Chapter 233: Aria Tellus Astrea 2

"Who are you, miss?" the young boy inquired innocently, his gaze fixed on the lady before him.

Oblivious to the monstrous form lurking behind her façade of kindness and beauty, he extended a gesture of warmth and compassion.

"U-uhm, aren't you cold? You can borrow my jacket if you want." With gentle hands, he began to remove his own jacket, offering it to the lady in need.

Observing the falling snow, the boy's concern for the lightly dressed lady was evident.

Though he had been taught by his caretakers to show kindness to others, it wasn't solely out of obligation that he offered his jacket.

There was a deeper connection stirring within him, a sense of familiarity that tugged at his heartstrings. Despite his young age, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had encountered this lady before.

But before he could hand over his jacket, the lady stayed his hand with a gentle touch.

"For a young child, you sure are quite kind," she remarked, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.

Touching his cheek, she tried to get a reaction from him but only the innocent blush of a child was present.

"Hmm~ So you really don't remember huh..."

"Nothing...!" the lady replied with a gentle smile, her eyes sparkling with warmth and kindness.

With a graceful movement, she knelt down to the boy's eye level, her smile growing even brighter as the moonlight bathed them in its soft glow.

As the clouds parted, revealing the full radiance of the moon, the young boy couldn't help but feel his cheeks flush with intense embarrassment.

Despite his tender age, the boy was not oblivious to the concept of beauty.

Having witnessed countless faces pass through the doors of the orphanage, he had never encountered someone as resplendent and captivating as the lady before him.

Her presence seemed to illuminate the darkness around them, filling the air with an aura of serenity and grace.

"What's your name, little boy?" the lady inquired, her voice gentle and soothing.

"I don't have one..." the boy responded with a hint of sadness lacing his tone.

Though he had been given many names over the years, he had long since forgotten the one he was born with.

Each hopeful family that had come to the orphanage had left him behind, returning him for reasons unknown to him.

With each rejection, the pile of recorded names in his file had grown taller, a testament to the countless identities he had assumed in his young life.

Despite the constant disappointment of being returned time and time again, the young boy remained resilient, always clinging to the hope of finding a loving family.

Each rejection cut deeper than the last, leaving him feeling abandoned and alone. Yet, despite the crushing weight of his circumstances, he refused to surrender to despair.

With a heart filled with optimism, the boy continued to dream of a brighter future, where he would finally find a place to call home.

Despite the odds stacked against him, he believed in the possibility of happiness, holding onto the hope that one day his dreams would come true.

"Also, I'm not a little boy!" he protested, his frustration evident in his tone.

There was something about being referred to as a boy in front of the lady that struck a nerve, though he couldn't quite articulate why.

"Hehehe~ For a little boy, you sure talk quite big. If you speak so loudly, your caretakers might wake up," the lady teased, her laughter tinkling like wind chimes in the night.

With a gentle pat on his head, she ruffled his neatly combed hair, her touch imbued with warmth and affection.

Despite the uncertainty of his situation, the boy couldn't help but feel a glimmer of comfort in her presence, as if for a fleeting moment, the darkness that had clouded his heart began to lift.

As Ian's emotions swirled within him, a sense of happiness inexplicably welled up inside him.

Despite his annoyance at being treated like a child, he couldn't deny the overwhelming feeling of safety and comfort that enveloped him in the presence of the black-haired lady.

"I-I'm not cute! And I told you I'm not a boy!" he protested angrily, though his words only seemed to elicit a small chuckle from the lady.

Despite his attempts to assert himself, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment at how his frustration only seemed to make him appear more endearing in her eyes.

Feeling both bewildered and slightly unnerved, Ian watched as the lady reached out and gently took hold of both his hands, her touch warm and reassuring.

"Ian Astrea..."

"Hm?"

"Ian Astrea, that shall be your name now," the lady declared, her smile kind and tender.

"Eh...Huh?... What are you talking about, miss?" asked Ian, wondering if what she said was what really came out of her mouth.

"Ian, what is your wish?" the shadowy lady asked as Ian was about to blow out the candle.

"Hehe, my wish has already been granted... I love you, Mom," he said as he looked at the shadowy lady.

Then, he turned to the figure made of fire, "I love you, Dad," and to the doll, the crow, the lizard man, and to everyone present, he said, "I love you too, all of you."

"You're the best family I could ever have!"

Amidst the surreal gathering of otherworldly beings, Ian's heartfelt words cut through the eerie atmosphere like a beacon of light.

With a smile that seemed to radiate warmth and affection, he expressed his love and gratitude to each entity present, addressing them as family.

His declaration was met with a chorus of murmurs and nods of approval from the assembled creatures, each one acknowledging Ian's sentiments with their own unique gestures and expressions.

Yet, despite Ian's apparent joy and contentment, Aria couldn't shake off the sense of foreboding that enveloped her.

The incongruity between Ian's loving demeanor and the unsettling presence of his companions left her feeling unsettled and perplexed.

As she grappled with the dissonance between appearance and reality, Aria came to a stark realization.

This gathering, this peculiar family dynamic—it was unlike anything she had ever encountered before.

And in that moment, she understood why Ian had such a worried look on his face back then...

With a sinking feeling in her heart, Aria braced herself for whatever revelation lay ahead, knowing that the truth of Ian's world was far more complex and unfathomable than she could have ever imagined, and as the scene shifted once again, she braced herself with whatever truth she would face next....

Aria's internal declaration echoed in her mind as she slowly stood up amidst the unfolding chaos.

"This won't be enough to break my love for you, Adrian... no, Ian..." she declared to herself, her voice filled with determination.

She felt a surge of conflicting emotions coursing through her veins.

Was she confused? Yes.

Was she afraid? Absolutely.

There were many things going on through her mind right now, a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings swirling within her.

Even as she stumbled to the floor, overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment, she couldn't shake the gaze she had just met with his eyes.

But amidst all the chaos and uncertainty, one thing remained constant—the unwavering calmness and safety that he exuded in her presence.

It was as if, despite the monsters that lurked in the shadows, she would forever remain secure as long as she was by his side.

With each passing moment, as Aria bore witness to the nightmarish and surreal scenes that differed from one another depicting Ian's life before her unfolding before her, a deep sense of understanding began to take root within her heart.

Despite the grotesque and unsettling nature of Ian's world, she found herself drawn ever closer to him, her love for him growing stronger with each revelation.

As she navigated the twisted corridors of his reality, Aria couldn't help but reflect on the enigmatic man she knew as Ian.

His guarded demeanor, his veiled emotions, his unwavering dedication to those around him—all of these facets of his character now made sense in the context of the bizarre tableau playing out before her.

In the face of such chaos and madness, Aria made a silent vow to herself.

No matter what horrors lay hidden within Ian's past, no matter what secrets he harbored in the depths of his soul, her love for him would remain steadfast and unwavering.

Ignoring the prejudice and fear in her heart she thoroughly watched each and every scenario that lay before her eyes.

.....

Opening her eyes once more a new scene was laid before her, one familiar yet unfamiliar.

As Aria took in the familiar surroundings of the Tellus mansion, her heart raced with a mixture of emotions.

The room, though clean and well-kept, lacked the opulence typically associated with noble households. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting warm rays across the chamber.

Her gaze settled on a figure lying in the bed, bathed in the gentle glow of dawn.

It was Adrian, asleep and seemingly at peace, surrounded by softly glowing magic circles that hinted at the healing spell in effect.

Aria's breath caught in her throat at the sight of him, her heart pounding with a mixture of relief and guilt.

Approaching him cautiously, Aria felt a rush of memories flood her mind—memories of the events that led to Adrian's current state, the accident that had left him in this coma.

Guilt gnawed at her conscience as she recalled her role in the tragedy, a weight she had carried with her ever since that fateful day.

As she stood by Adrian's bedside, watching over him with a mixture of longing and remorse, Aria felt a surge of determination welling up within her.

With a soft sigh, Aria reached out to gently brush a lock of hair from Adrian's forehead, her touch light and tender.