“Get out! Get out!!”
Seeing both Anna and that itchy-handed cat treating her beloved mother like a toy, Jasmine finally snapped. Her small body erupted with surprising strength, and she actually shoved both unreliable adults straight out the door.
“Hmph! You’re not allowed to touch my mama!”
“ow!”
The black-haired catgirl blinked innocently. “Give one more chance, ow~”
Jasmine stood in the doorway, expressionless, and closed the door. This ti, she turned the lock from the inside.
Now, the bad teacher and the wicked cat couldn’t get in again.
“Phew...”
With the troublemakers gone, Aislin finally relaxed. She carefully adjusted the position of the little sli girl lying on the bed and tucked in the corners of the blanket.
She sat silently for a while, watching Vieya’s face—pale as paper, her breathing weak—and murmured under her breath, “Where on earth did you find such a bunch of weird friends...”
They’re not friends...
Vieya, half-asleep in her drowsy haze, muttered faintly in her heart and sank back into drugged slumber.
“Mama will be okay, right...?” Jasmine leaned on the bedside, peering timidly at her mother curled up under the covers.
Since the day she had reunited with her, this was the first ti Jasmine had ever seen her mother looking so fragile.
The once youthful body of a teenage girl had now shrunk down—almost to Jasmine’s own size.
Grandpa Dean had said this was part of Mama’s physiology.
Just like wild slis, when they experienced severe exhaustion or serious injury, their bodies entered a self-protection state, reducing size to conserve energy.
“Mama...” Jasmine’s lips trembled. She clutched her mother’s hand tightly, trying hard not to cry.
“Don’t worry, little Jasmine. Your mother’s life force is tenacious... just like the everliving ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ grass of the Elven Forest. A single drop of water is enough to keep it alive and thriving.”
Aislin smiled gently. “If you’re sad, just stay by her side more. With you here, she’ll recover faster.”
“Thank you, Elf-sis...” Jasmine said softly. If it were only her and that cat in the house, she probably wouldn’t even know how to take care of her sick mother.
As for Teacher Anna... Jasmine truly feared the woman might suddenly lose her mind and start treating Mama like a research specin, testing all kinds of magic on her.
Just the thought made her despair.
“It’s fine. Last ti you ca to visit , those little oranges you brought were really sweet,” Aislin said with a grin. Then she leaned in and whispered, “Jasmine, want to play a ga with ?”
“But Mama...”
“It’s okay. We’ll stay right here and keep watch. Just keep your voice down so you don’t disturb her. Hearing your voice will actually help her sleep better.”
The elf’s mysterious smile easily piqued a child’s curiosity. “This is a ga your mama once played with too~”
“Eh?”
Jasmine blinked at the silver-haired elf lady, then glanced at her mother breathing softly under the blanket. She nodded hard.
Seeing Jasmine’s tension ease a little, Aislin smiled. She extended a closed fist. “Guess what’s inside?”
Jasmine shook her head, confused.
Aislin opened her hand. In her palm blood a soft, glowing dandelion.
...
Night fell in a blink.
During that ti, Aislin had fed Vieya her dicine once more.
This ti, Vieya’s breathing was much steadier than in the morning. As long as the bottle’s nipple was brought to her lips, she would start to drink on her own.
“Eh, that looks easy...” Jasmine’s eyes lit up.
Maybe—just maybe—feeding Mama her dicine herself was one of the few things she could actually do for her.
“Then you’d better be careful,” Aislin teased. “Not too slow, not too fast. If she chokes, I’ll use black magic to turn you into a raccoon.” She poked Jasmine’s forehead playfully, then handed her the bottle. “I’ll step outside and check on those two idiots—and warm up so milk for you.”
“Mm! Thank you, Elf-sis!”
Taking the bottle, Jasmine’s heart pounded faster and faster. She crept to her mother’s side, staring intently at her face from up close.
Mama still hadn’t woken up...
The curtains were half-open, letting moonlight pour in. It brushed along Vieya’s soft hair as she lay on her side, wrapped tightly in the blanket. Only her small, delicate face showed—long lashes quivering faintly, tiny lips breathing softly.
Jasmine suddenly couldn’t bring herself to disturb the peace. She just sat there, quietly, curiously, tenderly watching her fragile, beautiful mama.
Mama... you have to get better...
Click.
Aislin pushed the door open, carrying a tray with warm, fluffy bread and freshly heated milk. A gentle aroma filled the room.
“Eh? Jasmine, haven’t you fed her yet? If the dicine cools down, it’ll lose effectiveness!”
Setting the tray on the table, Aislin turned—and froze.
Jasmine was trembling slightly, straddling the blanket-covered mound, clutching the bottle nervously. “Elf-sis... Mama’s sleeping so soundly. Do I really have to wake her to give it to her?”
“Of course,” Aislin said. “If you don’t feed her on schedule, she’ll be stuck in bed a few more days.”
“O-okay... I’ll start then...”
Jasmine held the bottle with both hands, tense as if going into battle. She pressed the nipple gently to her mother’s lips, whispering, “Mama, ti to take your dicine... You have to drink it, or you won’t get better...”
“Mmm...” Vieya groaned softly.
Pop!
Jasmine’s quick reflexes pushed the nipple between her lips.
“Be gentle! You’ll break your mama if you poke too hard...” Aislin sighed, rubbing her forehead. This child had no idea why she was so nervous.
“S-sorry!” Jasmine stamred. Her hands trembled so badly the bottle almost slipped.
“...”
Oh gods. Truly, like mother, like daughter.
Aislin’s soft ears twitched as she hurried over, steadying Jasmine’s hands and helping her control the flow.
After a flurry of clumsy movents, they finally finished.
Aislin grabbed the back of Jasmine’s collar and lifted her off the bed.
“Uuuh... I ssed up again, didn’t I.” Jasmine stood obediently on the floor, looking as guilty as a student who’d just failed an exam.
“You and your mother are a lot alike,” Aislin said with a knowing smile. “Your heart’s in the right place, but your execution—well, not so much.”
“...”
Jasmine wasn’t stupid. She imdiately realized the elf was lumping her together with her silly mama who once couldn’t even cook beans properly.
She lowered her head, fidgeting with her fingers. “I’ll do better next ti...”
“Water... mouth... bitter... hurts...”
The sli girl who had slept for a full day and night suddenly stirred, her little mouth opening and closing like a stranded fish.
“Eh, Mama, what’s wrong?” Jasmine panicked, leaning over the bed, looking around frantically before grabbing her own cup of milk.
“She can’t drink milk right now—it’ll react with the dicine,” Aislin warned, brushing aside Vieya’s soft bangs and frowning. “Her body’s burning up... she needs to cool down.”
“Then I’ll get so water!” Jasmine cried and dashed off.
She hadn’t expected that her mother’s normally healthy body, once drained of power and magic, would suddenly erupt with so many complications.
Click!
She bolted out the door.
Helcat Red, who had been sitting by the entrance divvying up dried fish with the big white cat, froze mid-motion.
What’s with the little princess?
Running like that... could Vieya’s condition have gotten worse?
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