Eman's POV
The family garden stretched before me, vibrant with blooms and alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and the soft hum of insects. I stood beneath the old oak tree, my hands clasped behind my back, breathing in the fragrant air as I watched my family.
Aron's laughter brightened the space, as he dashed across the grass, his wooden sword swinging wildly. He wasn't fighting anything in particular, just the endless energy that a boy of his age always seemed to have. His eyes sparkled, and I found my lips tipping ever so slightly upward.
Ali sat near the koi pond, his tiny legs tucked beneath him and his small hands brushing the air just above the water. The koi swam close to him, their golden and orange scales shimmering like tiny treasures in the sunlight. He followed their movements with a quiet intensity that seemed different from his age, his emerald eyes calm and curious.
Elise sat on the stone bench nearby, her slender fingers idly tugging at a loose thread on her sleeve. She glanced at Aron and smiled, her expression soft and indulgent. Her presence was the heartbeat of this place. steady, serene, always grounding.
"Father! Look!" Aron's voice broke through the peace. He ran toward me, sword in hand, grinning ear to ear. "I've slayed the dragon! the Sagana land is safe!"
He struck a triumphant pose, puffing out his small chest as though he carried the weight of an entire world on his shoulders.
I unfolded my hands and regarded him with a solemn nod. "A job well done," I said, my voice calm but laced with quiet pride. Aron beamed at the acknowledgment, turning on his heel to run back into the garden for his next grand adventure.
Elise's soft chuckle reached my ears. "You could sound a little more excited for him, you know."
I glanced her way. "He knows I'm proud."
"Does he?" She tilted her head, her smile teasing but warm.
I didn't respond, though the corner of my mouth tugged upward once again. My gaze returned to Ali, who was now reaching toward the water. His fingers skimmed just above the surface, and, as if enchanted, every koi in the pond gathered near him. A few of them even nudged the water's surface, as though greeting him.
I took a slow step forward, crouching at Ali's side. He didn't look up at me but continued his quiet observation, his tiny hands moving in soft, deliberate motions.
"They like you," I said, keeping my voice low.
Ali, without turning, whispered, "They're shiny."
I smiled faintly, reaching out to place a hand gently on his small shoulder. He didn't flinch or pull away, just continued watching the fish. The warmth of his trust settled somewhere deep inside me, though I didn't let it show outwardly.
"Ali!" Aron's voice called again, accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps. "You have to hide! A dragon is coming!"
Ali lifted his head, blinking slowly at his older brother as Aron came barreling toward us. Aron waved his sword dramatically, stopping just short of us to plant it firmly in the ground.
"Come on, hide!" Aron insisted, his urgency completely at odds with Ali's calm demeanor.
Instead of moving, Ali looked up at him and said with a smile, "Moon dragons stronger."
Aron froze, his brow creasing. "No, they're not! I'm stronger!"
Before Aron could start his argument, Elise called out from the bench. "Aron, come here for a moment."
Aron hesitated, glancing between Ali and me, before reluctantly dragging his sword as he trudged back to Elise.
I straightened and watched as Elise pulled Aron onto the bench beside her. She smoothed down his tousled hair, speaking to him in soft, soothing tones I couldn't hear, but his expression soon shifted back to contentment.
I turned my attention to Ali again. He had already gone back to watching the koi, unfazed by his brother's antics. His quiet presence, so unlike Aron's boisterous energy, filled the space with a different kind of warmth. A stillness that seemed to ripple outward, much like the water before him.
Elise's voice broke the silence gently. "The garden suits you, Eman."
I glanced at her, catching the small, knowing smile on her lips.
"You think so?" I asked, though I wasn't sure she expected an answer.
She nodded. "It's the only place you ever seem to relax."
I didn't reply, but my gaze lingered on her for a moment longer. Then, I turned back to my sons. Aron was nestled against Elise, already recounting his imaginary battle, while Ali remained by the pond, content in his quiet world.
For once, I allowed myself the rare indulgence of simply standing there, taking it all in. The garden, the sunlight, my family.