I heard Samuel speaking from the side, “She’s my sister, Amelia. She’s two aevis younger than me. She’s usually not this shy. Though she looks a bit scared due to what happened yesterday. She apparently tried to pull you up but she fainted after seeing your arm bleed. Although, don’t worry a lot. She is fine now. Although, seems like you did scare her for real.” His tone was a mix of amusement and awkwardness.

I smiled wryly in response. Sighing inwardly, I looked towards the window before closing my eyes. While thinking over the talk I had with the family just now, my brows furrowed a little, But what about…

My eye opened and I shifted my gaze to Uncle. After hesitating a little, I asked, “Uncle, what about my parents? Where are they?”

Shifting his gaze from Aunt, Uncle looked at me. Probably because of arguing with Aunt, he looked a bit tired.

Smiling at me a little, he said, “They are out on a trip. They said they’d take a bit of time but they will be back.”

“I see…” I nodded before asking, “Then why did they leave me behind? Shouldn’t I have gone with them?”

“Ah, that’s because they… they are going a bit more far out this time,” He spoke, looking at the ceiling while recalling. After taking in a breath, he continued, “Their trip was going to be long and you didn’t want to go, so you stayed with us. But, seems that wasn’t a good idea. We got you into an accident. I’m sorry.”

His apology took me aback as I waved my head in denial. “It-it’s not your fault, Uncle. I’m sure it’s probably me who did something foolish to have gotten hurt.”

In response, Uncle smiled at me wryly, not saying anything.

“So are they travellers?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

Looking back at me, Uncle smiled before saying, “Yeah, they are, in a way. Although, they like to be called peasants more than travellers or such. Don’t ask me why.”

Excitement took over me as I recalled the dream I had developed before waking up. I exclaimed, “That’s great! I’ll also be a traveller when I grow up! I’ll travel everywhere in the world and visit all the places!”

Uncle smiled as he said, “Seems like some things never change. Although, I would say, before thinking of travelling, you should try to stand up and walk. And, if you need help with anything, you can always ask any of us. We’ll be sure to help you.”

After hearing the part about being able to walk, the excitement in my heart grew silent. After a bit, I asked, “So, uhm, what exactly happened to me?”

Uncle’s brows jumped a little as he looked at me before saying, “You fell.” He took a quick look at Aunt standing behind before turning back to me as he said, “You fell down from a rather high place and by the time we found you, you were like this.”

“I see…” I muttered. “Even then, Uncle, I don’t see your fault in this. If anything, I should apologize instead for causing you so much trouble.”

“Don’t fret. If I wasn’t like this, I probably could’ve…” His voice came to a whimper.

Behind him, Aunt clasped uncle’s shoulder lightly.

As if regaining his wits, Uncle let out a deep breath before continuing, “Nevermind that, how’re you feeling now?”

“A lot better,” I replied with a smile. “Though I still feel a slight weakness, it is still better than yesterday. I can move a lot more now. As for pain, although it is still there, it isn’t something troubling anymore. I am getting used to it. And for my stomach, ever since Aunt did that thing where everything within me went cold, it doesn’t even hurt.”

“That’s good to hear,” Uncle spoke with a smile. “Now for some serious matters…” His voice did a complete 180 as his expression became grim. “You…”

Wh-what happened? Did I do something? I thought, a bit shaken by his demeanor.

“You scared my daughter so bad,” Uncle spoke, amusement spreading over his expression. “That’s a new low, even for her.”

I felt a little guilty hearing that and my head drooped a little before I heard stomping sounds from behind Aunt.

The one who was making the sounds was none other than Amelia, who rushed from behind aunt as she stood in front of Uncle. With a pout, she began hitting him with both hands. Due to her height, she could barely hit past his knees from where he was sitting. That's when I remembered that Uncle was sitting in a wooden wheelchair, and my question regarding that.

Both worried and curious, I asked, “Uncle, what happened to you?”

He looked down at his feet while answering, “Ah this, it’s nothing big. It’s just that, a while back I caught a disease which left me like this. Nothing much to be worried about. I’m fine now — Ah, Amelia, not the pinches, those hurt.”

Uncle stopped as Amelia stopped hammering on his feet and began pinching instead, the pout still on his face.

His reply was different than what Samuel told me… My brow creased before smoothening back as I looked at Uncle. Then again, he also told me some other stuff which was… not too accurate.

“Amelia, enough. I’ll teach a lesson to your dad later,” Aunt spoke, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. A shiver ran down my spine while looking at her.

Uncle spoke, “Am-Amelia, we were just playing, right? It was nothing, right? Right?”

Amelia looked at Uncle, a gloating look on her face as she puffed out her chest while snapping her head to the side. Sighing, Uncle gave in, making a promise to not tease her again.

“Alright, enough chit-chat,” Aunt spoke, dispelling the awkward atmosphere. “Samuel, help Zack exercise a little. The doctor said it will help his muscles recover faster. Remember to not be too rash. I’ll get breakfast ready. Amelia, William, cut it out now. Get to the breakfast table or no breakfast for both of you.”

Uncle and Amelia both had the same defeated look as both went out the room on wheelchair and on foot respectively. Aunt also walked out, leaving only me and Samuel in the room.

Samuel turned to me as he spoke, sighing, “That’s my family. Quite a handful bunch, aren’t they?”

But aren’t you a part of them? I thought while chuckling inwardly, but didn’t speak it out aloud.