The very next day, Riona returned to the shelter to inform the other kids that she would be staying with Zane and Leoni. She called them "The Golden Siblings" and laughed. Even though the kids were sad, they understood her decision and asked if they could still work together sometimes. Hearing that, Riona smiled warmly and said, "Of course, I wouldn't want it any other way." As she turned to leave, she saw Zane and Leoni waiting for her at the entrance of the shelter.
"You ready?" Zane asked.
"Yep! Let's go!" Riona replied, her face lighting up with a big smile.
And so, the three of them walked away, heading towards the sun, ready to start their new journey together.
The very next day, Riona, Zane, and Leoni were wandering the streets. It was quiet, with no people around, and boredom began to settle in. Without people, they couldn't make any money, and they were at a loss about what to do. After a moment of silence, Leoni spoke up, her eyes sparkling with excitement, "How about we find a sanctuary? Something that could be our special place! I bet it'd be fun!"
Riona's face lit up with excitement as she replied, "That sounds like so much fun! But where? I think I've been almost everywhere nearby, and I haven't found a good spot."
Zane put his hand on his chin, thinking. After a pause, he finally said, "I know a place. Follow me."
Curious and excited, Riona and Leoni followed Zane as he led them through winding alleys, making turn after turn. The paths were so dark and narrow that it felt like nighttime, even though it was the middle of the day. They kept following him until suddenly they saw light. When their eyes adjusted, they found themselves on a beautiful green hill, with a huge tree standing tall in the middle. The sight was breathtaking. Riona and Leoni stood still, amazed. The beauty of the place was almost overwhelming, leaving them without words.
Zane broke the silence with a smile. "So, what do you think about this place?" he asked.
Riona's eyes glistened with joy as she smiled. "Yes... This will be our home," she said softly.
Leoni nodded, her face glowing with happiness. The kids decided that this would be their special place, a home where they could feel safe.
That very same night, the three of them lay in the grass beneath the grand tree, gazing at the sky. The night felt peaceful, almost magical.
Riona broke the silence, her voice
Soft as she looked at them " You know ,I really love your eyes! I know I keep telling you that ,but they are like the sun ,it's beautiful "
Leoni blush and hit riona slightly "stopp it's embarrassing I keep telling you"
Riona laugh and then her voice turned
curious. "If you guys could have any wish come true, what would it be?"
Leoni turned her head toward Riona and answered, "Well... I wish that our parents had never died, but that we still got to meet you. You know, our sister."
Zane stayed silent, but his lack of words spoke volumes. It was clear that he agreed with Leoni's wish.
Riona smiled warmly. "That's a beautiful wish."
Leoni turned her gaze toward Riona, her eyes twinkling. "What about you, Ria?"
Riona looked surprised. "Ria?"
Leoni nodded, smiling widely. "Yep, that's what I'm going to call you from now on! And you can call me Leo. Even if it's a boy's name, I love it—it means lion, after all!"
Riona laughed, nodding. "Sure thing, Leo. As for my wish... Well, it already came true. One day, I hope I'll be able to share it with you."
Zane finally spoke up, his voice sincere. "It doesn't matter what it is. As long as it came true, we're happy for you."
Riona and Leoni both smiled at his words, warmth spreading through them.
Suddenly, Leoni clapped her hands. "Now I have a question! What do you guys want to do in the future if money wasn't a problem?"
Zane chuckled. "You already know my dream, Leoni. I want to be a knight, just like when I was little, when my father trained me."
As he spoke, a flashback appeared in his mind—a young Zane training with his father, his eyes filled with determination.
Riona spoke up, a thoughtful look on her face. "I... I don't have a specific goal. I just want to leave my name in history, so people remember me even after hundreds of years."
Leoni pouted, her lips forming a small frown. "Your dreams are so amazing. Mine feels kind of boring."
Riona shook her head, looking at Leoni with genuine curiosity. "What is it, Leo?"
Leoni smiled shyly. "Well... I love flowers. I want to be surrounded by them all the time. So, I want to open a flower shop. I'd give a rose to every sad person I see, just to make them feel a little better."
Riona's eyes softened, her voice sincere. "Boring? That's one of the nicest dreams I've heard."
Leoni's eyes lit up, and she smiled brightly. The three of them continued talking for hours, sharing stories, dreams, and laughter. Soon, Zane dozed off, his breathing becoming soft and steady.
Leoni turned to Riona, her voice quiet, almost hesitant. "Ria, I know it's too early to ask this... but do you think of me as a sister yet?"
Riona's expression softened, and she took a moment before answering. "I... I've never known what love feels like—whether it's for family, friends, or something more. But I think what I'm feeling for you guys is pretty close."
Leoni's face broke into the sweetest smile. "You bet! We're family now. All we need is a pet, and we're complete!"
They both laughed quietly, trying not to wake Zane, and Leoni let out a yawn.
"It's getting late... We'll talk more tomorrow. Goodnight, Ria," Leoni said, her voice growing sleepy.
"Goodnight, Leo," Riona replied softly. Leoni was the first to fall asleep, her face calm and content. Riona looked at her for a moment, a gentle smile on her face. She whispered, "Yeah... this is love," before finally closing her eyes.
Hours later, the quiet of the night was disturbed by a dark mist that took the vague form of a man. He leaned over Leoni, his voice a whisper. "So, you are the person she loves now?" He smiled before fading away into the darkness.
Suddenly, Riona's eyes shot open, a chill running down her neck. She knew something was there, even though she couldn't see it. "You... I know you're there. You've been watching me all this time... I've never seen you, but I know you're there. I warn you," she muttered, her face hardening with a look of defiance. When no response came, she finally let herself drift back to sleep.
The next morning, Leoni slowly opened her eyes to see Riona standing in front of her, a mischievous grin on her face. In her hands was a large rat, which she was holding dangerously close to Leoni's face.
"The pet we talked about!" Riona announced cheerfully.
Leoni's eyes widened in horror, and she screamed at the sight of the rat, her voice echoing across the hill.