Cyrus and the queen pushed through the weathered wooden door of the house, its ancient hinges creaking in protest. As they crossed the threshold, Cyrus was immediately struck by the drastic change in temperature. The interior was significantly warmer, a stark contrast to the cool island breeze they had left behind. The source of this warmth quickly became apparent – a roaring fire blazed in the hearth, its dazzling golden flames casting flickering shadows across the walls and illuminating the entire space with a soft, welcoming glow.
The room they entered was unlike anything Cyrus had expected. Every available surface seemed to be adorned with toys and child-friendly decorations. Colorful building blocks were stacked in precarious towers, stuffed animals peered out from cozy corners, and miniature racetracks wound their way across the floor. In the midst of this chaotic wonderland stood a man, his expression a mixture of exasperation and amusement as he attempted to wrangle a group of energetic children. Despite his best efforts, the little ones darted and spun around him like leaves caught in a whirlwind.
The moment the queen stepped into view, a transformation swept through the room. "Mother!" The children's voices rose in a joyous chorus as they abandoned their games and rushed towards her, their eyes sparkling with unbridled delight. The queen, her regal demeanor softening, knelt to meet them. Her arms opened wide, enveloping as many of the little ones as she could reach. "I missed you so much," she murmured, her voice thick with an emotion Cyrus had never heard from her before.
The man who had been minding the children straightened, offering a respectful bow as he addressed the queen. "They have been perfectly calm. Just a few minor issues," he reported, though the state of disarray around him seemed to contradict his words.
"That's why I'm here," the queen replied, rising to her feet. She turned to Cyrus, her expression once again composed and authoritative. "Cyrus, tend to the children. We have someone to find – it shouldn't take us long." Without waiting for a response, she gestured for the man to follow her, and the pair disappeared into the dense forest surrounding the house.
Cyrus stood rooted to the spot, momentarily speechless as he found himself the sudden focus of numerous inquisitive gazes. The children studied him intently, as if trying to determine whether this newcomer was friend or foe. Never in his wildest dreams had Cyrus imagined the queen presiding over a place like this. His mind raced, drawing unexpected parallels to his own childhood experiences.
In Arkania, care centers held a unique and often painful significance. When parents were sent to the mines – a fate that befell far too many – their children were dispatched to these facilities. There, they would remain until deemed old enough to fend for themselves in the unforgiving world beyond. Cyrus himself had been confined to such a place after his own parents were torn away from him. A bittersweet wave of nostalgia washed over him as memories long buried began to surface.
Shaking off the ghosts of the past, Cyrus plastered on a friendly smile and approached the group. "Hi, little ones," he began, only to cry out in shock as a particularly mischievous child darted forward and sank tiny teeth into his outstretched fingers. The culprit fled down the corridor, cackling with glee at their successful ambush.
As Cyrus nursed his throbbing digits, another small figure tugged at his sleeve. "Is mother going to come back?" the child asked, wide eyes filled with a mixture of hope and uncertainty.
"She'll be right back," Cyrus assured them, forcing a cheerful tone despite his smarting hand. "Why don't we take a tour of this place while we wait?" He waved invitingly at the group, but his attention was drawn to a solitary boy standing off to the side. Unlike the others, this child seemed wary of any approach, his posture tense and ready to bolt at a moment's notice. "Hey, what's your name?" Cyrus asked gently, crouching down to appear less intimidating.
Before the boy could respond – if he had been inclined to do so – another child piped up. "Five doesn't speak to strangers. Leave him alone!" The warning was punctuated by a sudden flurry of motion, and Cyrus found himself instinctively catching several small objects that had been hurled in his direction. His eyes widened as he realized he was holding a handful of very real, very sharp knives.
"Five?" Cyrus repeated, his mind struggling to process both the strange name and the fact that he had just been assaulted by a child wielding deadly weapons. He took a cautious step towards the silent boy, but Five's reaction was immediate and unsettling. The child began to back away, pressing himself against the wall as if trying to phase through it entirely.
"That's Five. He's ten," the outspoken child from before explained matter-of-factly. Then, with a mischievous grin, they added, "And I'm One!" To punctuate this introduction, One stuck out their tongue, clearly delighting in Cyrus's growing bewilderment.
Recognizing that he was fighting a losing battle, Cyrus decided to abandon his attempts to connect with Five for the moment. Instead, he allowed One to take the lead, following the energetic child as they began a whirlwind tour of the sprawling building. The other children swarmed around them, a cacophony of shouts and laughter filling the air as they ran from room to room.
As they explored, Cyrus couldn't help but marvel at the sheer scale and quality of the facility. Far from the stark, utilitarian care centers he remembered from his youth, this place was a veritable wonderland for its young inhabitants. Every conceivable need and desire seemed to have been anticipated and provided for. Toys of all descriptions filled playrooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen promised delicious meals, and cozy bedrooms offered safe havens for rest.
The queen's generosity was evident in every carefully chosen detail, and Cyrus found himself developing a newfound respect for the enigmatic woman. These children wanted for nothing – at least in terms of material comforts. And yet, as he observed their exuberant play and occasional fierce protectiveness of one another, he sensed an underlying current of something... not quite right.
His guide, One, seemed to take a perverse pleasure in trying to "accidentally" injure Cyrus at every opportunity. Whether it was a tripwire strung across a doorway or a precariously balanced bucket of water, Cyrus found himself constantly on guard. He began to understand why the queen had warned him to stay alert in this seemingly idyllic setting.
As they neared the end of their tour, the group came upon a stark anomaly in the otherwise warm and inviting decor. A white door, the only one of its kind in the entire building, stood before them. Unlike the wooden portals that led to other rooms, this one was crafted of solid metal, its surface unmarred and coldly pristine. The contrast was jarring, like a shard of ice in the middle of a summer meadow.
Cyrus's curiosity piqued, and he took a step towards the mysterious door. "What's this place?" he asked, reaching out to touch the gleaming surface. Before his fingers could make contact, the quiet hallway erupted into chaos. The children began screaming and crying, their earlier playfulness evaporating in an instant.
"Don't touch the door!" One yelled, desperation evident in their voice as they latched onto Cyrus's arm with surprising strength. "Mother will punish us if you do!"
The raw fear in their eyes gave Cyrus pause. Whatever lay beyond that door, it was clear that these children had been conditioned to avoid it at all costs. Despite the burning questions that filled his mind, he couldn't bring himself to cause them further distress. Reluctantly, he allowed One to pull him away from the forbidden portal.
As they retreated, a sudden, sharp pain lanced through Cyrus's body. His hand flew to his neck, fingers probing the skin as violent tremors wracked his frame. Fragmented visions flashed through his mind – disjointed images and sensations that felt both alien and hauntingly familiar.
"Are you okay?" One's voice cut through the haze, tinged with genuine concern. The other children clustered around him, their earlier fear now directed towards his wellbeing.
"I'm fine," Cyrus managed to croak out, shaking his head in an attempt to clear the lingering echoes of... whatever that had been. He forced a smile, not wanting to worry them further. "Come on, let's get you all cleaned up and ready for bed."
The next few hours passed in a blur of domestic activity. Cyrus found himself herding children through bath time, struggling with stubborn buttons and zippers as he helped them dress, and finally corralling them into the living room for a story. As he settled into an overstuffed armchair, a well-worn book of fairy tales balanced on his knee, Cyrus's mind was far from the words on the page.
During the bathing process, he had made a disturbing discovery. Each and every one of the twenty children bore an identical birthmark on the back of their necks – a mark that perfectly matched the one Cyrus himself carried. The statistical improbability of such a coincidence was staggering. This, coupled with the mystery of the white door and the children's strange names, painted a picture that was as intriguing as it was unsettling.
Who was the queen, really? What was the true purpose of this place? It was clear that this was far more than a simple shelter for parentless children. But the answers to these questions seemed to dance just beyond his grasp, tantalizing and terrifying in equal measure.
As the story came to an end and the younger children drifted off to sleep, Cyrus found himself drawn to the highest balcony of the building. There, he discovered a powerful telescope and, to his surprise, the elusive Five. The boy sat quietly, his attention fixed on the night sky above.
Cyrus approached cautiously, not wanting to startle the skittish child. As he drew near, he was struck by a truly magnificent sight. The stars above were not the static points of light he was accustomed to seeing. Instead, they blinked and shifted, gliding across the inky blackness like celestial dancers. They moved from point to point, tracing intricate patterns that defied explanation.
"Moving every night in the sky when the moon rises," Cyrus murmured, awestruck by the display. "Alive, they are. They are magical."
"They are stars," Five's quiet voice startled Cyrus, speaking in perfect unison with his own words. The boy's eyes widened in fright at this unexpected synchronicity, and he scrambled to press himself against the nearby wall.
"Hey, I don't want to harm you," Cyrus said softly, holding up his hands in a placating gesture. "How do you know about this?"
Five hesitated for a long moment before whispering, "The Island of Moving Stars."
The name hit Cyrus like a physical blow. Another wave of pain crashed over him, driving him to his knees as fragmented memories assaulted his consciousness. Through the haze of agony, he was dimly aware of a small, warm hand pressing against his chin. Almost immediately, the pain began to subside.
"When it happens, we always do that," Five explained timidly, his large eyes filled with a mixture of concern and understanding that seemed far beyond his years.
As the pain receded, realization dawned on Cyrus. "I've been to this place," he said, his voice filled with wonder and confusion. The sudden exclamation caused Five to stumble back, startled once again. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."
Five cautiously returned to his chair, resuming his stargazing as Cyrus collected his thoughts. Memories long buried began to surface – family vacations to the Island of Moving Stars, a popular tourist destination known throughout Arkania for its unique nightly phenomenon. It had been a place of wonder and joy, filled with the laughter of visitors from all corners of the realm.
But now, as Cyrus scanned the horizon, he saw no signs of the bustling resort he remembered. The island seemed eerily empty, devoid of the crowds that had once flocked to witness its marvels. Had the queen somehow acquired this entire island? And if so, to what end?
As Five continued his silent vigil and the impossible stars danced overhead, Cyrus found himself adrift in a sea of questions. What had happened here? How were these children connected to this place, to the queen, and to Cyrus himself? The answers, he sensed, lay somewhere beyond that white door – but at what cost would they be revealed?