Eira Solenne quietly excused herself, leaving the small room in silence. She understood well enough that this was a moment for family, a fragile reunion between bonds torn apart by cruel magic.
For a long moment, Ean stood frozen, unsure how to face them. His heart hammered in his chest as three familiar figures lingered before him: Sean, his father; Melian, his mother; and Lira, the little sister whose laughter had once been his comfort.
There was hesitation in Sean's eyes, guilt clinging to every wrinkle of his face. The man took a step forward, shoulders weighed down by shame.
"Ean…" His voice broke as he finally forced himself to speak. "I am sorry. I almost… I almost hurt you."
Ean shook his head at once, his reply a desperate whisper. "No. Father, it wasn't your fault. None of it was. That was the spell, the dark magic controlling you. You were not yourself."
Sean clenched his fists, but the trembling in his jaw betrayed his sorrow. Before he could say more, Lira stepped forward.
"B… Brother…" she whispered, her voice faltering as if even calling him "brother" had become foreign to her tongue. Her hands twisted together nervously. She looked at him, eyes wide with both longing and uncertainty.
Ean's lips curved in a gentle smile. He could see how difficult it was for her. "What is it, Lira?" he asked softly.
"Why… why did you leave like that? Why didn't you say anything? I was so worried…" Her words cracked, a fragile confession from a little sister who had been forced to remember a truth that never should have been rewritten.
Ean reached out, ruffling her hair with a tender touch. "I'm sorry… I made you worry. I shouldn't have." His voice was low, the same warmth it had always carried for her still lingering despite everything.
Then Melian, his mother -so gentle, so steadfast spoke. "Ean, we know now. Everything." Her gaze softened, but there was strength beneath her calm tone. "At first we were shocked. Confused. But even so… do you understand? Living with you, these days we spent together… we were truly happy."
Ean's throat tightened. He didn't know how to respond.
"If you ever change your mind about joining the Guardians of Dawn," Melian continued, "and if you ever feel lost without a goal, you can always come back to us. You'll always have a place here."
Sean stepped forward, his eyes firm despite the tears gathering there. "Melian is right. We don't care if you were born a Briden or if you bear the name Jhoen. To me, you've already become my son. Nothing will change that, Ean. We all love you."
Lira nodded quickly, echoing her parents' words with childish sincerity. "We really do."
Ean's vision blurred. His heart throbbed painfully. They mean it. They truly see me as family…
"Thank you," he whispered, voice shaking as he bowed his head. "You're the best family I've ever had. I'll always be grateful for that. But…" His voice cracked. "There are things I must do. I cannot return, not yet."
Silence stretched between them like a sharp blade. Melian and Sean exchanged a long glance, then nodded.
"Then we will respect your decision," Sean said, voice steady. "Whatever path you choose, we will support you."
Melian placed her hand on her heart, smiling faintly. "And when you are tired, when you are lost and don't know where to go… our door will always be open. Come home whenever you wish."
Ean's chest ached. His hands trembled. Father… Mother… Lira…
Lira suddenly clung to his sleeve. "Brother, please be careful. They say the Guardians of Dawn fight villains. Don't let yourself get hurt."
Her words broke something inside him, but he forced himself to smile. "Don't worry, little one. I'll take care of myself. But you must promise me something too. Listen to Father and Mother. Be good while I'm away, alright?"
Lira nodded earnestly, determination glowing in her eyes. "I promise. I'll be good. I'll wait for you."
For the first time in what felt like forever, Ean's smile reached his eyes.
A knock at the door broke the fragile moment. Eira Solenne's voice carried through the wooden frame. "Ean. It's time."
Melian stiffened. "You're leaving already?"
Ean nodded, his heart heavy.
Sean stepped forward and clasped his son's shoulder. "You've grown. Don't worry about us. Go. Do what you must, and know that we trust you."
Ean could hold back no longer. He stepped forward and threw his arms around his father, clutching him tightly as if this might be the last time. "Thank you… Father. I'll be going now."
Sean returned the embrace silently, then gently released him.
With one last look at the family who had once been his anchor, Ean turned and followed Eira Solenne out the door. His heart burned with conflicting emotions, but his mind was already fixed on one thing: Shadow.
I need to know more about him. About the truth he stole from me.
***
The train station was alive with motion and sound. Steam hissed into the air, mixing with the metallic scent of hot iron and coal. Porters hurried with heavy luggage, while whistles blared above the noise of merchants calling out their wares.
Eira Solenne, Kael Draven, and Ean stood before the towering black machine that dominated the platform. The steam locomotive loomed like a beast of steel, its smokestack belching white clouds that curled against the sky.
Ean glanced at the ticket in his hand. "This car, right?" He pointed to the number etched on the side, double-checking before they boarded.
But before he could move, someone collided into him with a sudden thud.
"Ah—sorry!" a cheerful voice chirped.
Ean staggered back, his bag slipping from his grip and falling onto the floor. He turned quickly, meeting the bright smile of a girl who looked far too carefree for the chaos around them.
She was striking in her own odd way: bright clothes in mismatched hues of blue, orange, and pink that somehow suited her. A pair of dangling earrings shaped like playing cards sparkled in the sunlight. Beneath one of her eyes was a tiny star-shaped mark, playful yet mysterious. On her head sat a pink cap tilted like a crown, perched carelessly atop her curly hair.
She popped a bubble of chewing gum, winking lightly before sauntering off without another word.
Ean bent to grab his bag, shaking his head. "Strange girl…"
"Be careful," Eira Solenne muttered, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the departing figure. "The city is full of thieves."
"O-oh. Right," Ean stammered, though his gut told him the girl wasn't ordinary. Still, he brushed it off. "Maybe she was just in a hurry."
Kael Draven said nothing, but his sharp gaze lingered on the crowd, lips tightening. Too much space on the platform for an 'accidental' collision… She was looking for something.
They boarded the train, but the oddities didn't end there.
Though they shared the same car, their seats were scattered. Kael frowned as he read his ticket. "Strange. They usually seat us together."
"Don't worry about it. Ean's not a child," Eira replied dismissively, already settling into her seat.
Ean wandered further down the aisle, searching for his number. When he found it, his steps faltered. Someone was already sitting beside his seat, gazing idly out the window.
A faint pop echoed. The gum burst on pink lips.
The girl from earlier.
"Oh!" she exclaimed as if surprised to see him again. "You're the guy I bumped into!"
Ean blinked, unsure whether to laugh or sigh. He placed his bag into the overhead rack before sliding into his seat.
She leaned closer, grinning with shameless ease. "Hah, seems like fate, doesn't it? We're sitting together!"
He gave her a polite smile, still cautious.
"Marionete," she introduced herself brightly, sticking out her hand as if they were already friends. "Let's get along during this trip."
"…Ean," he replied, shaking her hand gently.
The train whistle blared. Tooot! Tooot! The massive machine lurched forward, and the scenery outside the window began to shift.
Marionete leaned back in her seat, kicking her legs lightly. "Ahh… I can already tell this trip won't be boring." She giggled, her voice carrying enough warmth to make strangers nearby smile.
"You're a cheerful one," commented an elderly woman seated across from them.
"Of course, Grandma! Life's only as fun as you make it. So let's enjoy the ride!" Marionete winked, earning a laugh from the old woman.
Ean watched quietly, his eyes drawn to the girl's hands. Every one of her fingers was wrapped in small bandages.
"Your fingers… they're hurt?" he asked curiously.