— Age Six —
Rain fell again that evening, soft and steady.
Lysia's parents were away for the night — a family obligation in a neighboring town — so she came over to Caelum's house with her overnight bag like it was the most ordinary thing in the world.
It was.They'd done this hundreds of times.
But this time…
She remembered everything.
And that made all the difference.
Evening Calm
Dinner was quiet and warm.
Lysia helped Caelum's mother chop vegetables. Caelum stirred the pot carefully, tongue poking from the corner of his mouth.
Afterward, they washed dishes together, sleeves rolled up, soap bubbles everywhere.
Later, they built their usual blanket fort in the living room — soft lights, a lantern inside, and enough pillows to bury a small kingdom.
They snuggled inside with books, cocoa, and the sound of rain tapping above them.
A Familiar Comfort
When it was bedtime, they went to Caelum's room.
No fuss. No questions.
Two futons on the floor.
One sleepy routine.
Lysia brushed her teeth with her flower-print toothbrush. Caelum changed into his favorite pajamas — the ones with stars and gears printed on them.
Then, lights out.
Their silhouettes rested side by side in the dim blue light of a glowing night lamp shaped like a moon.
Caelum turned toward her, already half-asleep.
"You always come over when it rains."
"You always fall asleep first."
He smiled faintly.
"I trust you."
Lysia's chest ached at the weight of those words.
He Sleeps
It didn't take long.
His breathing slowed.His shoulders relaxed.His small hand, resting near hers, twitched once as he drifted into dreams.
And she… didn't sleep.
Not yet.
She rolled onto her side and looked at him — just looked.
The boy who had once torn apart gods for her.The one who had carried eternity alone.Who had broken the cycle of heaven and fate…
Just to find her smile again.
Now here he was, six years old, lips slightly parted in sleep, the blanket crooked over one knee.
He doesn't know.
And I'll never let him know.
Because this time, I'll carry the pain.
A Quiet Vow
Lysia reached out and gently tucked the blanket over him.
Her fingers paused over his hair — then lightly brushed it back from his forehead.
She whispered, her voice no louder than the rain outside:
"You've protected me enough."
"This time, I'll protect you."
"Even if I have to lie forever."
System Log – Silent Guardian Active
[GENESIS CORE SYSTEM – OBSERVER MODE]— Subject: LYSIA GREY— Status: Memory Concealment Continues— Protective Vow: Engaged— Emotional Output: Stable— Synchronization: 62.5%— Note: "He sleeps in peace because she wakes in silence. Her love, reborn and unwavering, needs no reward — only his smile."