Scene unknown location dense unknown forest
after an unknown time
silence no birds no animals no sounds except the wind passing through the branches as if it whispers
deep within thick grass and among tangled trees
Arius opens his eyes
a heavy sigh escapes his small chest his face covered in dust his clothes torn and his eyes half dead
he moves slowly inside the small craft crawling toward the front door pressing it with his trembling hand
the door opens with a faint metallic sound
daylight floods his eyes so he covers them briefly before seeing
a vast endless forest trees as tall as mountains their leaves huge like wings and their trunks twisting as if watching him
he steps slowly outside the ground soft beneath him wet strange
this was not his planet not even close
he looks right left up no civilization no trace of humans no sign of anything familiar
then he remembers
the sight of his mothers head rolling before him the death of his father the explosion of the planet
everything inside him stops
he shuts his eyes tightly bites his lip
father mother why
his voice comes out only as a broken whisper
yet he takes a deep breath and begins to walk step by step on his small feet exploring the place
but he was not ready for what would happen
as he walks between the giant trees suddenly
the ground collapses beneath him
he falls into a deep pit the impact painful his small bones scream
he tries to stand his right knee injured swelling begins to show and blood flows
damn I cant move damn
he crawls a little inside the pit until he finds a lower dirt wall he uses all the strength he has left and climbs with difficulty
his hands dig into the mud his nails tear but he persists
finally
he gets out
he collapses on the grass exhausted breathing heavily then crawls under the nearest tree leaning against its trunk curling up as if returning to his mothers womb
tears fall onto the soil
tears of one who no longer has anything who lost everything
what did I do to deserve this why me why didnt I die with them
as he cries silently
the branches around him tremble
not because of the wind
something is moving something saw him
but he did not know that despite his pain and crying fate had not finished writing him yet
sunny morning near a quiet river in the middle of the forest
the sound of water flows gently between the rocks birds sing above the branches
a small body lies on the wet grass Arius his face pale his body dusty his clothes torn like the remains of a shattered dream
a few steps away stands a small girl around nine years old her long brown hair tied with pink threads her wide eyes shining with curiosity and worry
father come quickly there is a boy here an unconscious boy
the girl shouts as she runs around him afraid yet excited
after moments a man in his mid thirties appears his body large like the surrounding trees his hair lightly gray his features strict yet kind carrying a wooden axe on his shoulder
what is it Lina did you hurt yourself again
no father look a boy unconscious beside the river
the father approaches quickly kneels beside Arius places his hand on his forehead then checks his pulse
his temperature is high and his body very thin he must have gone through bad days
will he die Lina says with deep worry
I will not let him
he carries him gently as if his injured body is glass and walks toward their simple wooden cabin in the heart of the forest
scene inside the cabin a simple wooden room a straw bed and a small window overlooking the trees
the father opens the door with his foot while carrying Arius places him on the bed
a woman in her late twenties enters behind him her chestnut hair tied up her eyes holding a mix of caution and motherhood she is Yona his wife
what is happening who is this child where did you bring him from
the man replies while opening a small bag containing medicinal herbs
we found him unconscious by the river he seems lost or fleeing
Yona approaches closer looking at Arius swollen face his red eyes from crying and the wounds on his small body
this boy went through hell
yes
he begins cleaning his wounds and Yona places a cold cloth on his forehead
but he looks strange his hair completely dark blue and his eyes not right I think
she says with hidden fear
even if he is not from here he is a child we will keep him until he heals then we decide what to do
her husband replies firmly
Lina stands beside the bed looking at Arius silently with a thousand questions in her heart
will he be okay mother
God willing my little one let him rest
the camera rises slowly
in the gentle warmth of that simple cabin a new journey begins
a broken boy and a family that does not yet know they will become his second home
but what they did not know
is that this boy sleeping between their wooden walls now
will one day become their savior or their doom
light slips gently from a small window touching Arius face as he sleeps on a soft straw bed
the whispers of birds outside blend with the rustling trees but what woke him was not peace but the pain of memory
he opens his eyes slowly finding a familiar face above him leaning gently wiping his forehead with a damp cloth
brown chestnut hair a warm smile kind eyes
mother
he says in a hoarse weak voice as if everything that happened was just a long nightmare now over
suddenly
he stretches his small arms hugging her tightly his eyes filling with hot tears clinging to her as if drowning
mother I was scared very scared dont leave me
Yona freezes not understanding at first then gasps silently her eyes filling with tears
before she can speak Arius pulls back quickly staring at her in shock his eyes widening
you are not my mother
he whispers broken then covers his face with both hands and begins to cry crying like he has not since the moment of his inner death
I am sorry sorry where is my mother where is my father I should not have lived I should have died with them
his voice breaks more and more as if his heart is being torn apart
Yona approaches slowly sits at the edge of the bed places her hand gently on his tangled hair as if her touch alone says I am here
its okay its okay my little one
she whispers softly closer to a heartbeat than words
whoever loses something fate will give him something else
she murmurs holding him without forcing him to speak just letting him cry against her chest embracing all the pain in his small body
at the door
Lina watches silently holding a small cloth doll feeling this boy is not like others and from now on he will not be a stranger among them anymore
outside the cabin first night moonlight breaks over the trees
the night is calm the breeze moves through the branches gently as if listening to secrets
Yona sits on the wooden steps holding a cup of herbal tea her hand still slightly trembling her eyes staring into the endless darkness
her husband Jin comes out after making sure Arius is asleep and sits beside her silently
a long moment passes without words only their breaths in the air
did you see his wounds those ضربات on his back the wound on his leg as if someone wanted to tear him apart alive and yet
and yet he survived endured moved even screamed as if he felt no pain
I have never felt this before Jin this child is not normal
he does not resemble the children of our town not in features nor build did you notice his eyes their color was strange like remnants of terrible burning
and yet he is a child whatever his origin whoever threw him here it is not his fault
I still do not understand how he remained alive any normal human body would have died the first night
and I do not understand why my heart chose him
what do you mean
when he hugged me and thought I was his mother it was not just a frightened child I felt my heart knew him as if we were created to support him
Jin stays silent then looks down rubbing his chin
you know this forest is not safe and we live on the edge of a world we barely understand if this child is connected to something dangerous he may bring trouble
and maybe he will be the one who saves us from that trouble
a moment of silence
Yona stands walks to the door stops before entering and turns to him
he lost his family Jin maybe his home too we are all he has left let us give him a name a home and a smile
Jin stands slowly looks at her then finally smiles
then so be it from today he will be our son and we will raise him as if he came from our blood
Yona places her hand on her chest hiding a tremor of relief then enters quietly
the camera rises slowly as the wind grows slightly stronger
inside where Arius sleeps peacefully
he did not know
that this night was not the end of his sorrows
but the beginning of a new life
a life woven by the threads of fate
and a secret not yet revealed
next morning inside the cabin warm sunlight enters from the wooden window
sun rays slip gently scattering golden threads over Arius small face
his eyes open slowly staring at the ceiling searching for meaning or place
seconds pass he turns on his side quietly memories begin to tear at his mind
his mothers screams the sound of collapsing buildings his fathers blood covered face that moment when everything exploded
he clenches his small hand tightly his breathing quickens his eyelids tremble then suddenly
the wooden door opens softly
Yona enters carrying a small tray with hot soup and fresh bread wearing her simple apron her hair tied up
she smiles gently speaking in a soft voice
are you awake my little one
Arius does not move
she comes closer sits on the wooden chair beside the bed
I brought you some food your stomach must be completely empty
still silence
she takes the spoon stirs the soup calmly trying to appear normal then brings it closer
this is my special food I always make it for my daughter when she is sick
Arius does not respond does not even look
Yona tries again more gently
I am Yona this is our home you are not alone no one will hurt you
his eyes tremble
then suddenly he pulls the blanket over his face slowly as if hiding from the world from people from pain
silence
Yona looks at the blanket sighs places the spoon down quietly moves the tray closer beside the bed and whispers
I will leave the food here take it if you feel hungry
she stands walks to the door stops places her hand on the wooden frame and says without turning
when you want to talk I am here my son
she leaves quietly closing the door behind her
the camera moves closer to the blanket only his trembling breaths are heard beneath it and a faint suppressed crying
he was not ready yet
but he was not completely broken either