after a few minutes of yona leaving
a heavy silence settles over the room
the window makes a faint humming sound from the wind
a soft voice of nature slips in from outside birds whisper trees sway gently
under the blanket arios is still almost in a fetal position but
grrrrrr
a clear sound comes from his small stomach the echo of hunger embarrasses him even in his solitude
the childs eyes widen slightly he looks around without moving much then very slowly he comes out from under the blanket
he sits on the bed leaning his elbows on his knees
staring at the tray placed on the small table beside the bed
steam still rises from the soup a light warm smell fills his nose
he moves forward slowly as if crawling toward a forgotten memory
he holds the spoon hesitantly lifts it gently brings it close to his mouth then
first sip
he freezes
his eyes widen
his breath stops for moments
then he closes his eyes
second sip
a slight tremble passes through his body
third sip
then suddenly his tears fall silently
no sound
no sob
just tears falling from his eyes while he continues eating
drops fall into the plate salt mixes with the soup broth
but he does not stop
he is not crying only from sadness
but because for the first time since the catastrophe this food feels like his mothers food
like the warmth he lost
like the life that was taken from him
he was eating as if swallowing a memory swallowing an old pain
then he whispers in a broken barely heard voice
mother
and he continues eating slowly with tears and silence
after some time
dim light enters from the window and arios sits on the bed his hair still messy his eyes half dim but awake
soft knocks
then the door opens gently
lina enters first holding a cup of juice smiling carefully
right behind her enters jin the father tall broad shoulders his gaze sharp yet gentle
jin in a calm voice hello little one you look better today
arios remains silent looking at them without clear expression alert
lina steps forward slowly placing the cup on the table
i brought you apple juice i like it and my mom says it refreshes the body
arios lowers his gaze to the cup but does not move
jin steps closer then sits on the chair across from him his voice kind but serious
i know you are scared you went through something hard it is clear from your eyes but believe me we are not here to hurt you we just want to understand so we can help you more
a moment of silence
jin in a cautious tone what is your name little one
suddenly
a faint blue notification appears inside arios mind
self defense system alert
revealing non human information is strictly forbidden
first warning do not say you are from another planet
second warning do not mention you are from the celestine lineage
silence or fabricating a human story is acceptable
arios stares into space for a moment as if something inside him activated then lowers his eyes slowly to the ground
he takes a deep breath then says in a very soft voice as if pulling it from his heart
my name is arios
jin smiles slightly
arios a beautiful name may i ask where you came from which city
a moment of tension
long silence
then in a broken voice with a strange honesty
i do not remember the name of the city we lived in a far place my parents
he pauses then continues
they had an accident they died suddenly i do not know how
he looks at the ground while jin looks at yona then at lina and everyone feels the weight of the moment
jin in a low voice i am very sorry son
lina slowly comes closer sitting beside him on the floor
i lost my cat before and i remember i felt very sad but maybe when there are people who love us around we feel better
arios raises his eyes looks at her silently then lowers them again
jin stands up we will leave you to rest now but if you need anything we are here
he walks toward the door lina follows him but stays for a moment waving with a small smile
the door closes
arios is now alone
he breathes calmly then hears the system again in his mind
system
correct behavior your identity was not revealed
continue with the approved plan
he closes his eyes
the scene ends with a long look at the cup then the window then darkness
a new morning inside arios room
sunlight slips gently from the window making soft shadows on arios face as he sits on the bed holding his knees silently he has not moved for hours
soft knocks on the door
then it opens gently and yona enters with a warm smile
in her hand a small bundle of neatly folded clothes
hello little one i brought you something new
arios raises his eyes toward her empty gaze then lowers them again without response
she approaches slowly sitting on the wooden chair near the bed
i found these clothes from jins childhood we kept them as memories but they are clean and suitable for you
she offers the bundle but he does not move
she looks at him for a moment then places it beside the pillow quietly
you know when i first held lina i was afraid i did not know how to be a good mother i would see her cry and not understand what she wanted sometimes i cried too
arios looks away slightly but listens
but i learned not from books or advice but from watching from silence from staying close until she calmed down
she leans forward looking at him with eyes full of tenderness and pain
i do not know what you went through arios and i do not want to pressure you to speak but would you allow me to help you change these clothes so you can feel even a little better
a moment of silence
arios looks at her hesitates then very slowly lowers his head in a slight sign of agreement
yonas eyes shine but she does not rush
thank you i will be careful i promise
she opens the bundle and gently removes his torn clothes one by one noticing every wound every bruise breathing slowly to hide her pain
then she dresses him in the new clothes a gray cotton shirt soft pants
every movement carries silent motherhood no words just gentle touches
when she finishes she looks at him and softly pats his hair
there we go you look very neat
arios looks at himself he does not smile but something small inside him begins to move not love not trust just a slight comfort
yona stands slowly heading to the door then pauses
i am here always you do not need to speak just allow me to stay close
she leaves and closes the door quietly
the camera moves closer to arios face
his hand holds the edge of the new shirt
he remains silent
but for the first time since his parents left he does not feel cold
a calm morning a small yard in front of the cabin
golden light slips between tall trees drawing soft lines on the grassy ground
the door opens slowly
arios walks out
his steps are quiet hesitant barefoot stepping on the moist ground as if it is something sacred
he stops raises his eyes to the sky
the sun rises
a gentle warmth touches his face for the first time in days
he does not speak does not move
he just sits
folds his legs on the grass places his hands on his knees and lets his body absorb the light
a cool breeze passes through the trees moving his slightly long dark blue hair
his eyes shine with unseen tears not tears of crying but of painful inner balance
images of his burning planet pass before him
his mothers face disappearing in flames
his fathers final scream
then the present returns to him the sound of birds sunlight the smell of grass
a long moment of stillness
he takes a deep breath
then closes his eyes
for the first time since that night he allows himself to be silent without fear
no need to run no need to respond no need to cry
just to exist
the camera moves slowly from behind him showing his small body sitting within the vast nature around him
the universe does not ask who he is
does not demand anything from him
it only gives him a moment of existence
the small cabin overflows with warm calm
yona opens her eyes slowly wakes up wraps herself in a cotton shawl and walks toward the small window
morning light fills the room and the scent of nature enters inside
she moves the curtain gently
then freezes for a moment
there in front of the cabin
she sees him
arios
sitting silently his dark blue hair shining under the sunlight his eyes fixed on the horizon calm surrounding him like a being from a dream
yona stares at him for a long time says nothing then a small warm smile forms on her lips
finally he came out how beautiful
footsteps approach from outside
then the large wooden door opens
jin enters carrying a straw basket filled with vegetables and some fruits his gray hair moving with the morning breeze
he sees arios from afar unmoving unaware of his presence
jin stops at the door for a moment watching the contemplative child then smiles softly
it seems the little one is okay somehow
he enters
places the basket on the table looks at yona
sees her standing at the window watching with unwavering eyes
in a low playful voice are you planning to adopt him or keep him as decoration
yona does not respond immediately just smiles still looking outside
then whispers
i do not know but my heart does not stop feeling something toward him as if he was sent to us to complete something missing in us
jin comes closer places his hand gently on her shoulder sharing the view
maybe or maybe we are the ones who will complete something missing in him
silence
both watch arios in harmony
outside the child still sits unaware that a new family has begun forming around him in silence without promises
after that days and weeks pass and it seems arios has somewhat adapted to jins family
inside the cabin a calm atmosphere evening begins to cover the forest oil lamps reflect on the wooden walls
arios sits on the floor beside the fireplace helping lina arrange wooden pieces to build a small doll house
her soft laughter fills the place and he smiles quietly not speaking much but clearly he has become more at ease more alive
jin sits at the table preparing some small wooden boards while yona prepares a warm herbal drink
she looks at him then he looks at her they exchange a silent signal
jin approaches arios and kneels slowly
arios will you come with us for a moment i want to talk with your mother about something
arios raises his eyes slowly noticing the calm seriousness on jins face he nods silently and stands
the three sit near the fireplace
arios in the middle
yona on his right jin on his left
moments of silence pass until jin begins
weeks have passed right you now help me with wood help yona in the kitchen and play with lina she laughs more than before
arios looks down does not speak
jin continues
we know you still carry great pain inside we will not pretend to understand it nor ask you to forget it
yona speaks softly
but we see you we see how you try how you stay silent when you hurt and smile even when you do not know how we see you trying to be here with us
she places her hand on his small hand it trembles but he does not pull away
jin continues in a warm but firm tone
and because of that we decided something
arios slowly raises his eyes anticipation in them
from the first day we found you we felt we could not leave you alone and now we want you to be our son
arios breath quickens slightly he looks at them with soft surprise
if you want you can officially be our son i and yona want you as our child and lina your sister if you accept
a moment of silence arios does not respond looking at the hand yona holds
yona softly we will not pressure you the choice is yours but if you want you can call us father and mother whenever you are ready even if it takes years
his eyes tremble widen slightly then lower
he remains silent closes his eyes
then in a very soft but clear whisper
mother father
yonas eyes fill with tears she covers her mouth trembling
jin breathes deeply trying to stay firm but smiles sincerely
then suddenly arios moves toward yona and falls into her arms silently hugging her no sound just warmth and light tears on her shoulder
for the first time he holds them not as a guest not as an orphan but as a son
the scene closes on the burning fireplace while the three embrace parents and a new child