In a time that once was, in a time when they were still young, there was a sincere calmness. All those years ago, things were sound and tranquil. For some, it was a time one would yearn for to take back. It was a whimsical and rather peaceful time, where grief and despair weren't necessarily the ever present feeling of the mind.
Far removed from any hustle and bustle of cities, this time was before the two girls headed for that place known as Leandon. In fact, it was a time before a particular girl of silver eyes and white hair even fully realised her wants, for that time was a few years away from now.
A young girl of emerald eyes and black hair, no more than 6 years of age, could be seen kneeling by the bedside of this silver-eyed girl. Her eyes showed warm curiosity, her expression showing the meekness of her heart seeing the younger girl sleep so soundly.
She was quite perplexed how passive her younger sister was, for every day she would only see her staring at nothing in particular, only reactionary and never really bothering to do anything unless told.
Moreover, despite her young age, she was mature enough to understand that there was something wrong about her. Hence why during this late evening she's struggling to sleep. The only available light sources present would be the shine of the moon by the window, and the faint glow of Essence Crystals by the walls, acting as nightlights for the two of them in this shared bedroom of theirs.
She wanted to know more about her little sister. She wanted to know why she could be this way in the first place. But everytime she tried to ask her to either play or talk, the moment she did try to help her out of this phase Marilyn dismissed her.
It was almost as if she was afraid of something. Even her parents and the maid were worried. But—
“Helena? You're still awake?”
Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice and the opening of a door, panic managed to settle in her mind as she turned around.
“N-n—” She tried to speak out, but her fear of disturbing her sister was greater, so she would just respond with a meek nod as she stood up.
The voice came from her father, who's always awake during this time because of his work. Her mother should be asleep, while Bethany would be on a night time patrol around the manor’s halls.
Her father, Robert Althorn, just smiled in response. “I see, very well then.” He said as he entered the room in full.
The man in question, of black hair and silver eyes, then approached closer to where Helena stood. And then he knelt down to one knee. His gaze turned to the sleeping girl beside them, his gentle smile ever present.
“You're worried for her too?” He said, with a slight melancholy in his voice.
“Y-yeah…”
Marilyn had been quite healthy, so they weren't worried for her health. Her passiveness and reclusiveness was the main cause of this. Both of them knew.
Robert extended his hand, patting the girl’s head, “You're a kind girl, very compassionate, Helena. You can be quite the troublemaker, but you're genuine when it comes down to it.”
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Helena in response could only blush, her hair getting messed up by the man’s palm. “Father, may I ask why you are saying this?”
“Hm? Why not?” He retracted that same hand, resting the forearm on his raised knee. “You wouldn't often stay up so late to watch her if it weren't for you being this way.”
Helena, childish as she was, could really only feel a slight panic that her father knew of her bad habit there. “P-promise to not tell Bethany…?” A sheepish smile was raised upon her face.
Robert chuckled slightly, “Don't worry, I won't tell her, as long as you sleep after this."
Marilyn had only been sound asleep as they conversed. The two of them were basically loudly whispering to each other, so it was quite the miracle she did not wake up.
Robert extended his hand towards her too, gently caressing the side of her head, a sad and worried sigh breathed out. “Helena, can you promise me something?”
She was looking at Marilyn, observing her again, before turning her head to Robert after that question. “What is it, father?”
His hand had also been retracted from Marilyn, as he would fully focus on Helena solely for this. “There will be a time where you will only have each other, or perhaps there will be a time where she will be alone without you. It is not now, but I want you to promise me to be there for her when she needs it the most.”
Helena was caught slightly by surprise, especially because to her, she had been doing that constantly. So she responded with, “Alone...? What do you mean by that, father?”
“It might sound confusing to you, yes. But I want you to be a good sister for her, even when you're all grown up, I want you to be a good sister for her.” He said, “If you cannot be there for her in form, be there for her in spirit. If you cannot be there in spirit, at least leave a lasting impression on her about how you were, so that her life won't feel so lonely whenever she’s reminded of you.”
It would certainly be a tough ask to accept, especially for a child who cannot fully comprehend the magnitude of this promise. But Robert trusted his first-born daughter to handle this well. Even if there were to be times where they would be separated, he would believe that this promise would be kept.
As for Helena specifically, for her perspective on this, she smiled, her air of confidence pouring out, a sign of what's to come once she grows up. She may not have understood it fully, but she understood the importance of promises like these.
“I will, don't worry father. I’ll be there for her, I’ll make sure of it.”
His gentle smile returned in full as he heard her words. And after that, he held her small hands within his palm, “Promises are important, so much so that the incantations of spells are considered promises themselves, you know?”
“Really?” She asked him.
He nodded, “A promise, a declaration, to want to change the world. Therefore, your acceptance of this promise shall be a declaration that you will change her world, understand?”
Once again, she did not understand fully, but the gravitas of those words were apparent still. “Alrighty, I’ll keep that in mind.”
He nodded again, and this time he would hug her, gently, but still catching her by surprise. Their conversation was essentially over for tonight, so this would be his departure.
“We all love you. I love you, your mother loves you, Bethany loves you, Marilyn loves you. The world loves you.” He declared, “Both you and Marilyn are blessed to be in this world, so make sure to return the favour however you may do it, okay?”
Helena could feel her tears swelling up. It's the same song and dance every night, with the exception of that last part about returning the favour of their blessing back. But the way he delivered those words right now have caused her to feel this way.
It could perhaps be the prior context that added to the weight of those said words. But even so, she could only respond with the same words that had been said once before.
“I know, and I love you all too.”
And that was that. A footnote of sorts in her life, but one that shall impact the future for years to come. Not just for her, but for the girl that was soundly asleep all this time. A time that once was.