Everyone looks at each other, tension filling the air, and then Adam steps forward, breaking the silence. "My name is Eli," he says. Immediately, the crowd echoes him, as if rehearsed. "Yes, her name is Eli," they all say in unison.
Bran, their intimidating foe, thinks to himself, "What a beautiful name Eli is..." He seems lost in thought for a moment, then turns and leaves, dragging Samoo along with him.
As soon as the two thugs disappear, Anastasia lets out a sigh of relief and quickly pushes Adam away from her protective embrace. Her eyes filled with concern, she asks, "Where are your parents? Where is your house? You shouldn't be wandering around here alone."
Before Adam can respond, Robert steps forward and interrupts. "Are you both okay?" he asks, his voice laced with worry. Anastasia glances at him and nods, "Yes, darling."
Hearing this, Adam has a fleeting thought, "I guessed right... they are husband and wife. But no, this isn't the time to think about that. I need a backstory to tell them..."
Both Anastasia and Robert now fix their gaze on Adam, waiting for answers. Taking a breath, Adam begins, "My name is Eli, and I came here alone. I don't know anyone in this place… and now, I don't have a home. My parents… they were killed right in front of me."
The crowd, which had been watching in silence, shifts uneasily. Anastasia and Robert exchange a glance, processing Adam's words.
Anastasia's eyes soften as she steps forward and hugs Adam again. "What I said earlier…" she whispers, pulling back to look at Adam, "You're my child now. From today, you'll live with us. I'll be your mom, and this ugly man," she gestures toward Robert, who raises an eyebrow, "he'll be your dad. You don't have a problem with that, right?"
Adam, taken aback by the sudden warmth and generosity, wonders, "Do people like this still exist in the world?" He nods, agreeing with Anastasia, his heart feeling something unfamiliar—a mix of gratitude and hope.
Anastasia hugs Adam again, this time tighter. "Aww, my girl is so cute…" she coos. Robert grumbles in the background, "Hey, who are you calling ugly? There's no one more handsome than me around here!" The couple bursts into laughter, filling the once-tense air with warmth.
The laughter spreads, and soon the townsfolk around them join in. One person pipes up, "Now Robert has two girls in his family! That calls for a celebration."
Another voice rings out from the crowd, "Hey, everyone! Robert is giving us free food at his restaurant today to celebrate!"
The crowd erupts in cheers, but Anastasia quickly cuts through the noise. "No one is getting free food! If anyone dares leave our restaurant without paying, I'll make sure they never eat there again!" she warns, her voice firm.
The once-cheerful crowd quiets down, grumbling playfully as they disperse. Anastasia turns to Adam and says, "Come on, let's head to our little home. You'll meet your new sister."
As they walk through the bustling streets of River City, Adam takes in the surroundings. The restaurant is in the heart of the city, surrounded by shops and lively vendors. It's a vibrant street with all kinds of stores, from bakeries to herb shops, and vendors calling out to passing customers. The scent of fresh bread fills the air as they pass a bakery.
After a short walk, they reach their destination—a modest, cozy restaurant nestled between a bakery and an herb shop, the latter run by an elderly woman sitting outside. As they pass, the woman waves to Anastasia, "Well done today, Anii! You handled that perfectly."
Anastasia smiles back, "Thank you, Baba. I learned from the best." The old lady's eyes land on Adam, and she asks, "What's your name, dear?"
Adam replies softly, "Eli," keeping the rest of his thoughts to himself.
Anastasia notices Adam's brief response and understands that Eli is a quiet girl, not the type to talk much. The old woman, unfazed by the silence, smiles warmly. "Eli, if you ever get sick or hurt, come to me. I'll take care of you."
Adam nods, and the group continues toward the restaurant.
When they arrive, Adam is struck by the sight. The restaurant has a polished, welcoming front painted in a warm shade of yellow. Above the entrance, a large wooden sign proudly displays the name "Lily Restaurant," visible even from far down the street. The scent of fresh bread and delicious food wafts through the air, tempting the passersby.
Anastasia gestures toward the door and says, "Come on, Eli. Your new home awaits." Adam steps inside and immediately takes in the cozy atmosphere. A long counter stretches across the room, about five or six meters from the entrance. On both sides of the room, chairs and round tables are set up for customers.
The simplicity of the decor makes the restaurant feel warm and inviting, but before Adam can fully absorb it all, Robert speaks up, "I left Lily in here earlier."
Anastasia's face tightens as if she's remembered something important. "Oh no, I forgot about Lily!" she exclaims. She calls out loudly, "Lily! Come here! Look who's with us!"
Adam watches as a door behind the counter opens, and out steps a teenage girl, around 16 years old. Her face is set in a frown, and she looks at Anastasia, saying, "I don't want to meet anyone. And if you're going to bring street urchins home, why did you even have me?"
Anastasia's face flushes with anger. "Lilyyy!" she yells back, but before she can say more, Lily storms off in a huff, disappearing behind another door that leads to the living quarters.
Anastasia looks at Adam apologetically. "Don't worry about her. She's just angry, but deep down, she's a kind girl. Once she gets to know you, I'm sure you two will be close."
Adam nods, trying to process the chaos. Robert steps in, saying, "Why don't you show Eli to her room? I'll go talk to Lily and try to calm her down."
Adam could see the tension in Anastasia's face, and though he couldn't fix it, he felt a sense of relief. This family seemed like the perfect cover—a place to live peacefully without revealing his powers.
"Come on," Anastasia says, leading Adam through the right-hand door, "I'll show you to your room, and I'll get you something to eat. You must be starving."
The door opens to reveal a modest living space behind the restaurant. There's a small dining area, a kitchen, and a narrow hallway with three rooms: Anastasia and Robert's room, Lily's room, and a third room filled with some miscellaneous items.
"This will be your room," Anastasia says with a smile. In the background, Adam can hear Robert's muffled voice as he talks to Lily, trying to ease the tension.
As Adam steps inside, he knows he's found a place where he can finally rest—at least for now.