"Leon, I beg you, please spare my child."
The woman's voice was filled with endless pleading and despair.
She averted her gaze from the man's stern face and turned to the silent old man standing nearby.
She collapsed to her knees, crying bitterly as she pleaded with the old man.
"Father, I beg you!"
The old man watched the scene unfold in silence for a moment before finally speaking, his voice heavy with resignation and sorrow.
"This is the only way to save the child, though... it might fail."
Hearing the old man's words, the woman looked as though she had been struck by lightning, the color draining from her face as she fell into despair.
She held the infant in her arms tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Is there no other way? Are you really going to risk my child's life?"
Her cries echoed through the empty room, filled with heart-wrenching pain.
The old man's expression did not waver, but a trace of sorrow flickered in his eyes—an emotion he did not wish to confront, as this was a cruel choice he too hoped to avoid.
"If we don't do this, the child might not live past his first birthday."
The old man sighed, his gaze heavy.
He slowly pulled a red beast core from his pocket, about the size of a thumb.
It shimmered with a faint glow in the dim light, the translucent red surface sparkling.
The infant in the woman's arms coughed weakly, his face pale and frail, as if each breath was a struggle for survival.
"Didn't you say before that a human heart could be used in place of the beast core?"
The woman clutched the baby tighter, her eyes filled with resolve.
Her voice trembled slightly, but there was a firmness in her words.
The old man hesitated slightly upon hearing this, then nodded. "Yes."
"Good."
The woman's voice was soft, as if she had made a final decision.
As her words fell, both the golden-haired man and the old man realized her intentions, their faces changing dramatically, but it was too late.
The woman quickly grabbed a pair of scissors from nearby and, without hesitation, plunged them into her chest.
The scissors pierced her chest instantly, and a flood of pain surged through her like a torrent.
She staggered, barely able to stay on her feet, as blood poured from her mouth, staining her lips.
Her eyes were filled with indescribable pain and sadness.
The golden-haired man rushed forward, grabbing her hand that held the scissors, trying to stop her desperate act.
But to his surprise, at that moment, the woman exhibited a shocking strength, and even he could not stop her.
With her arm tightly gripping the scissors, she forcibly carved open her chest, and blood gushed from the wound, staining her clothes.
Her breathing became labored and heavy, her face pale, but she still raised her head resolutely, her gaze slowly turning toward the old man.
"Father, I'll repay you in the next life."
Her voice was weak but firm, her tears mingling with blood, creating a hauntingly beautiful scene.
The old man stood there, tears streaming down his face, unable to utter a single word. His eyes were filled with agony.
That was his own daughter.
The woman tiptoed slightly, gently kissing the golden-haired man on the cheek, her movements as tender as a farewell.
"You're so handsome. I was always afraid our child wouldn't inherit your golden hair."
She smiled weakly, her voice soft as if speaking in a dream.
"Luckily, that didn't happen."
The golden-haired man trembled violently, his throat blocked by something, unable to speak a word.
He could only watch her smile helplessly, his heart breaking.
The woman looked lovingly at the baby in her arms, a trace of relief on her face.
"You'll be called Borne from now on, okay?"
Her voice was as gentle as a lullaby, as if coaxing the baby to sleep.
To everyone's surprise, the baby in her arms showed a rare smile, waving his tiny hands happily.
"That's good."
A satisfied expression appeared on the woman's face.
She slowly handed the baby to the golden-haired man.
In the next moment, without hesitation, she reached into her open chest and tore out her own heart.
A living, beating heart trembled slightly in her hand.
At that moment, her eyes lit up with a golden flame.
At the same time, the heart in her hand was also engulfed by the same golden flames, burning but without pain.
The heart gradually shrank in the golden flames.
Both the golden-haired man and the old man stared in shock, speechless at what they were witnessing.
"How… how is this possible..."
The golden-haired man's voice trembled, unable to believe what was happening before his eyes.
The woman shook her head slightly, saying nothing more.
She handed the heart to the golden-haired man and then leaned peacefully against him, as if seeking her final warmth and peace.
Soon, the woman breathed her last.
The scene of the mother, father, and infant embracing one another formed a picture of perfect love, yet it was also unbearably tragic.
Borne's breathing quickened as he clutched his chest, feeling his heart pound violently, as if it were trying to tear itself out of his body.
He could not believe what he was seeing.
His grandfather had told him since childhood that his mother had died of lung disease, that illness had cruelly taken her life.
He had always believed that was the truth behind his mother's death.
Borne's body began to shrink, as if time were reversing, and he turned into a helpless little boy.
Tears streamed down his cheeks, blurring his vision.
"Mom..." he whispered hoarsely.
His legs carried him forward, but no matter how hard he ran, the image of the family grew further and further away, like an unreachable illusion.
His hand reached out helplessly, wanting to grasp something, but his fingers met only empty air.
"Mom..."
His voice grew weaker and weaker.
At this moment, he was like an abandoned child, standing alone in the vast darkness.
Cradling a desperate plea for his mother, but receiving no response.
The world around him grew colder, as if the air itself was distancing from him, as though the entire universe were slipping away.
Exhausted, young Borne tripped and fell to the ground, his hands weakly pressing against the cold earth. Tears poured down his face, and he cried out in agony, the pain in his chest unbearable.
At that moment, two figures quietly appeared behind him.
A woman and a child.
They had seen everything that had played out in Borne's mind, watching as he crumbled to the ground, crying helplessly.
They did not speak, only watched him in the heavy silence.
Moltenclaw frowned slightly and took a few steps forward, wanting to approach Borne.
Aquafan quickly tried to stop her.
"Don't interfere with his mental world—it will hurt him!"
But Moltenclaw had already reached Borne's side.
Without hesitation, she knelt down gently.
She wrapped her arms around the small, grief-stricken figure from behind, holding Borne close to her chest.
"Mommy is here."
Her voice no longer carried the coldness it once had, instead, it was soft and comforting, like a gentle breeze brushing against one's cheek.
In that moment, light began to break through Borne's mental world.
One by one, the chains that bound him started to shatter.
The young Borne in her arms stopped crying.