The sun was rising slowly as the carriage arrived at Alexandros Val Arkanos's house. Arius, who had not slept all night, looked out the window at the house that would become his new home. It was not a grand palace like his family's, but it was a warm and cozy place, surrounded by a beautiful garden full of trees and flowers.
The house was built from warm gray stone, with large windows that allowed the light to enter and a red tiled roof. There was a small tower in one corner, and Arius wondered if that was where Alexandros studied magic. Around the house, there was a wide garden with oak and pine trees, and a small pond that reflected the golden sunlight.
Luna was still asleep in Arius's lap, her small face peaceful for the first time since that terrible night. Arius looked at her tenderly, wondering if she would like this new place. He hoped they would find here some of the peace they had lost.
"We've arrived," Alexandros said quietly as he got out of the carriage. "Welcome to your new home."
Arius carefully carried Luna and got out of the carriage. The air here was pure and refreshing, filled with the scent of flowers and herbs. It was different from the air in their old palace, but it was beautiful in its own way.
The door of the house opened before they reached it, and a middle-aged woman with braided gray hair and kind blue eyes came out. She wore a simple blue cloth dress, and her face radiated warmth and affection.
"Alexandros," she said in a voice full of concern. "How are they?"
"This is Martha," Alexandros said to Arius. "She takes care of the house, and she is the kindest woman in the world. Martha, these are Arius and Luna."
Martha looked at the children with eyes full of sorrow and love. She approached Arius slowly, as if dealing with a wounded animal.
"Welcome, my little ones," she whispered gently. "I am so sorry for what happened to you."
Arius looked at her cautiously. He still found it hard to trust anyone new, but something in Martha's eyes made him feel safe. She reminded him of his grandmother, who had died when he was very young.
"Are you hungry?" Martha asked. "I've prepared breakfast."
Luna woke up at that moment and looked around with wide, confused eyes. When she saw Martha, she buried her face in Arius's chest.
"It's okay, Luna," Arius whispered. "This is Martha. She's kind."
Martha smiled warmly. "Don't worry, little one. No one will hurt you here. This is your home now."
They entered the house, and Arius was surprised by the warmth he felt immediately. It was not just the warmth of the air, but the warmth of a place where people loved one another. The walls were lined with books and beautiful paintings, and there was a large fireplace in the center of the main room, with a gentle fire dancing inside.
"Come," Martha said. "I'll show you your rooms first, then we'll have breakfast."
They climbed the wooden stairs to the second floor. The corridor was full of windows overlooking the garden, with golden light streaming through and casting beautiful patterns on the floor.
"This is your room, Arius," Martha said, opening a door at the end of the corridor.
The room was simple but comfortable. A wooden bed with a blue cover, a small desk by the window, and a wardrobe. The window overlooked the back garden, where Arius could see fruit trees and colorful flowers.
"And this is Luna's room," Martha said, opening the next door.
Luna's room was smaller, but it was full of beautiful colors. The walls were painted a soft pink, and there was a small bed with a cover embroidered with flowers. In the corner, there was a wooden toy chest, and on the wall, a lovely painting of a garden full of butterflies.
Luna looked around the room with wide eyes, and for the first time in days, Arius saw something like interest in her eyes.
"Do you like it?" Arius asked quietly.
Luna nodded slowly, and that brought some comfort to Arius's heart.
"Excellent," Martha said with a smile. "Now, why don't you put your things away and then come down for breakfast?"
After they put away their few belongings, they went down to the kitchen. It was a warm and cozy kitchen, filled with the smell of fresh bread and honey. Martha had prepared a wonderful breakfast: fresh bread with butter and jam, boiled eggs, fresh fruit, and warm milk with honey.
They sat around the small wooden table. Alexandros was silent, watching the children with eyes full of worry and love. Martha tried to make the atmosphere comfortable, speaking quietly about the garden and the birds that came every morning.
Arius ate slowly, trying to feed Luna as well. The food was delicious, but he did not really feel hungry. Everything reminded him of happy breakfasts with his parents.
"Arius," Alexandros said at last. "I know this is hard for you. Everything is new and different. But I want you to know that this is your home now. You and Luna are part of my family."
Arius looked at him with eyes full of pain. "But I want my real family."
"I know," Alexandros said gently. "And that's natural. I won't try to take your parents' place, Arius. No one can do that. But I will be here for you, I will teach you everything I can, and I will love you as if you were my own son."
Small tears gathered in Arius's eyes. "Will you teach me how to fight?"
"Yes, if that's what you want. But not today. Today, I want you both to rest and get to know the house."
After breakfast, Alexandros took the children on a tour around the house and garden. He showed them his large library, filled with thousands of books about magic, history, and philosophy. He showed them the small tower, which was his magical laboratory, but told them it was a dangerous place and they should not enter without him.
In the garden, he showed them the fruit trees and vegetables that Martha grew. There were apples, pears, and peaches, and a small herb garden full of mint, basil, and thyme. Luna seemed interested in the butterflies dancing around the flowers, and that gave Arius a glimmer of hope.
"There's something I want to show you," Alexandros said, leading them to the back of the garden.
There, under a large oak tree, was a small training area. A circle of soft sand, surrounded by wooden targets and training weapons. It was a simple place, but Arius felt something stir in his chest when he saw it.
"Here I will teach you how to fight," Alexandros said. "But first, I will teach you why we fight."
"What do you mean?"
"Fighting is not just about swinging a sword or using magic. Real fighting begins here," Alexandros placed his hand on Arius's chest, over his heart. "From knowing what you are fighting for, who you are protecting, and why."
Arius looked at Luna, who was sitting on the grass watching a little butterfly. "I want to protect her." "That's a good reason. But there's more to it than that. I want you to understand that true strength doesn't come from anger or hatred, but from love and the desire to protect what is beautiful in this world."
In the afternoon, while Luna slept, Arius sat with Alexandros in the library. Alexandros took out an old book and opened it to a page full of drawings and symbols.
"This is a book about the history of the Draconis family," Alexandros said. "I want you to know where you come from, and what legacy you carry."
Arius looked at the pages with wide eyes. They were filled with images of his ancestors—great warriors and wise people, men and women who fought for justice and peace.
"Your great-grandfather, Artorius Draconis, was the first to bear the Scar of Memory," Alexandros said, pointing to the image of a noble man with wise eyes. "He was a great warrior, but more importantly, he was a good man. He fought against injustice, protected the weak, and sacrificed his life for peace."
"Was he as strong as my father?"
"He was even stronger. But his true strength wasn't in his magic or his skill with a sword. It was in his kind heart and wisdom."
Arius turned the page and saw the image of a beautiful woman with golden hair and blue eyes. "Who is this?"
"That's Isolda Draconis, your great-grandmother. She was a great healer, able to cure any wound or illness with a touch of her hand. But she died while trying to heal wounded soldiers in a great battle."
Arius touched the picture gently. "Do you think Luna will be able to speak again?"
Alexandros was silent for a long time. "I don't know, Arius. The Curse of Eternal Silence is very strong. But I believe that love is stronger than any curse. And you love Luna very much."
"I'll do anything to help her."
"I know. And that's why I believe you'll become a great warrior someday."
In the evening, the little new family sat around the fireplace. Martha was knitting, Alexandros was reading a book, and Arius held Luna as they watched the fire dance in the hearth.
"Alexandros," Arius said suddenly. "Do you think my father and mama are watching us now?"
Alexandros lifted his eyes from his book and looked at Arius tenderly. "I believe that those we love never truly leave us, even after death. They live on in our hearts, in our memories, in the love they taught us."
"I feel them sometimes," Arius whispered. "Especially when I hold Luna. I feel like mama is holding us both."
"That's because her love is still with you. And it will stay with you forever."
Luna, who had been listening silently, looked at Arius and placed her small hand on his heart. She didn't speak, but Arius understood what she wanted to say. She, too, felt their parents.
That night, when they went to bed, Arius stood by his bedroom window looking at the stars. They were the same stars he used to see from his old bedroom window, but everything else was different.
He heard a soft knock at the door. "Come in."
Luna entered, holding her little doll. She looked at him with sad eyes, and Arius understood immediately. She couldn't sleep either.
"Come here," he whispered, opening his arms.
Luna slipped into his bed and Arius hugged her. "I know you're scared," he whispered in her ear. "I'm scared too. But we're together, and that's what matters."
Luna nodded and buried her face in his chest.
"I'll protect you, Luna. I promise. And I'll find a way to make you speak again. No matter what it takes."
And so, on that first night in their new home, Arius and Luna fell asleep holding each other, surrounded by the love of Alexandros and Martha, but their hearts still carried the pain of loss and the love of the parents who would never return.
In the days that followed, Arius and Luna began to adjust to their new life. It was difficult at first—everything was different, from the smell of the house to the sounds of the birds in the morning. But Alexandros and Martha were patient and loving, never trying to force them to forget the past or pretend that everything was fine.
Alexandros began teaching Arius the basics of magic and combat. The training wasn't harsh—Arius was still just an eight-year-old boy—but it was serious and structured.
"Magic isn't just power," Alexandros said during the first lesson. "It's an art, a science, a philosophy. You must understand that every spell you use has consequences, and every power you summon takes something from you."
He showed him how to meditate, how to focus his energy, how to feel magic flowing through his veins. Arius was a quick learner—the Scar of Memory helped him understand things with astonishing speed.
"Your scar is very special," Alexandros said one day, examining the scar that pulsed with a faint light on Arius's chest. "I've never seen anything like it before. It doesn't just hold the memories of your ancestors, but your parents' memories as well."
"What does that mean?"
"It means you carry the wisdom and experience of generations of warriors. But it also means you have a great responsibility. These memories aren't just power—they're a trust."
As the weeks passed, Arius began to show remarkable progress. He learned simple spells quickly and grasped complex magical theories as if he were remembering them, not learning them for the first time.
Luna, on the other hand, progressed more slowly. She was still silent, but she began to interact more with her surroundings. She loved the garden and spent long hours watching butterflies and birds. Martha taught her how to care for flowers and cook simple dishes.
"She's healing slowly," Martha told Alexandros one day. "The trauma is deep, but she's strong. She'll come back to us in time."
Arius watched his sister with constant concern. He tried to make her smile, played with her, read her stories. Sometimes he saw a spark of interest in her eyes, but she never tried to speak.
One evening, while they were sitting in the garden watching the sunset, something unexpected happened. A beautiful butterfly with blue and gold wings landed on Luna's hand. She looked at it with wide eyes, then looked at Arius.
She opened her mouth, as if trying to say something. No sound came out, but Arius saw the effort in her eyes, the desire to communicate.
"Luna," he whispered excitedly. "Try again."
Luna tried again, her face flushing with effort. Still no sound, but something else happened. The butterfly on her hand began to glow with a soft light, and Arius felt a warm energy emanate from his sister.
"Alexandros!" Arius shouted. "Come quickly!"
Alexandros came running, with Martha behind him. When they saw what was happening, they stopped in astonishment.
Luna was surrounded by a halo of soft light, and the butterfly on her hand glowed like a tiny jewel. The plants around her began to grow rapidly, flowers bloomed, and the grass became greener.
"My God," Alexandros whispered. "It's the gift of healing. Luna has the gift of healing!"
The light lasted a few more minutes, then gradually faded. Luna looked exhausted, but there was something new in her eyes—something like hope.
"Luna," Alexandros said gently, kneeling beside her. "Do you feel anything different?" Luna nodded her head slowly. She placed her hand on her throat, then shook her head sadly. She still could not speak, but something else had awakened within her.
"The gift of healing is very rare," Alexandros said to Arius that night. "Your great-grandmother Isolda was the last one in your family to possess it. This means Luna is very special."
"But she still can't speak."
"No, but this gives us hope. If her magical abilities are awakening, perhaps one day she will be able to heal herself from the curse."
For the first time in weeks, Arius felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, Luna would be whole again someday.
That night, as Arius held the sleeping Luna close, he looked at the stars through the window and whispered, "Father, Mama, I think we're going to be alright. I'll never forget you, but I believe we'll find a way to live again."
The scar of memory on his chest pulsed with a gentle light, as if affirming his words. Somewhere, in another world, Victor and Isabella were smiling, proud of their brave children who were learning how to heal and love once more.
This was the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of Arius and Luna—a chapter of learning and growth, of discovering new abilities, and of learning that love can come in many forms. Alexandros and Martha would never take the place of their parents, but they would become a new family, filled with love, support, and hope for the future.