The sun's relentless rays bore down upon the desert, but under the shimmering, magical shield, the garden remained an oasis of cool respite. Vibrant flowers bloomed amidst verdant foliage, and the air hummed with the soft rustling of leaves and gentle buzzing of bees. The fountain, which was earlier destroyed due to the space rift, had long been replaced with a new one, a gleaming white one, that mirrored Cherry's outline.
"Woof!" Cherry yipped, leaping into the water and scattering the small fishes that called the fountain home. Her golden eyes sparkled with delight at the sudden chaos.
Cellia, standing a few feet away, watched Cherry with a bemused smile as she surveyed the vast garden. "Cherry always brings excitement," she said, her blue eyes widening with awe. "This place is even bigger than I thought."
Tending to a nearby flower bed with small cages, Bardar grinned at her. "Oh, Grandma has different sections with various biomes for growing herbs. This is just a small part of it."
"Really?" Cellia's curiosity piqued, and she moved closer to Bardar, her gaze darted around the plants. She imagined the magical herbs that thrived in this environment. "I would love to see those sections someday."
As their conversation continued, Cherry frolicked in the fountain, her soft golden fur cascading like a radiant halo. The splashing sounds she created added a lively backdrop to their exchange, causing Cellia to struggle to suppress her smile.
"Right, we should get back to our side of things," Cellia said as Bardar grumbled while setting down the last of the cages, and the surrounding air became filled with the clucking of chickens. He stole a glance at Cellia, who was fully immersed in reading her book. Her fingers traced the intricate designs etched into the pages.
"Uh... why do you need these chickens again?”
"You don't seriously expect me to start treating Rayen's consciousness and soul without any prior practice, do you?" Cellia looked up at Bardar, her expression filled with incredulity.
"Of course not, I was um…checking to see if you knew what you were doing." Bardar gave an awkward cough, attempting to mask his embarrassment.
"Uh-huh," Cellia was still sceptical about Bardar's words. Nevertheless, she set them aside and redirected her focus to preparing for the wizard awakening ceremony. With precision, she drew a series of intricate runes and circles on the clear white stone ground, utilising a mixture of blood and never-blossom flower extract to bring them to life. The symbols seemed to respond to her touch, emitting a subtle, mesmerising glow that danced across the garden floor.
"All right, it's ready, get the chicken and place it there"
Bardar followed her words and approached the circle, holding one of the caged chickens carefully, and placed the bird at the centre, ensuring not to disturb the delicate lines.
"Stand back," Cellia said and raised her hands to channel her magic. Bardar took a few steps back from the circle as told. As she chanted incantations, the runes and circles began to pulse in a breathing motion.The chicken also became agitated as he noticed the change. He squawked and flapped its wings frantically, trying to escape but the situation was hopeless. An ethereal aura enveloped the bird, bathing the garden in an otherworldly radiance.
Soon, a faint apparition of a mythical creature materialised around the chicken, its form enigmatic and hard to decipher. Before anyone could comprehend the sight, the image vanished with a loud burst, leaving behind only the lifeless body of the chicken within the now-fading circle.
"Damn it!" Cellia said, with frustration evident in her narrowed eyes. Something crucial was still missing within the circle. Watching from a safe distance, Bardar waited for a moment before moving forward to remove the lifeless chicken from the circle. As he did so, he noticed Cellia slashing her pen in her notebook with ferocious energy as her brows furrowed in deep concentration.
"Cellia, what do you plan to do next?"
"I'm crafting a method to disengage Rayen's soul delicately from his consciousness," Cellia shared, her focus unbroken as she continued poring over her notes.
"I know, that’s why I asked, what are you planning to do?"
"Imagine it like shaking the dust off a blanket," Cellia paused whatever she was writing and looked up, only to see Bardar’s confused face. She knows him too well. His motivation is very high when it comes to golems but will sleep through the rest of the subjects. "But instead of using a stick to beat the blanket, we need to coax the soul away from his consciousness without being detrimental. It's a delicate balance, and I'm still searching for the right approach."
Cellia then started to once again go through her notes. Bardar, meanwhile, was done with disposing of the chicken in a box named fertilisers.
“All right." Bardar said with a nod. He wanted to ask something different from these boring topics, but when words left his mouth, they turned into another question. "I think I understand what you're saying... But how do we do what you are saying we need to do? Without any damage, that is."
She sighed, her gaze drifting to Cherry, who floated in fountain water with an effortless grace, yawning as if bored by the proceedings. Cellia rubbed her temples, trying to come up with a simpler way to explain her plan. "Imagine Rayen's consciousness is like a dusty blanket. By hitting the blanket with a stick, you can make some of the dust come off. Similarly, I plan to send a shock wave through Rayen's consciousness, which will ruffle the soul power sticking to it."
"Ah, I see…" Bardar said, relief washing over his face as at least understanding dawned on him. "But how do we control the intensity of this shock wave? Won't it be risky for Rayen?”
Cellia paused what she was doing and met Bardar's gaze. Her blue eyes bore into his brown ones. "There is no foolproof method, Bardar. So we must take calculated risks, you know it too.”
"Success through Risk, Reward, and Assurance," Bardar said, recalling the teachings of his professors from his first year. ‘The world is like a jungle, where choices become inevitable. Is it worth risking everything for immediate sustenance or better to wait for a more opportune moment tomorrow? Let me help you make such decisions. You must consider three crucial factors: the level of risk, the potential rewards, and, above all, the assurance of success.’
"Is that why you asked for that?"
"Yes, precisely. Taking risks requires some form of assurance. This is where the initial phase of the Wizard Awakening Ceremony becomes relevant."
"The strengthening of consciousness, right?"
“That’s right, so why don’t you come here and help me with making the circle? It’s your daily routine, isn't it?”
“I don’t know any runes that deal with things other than metal and control.”
“ha…”
Bardar's eyes followed Cellia's every move as she prepared the next sacrificial chicken. Bardar murmured, running a hand through his hair. As she continued her work, Bardar's eyes instinctively gravitated toward Cellia's face, where beads of sweat adorned her skin, casting a radiant glow in the sunlight. Lost in the glow, a sudden wet sensation struck the back of his head, tearing his gaze away from Cellia. Startled, he turned to find the source: a fish, lying on the ground behind him.
Glancing over at the fountain, he saw the culprit who threw the fish, the golden dog. Cherry was staring at him and then pointed to Cellia with her nose. The golden eyes conveyed some hints that only Bardar or Bella could read. With a small, awkward look, Bardar retrieved the struggling fish and tossed it back into the fountain. ‘I can do it, let’s ask nicely if she found any boy- err friend. Right, I can do it.’ Clearing his throat, he turned his attention back to Cellia. "Um, do you need any help?"
" Not at this moment." Cellia’s focus was still on the panicked chicken. A low bark sounded at the back which she dismissed.
“ That umm…”
“What?”
“Are you finally able to make any friends out there?”
“Are you trying to get me mad?”
"Hahaha … I thought to lighten the mood." He said sheepishly, catching her disapproving look. The Libra dog floated lazily around the fountain, seemingly uninterested in Bardar's attempts to redeem himself, before eventually drifting off to sleep.
***
Three days later, the night sky shimmered with stars like a celestial canvas. Inside Bella's house, tension filled the air as Bella, Cellia, and Bardar gathered to remove the soul corruption from Rayen's consciousness. Cherry floated nearby; her golden eyes gleaming in the dim light.
In the same third-floor room where Bella and Bardar had first treated Rayen. With utmost care, they positioned his unconscious body at the heart of a meticulously crafted magic circle etched onto the rich, dark expanse of the wooden floor.
"Are you ready?" Bella asked Cellia, her voice composed, yet tinged with concern.
Cellia nodded, her determination shining through despite the fatigue evident in her eyes. "Let's get started."
Bella took a deep breath. Her hands trembled a little as the magic circle hummed to life, glowing faintly with power. Something extraordinary unfolded in a different world. 'It' circled a blue pearl, entranced by its faint glow, just like the golden one it had found earlier. The landscape trembled, but 'it' remained unfazed, only momentarily displaced by the swirling mass of black and grey that surrounded the pearl. Despite a stronger force pulling at 'it' into the distance, the entity resisted the call, drawn once again toward the vibrant light.
As 'it' neared the pearl, an unfamiliar sensation surged within the entity, causing momentary paralysis. This peculiar feeling didn't alarm 'it'; instead, 'it' accepted the stillness, feeling an inexplicable closeness to the radiant orb that defied the surrounding darkness.
The pearl's light pulsed with an ethereal glow, casting eerie shadows that danced across the void. The thought flickered, almost slipping away, but in that fleeting moment, 'it' found fascination in something beyond the eternal monotony of black and grey.
Suddenly, it was like the world held its breath as the blue pearl erupted like a long-contained volcano. 'It' broke free from its immobility, propelled backwards by the explosive force. Before the magnetic pull of the pearl appeared and sucked it with intensified affords, accompanied by the swirling black and grey mass that composed the monochrome world.
****
"Did it work?" Bardar asked, his voice was like a whisper, like being afraid to break the silence that had fallen over the room.
"I'm not certain yet," Bella said, wiping sweat from her brow. Her eyes fixed on the magic circle moved to the person beside her. "But we will know soon. Cellia, are you all right?"
Cellia nodded, her breath coming in ragged gasps, exhaustion painted across her features, but still, she said in a hoarse voice. "I think so. It's just more tiring than I expected."
"Take a moment to rest," Bella said, placing a reassuring hand on Cellia's shoulder. "You've done well."
As they waited with bated breath, the air in the room seemed to hum with energy, the magic circle still glowing faintly. All eyes were on Rayen, lying motionless at the centre of the circle.
"Whatever happens, we did our best for him," Bardar murmured, his gaze never leaving Rayen's prone form.
"Indeed," Bella agreed in a soft tone, her voice heavy with both hope and worry.
Rayen lay motionless, with only his chest rising and falling in slow motion. As Bella approached, she noticed the faint flutter of movement beneath his eyelids. Slowly, they began to open, unveiling the deep brown of his irises.
As he gradually opened his eyes, his vision initially blurred as it transitioned from darkness to light. As the haze cleared, a completely different world unfolded before him. When his sight returned, it was no longer the monochrome shades of black and grey; instead, the warm, unfamiliar faces of other never-seen beings greeted its newfound sight.
Uncertain about its current state, he nonetheless realised one thing, it had finally found the source of the voice he had been searching for.
“He opened his eyes, wait he looks tired.” A voice that echoed within it, connected to something deeper than it could comprehend. The sensation was both foreign and exhilarating. It wanted to listen more, but soon darkness took hold of his vision.
“Grandma, he’s closing it again. We need to do something!”
“Stop shouting, you idiot. He’s just tired. Let him rest for a while.”
“Woof, woof!”
“That’s right Rayen, take some rest.”
As Rayen's eyes fluttered and for the first time, an unknown feeling of heaviness assaulted him. Surrounded by the familiar and strange noises, the entity let the unknown feeling take hold of him closed his eyes once more and retreated to the recesses of his mind.
"Rest well, dear child," Bella said, watching Rayen's consciousness drift into slumber. "Hope you have a nice dream.”
***
The world ‘It’ known since the dawn of its existence had shifted, and 'It' found itself in a realm of unfamiliarity. Gone were the monotonous shades of black and grey that once dominated its existence. Instead, an array of colours now danced before its sight. The change was jarring, but 'It' felt no curiosity or desire to explore this new environment. After all, purpose and meaning were foreign concepts to such an entity.
Waking from its first experience of slumber, confusion briefly flickered through 'It', but it quickly dissipated like smoke in the wind. In this strange world, 'It' attempted to continue its aimless wandering, only to discover that it could not move. An invisible force held 'It' captive, forcing it into stillness.
Bound by unseen chains, 'It' focused on the one thing it had always known how to do: observe. Yet even this simple act proved different in this new reality. No longer able to see everything around itself at once, 'It' could only gaze forward. But this did not matter; after all, what difference did it make if its view had changed? 'It' felt no need to understand the how or why behind its current predicament.
As 'It' stared ahead, the darkness that shrouded its vision dissipated, revealing a world teeming with vibrant hues. Walls of warm wood encased the space, furniture dotted the room, each piece a different hue, a stark contrast to its previous monochrome existence. Though 'It' did not know the names of these items, it sensed that they were not different from itself. A fleeting moment of peace washed over the entity as if sensing a kinship with these seemingly lifeless objects, believing these immobile objects might be akin to itself. That was, until the door opened, and something else entered its field of vision.
Bella walked into Rayen's room, her white hair like a halo around her wrinkled face. She noticed for the first time that Rayen was no longer sleeping, his eyes wide open and fixated on her as she approached. Concern tinged her voice as she asked. "When did you wake up?".
'It,' now Rayen, continued to stare at Bella, feeling a strange familiarity in her voice but unable to tell what. As he was thinking this, other people also entered through the door, but their voices were not familiar to him and so he ignored them.
"Are you in any pain?"
"..."
"Are you feeling any discomfort?"
"Rayen hasn't spoken since he woke up," Bardar observed, watching the interaction with furrowed brows.
"Give him some time," Cellia said "He just woke up after so long; he must be confused. Why don’t we introduce ourselves? I don’t think we did that before."
"That's right, we should introduce ourselves. I am Bella. You can call me Grandma. I would be happy if you do."
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
"Woof!" Next, Cherry woofed a greeting.
"And this is our lovely companion, Cherry."
"I am..." Bardar and Cellia followed suit. But despite their attempts, Rayen's eyes remained locked solely on Bella, like being unaware of the other’s presence.
"Rayen," Bella said, "can you understand me? Do you remember anything about yourself?"
Rayen– or rather, 'It'– didn't respond, merely continuing its silent observation of Bella. It couldn't discern the meaning behind the noises emanating from different people in the room, nor could it comprehend their significance. And yet, there was something about the sound closest to it that seemed almost... magnetic.
Bella's kind smile never wavered as she continued to study Rayen's unresponsive gaze, her blue eyes filled with unwavering patience. "Rayen, is there anything that feels uncomfortable?" she asked once more
"Cherry, no!" Bardar said with an urgent tone which stopped the golden-furred labra from leaping onto the bed.
“Gggrrr…” Cherry froze mid-air and emitted a series of indignant woofs. Bardar hastily backpedalled under her threatening glare, chuckling nervously. "I only meant that... well, our dear Rayen here might be shocked beyond speech if such a great lady suddenly appeared before him."
Cherry seemed appeased, her tail wagging as she sat obediently by the bed, her bright eyes locked on Rayen.
"Really?" Cellia said, She rolled her eyes at his clumsy attempt to avoid conflict. “Do you think I am also a beautiful lady?”
"Um-That-haha…” A hollow laugh was the only reply she got which annoyed her and she hit his leg.
Bardar could only suffer in silence as the words 'You are the most beautiful person I have seen' Just refused to leave his lips. But Bella paid no mind to their banter, her attention solely on the silent figure before them.
"Rayen, do you remember anything about yourself? You're safe here, among us. Please, feel at ease." Yet no reply came, only an empty stare devoid of thoughts.
"Maybe I should check his consciousness?" Cellia said and leant towards Bella. The old woman shook her head, her wispy white hair swaying gently.
"No, dear. He's just confused," Bella said, her voice steady despite the uncertainty of the situation. She turned back to Rayen and turned her gaze tender. "Can you understand me, Rayen? Not what's happening around you, but my words?"
The silent stare seemed to answer her question, and Bella kindly ruffled his unkempt hair. "Don't worry, all the bad things have passed. You'll understand everything soon enough."
"Hey, Cellia, Doesn't it seem like Rayen can't move anything besides his eyes?" Bardar said in a hushed voice.
"Rayen can't move because most of his body is still practically sealed," Cellia said, her voice tinged with a hint of frustration. "He won't be able to move until he learns to control mana."
Bardar furrowed his brow. "But how would he do that?”
“You need to teach him later,” Bella said.
“But grandma, how will I teach him? He can't even speak yet, let alone understand what I'm saying."
Cellia rolled her eyes at Bardar's lack of foresight. "Obviously, we'll teach him to speak first, you dolt." she snapped, her words cutting through the air like a whip.
'Is it just me or am I getting more bullied these days?' Embarrassed, Bardar could only mumble a small retort under his breath.
In the midst of it all, Rayen continued to observe them. Unknown to others, his vision was vastly different from anyone else in the room. Instead of seeing faces, it saw only outlines of beings, each with a glowing orb at the position of their heart. But 'It' didn't question why this was; 'it' simply accepted it as normal, just as one doesn't question why black is black and white is white.
The orbs varied in colour and size, but the one that drew 'It's attention the most belonged to Bella, the second largest among everyone, emitting a golden ray laced with icy blue light. Strange noises emanated from the orbs, sounds that 'It' couldn't understand but felt inexplicably drawn to.
"All right, Rayen," Bella said with a warm smile. "Let’s go, it’s time for some breakfast."
****
In the dining room. The soft light of the setting sun filtered through the window, casting a warm glow on the room's occupants. Rayen observed in silence as the orbs of Bella, Bardar, Cellia, and Cherry moved about in harmony with one another. Their strange noises had ceased for the moment, replaced by an almost palpable tension in the air.
"All right, Rayen," Bella said, her golden orb pulsating with warmth as she held up a spoon filled with sweet purple liquid. “Let's try this again. Say, Ahh.”
Rayen stared at the spoon with black, not understanding the purpose of the gesture. Bardar, Cellia, and Cherry waited with expectant eyes, but no response came from him.
"Perhaps he needs an example," Bella said, turning towards Bardar with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Come on, Bardar, open up. Say, Ahh…"
"Gr-Grandma, what are you doing?" Bardar stammered, his face flushing a deep shade of red beneath Cellia's barely suppressed laughter and Cherry's mocking gaze.
"Rayen needs to see how it's done," Bella replied firmly. "Now be a good boy and show him."
“a-ah” As Bardar reluctantly opened his mouth, Bella spooned the sweet liquid between his lips. A shiver of embarrassment ran through him, but he swallowed obediently, hoping his sacrifice would prompt Rayen to follow suit.
"Your turn, Rayen," Bella said with encouragement, turned back to their silent charge.
Rayen's eyes flickered between the spoon and Bardar's flushed face, without any hint of comprehension. Soon, they returned to Bella or in his eyes, the golden orb. Still no different from earlier, silent and motionless.
"Maybe we should show him more than once," Cellia said, and her orb glowed a thoughtful blue.
“Y-you…” Bardar's hands trembled as he gripped the edge of his chair, his eyes darting between Bella and the spoon.
"Hahaha…!"Cellia, finally unable to contain her laughter any longer, leaned against a nearby table, her shoulders shaking with mirth.
"Come on, Bardar," she gasped between chuckles. "Say ahhh!"
He glanced at Cherry, who watched him with intent, her ears perked up and her body poised to spring into action should he attempt an escape. The knowledge that there was no way out weighed down upon him like the chains binding a prisoner to his fate. Despite the mirthful atmosphere, despair clawed at Bardar's heart. ‘Just one more time, He will learn it after this. Please do, Rayen.’ He pleaded in silence for Rayen to mimic him.
But it seemed his prayers fell upon deaf ears, as Rayen stared back at the scene unfolding before him, making no move to imitate the actions of those around him.
"All right, one more time," Bella said with a firm voice, brandishing the spoon in front of Bardar's face. "Ah."
With a defeated sigh, Bardar opened his mouth and accepted the spoonful of sweet liquid, swallowing it down with as much dignity as he could muster under the circumstances. He cast a desperate glance at Rayen, hoping that this would be the moment it all clicked into place for the silent figure.
Yet, nothing changed. Rayen remained motionless, his eyes lost in thought, staring at them. As the hours dragged on, Bardar found himself showing Rayen how to get fed over 500 times. Each attempt met with the same unresponsive gaze from the enigmatic figure.
Eventually, even Cellia got her chance and spoon-fed Bardar which finally made him slump in his chair, his pride in tatters, wondering if they could ever teach Rayen or if he was destined to get spoon-fed for lunch and dinner too.
"Maybe... maybe we should take a break," Bella said and looked at her grandson's face full of weariness. "We can try again tomorrow."
‘So there’s no escape huh…’ Bardar thought numbly, his heart heavy as he rose from his chair and left the room. The only way to escape from this nightmare was to indulge in his golems.
"Tomorrow," he whispered, clinging to his final hope. 'It's just for tomorrow. Rayen is a good learner. He will learn tomorrow for sure.’
***
An inexplicable familiarity washed over 'it,' stirring confusion within its limited vision. The room shrouded in the darkness of night, revealed only vague outlines of furniture that evoked a peculiar sense of déjà vu. Frustration gnawed at the edges of its consciousness, but it couldn't decipher why this sensation haunted it. Soon It didn't care to dwell on this thought for long and urged its vision towards the door as if guided by an instinctive force.
The sun slowly illuminated the dark sky outside, its rays piercing through the gaps in the window curtains. A sound echoed from beyond the door, and Bella appeared, her wispy white hair framing her wrinkled visage. She surveyed Rayen, who lay awake, "Did you wake up before me, dear, or did my footsteps rouse you?"
'It' remained silent, captivated by the magnetic timbre of her voice.
Unperturbed by Rayen's silence, Bella moved to open the curtain, flooding the room with light. With a soft hum, she began tidying the room, her happy morning tones dancing through the air. 'It' observed in quiet fascination as the golden orb of light traced strange patterns in its vision, accompanied by the soothing melody of Bella's singing.
Soon, the room was immaculate, and Bella turned her attention to Rayen. With a graceful wave of her hands, a gentle breeze swept over him, whisking away the dust and dirt from his body and nightclothes. Though another person might have shivered from the cold, he felt nothing and offered no reaction.
Bella didn't seem to mind Rayen's silence or lack of response; her ever-warm smile persisted as she spoke. "Let's change your clothes now and go for breakfast, shall we?" With another flourish of her hands, Rayen's nightclothes transformed into casual wear.
Bella's skilled hands carefully lifted Rayen's body, her movements precise. Under his silent stare, she guided him to follow behind her as they made their way to the dining room. 'It' observed, in quiet bewilderment, as the once familiar outlines of the orbs that were Bardar, Cellia, and Cherry appeared before it, yet somehow different now.
Unable to comprehend the reason for this change, 'it' abandoned the thought and focused on Bella as she took her seat at the head of the table. She helped Rayen into the chair next to her. Bardar, Cellia, and Cherry settled into their usual places across from Bella and Rayen, the atmosphere warm and inviting.
"Seeing everyone here reminds me of a saying I heard long ago. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Bardar said, then added with a wry smile, "But I'd argue that what doesn't kill you makes you shameless."
"Come on, say 'ahh,'" Cellia said, raising her spoonful of sweet purple liquid towards Bardar.
Bardar, whose face resembled that of a veteran who had witnessed the horrors of war, maintained the stoic expression he had learned from Rayen. Without a word, he opened his mouth and allowed Cellia to feed him the liquid.
"Really? What’s with your reaction? No fun at all." Cellia said as she clicked her tongue, disappointment evident in her voice.
"Then why are you still doing this?" Bardar said in a monotone tone, barely portraying any emotion.
"Because it's still funny," Cellia said, readying another spoonful. But then corrected herself, "I mean, because it's necessary."
"You're heartless, you know?" Bardar said in his static tone.
"Coming from a man with a stoic face," Cellia retorted, under Rayen’s vision, her sky-blue orb met with outlines of shadows surrounding the earthen brown orb. As she leaned closer to Bardar, a wave of pink emanated from within the sky-blue orbs.
As he watched the strange interaction unfold, a new feeling emerged in him, with both an odd familiarity and something new. The pink wave that had emerged from the sky-blue orb confounded him, unable to decipher its meaning.
A flicker of pink crossed his vision, emanating from the earthen brown orb. Curiosity piqued, he pondered the mysterious colour's cause. He observed Bella turning her attention to Rayen.
"Come on, Rayen, say 'ah'," Bella said, holding a spoonful of sweet pink liquid in front of his mouth. Intrigued, he attempted to imitate the action but found himself restrained by an unseen force.
For the first time, Bella detected a glimmer of struggle in Rayen's eyes. This was precisely what she had been seeking - some sign of effort from him. She knew Rayen couldn't move his body, but seeing his desire to try brought her hope. The liquid in the spoon transformed into a wisp of smoke and entered Rayen's nostrils.
"Such a good child," Bella praised, ignoring Rayen's bewildered stare. Bardar, brimming with excitement, shouted, "Rayen, I knew you would understand us in no time. You are a genius!"
Cellia shared their happiness but couldn't shake the disappointment that crept in as she glanced at her spoon, which hung motionless in the air. "Next time," she said, placing the spoon in her mouth and savouring the sweetness.
"He may have succeeded this time," Cellia interjected, "but it might be a fluke. We should keep guiding him through the process to ensure he internalises this experience." While still observing Rayen, Bella locked eyes with Cellia, recognising the vacant spoon in her hand and comprehending the underlying motive behind her proposal.
With a warm smile, Bella encouraged Cellia. "You're right. Let's not stop."
“Wait why wu- '' As Bardar began to protest, but Cellia shoved the spoon into his mouth, cheeks flushed. "Just hush up and say 'ah,'" she said, embarrassed that Bella found her hidden purpose.
***
With breakfast finished, Bella gently guided Rayen towards the sofa in their cosy living room. Her wrinkled hands held a small, worn book, and she flashed a tender smile at the enigmatic figure sitting before her and tried to draw his attention to her hands, which had never truly left her face. "Rayen, Do you know what this is?"
He turned his eyes to her hand and regarded the book, but offered no response. Sighing, Bella knelt so that her wise eyes met Rayen's mysterious gaze. "This, my dear, is a children's book."
She opened it, revealing the first page where an ornate letter 'A' stood with pride. "Now, I want you to listen carefully and repeat after me: A."
The golden orb in front of Rayen emitted a strange sound, and though he couldn't grasp why, he listened with intent, but then again, he couldn't do anything else. His form remained still, unable to convey any understanding or confusion.
Bella's eyes twinkled as she raised her hand, and with a graceful motion, a plump red apple floated from the kitchen into her palm. "A is for apples," she explained, pointing at the fruit. "Did you get that?" She searched Rayen's eyes for any glimmer of comprehension, but only the silent darkness stared back at her. Undeterred, she repeated herself, emphasising the connection between the letters and objects. "A for Apple. Come on, Rayen, say it with me."
" B for Bardar, C for Cel—"
"Woof!"
"Ah, right. Cherry," Bella corrected herself, smiling at the eager golden labra who sat nearby. Her wagging tail betrayed her excitement, and her intelligent eyes followed every movement.
"All right then, C for Cherry." With patience and love, Bella guided Rayen through the letters, repeating alphabet after alphabet and their corresponding words over and over. She knew that he wouldn't learn everything in a single day, but she was determined to give her all.
As Rayen continued to hear the sounds, Bella kept going between letters and words. He didn't understand why these strange noises kept coming from the golden orb, but it couldn’t move and so could only listen to them.
Cellia stood near the stairs, her fierce blue eyes watching as Bella taught Rayen in the living room below. "You know, Bardar," she said, leaning against the wall and addressing her friend beside her, "Grandma seems to enjoy teaching him."
Bardar nodded in agreement, his tousled hair falling into his kind, yet anxious, eyes. "Yes, she used to teach children back in the day. She loves them."
"Speaking of which, "why does Cherry seem so much more intelligent than other dogs I've met?" Cellia said, her gaze shifting to Cherry, who was watching Bella's lesson.
"Uh, well..." Bardar said, a hint of awkwardness creeping into his voice. "Cherry is intelligent, but I wouldn't exactly call her-.a dog."
"Really?" Cellia raised an eyebrow. "Why not? And how come you all understand what she's saying? Do you have a book for Cherry's language, too?" Her tone turned to tease, amused by the absurdity of the idea.
“Hahaha…” Bardar let out a hollow laugh, but before he could respond, Cellia heard a muffled woof. She glanced down, her eyes widening in surprise when she saw Cherry standing near her feet, a rough book held in her mouth.
"Cherry, what's this?" Cellia asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Take a look," Bardar urged her, his grin betraying his amusement.
She took the book from Cherry's mouth and read the title aloud, her voice incredulous: "Learn the Woofs and Woofs of Cherry', Really?" Shocked, she looked between Cherry and the book multiple times, then turned to Bardar, demanding an explanation. "What does 'co-sponsored by Cherry' even mean?"
"Exactly what it says," Bardar replied, finally able to meet Cellia's astonished gaze. "If you have any doubts while reading, just ask Cherry."
“Woof!” Cherry offered an affirmative woof, her playful spirit shining through her bright eyes and wagging tail.
"Unbelievable," Cellia said, shaking her head as she leafed through the book.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow across the room as Bella tucked Rayen into bed. She noticed the weariness in his eyes, a testament to their long day of learning. She reached for a worn, leather-bound storybook and settled into a cosy armchair by the bedside.
"All right, my dear," Bella said. Her voice was soft, carrying the faint weariness of one who has seen too much suffering yet a faint hope. "We're up to chapter eleven. Let's see what adventures await us tonight."
Rayen listened, his eyes fixed on Bella’s golden orb as she read. Her voice flowed like honey, painting vivid images of enchanted forests and daring heroes in his mind. The world of the story came alive around them, and Rayen felt himself drawn into its magic.
As Bella reached the end of the chapter, she closed the book with a soft thud and gazed down at Rayen, her eyes full of warmth and affection. "Time for sleep now, little one," she said, and with a gentle touch, she closed his eyes.
"Sweet dreams, Rayen."
With that, she left the room, leaving Rayen to drift off to sleep, immersed in the enchanting tales she had spun. But instead of slipping into the familiar embrace of slumber, Rayen found himself in a completely different world.
A feeling of unfamiliarity washed over him as he looked around. There was no ground beneath him, no sky above, just an endless expanse of space filled with countless colours illuminating the world. He remained oblivious to the untold beauty of this world. He had no concept of beauty or wonder.
The constraints he had felt before vanished, replaced by a sense of freedom that greeted him like a bird released from its cage. He floated along, his form transformed from the cloud of smoke he had once been into the same outline of a figure he had seen before. He briefly pondered this change, but soon abandoned the thought, his limited mind growing foggy with forgetfulness.
As the sensation dissipated like smoke in the wind, Rayen's vision cleared to reveal nothing but blankness. Driven by instinct, he chose a random direction and moved through the vast space, chasing no sound or purpose, seeking no end. Time and direction held no meaning for him as he journeyed through this strange world, leaving behind the feeling that something was missing.
His thoughts drifted to Bella's kind voice, her loving touch, and the familiar of his bed. But in this boundless realm, those memories seemed distant and elusive, slipping away from him like sand through his fingers.
***
Rayen blinked, his gaze wandering around the familiar room as a sense of confusion washed over him. He couldn't quite place the feeling, but it clung to him like a stubborn shadow. His eyes roamed across the well-worn furniture.
Why did everything feel so strange, familiar yet elusive? A peculiar sensation washed over him as he observed the shadowy outlines of furniture in the darkened room. The unknown feeling of familiarity puzzled him, though he couldn't place its origin. Yet, he felt constrained by this unknown force, urging him to shift his limited vision towards the door.
As if guided by instinct, he kept his gaze steady, awaiting an imminent event that he couldn't quite predict. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting rays across the room while footsteps approached from beyond the door. Bella appeared, her wispy white hair framing her wrinkled face as she opened the door.
"Rayen, did you wake up before me, or did my steps rouse you?" she asked, her voice gentle and soothing like a soft breeze rustling through leaves.
Rayen didn't respond, merely drank in the almost magnetic sound of her voice. Deep within him, a silent feeling of familiarity stirred, accompanied by fleeting memories that danced just beyond his grasp.
"Rayen?" Bella prodded gently, ignoring the confusion in Rayen’s eyes, a tender smile graced her lips. "Did you have a good dream, my dear?"
***