7 Answers

'I wouldn't think my answer, but the pain is getting worse'

It takes me a few seconds to respond.

"Fine, I'll keep doing it. First, I want you to explain what happened to me"

"Being honest, it will be very complicated to explain it from scratch, but I will try"

I keep cutting the grass.

"Starting with the most obvious thing now: magic exists. The magic you used was the elemental. It is inherited from generation to generation and can be Air, Earth, Fire, Water, a combination or a fusion"

"A fusion?" I ask.

"That's right. There are 6 fusions, you used the Thunderstorm, which is a fusion of all the elements. It's the weirdest. Extremely rare"

"That means…"

"My elements fusion is Earthstorm, which are Air and Earth. Your mother's was a combination of Fire and Water"

"And what is a combination?"

"A combination is when the elements are not compatible with each other, then you can use them individually. A fusion happens when they are compatible, then you can only launch that fusion, not the individual elements"

"Then, I can only use the Thunderstorm"

"Exactly"

"Tell me, how strange is my fusion?"

"Alex, in the whole history of Xenon, there have been only 2 people with Thunderstorm: a man, millennia ago, and you"

"Seriously?"

"Because it is not only necessary that 2 people with the necessary elements reproduce, there is also a probability for the elements to be combined or fusioned"

'This is more complicated than I expected'

"If the 2 people have the same element, it is almost certain that their baby is born with that element. The more elements, the less likely it is that a combination or fusion will occur between all of them, since each element is intended to be coupled with the others. And, even so, it is not a fact that it is going to be born with elemental magic, there are many cases in which couples with the same element have babies without elements"

"So, if there are 4 elements..."

"4 elements are almost impossible to fusion. Apart from this, the relations that can fusion all the elements are forbidden..."

"Wait, what?"

Dad sighs.

"Alex, that's the reason why we aren't in Xenon"

"You mentioned Xenon a moment ago, is not that the name of the book in your room?"

"That's right, that's my only memory. Xenon is another dimension apart from where we are"

'Dimensions? You have to be kidding me'

"Are there different dimensions?"

"Only 2, Neon, is where we are, and Xenon"

"So, are there more magicians here?"

He takes a few seconds to respond.

"Being honest, I'm not sure. Remember that the last time I was at Xenon was 18 years ago, things must be very different now"

All this talk made me forget that I was cutting the grass.

"Before I ask you questions about mom, I want to know how you healed me yesterday from the wounds of the wolves. Literally, I saw the bone of my arm"

"Me? When I got home, you were already here"

"What? You didn't find me?"

"No"

'I didn't expect that'

"How did you find out?"

"The most obvious thing was the gigantic scratch on your face. And because I detected that someone used magic... wait. Shit"

"What?"

For a moment, tension is really high.

"Alex, I detected your magic, that means someone else could have detected it. Your magic is very striking"

"Is there anything wrong with that?"

"I have not used magic for 18 years, they would find us"

"Who?"

"Basically, all Xenon"

'What the fuck?'

A sudden pain attacks my back and I fall to the ground.

"Alex, are you okay?" He asks me concerned.

"My back hurts really bad, I can't move" I'm almost crying.

"I'm sorry, I would use healing magic, but I do not want to risk it"

Dad lifts me off the floor and carries me in his arms to my bed.

"Ugh…"

"I'll bring something for the pain"

"Please..."

He leaves my room.

I'm writhing in pain.

He comes back with a bottle in his hand.

"What is that?"

"Turn around, lie on your side, on your right arm"

I turn on my side.

He lifts my pajamas a little so my back is visible.

Breaks the bandages and start to put on a liquid.

I feel an instant relief.

"My god, what is that? It doesn't hurt at all anymore"

"It's a lotion that I brought from Xenon, it removes the pain instantly for 1 day"

"Wasn't the book your only memory?"

"It's not a memory, it's one of the things I brought that could be useful"

I take a few seconds to feel the release of the pain.

"Well, now tell me about mom"

"Not so fast partner, remember that the proposal was while you cut the grass"

"Are you serious?" I say angrily.

"Haha! Calm down, I just want you to rest and process everything I just told you. I do not think it's easy to receive all this information at once"

'He's not wrong'

"Well, it's time to invade your privacy"

He starts to see my whole room.

"Dad..."

"This is the manga that I just bought you. PARANEKO..."

He grabs it and start passing the pages relatively quickly.

"I don't know why you bought it..."

"Because it looked... different"

He spends 1 minute reading.

"Half-cat women... Now that I remember, they existed in Xenon"

"You are kidding…"

"Hahaha! Obviously, that is pure fantasy to satisfy men"

"Does it satisfy you?"

There is an uncomfortable silence.

"..."

"..."

"I have to go"

He leaves the manga where it was and leaves my room, closing the door.

'Magic, dimensions, we are hiding... he really was hiding things from me. And he still has not told me anything about mom, I guess he'll tell me on my birthday'

My birthday is in 2 days.

'They were expelled from Xenon because I was born with the rarest fusion of all. How did they not discover them before? Were they hiding their relationship all the time?'

My head lights up.

'Wait a second, he knows what happened to me yesterday, but he did not find me. Then, he must know who helped me'

After 25 minutes of processing.

'... and he also mentioned healing magic, I wonder what element contains that'

15 minutes pass.

'... it is possible that there are more magicians in this dimension. By the way, are they called magicians? I should ask dad'

I try to get out of bed, but I surprise myself.

I get up without any effort.

'Wow! That lotion does miracles'

I go out into the hall.

"Dad!" I shout.

"I'm in my room," he replies.

I go to his room.

I enter.

"Hey, dad, I have a question. Are people who use magic called magicians, sorcerers, witcher...?"

"Xenon. They are called Xenon"

He is sitting on his bed, staring at the floor.

"Are you okay?"

He sighs.

"Look Alex, I did not want to tell you anything about Xenon, I'm sure it will only bring problems. But since you started asking so many things I knew that one day I would have to do it"

"Don't worry, I don't think that knowing all this will give us problems"

"No, but using your magic, will"

'I don't know about that...'

"So, that's why you had me repressed from society?"

"It is very common for a Xenon to release its magic in tense situations. The different thing is that each person has their limit point and I did not know where was yours"

"Well, it looks like it's being about to die" I say with a small laugh.

He raises his head.

"You know, I think I'm thinking too much and I'm just imagining bad things. I'm really sorry, I think I've only done more damage by hiding it all this time"

...

"Thanks" I say smiling.

Surprised, he turns to see me.

"You just thought you were doing the right thing to protect me, there's no reason to apologize"

He smiles.

He looks straight to my eyes.

"Your eyes remind me a lot of Alyse .." it seems that he let out what he thought.

"Alyse? Wait a minute, mom? "I ask excited.

He doesn't moves.

He stands up.

"Well, I'd better continue with the tasks of the house" he says with a big smile.

He starts walking as fast as he can to the stairs.

"Hey, you can't leave me like that!" I shout angrily.

"Yes I can!" he shouts at me from the stairs.

"Motherfucker!"

"You're not wrong!"