‘Hours?’ Lain thought, as he felt that something was wrong with little Elena’s choice of words. He then quickly asked in doubt, “Was your dad also sleeping for hours yesterday as well? And also, did he ever wake up?”

Hearing his questions, Elena responded after thinking for a few seconds, “No! My dad has been sleeping for a very long time. He didn’t even wake up to make me breakfast yesterday or today. I had to eat the snacks that were in the storage thing at home.”

‘Something must be wrong with her father’ Lain thought, as he quickly pieced together the clues from her words and reasoned that her father must either be dead or in a coma of sorts. But he could be wrong. 

Thinking this, he asked her, “What about your mother? Is she also sleeping too?”  Elena quickly responded in an angry huff, after hearing his words, “No! My mom isn’t sleeping. My dad told me that my mother left us a long time ago! And that she was a very busy hero, so she’ll come back home after she was done being a busy hero.” as her right hand reached for the back of her head to twirl her ponytail while thinking deeply, in order to make sure she said everything that came to her mind clearly.

Seeing this and hearing her response, Lain further questioned, “Have you ever met your mother?” as he was starting to believe that Elena’s mother may have been missing throughout her life.

Thinking ‘Big brother Lain is asking so many questions!’ Elena responded, “No! I have never met my mom. But my dad said she was a very beautiful and powerful hero. He even told me that big sister Emily was her pet and she loved her dearly, so I should always take good care of big sister Emily until mom gets back.”
 

Feeling slightly depressed after hearing her words, Lain responded to her gently and said, “I hope your mother gets back very soon. I bet she’ll be proud of how you’re taking care of Emily right now.” As he started to believe, following the hidden clues in her words, that her mother may have passed away a long time ago, but her father hasn’t been able to tell the young girl the truth yet, due to her young age.

But knowing that her father was also in a predicament, made him even more unsettled, as he thought to himself, ‘It may have been weeks since her father started his sleeping spell. I can’t believe a child this young is left to raise herself.’

Not thinking much of her current predicament, Elena beamed and said to Lain, “Look behind you big brother!” as she and her bird both fixed their gaze behind him, with her eyes gleaming of worship, deep reverence and amazement.