider having children, and there were much more important things on her mind at the time.

Fate did not work in her favor, however, and in the end the important things would have to wait. During a routine visit to the White Magic Hospital for physical, the nurse had discovered something rather curious. Edea remembered the nurse looking over dozens of charts and asking a few questions, and a few tests later, Edea received news she hadn’t been expecting to hear until after she was married. She was pregnant, and within the next year, she and Ringabel would be welcoming home a new addition to the family. The news had caught her off guard at the time, and she wasn’t sure if she would be able to tell Ringabel when she saw him; however, after much poking and prodding from him during dinner, she told him she was with child.

Ringabel had been ecstatic, of course, and before Edea could even get another word in, he started asking her what felt like a million questions. How far along was she? Did they know when the baby was due? How long until they would know if it was a boy or a girl? What were some names they could consider? Edea was so overwhelmed at the time that she couldn’t latch onto a single question. In the end, she had to shut Ringabel up before the mixture of confusion and food in her stomach got the better of her.

For the next few months, that overwhelmed feeling became her life. Meetings, paperwork, morning sickness, and constant cravings were now wrapped up into one overweight version of herself. She wasn’t proud of it, but she was picking up the pounds fast. She had already always been a bit on the heavier side when it came to girls her age and size, but this was excessive. With her stomach growing bigger as it was, she found herself unable to do a lot of what she used to be able to.

Yet despite it all, she was still willing to carry her child. She and Ringabel were happy, expecting parents, and every time she saw herself in the mirror, she wondered what motherhood would be like. Growing up she had never thought she would become a mother, but now it was beginning to feel so real to her, and she was excited, even if it meant her life would be changing forever. It was all so different and new to her, but it was the same way for Ringabel as well. Even if she was feeling overwhelmed, he’d be right by her side the entire time supporting her.

Over time, however, the overwhelming feeling turned into frustration, and that frustration turned into constant stress. Even if she was pregnant, she still had duties that she needed to attend to, which resulted in many sleepless nights and having to force her body to do what it physically couldn’t. When the doctor started to warn her about the risks and dangers this could have on the baby, Ringabel began to monitor her closely and forced her to take breaks, as much as she didn’t want to. She was the Grand Marshal of Eternia! Not even being pregnant should have stopped her from doing what was good for her people!

But then there was the pain- the sudden pain that hit her as if a Behemoth had charged straight into her stomach. She and Ringabel had been out shopping for their baby, whom they now knew was a boy, when all of the sudden she fell to her knees, doubled over in pain. She could feel herself cramping up, and there was a burning feeling inside of her enlarged stomach that hurt even more. She tried to grab onto Ringabel so she could bring herself back onto her feet, but every time she did she would lose her balance and end right back on her knees. In the end, Ringabel had to pick her up and rush her to the White Magic Hospital.

Edea always wished she could forget how painful the next twenty-four hours were. At some point the nurses were able to make the pain stop, but the main White Mage caring for her held his head low. He told her that he was sorry, that the baby’s heart was no longer beating, that something had happened and Edea’s body was no longer able to support the life that had been growing inside of her. She turned towards Ringabel, who was trying to stay strong for her, but she knew that he too wanted to cry for their lost child. Tears streamed down Edea’s face as she wailed and sobbed in Ringabel’s arms, and she knew all too well that she was the reason their baby would never be welcomed into this world.

Edea spent that night in the hospital so she could be monitored for any abnormalities. Her son was no longer in her body, and Ringabel had momentarily stepped out to inform friends and family of their loss. Edea stared blankly at the wall, remembering all the times she had overworked herself despite the doctor’s warnings and Ringabel’s best efforts. She thought of everything she had wanted to do for her country, and how none of that success would ever make up for the loss of her child. Every time she would think about it, guilt would take a hold of her, and she’d be left to wallow in her own sorrow and grief.

It took several months for life to return to somewhat normal, and even then, Edea was still not acting like herself. Ringabel had suggested they store away the items they had purchased for their son for any children they had in the future, and though Edea had agreed, she didn’t think she would ever fully recover from what she had done. A few months prior she was preparing to welcome a child into her home, but her own stupidity and pride had taken it all away from her. She felt as if she were the worst human being in Luxendarc, and that Ringabel would surely never want to have children with her again. He would probably leave her for what she had done, and she would be left alone to suffer with the pain.

Ringabel did no such thing, however, and stayed with her through it all. Though she told him over and over again it was her fault she had lost the child, he never held any of the blame against her. In truth, he blamed himself for not taking care of her more, and that he would make it up to her by never leaving her side again. Even if Edea never wanted to try having children again, he would stay with her through it all. He loved her more than anything else, and the pain they felt would only bring them closer.

It took Ringabel and Edea three years to be ready to have children again. By then, Tiz and Agnès had a six-month-old son named Theo, and Yew and Magnolia had a three-month-old daughter named Selena. While Edea had a fondness for her friends’ children, Ringabel had become completely attached to them. It made Edea smile to see him so happy whenever their friends visited, and she started to feel that perhaps she was ready to try again. She was still terrified of losing another child, but she knew Ringabel would be there no matter what happened. After much internal debate, she finally told Ringabel she was ready.

Fourteen years had passed since then, and Edea and Ringabel were now the proud parents of three wonderful, but also rambunctious children. Their second attempt at having children had resulted in twins, a boy and a girl. Edea had been terrified the entire time she was pregnant out of fear of losing not only one, but two children, but Ringabel stayed with her the entire way and told her everything would be okay. When the twins were born, she was overwhelmed with the fact that both her children were alive and well, but it had been Ringabel who cried. His dreams of starting a family had been realized, and it was one of the happiest moments in his life.

Six years after that, Edea had her third pregnancy, which resulted in another baby girl. Edea had still been nervous over what could occur, but the successful pregnancy of her twins from years prior helped calm her nerves. She was much more relaxed during this time, but Ringabel still continued to dote on her. Fortunately, Edea was able to carry the baby to full term without any complications, and her oldest two now had a baby sister. After having felt so much pain so many years ago, she thought that perhaps she would finally be able to move on.

The Lee family was a happy one, and there was always one thing or another going on. Her children were a lively bunch, no doubt having gotten it from her and their father, but also quite the handful. Edea was grateful for what she had despite this, but even then, she always found herself thinking about what could have been. Every year, on the anniversary of their first child’s death, she would think about how things would have differed in their life. What it would have been like if she had the son that she never knew…

Now, after all these years, there was a child standing before her that needed a home. A child who had lost his parents and been abandoned by the only family he had left. A child who had lived despite the odds that had been pitted against him. A child that lived and breathed and had a mother who had sacrificed her life for him instead of her taking his life away. A child that she had so long desperately wanted to meet.

Standing before her was the child she had lost all those years ago.

“Um, it’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Lee,” Zealan nervously said as he looked at her. “I’m very grateful that you and Mr. Lee have offered to take me in for the next year.”

“It’s… It’s a pleasure, Zealan…” Edea told him as she tried to hold back tears. “I’m so glad to be able to meet you…”

Zealan looked away, seemingly trying to think of what to say. “Mr. Lee said that you would probably want to say something to me…?” he asked as he tried to take in his surroundings. Edea felt emotions overtaking her, and she wrapped her arms around the teenaged boy standing in front of her. Her tears were beginning to fall, and she could feel the guilt from all those years ago building up inside her once more.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so so sorry…” she told Zealan over and over again. It was the only thing she could get herself to say to him, and even if he had no idea why she apologizing, she needed to say it. Perhaps Ringabel had explained what had happened with their son, or perhaps he chose not to, but he must have felt this would help Edea find some sort of closure. To rid herself of the guilt she had placed upon herself… She needed to tell her son she was sorry.

After a few minutes of letting Edea apologize, Ringabel gently placed his hand on her shoulder. “Edea… Perhaps it’s time we introduce Zealan to his siblings?” he calmly suggested to her. “We’ll have plenty of time to get to know him, but the three were quite curious to as of why their father brought home an older boy that looked nearly identical to him.”

Letting go of Zealan, Edea looked at Ringabel and nodded. “Y-yes, you’re right. W-we should tell them what’s going on b-before the twins start convincing Valentine you’ve successfully cloned yourself,” she said before letting out a small, shaky laugh. Ringabel turned his attention to Zealan and smiled at him.

“Now, I do believe it’s time you met Lyvia, Alternis, and Valentine! Don’t be fooled by their looks, however, as Lyvia and Alternis are actually pure evil,” Ringabel jested before putting his arm around Zealan. The teenaged boy looked rather uncomfortable with Ringabel’s actions, but Edea chalked it up to him still being nervous.

“I guess I wouldn’t mind meeting them,” Zealan said in a way that was more of a mumble. Enthusiastic over introducing Zealan to his children, Ringabel removed his arm from the teen’s shoulders and headed towards the door.

“Come along then! You too, Edea! This is surely something you’re not going to want to miss!” Ringabel chimed before swinging the doors open. “Oh childreeeen! Your mother and I have something to tell you!”

Edea watched as Ringabel left the room, and once he was running down the hall she went and took Zealan’s hand. She assumed this was the first time he had really ever had somebody hold his hand, as he flinched a bit as she held on. Holding his hand tight, she placed her other hand on his cheek and smiled at him. He looked at her still a bit nervous about the entire ordeal, but she hoped he would adjust soon. For now, however, there was only one other thing she needed to say to him…