"Save me, please… I don't want to be a slave anymore!" pleaded a young rabbit girl in a trembling voice, clinging desperately to Logan.
"I… I…" Logan stammered, suddenly realizing his hands were covered in blood.
"Help me… help me!" the girl screamed in anguish, gripping him with all her strength.
Her fur was soaked with blood, her bulging eyes seemed ready to burst from their sockets. Her skin was slowly tearing apart, revealing raw flesh, entrails, and bone. She screamed in pain and rage, pointing an accusing finger at Logan:
"This is your fault! All of this is entirely your fault that we died!"
Soon, nothing remained of the beautiful rabbit girl but a skeleton, while all around Logan the ground was strewn with blood and bones.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" Logan murmured through tears.
"Logan! Logan!" suddenly rang out a familiar voice.
"Ah, ah… Ahh…" Logan gasped, waking abruptly, drenched in sweat, his face marked by anguish.
Aria was leaning over him, having roused him from an intense nightmare. Logan still struggled to catch his breath.
"Are you all right?" Aria asked, visibly concerned.
"Yes… yes, I'm fine… don't worry," Logan replied weakly, trying to hide his distress.
"You were talking in your sleep. It's because of what the guild master told you about the slaves, isn't it?" Aria asked gently.
"Yes… They died because of me. I let my emotions dictate my actions, and in trying to do the right thing, I hastened their deaths," Logan confessed, lowering his head, consumed by guilt.
Aria slowly approached him and pulled him close, tenderly resting his head against her chest.
"Don't be too hard on yourself. You couldn't have known this would happen. Your intention was good," she murmured softly.
"Maybe… but they still died because of me. I failed…" he replied sadly.
"Then make sure you don't fail next time. And Logan, sometimes death is better than a lifetime of servitude… believe me, I know what I'm talking about," Aria said in a firm yet compassionate voice.
"Can we stay like this a little longer?" Logan asked hesitantly.
"As long as you need," Aria replied, gently running her hand through his hair.
They remained there together, silent and comforted by each other's presence, as the first rays of the morning sun slowly filtered through the window.
Elsewhere, separated by time and space, in a distant past, rain beat furiously against the metal roof of a bustling train station. The dull rumble of trains entering and leaving the platforms, mixed with the hurried voices of travelers, created an unending din. Beneath that icy rain, amid general indifference, a faint cry timidly pierced the air:
"Waaah, waaah!"
At the edge of the platform, a small basket had been left directly on the ground, ignored by the busy passersby. Inside, a baby was crying, its heart-wrenching wails lost in the surrounding commotion. Hours crawled by until at last an old man, dressed in a black-and-white cassock, finally noticed the basket and the abandoned child.
"How long have you been crying here, with no one coming to your aid?" he murmured sadly.
This man, a priest named Cristian, gently crouched beside the infant. He offered a finger, which the baby grasped at once, gradually quieting its sobs. The priest gazed into the child's large red eyes, both surprised and enchanted.
"Oh, you're truly a special little one," he said tenderly with a smile. "Do you happen to have horns and a tail somewhere?" he added with a soft chuckle.
As he carefully lifted the baby, wrapped in a red blanket, a piece of paper slipped to the ground. Cristian picked it up and read the hastily written words:
"This child's name is Logan. We didn't want to abandon him, but dire circumstances forced us to. Please take care of our son; he is unique and infinitely precious to us. To you, Logan: one day you will understand our choice. Know that we love you deeply."
Cristian murmured softly as he held the child close to his heart:
"Logan… that's your name, my boy. God placed you in my path today, and from now on, I will take care of you."
Cristian carried the child to a large stone building: the Celestia Orphanage.
As soon as he stepped through the door, cheerful children came running to greet him.
"Father Cristian is back!" they exclaimed excitedly.
"What do you have in your arms?" one child asked, curious.
"This is your new little brother. Take good care of him," Cristian replied with a warm smile.
"Look, he has red eyes!" another child remarked in amazement.
A nun approached, and Cristian gently handed the child to her.
"Does he have a name, Father Cristian?" she asked softly.
"Yes, his name is Logan," he answered.
"Where did you find him?" she asked, visibly moved.
"Abandoned at the station. His parents left a note. They probably couldn't take care of him anymore," Cristian explained sadly.
"Poor little one… don't worry, we'll take good care of you," she murmured affectionately, carrying Logan off to give him a warm bath.
Thus began Logan's life at the Celestia Orphanage, run by Father Cristian in the city of Lyon.
The establishment, supported by donations and the kindness of local residents, quickly became his home.
A year went by swiftly. Logan was now taking his first steps, cheered on by the other children and the nuns.
"Come on, Logan, walk to me," Cristian encouraged.
After a few hesitant steps, Logan finally reached the priest's outstretched arms amid the children's enthusiastic cheers.
"Well done, Logan!" Cristian said with a laugh, lifting him joyfully into the air.
Time flew by until his fourth birthday, and Logan was already astonishing everyone with his remarkable intelligence.
During the annual meeting with Cristian, Jean-François, his teacher, presented his report:
"Logan is an exceptionally calm and disciplined child. However, over time, his red eyes might provoke teasing or discourage some parents from adopting him. We'll need to make sure he receives proper support during such moments."
Cristian nodded gravely, aware of the challenge.
Jean-François continued: "Academically, Logan is far ahead for his age. He already knows the letters, colors, numbers, and even simple calculations. A tailored program would be beneficial. To sum Logan up in a single word, 'genius' would be appropriate."
"Very well. Continue working with him like this but don't neglect the other children, of course," Cristian concluded gratefully.
The years continued to pass peacefully at Celestia, with Logan growing up surrounded by affection and support.
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