ADELAIDE STARLIGHT.
Arceus was sitting in front of the main entrance, hugging a teddy bear while staring fixedly at the door.
Although he won't stay like this all day, he'll wake up from his afternoon nap and remain in his place when it's time to play with his toys.
—Arceus —I called him softly.
A pair of blue eyes turned and looked at me.
—Dad will arrive soon. Do you want to go out and wait for him? —I asked.
My baby's expression lit up as I lifted him in my arms. I opened the mansion's doors and went out.
What I found was a completely white world. It was snowing.
—Very soon? —it was then that Arceus carefully opened his mouth to speak.
«Oh my God! Arceus just spoke!», I thought with astonishment, opening my eyes wide.
It was the first time I had heard his voice. After removing the surprise from my face, I smiled kindly.
—Dad will return soon. With Anastasia —I explained.
Arceus nodded and shortly we could see Atlas and Anastasia walking from far away.
—Darling...! —I waved my hand joyfully.
«Look how cute Arceus is imitating me!», I thought when I saw him also waving his hand.
—Why are you outside? It's snowing —Atlas asked me.
—Arceus really wanted to see Dad, see? —I responded.
Atlas approached and knelt down to look at Arceus, who was being embraced by me. Arceus looked at me before carefully extending his arms towards Atlas, who then lifted the child and hugged him.
When Atlas hugged him, Arceus became nervous. He had been smiling when he was further away, but now he was frozen while burying his head in his chest and hiding there.
«What a shy and cute child!», I said to myself, smiling.
Some time later, we entered the mansion. Anastasia greeted me warmly and went to her room.
She was so tired after having gone to school for the first time. I could understand her.
Meanwhile, I saw Arceus point to a specific place with his finger.
—What is it? —Atlas asked, hugging him and walking towards where he was pointing.
On the other side of the hallway, there was a drawing notebook placed under the thick cushion of the sofa where Atlas always spent time lying down.
Arceus carefully held the drawing notebook, with an extremely nervous expression.
Atlas received it silently and opened it, expecting to see a typical child's scribble.
After all, a child was still a child.
Inside the irregularly drawn frame, several characters could be observed, differentiated by the color of their hair.
«Oh, look!». There I was with my soft smile, and Anastasia was smiling brightly while making faces.
The question was the identity of the man wearing a crown on his large head, standing in the middle. The man was smiling and there was a gem on the crown above his head; it was evident that he had taken more time and effort compared to the other drawings.
—Who is he? —Atlas asked Arceus.
When Atlas leaned in and asked Arceus, he trembled in surprise and avoided eye contact.
—I think it's you, darling —I said to Atlas.
—This one? —he asked doubtfully.
—You're hugging Arceus —I clarified.
Upon hearing my words, Atlas looked at the drawing again.
What seemed to be something white was actually the back of his head, drawn by Arceus.
Sketching a vague smile, Atlas hugged Arceus in the same posture as in the drawing and only then did Arceus return the hug with an embarrassed smile.
Thinking about it, it seemed my husband had been quite negligent with the child.
—Should we go somewhere for the weekend, for two days? —Atlas asked me.
—Ah, that's a good idea. I'm in —I responded without hesitation.
He nodded and headed to Anastasia's room to call her.
At that moment, I looked out the window.
It was curious, as if the previous fall had been an illusion, the snow had stopped falling a long time ago.