The oil lamp flickered softly in the corner of Reyan's old living room, casting long shadows over the faded walls. Liora sat curled up on the worn couch, her knees tucked under her, while Reyan brought out a simple dinner of rice, sautéed vegetables, and lentil stew. The silence wasn't uncomfortable, only fragile—like something waiting to be gently touched, not broken.
Reyan placed the plates on the table and gave a shy glance toward her. "It's not much. I haven't really cooked for someone else in a while."
Liora Caelis Miravein smiled as she took the first bite. "It's warm. It's real. That's more than enough."
They ate without saying much. Just the clinking of spoons, the occasional thunder outside, and the comfort of not being alone. After dinner, they washed the dishes together, shoulder brushing shoulder, neither pulling away. A quiet rhythm had begun to form between them—unspoken, steady, and healing.
As they settled into the living room again, Liora wrapped a blanket around herself, her eyes distant. "I've seen them before."
Reyan turned slightly toward her. "Seen who?"
"Your parents," she said softly. "Especially your mother. I didn't realize it at first. But now… now I'm sure. I know your mom."
His heart thumped. "What do you mean?"
"I've seen her many times when I was a child," she said, voice trembling slightly as the memories surfaced. "My mom and she… they were friends. I remember her clearly—kind, warm, always with this radiant smile. She'd bring little gifts for me whenever she came by. Hair clips, sketchbooks, even sweets. I was just a kid, but her face—her presence—was unforgettable."
Reyan's eyes widened. He hadn't expected this.
"She once told me," Liora continued, her gaze far away, "that she had a son. A quiet one, she said. Just like me. We were both always lost in our own worlds. I used to think about that boy sometimes, wondering what he was like." She chuckled softly. "What a cruel twist of destiny, huh? Or maybe… maybe it was meant to be."
Something inside Reyan broke open. His hands trembled slightly as he clenched them in his lap.
Liora looked over, eyes glistening. "Your mom was the kind of woman who made a space feel safe. Just by being in it. And now, knowing that you're her son—it just makes sense. There's a part of you that feels familiar, like something I've always known."
Tears welled in Reyan's eyes. He turned his face away, but she saw them anyway.
he whispered. "right now… it feels like my mom is a chain. Linking us together across years and silences."
Liora reached out, gently placing her hand over his. He didn't flinch.
They sat that way for a long time, until the warmth of connection melted the silence.
Later, over a quiet lunch they cobbled together, Liora said, "I've seen your mom so many times, but your dad? I only ever saw him from afar. He'd come to pick her up but never stayed. I never even knew he was her husband."
Reyan blinked. "They always told me they were orphans. Said they met during college. When I asked about their past, they'd laugh it off. They mentioned going to visit an orphanage once in a while, but whenever I asked to go along, they avoided the topic. Always said 'next time.'"
Liora frowned. "They were definitely hiding something."
"Seems like it," Reyan said bitterly. "All this time, I thought I knew them. But now…?"
She reached for his hand again. "If you want, we can go to my hometown. Where all of this seems to connect."
He stared at her, stunned. "You're serious?"
"I think the answers we need are buried there," she said, voice soft but firm. "Whatever our parents were hiding—it started back in Valevein. That's where my mom met yours. That's where this story begins."
He hesitated. His fingers twitched in her grasp. Then, slowly, he nodded. "Okay. I'll come."
"Before we go," she added gently, "I think we should visit your aunt and uncle. The ones your parents always called family."
The next morning, they stood before a modest house with a red-tiled roof on the edge of Sahana. Reyan hadn't visited in years, and it felt like stepping into a memory he didn't want to remember.
"Reyan?" a deep voice called out.
The man who greeted them was tall, with greying hair and a tired but kind face. "It's been too long. I'm Eldric Thornevale, your father's closest friend."
Beside him, a woman with sharp eyes but a warm tone smiled. "Reyan, you've lost weight. Have you been eating? Honestly, you boys never take care of yourselves."
"Hello, Aunt Nerina," Reyan murmured.
But her smile didn't reach her eyes. And Reyan knew. She wasn't worried about him. She was hiding something.
Liora stepped in, breaking the awkwardness. "We're going to my hometown—Valevein."
The air in the room changed.
Eldric and Nerina exchanged a glance. A flicker of fear. A second too long in silence.
Reyan stiffened.
Liora noticed. She filed that away quietly.
They stayed for tea, but no further questions were asked. When they left, Liora whispered, "There's something they didn't want us to know."
Outside, Reyan pointed to the two teens on the porch. "That's Cael Thornevale, he's 21. And the girl is Evyne. She's 15. My uncle's kids. We know each other, but… not really. We've never been close."
The sun dipped below the horizon as they packed for their journey. At the station, the cold wind nipped at their cheeks. The train arrived, and they found seats beside each other. Hours passed in rhythmic clatter and shifting landscapes.
Liora rested her head on Reyan's shoulder, half-asleep.
His hand brushed hers.
She held it.
In sleep, their fingers stayed entwined. A moment born of exhaustion and something far deeper. Somewhere along the way, Reyan leaned down, forehead almost touching hers. Neither saw it. Neither knew. But their hearts did.
The journey had begun—not just to a place, but into each other's pasts, and possibly, toward their future.