Nocturne Isadora-Braveheart awoke.

She found herself cocooned in a comfortable embrace, her mother’s warm breath washing over her like a gentle breeze, carrying away with it the fears, insecurities and anxieties that she concealed within her tiny heart. Her silver eyes shifted to her mother’s visage, glimmering with awe as she scanned her features. Mother’s brilliant green hair cascaded down her back, the verdant spread as silky as it was smooth. The soft glow of a bedside candlelight illuminated her features, highlighting the contours of her face. Pale skin unmarred by any imperfections or blemishes, high cheekbones framing what Nocturne knew to be mesmerising silver eyes akin to her own.

Nocturne had never seen her mother exercising, yet her physique easily matched an athlete's. The natural curves of her body effortlessly blended in with the lines and definition of her musculature, conveying an ethereal grace that could not be replicated. Even then, her skin remained soft and supple, her embrace warm and loving.

‘How could someone be so effortlessly beautiful?’

Never had she seen her mother fuss over her appearance, yet she remained the most beautiful person she had ever seen in her life.

Nocturne exhibited caution as she wriggled out of her mother’s embrace, not wishing to wake her mother up. Using her arms as support, she lifted herself into a seating position. Her small hands gently massaged the area beneath her eyes, trying to rub away the sleepiness.

The reason she got up was simple. Nocturne couldn’t feel her brother at her side.

‘Where could he have gone?’

Nocturne had no idea how actual two year old’s were supposed to act, but she knew her brother was special. Up until her second birthday, she only held a vague conception of who she was and the memories from that time were hazy at best. She had spent most of her second birthday crying as all of her memories came crashing down upon her at the same time, the experience leaving her overwhelmed.

The world she had left behind. The other children at the orphanage. Doctor Ryan….

She was sad.

But she was also grateful.

Although her body was still weak, her limbs responded to her command. There was no overwhelming sense of exhaustion that made her movements sluggish, no bursts of pain that struck at her senses without warning and most of all, the anxiety that assailed her mind had left her.

For without the source of her fears present, there was no need for her to be anxious.

Eleven years of memories.

Eleven years of memories had been returned to her.

The majority of those were tainted by pain and suffering. She had gone through so much and none of it was because of her own fault. If anyone had a right to lash out at the world, she did. But…..

She was still thankful for their return.

It was only because of her past life’s memories that she could appreciate life as much as she did now. She understood the value of each unobstructed breath she drew, each step she took without succumbing to pain or weakness and the true worth of freedom— the ability to live one’s life in the way they wanted to.

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She even remembered her conversation with the pretty lady that had made it all possible, even though her face was a hazy blur in her memories.

“Can Doctor Ryan come with me?” She had asked, her expression hopeful.

She felt no need to explain her thoughts or reasoning, for she felt that the pretty lady would understand.

“That depends on him, young one,” She had replied, her voice resounding from all directions.”So, will you accept my proposition?”

Sophie, even without Doctor Ryan telling her, had instinctively known that she was not long for the world.

It was hard to explain why or how but… she knew.

A second chance.

She wanted a second chance.

“I accept,” Sophie had replied and the world was replaced by an infinite blankness.

That was also the reason why she had cried after regaining her memories.

The doctor had refused the pretty woman.

The Sophie of a few months ago did not understand why the Doctor refused.

But the Nocturne of the present understood.

Family.

Doctor Ryan had refused because he, too, had someone he loved like Nocturne loved her mother and brother.

How selfish would it have been to ask someone to leave all that behind for her sake? Especially the Doctor who had already done so much for her?

Nocturne was ashamed.

She stealthily got back up onto her feet, escaping the comfort of the blanket that had been covering her. The animal pelt they slept on was luxuriously soft and silken, which actually made it a little challenging for Nocturne to navigate through it without slipping.

Mother would be angry but… she had to find her brother.

Even though the memories she had of her first two years was hazy, if there was one thing she remembered clearly, it was her brother’s exploits. When Altair was merely six months old, he solved his first shape-sorting puzzle. By his first birthday, Altair could solve every puzzle that mother had bought for him, leaving Nocturne amazed and Isadora, flabbergasted.

Convinced that her child was a prodigy, mother had begun to teach him basic words by associating them with objects, but for some reason brother didn’t pick up linguistics as fast as he had puzzle-oriented challenges.

The ‘Void’ could not answer questions it had never encountered before, after all.

Worried that she was pushing her son too far, Isadora toned down the complexity of the lessons, feeling a little ashamed.

But the reason she loved her brother so dearly had little to do with his ability.

For as long as she could remember, her brother had a very protective attitude towards her. She didn’t know why a child gazed at her with such affection in her eyes instead of acting in the roguishly competitive manner children usually do, why he patted her head affectionately each time she managed to imitate the way her brother had solved the puzzle, even if she couldn’t figure it out herself and most of all, she didn’t know why he always smiled at her.

But it made her feel warm inside.

A warmth that felt… oddly familiar.

In the abject darkness of the hallway, it was that thought that kept her going.

Part of her was still afraid.

Afraid that her body would once again fail her if she exerted too much.

Afraid that she could trip and fall over and then never be able to walk again.

But her desire to find her brother overpowered that fear.

Then, she found light in the darkness.

‘Is that light coming from mother's study?’

Nocturne was now curious.

Doing her best to minimise the sound of her footfall, she slowly approached the study. The door was left ajar, allowing Nocturne to sneakily peek inside.