Chapter 3 – The Mysteries of the Past
The late afternoon sun cast golden rays through the orphanage windows, bathing the silent hallway in a warm light. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves outside, as if the world itself were holding its breath.
Adrian: "And you, Lia?"
Lia: "Adrian, Director Maria didn't mean it in a bad way. I know she didn't. She's just worried about you. I mean, after everything that happened... and we're just ordinary people."
Adrian let out a deep sigh, his eyes fixed on the floor. The wooden boards beneath his feet creaked softly, echoing his uncertainty. He searched his thoughts for something to hold on to, something solid.
Lia gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
Lia: "Come on, let's go eat. Everyone's waiting for you."
In the dining room, the comforting aroma of fresh food filled the air — warm bread, roasted vegetables, and the light scent of herbs. Sunlight danced on the walls, breathing life into the old space.
Theo: "Where's Adrian, mom?"
Maria(smiling gently): "He's on his way, dear. Lia went to get him."
Moments later, Adrian entered the room. Theo's eyes lit up.
Theo (shouting): "Hey, buddy!"
Maria stood up, a serious expression on her face and eyes heavy with silent emotion.
Maria: "Adrian… I want to apologize."
Adrian shook his head slightly, offering a faint, understanding smile.
Adrian: "No, Director. I mean… Maria. You're just worried about me. I understand."
Maria exhaled, thoughtful. After a brief pause, she made a silent decision.
Maria: "Adrian, come with me. There's something I need to show you."
The hallway was long and quiet, lined with old portraits and dim lights. Dust particles floated in fading beams of light. It felt like stepping back in time.
They entered one of the oldest rooms in the orphanage. The air was thick with age. Maria knelt before an ancient dresser, carefully opened a drawer, and took out a small ring adorned with strange, ancient symbols.
Maria: "You know, Adrian… there are divine heirs who carry the legacy of legendary blacksmiths. This ring was forged by one of them. It's a spatial ring — a magical relic that can only be opened by someone with the blood of the family it belongs to. It was around your neck the day we found you… just a small child. And… it might hold the answers you've been seeking your whole life."
Adrian stared at the ring in his hand, a mixture of awe and confusion in his eyes.
Adrian: "But… why are you giving this to me only now?"
Maria lowered her gaze, visibly emotional. The room seemed heavier.
Maria: "When I was younger, I had many adventures. I always believed that even if some were born heirs, they couldn't be that different from us — those who inherit racial powers. But that day… when I saw what that thing did… I realized we were like ants compared to some beings. I was afraid. Afraid to tell you, afraid to burden you. And that made me feel like a terrible mother."
Adrian stepped forward, eyes firm and full of emotion.
Adrian: "Don't say that. You took us in — all of us, forgotten orphans — and gave us a home. You gave a family to someone who had lost everything. That… that means the world to me."
Maria smiled with tearful eyes and gently touched his face.
Maria: "Well… I'll leave you alone now. You have something important in your hands."
She left the room quietly, closing the door softly behind her.
Adrian sat in the silent room, the air still, the walls thick with silence. The weight of the ring in his hand seemed to grow heavier with each passing second.
Adrian (thinking): "Mom… Dad… what were you trying to show me?"
He pricked his finger gently, letting a drop of blood fall onto the ring. A faint glow appeared. The space around him shimmered and distorted, revealing a hidden compartment.
Inside, there was only one item: a book.
Adrian reached in and carefully pulled it out.
It was a journal.
His mother's journal. Eliana's.
His breath caught in his throat. His fingers trembled as he looked at the worn cover.
Adrian (whispering): "Mom…"
He opened to the first page. The soft, familiar handwriting seemed to bring her presence back into the room.
The world disappeared.
In that moment, there was only him... and her words... waiting to be read.