Adrian woke before the alarm.
For a moment, he stayed still in the bed, staring at the ceiling.
The dream lingered at the edge of his mind.
Not clear enough to understand.
But strong enough to leave a strange feeling behind.
A voice.
Someone had been calling him.
Not angrily.
Not cruelly.
Just… calling.
Adrian rubbed his eyes and sat up.
"…Who was that?"
He whispered the question to the empty room.
But the answer refused to come.
After a few minutes, he pushed the thought aside and climbed out of bed.
School.
The word no longer felt terrifying.
Just unfamiliar.
Downstairs, the dining room was already busy.
Several of his brothers were sitting around the long table.
Dante leaned back in his chair, drinking coffee.
Nico was reading something on his phone.
Marco glanced up when Adrian entered.
"Morning."
Adrian hesitated before answering.
"…Good morning."
Isabella appeared from the kitchen carrying a plate.
"Perfect timing."
She set the food in front of Adrian.
Eggs and toast.
Adrian sat down quietly.
He still wasn't used to eating with so many people.
The room was loud, full of conversation.
But no one forced him to talk.
That helped.
After a while, Nico looked over.
"How's school?"
Adrian swallowed a bite of toast.
"…Hard."
Dante chuckled.
"That's normal."
Adrian nodded.
"I like reading though."
Marco raised an eyebrow slightly.
"That's fast progress."
Adrian shrugged.
"I don't like not understanding things."
Lorenzo entered the room at that moment.
The conversations quieted slightly.
Adrian watched him carefully.
He was still learning how to read the man's expressions.
Lorenzo sat at the head of the table.
"How is school going?"
Adrian straightened slightly.
"…I'm learning."
Lorenzo nodded once.
"Good."
That was all.
But somehow, the short approval felt important.
A few minutes later, Alessio stood.
"Come on. We'll be late."
Adrian quickly finished his breakfast and followed him out.
The drive to school was quiet again.
Adrian stared out the window.
"…Do you remember things from when we were little?"
Alessio glanced at him.
"Some things."
Adrian hesitated.
"I had a dream."
"Oh?"
"Someone was calling my name."
Alessio waited.
"But I couldn't see them."
Adrian frowned slightly.
"It felt important."
Alessio leaned back in his seat.
"Memories can come back slowly."
Adrian nodded.
"…I hope they do."
The car stopped at the school gate.
Students filled the courtyard again.
Adrian stepped out beside Alessio.
Today felt easier.
Not easy.
But easier.
In class, the teacher handed out short reading passages.
Adrian studied the page carefully.
The words still moved slowly in his head.
But they were beginning to make sense.
One sentence at a time.
When he finished the page, he glanced up.
The teacher smiled.
"Good work."
Adrian quickly looked back down at the paper.
Praise still made him uncomfortable.
But it also made him want to try harder.
At lunch, Alessio sat with a few of his friends.
Adrian sat beside him quietly.
The conversation flowed around him.
Sports.
Homework.
Weekend plans.
Normal things.
Adrian mostly listened.
But then someone asked him a question.
"So… you just joined the school?"
Adrian looked up.
A boy across the table watched him curiously.
"…Yes."
"What school were you in before?"
Adrian froze.
The table grew quiet.
He didn't know what to say.
Because the real answer was simple.
None.
Before the silence could grow awkward, Alessio spoke.
"He moved a lot."
The other boy nodded.
"Oh. That makes sense."
The conversation continued.
Adrian exhaled slowly.
"…Thank you," he whispered to Alessio.
Alessio shrugged.
"No problem."
The afternoon classes passed quickly.
When the final bell rang, Adrian packed his bag.
He was halfway out the door when the teacher called his name.
"Adrian?"
He turned.
"Yes?"
She walked over and handed him a small book.
"Practice reading this tonight."
Adrian took it carefully.
"…Okay."
"It's a simple story," she said. "But it's a good start."
Adrian nodded.
"Thank you."
Outside, the car was already waiting.
Adrian climbed into the seat beside Alessio.
He looked down at the small book in his hands.
The cover showed a boy and a dog.
"…I think I can read this."
Alessio smiled.
"Then you should."
Adrian opened the first page.
The words looked difficult.
But not impossible.
As the car drove through the gates of the mansion, Adrian whispered the first line quietly.
It took effort.
But he managed it.
And for the first time in years…
Adrian felt like his future was something he could slowly build.
Word by word.
Step by step.
Even if some parts of his past were still waiting in the shadows.