AURORA

Chapter 3

**Arms around you**

It had been five years since Sedah's birth. He was in the garden with his butler, who was watering the plants. He wanted to play with the butler.

"I am home," Vince announced after a tiring day at his office. He had resigned from the position of "SAOK" leader and was now responsible for maintaining peace in his village, "Laktna," and keeping the environment friendly. The decision to leave had been difficult, but he had managed to make it.

In the living room, Vince's wife and Sedah's mother, Alena, sat in a sturdy chair with lower back support, embroidering and humming.

Sedah slowly walked toward his father, and Vince carried him in his arms. "Welcome, Master. It seems like today wasn't too busy," the butler remarked, pausing in his plant watering. He then cleaned his hands and reached for Vince's bag. "Mr. Ray, did you forget something you wanted to tell me?" Vince looked at Ray with hopeful eyes.

"First, you should freshen up and rest. I'll explain everything," Ray said with a fake smile on his face, easily detected by Vince. Vince considered Ray like family, as he had worked for Vince's parents before. "Mr. Ray, please," Vince urged, and Ray couldn't refuse after seeing Vince's pleading expression. "They said they don't have any treatment left for Master Sedah. There were two more cases like this, and one has recovered, but they can't find the reason, so they are studying that child. I hope they find some kind of treatment."

Sedah suffered from an extremely rare case of mental disability. His body was that of a five-year-old, but his brain had not developed much. He could walk and run but couldn't talk or understand language. Vince was accepting of this, as it meant Sedah didn't have to face a grim fate. However, Alena wished for him to be cured so he could play with other children, make friends, and go to school. They both had different desires, but they respected each other's wishes.

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"It's okay, everything will be fine, even if they can't find a treatment," Vince reassured while looking at Sedah in his arms. "On second thought, I think they should find a cure. The parents of that other child must be very concerned."

He then walked over to his wife in the living room. "How was your day?" She paused her embroidery. "Today wasn't too busy. How are you feeling? Are you alright?" Sedah sat down on the sofa, and Alena stroked her belly. "This time, I hope it's a girl." Alena held Vince's hand and asked, "Tell me, why did you name him Sedah, if you didn't want the prophecy to come true?" Vince's choice of naming their child Sedah, despite not wanting the prophecy to be true, was indeed a peculiar one. Vince responded, "I can't tell you that," holding his own reasons close and Alena didn't want to put pressure on Vince for the answer.

Suddenly, Sedah fell from the sofa, and Vince quickly picked him up, but he was unconscious. "Sedah! Sedah! Are you okay? Open your eyes!" Vince panicked as he cradled Sedah. "Mr. Ray, call for help!"

Sedah was admitted to a nearby hospital. Vince and Ray waited outside the room until the doctor emerged. "Everything is fine now. It was just a minor mana blockage in the brain. It appears your son has above-average mana capacity," the doctor explained. Ray smiled and remarked, "He is the son of a hero; of course, he would." But the doctor disagreed and revealed something shocking, "No, it's not just above average in general, but above average even among royalty."

Vince asked anxiously, "Is he conscious now?"

"Yes, he wants to talk to you now," the doctor replied. Bewildered by the news, Vince hurried into Sedah's room, with Ray by his side. They both looked at Sedah, who was sitting on the bed. "Sedah?" Vince called his name with curiosity. Sedah looked at Vince and said, "Father, I'm fine now." Hearing his son call him "father" brought immense joy to Vince, and he immediately hugged Sedah, tears streaming down his face.

"Father?" Sedah hugged him back.

Ray had a tear escape his eye, and he quickly called Alena to share the news. Alena began crying tears of happiness, and all the maids in the house shared in the joy.

"Sedah, I'm glad you're alright," Vince said, overwhelmed with emotion. Even though he had accepted Sedah's disability, deep down, he had always wished for Sedah to be cured and lead a normal life. "Father, I'm sorry," Sedah apologized, realizing how much concern he had caused them.

"Don't be sorry; this is a moment of joy," Ray told Sedah. Ray had cared for Sedah deeply, loving him as if he were his own grandchild, but he had always held back his emotions, reminding himself that he was just a butler.

"Mr. Ray," Sedah looked at Ray and opened his arms for a hug. Ray couldn't hold back his emotions any longer and cried as he embraced Sedah. They both wept.

Vince didn't like seeing everyone cry on such a joyous occasion and lightened the mood, asking, "Do you know why the boy felt warm on his birthday?" Ray looked puzzled. "Because everyone toasted him," Sedah answered with a serious expression, as if the joke weren't funny, leaving Ray and Vince in shock.

"Happy birthday," Vince and Ray said simultaneously, and they burst into laughter due to the sheer coincidence. Sedah smiled firmly and said, "Thank you."