The man's eyes widened, his pupils dilating as the memory began to take shape. He saw the woman, standing in a garden filled with cherry blossoms, her long black hair blowing in the wind. He remembered the way she smiled at him, the way her eyes sparkled in the sunlight. He recalled the feel of her hand in his, the way her touch sent shivers down his spine.
The memory was fragmented, but the emotions that came with it were vivid. He felt a deep sense of longing, a sense of loss that seemed to pierce his very soul. He remembered the pain of being separated from her, the ache of not being able to be with her.
The man's eyes closed, his head falling back against the chair as the memories washed over him. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of emotions, unable to catch his breath. He didn't know what was happening, or why these memories were surfacing now. All he knew was that he had to find her, to be with her again.
As the memories faded, the man's eyes snapped open, his gaze burning with a fierce determination. He knew what he had to do. He had to find the woman, to learn more about her and their past together. He had to know why he felt this way, why he was so drawn to her.
Akira was unaware that she grabbed the attention of the crown prince who was known to be cruel and reckless. The two of them walked inside the other two kids threw themselves at Akira who smiled happily at her twins and Stellen grinned happily.
"Mama and I had fun!" Stellen bragged. Both Anastasia and Draconian grabbed their twin sister Stellen and rushed to their bedroom.
"Spill Stel what happened did mama beat someone?" Draconian asked excitedly. Anastasia who is calm and collected smirked.
"Did they cry?"
Stellen giggled.
"No, mama didn't beat anyone, but she did make the bad man run away with his tail between his legs!" The twins squealed with delight, and Akira chuckled, shaking her head.
"It wasn't that dramatic, kids. Let's get ready for dinner, okay?"
"Oooh also mama lost in auction toward this handsome mysterious man!"
Akira's eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly shot Stellen a warning look.
"Stellen, what are you talking about? Who's this handsome mysterious man?" She tried to sound casual, but her tone was laced with a hint of curiosity and a dash of warning, as if she was trying to gauge how much Stellen had revealed. Anastasia and Draconian exchanged a mischievous glance, their eyes sparkling with excitement.
Stellen's eyes clouded over, and her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Yeah, mama was really sad when she talked about it. She said Great Grandma Rae and Great Grandpa Zion were the only ones who treated her like family." Draconian's expression turned somber.
"Mama said they were the ones who made her feel loved, even when everyone else was mean to her." Anastasia's eyes sparkled with tears,
"We have to make mama happy, we have to be good kids and make sure she's safe." The three siblings nodded in unison, their faces set with determination, as they gazed at the screen, their hearts filled with a deep understanding of their mother's pain and a fierce desire to protect her.
Draconian's eyes scanned the screen, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Guys, I found something. It's an old article about the House of Frost. It says that Great Grandma Rae and Great Grandpa Zion were the ones who stood up for mama when everyone else turned against her." Stellen's eyes widened.
"Really? What else does it say?" Draconian's voice was filled with excitement.
"It says that they were the only ones who believed in mama's innocence, and that they fought to clear her name." Anastasia's eyes shone with tears,
"Mama always said they were her angels. We have to make them proud, we have to be strong like them." The three siblings nodded, their faces set with determination, as they vowed to honor their mother's memory and the sacrifices of their great-grandparents.
Stellen's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Draconian, can you find out more about Great Grandma Rae and Great Grandpa Zion? What were they like?" Draconian's fingers flew across the screen.
"Let me see... Ah, yes! I found a biography about them. It says that Great Grandma Rae was a kind and gentle soul, loved by everyone in the House of Frost. She was a talented healer and used her gifts to help those in need." Anastasia's eyes lit up.
"That's just like mama! She's always helping others, even when they don't deserve it." Draconian continued.
"And Great Grandpa Zion was a just and fair leader, loved and respected by all. He was a strong advocate for justice and fought tirelessly to protect the innocent." The three siblings nodded, their faces filled with admiration for their great-grandparents.
The triplets' eyes widened in unison.
"Tomorrow?! We get to see Great Grandma Rae and Great Grandpa Zion tomorrow?!" They squealed with excitement, bouncing up and down.
"Mama, we're going to be good, we promise!"
Akira smiled, her eyes still fixed on her research.
"I know you will, my little ones. I'm just glad we can finally visit them together. I've missed them so much." She yawned again, her eyelids drooping,
"I'm going to get some rest now. You three get some sleep too, okay?" The triplets nodded, still bubbling with excitement, and Akira could hear them whispering to each other as they left the room.
"We're going to see Great Grandma Rae and Great Grandpa Zion tomorrow!"
Akira's eyes began to droop, and she felt her eyelids growing heavy. She set aside her research and snuggled into her pillow, a soft sigh escaping her lips. As she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but think about the visit to her great-grandparents' tomorrow. She hadn't seen them in a while, and she was excited to introduce the triplets to them. She smiled to herself, thinking about how much her great-grandparents would love the triplets' energetic and curious nature. As she fell asleep, she felt a sense of peace wash over her, knowing that tomorrow would be a special day.
The figure stood motionless, gazing at Akira with an unreadable expression. The moonlight cast an ethereal glow on Akira's face, illuminating her peaceful features. The figure's eyes seemed to be drinking in the sight of her, as if mesmerized by her tranquil beauty. For a moment, the only sound in the room was the soft rise and fall of Akira's chest as she breathed. Then, the figure's gaze shifted, and their eyes narrowed slightly as they took in the papers and research scattered around Akira's bed. A faint furrow creased their brow, and their lips pursed in a silent question.
The figure's eyes lingered on the papers for a moment, then returned to Akira's face. They took a step closer, their movements eerily silent. As they drew nearer, the moonlight cast an otherworldly glow on their features, making it impossible to discern their identity. The figure's gaze seemed to be searching for something, their eyes roving over Akira's face as if seeking a hidden truth. Suddenly, their hand reached out, and their fingers hovered just above Akira's forehead, as if poised to touch her. The air was heavy with tension, and the silence was oppressive, as if the very fate of the world hung in the balance.
Just as the figure's fingers were about to make contact with Akira's forehead, they seemed to hesitate. Their hand hovered in mid-air, as if uncertain about what to do next. The tension in the room was palpable, and the air was thick with anticipation. Then, with a sudden movement, the figure withdrew their hand and stepped back, their eyes never leaving Akira's face. The silence that followed was oppressive, and the only sound was the soft hum of the wind outside. The figure's gaze lingered on Akira for a moment, before they turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving Akira to sleep undisturbed.