The sun slowly set, casting a warm, golden glow over the horizon. Lucian lay silently on the ground, his expression distant. Beside him, Galen sat quietly, his hand resting gently on Lucian's head, a comforting presence in the stillness. After some time, Lucian finally opened his eyes, drawing a deep breath. Galen noticed and smiled softly.
"Feeling any better now?" he asked.
Lucian sat up, pulling his knees to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. "Yeah, a little…" he replied, his voice subdued. "How did it happen?"
Galen tilted his head back, gazing at the sky. "An explosion during an experiment at the academy," he began. "She and some other students were chosen to help because of their talents. But during a test, a sudden blast destroyed the entire facility. Many lives were lost... including hers."
Lucian sat in silence, unsure what to say, his mind struggling to process the revelation.
Galen continued, his voice steady but tinged with sadness. "She knew the risks, Lucian. This was her choice. She went into it understanding the danger."
Reaching into his pocket, Galen pulled out a small pouch and placed it in Lucian's hand. "Here. This belongs to you."
Lucian opened the pouch, and inside was a pendant. He took it out, examining the black chain attached to a beautiful, square-shaped white crystal. As he turned it over, he saw his initials, L.D., carved into the back.
"This was a gift from Amara," Galen explained. "She had it made for you form the first mineral she refined, for when you would enter the academy. remember her with this."
Lucian stared at the pendant for a long time, his grip tightening slightly. The weight of the moment was heavy in the silence. Eventually, Galen spoke again, his tone lighter.
"I've told you about my adventures with my many friends," he said. "But I've never shared the story of my first adventure."
Lucian glanced at his father, intrigued.
"I grew up an orphan," Galen began. "I have no idea who my parents were. I was raised in an orphanage in the Aether-Wing Kingdom. It was a harsh life. The other children there were like me, abandoned or left alone by tragedy."
Lucian's eyes widened. Hearing about his father's childhood for the first time, especially the fact that he was an orphan, was a shock.
"You were an orphan in Aether-Wing? How did you end up living in Fulvaria?" he asked.
Galen smiled faintly. "Times were hard. The kingdom didn't offer much support to orphanages, so we often had to fend for ourselves. We gathered food from the forest and made money by selling charcoal and herbs. Our caretaker, a young woman named Lucia, worked tirelessly to keep us fed."
Lucian's ears perked up at the name. "Wait… my name, did you name me after her?"
Galen nodded, smiling warmly. "Yes. If I had a daughter, I would have named her Lucia. Since I had a son, I named you Lucian."
"She must have been a great person for you to name me after her," Lucian said softly.
"She was," Galen agreed. "To me, she was both an inspiration and a mother figure. She cared for all of us orphans, even in the hardest times. Day and night, she worked gathering herbs and making charcoal to sell, just so we could eat. She was an angel, always putting others before herself."
Galen closed his eyes for a moment, as if picturing her. Lucian watched his father, the weight of the story filling the space between them.
"Where is she now?" Lucian asked, curiosity lighting his voice. He wanted to meet the person he was named after, the person who had meant so much to his father.
Galen's expression darkened, his smile fading. "I don't know," he admitted. "When I was twelve, I went to the forest to gather wood and herbs. When I returned, she was gone. The others said some people came to talk with her. After they left, she said her goodbyes and walked away. They said she looked sad... regretful."
He paused, his voice heavy with emotion. "After that, a new caretaker arrived. The orphanage improved we got better food, new clothes, and repairs to our home. But without Lucia, it all felt… empty. We had everything we needed, but none of it meant anything without her. What happened to her? Was she safe? Why did she leave?, "Questions kept piling up, and one day, I couldn't take it anymore. I ran away one night without saying goodbye to my brothers and sisters at the orphanage, a decision that still haunts me to this day."
Lucian listened intently, hanging on every word. "Did you ever find out what happened to her?"
Galen shook his head, regret clouding his features. "No. I searched everywhere I could, but I found nothing."
Lucian felt a pang of disappointment. He, too, wanted to meet this remarkable woman someday.
But then Galen's smile returned, lighting up his face. "During my adventures, though, I did make an incredible friend, Yasolt."
Lucian's head snapped up at the name, his expression one of shock. It was the same name he'd seen in the diary.