17 years ago…
In the town of Arctheon, a place where machines and magic coexisted in harmony, the steady beeping of a heart monitor echoed softly through a quiet hospital room.
A woman with long orange hair lay on the bed, gripping the sheets tightly as she screamed through the pain of childbirth. Her husband held her hand, his face filled with worry.
Finally, the cry of effort ended, and the child was born.
But something was wrong.
There was no sound. No crying.
The newborn lay silently in the doctor's hands. The room, which should have been filled with a baby's first wail, fell into an eerie stillness.
The doctor stared at the child, stunned. This wasn't normal.
And yet, despite the unsettling silence, the child was alive.
The baby girl's name was Aina Alexander. Her mother, Amelia Joly, held her gently in her arms, trembling with worry, while her husband, Thofy Alexander, stood by her side, still in shock from what had just happened.
They waited in anxious silence, hoping the doctor would return with answers.
Finally, the door opened, and the doctor stepped in as his expression heavy with regret.
"I'm sorry… but your daughter has a rare condition where she may live her life without… feeling any emotions."
The words struck like thunder. Amelia's heart sank. Thofy stood frozen, unable to speak.
"W-What…? Doctor, there has to be a cure! We'll pay any price—just tell us what to do!"
But the doctor slowly shook his head.
"I'm truly sorry… there's nothing we can do."
Even as despair threatened to overwhelm her, Amelia held her daughter close. Tears welled in her eyes, but her voice remained steady.
"Even so… she's my daughter. And I'll love her no matter what."
A few weeks after Aina was born, their home was filled with the warmth of new life. Amelia smiled cheerfully, watching her newborn daughter sleep peacefully in her arms. She truly believed their little family was happy.
But on the other side of that joy was a man forcing a smile.
Thofy tried to act normal, but behind his eyes was something distant, something broken. He couldn't hide it forever.
Then, one night under the cover of darkness, he quietly packed his things. Without a word, without goodbye, he left.
When morning came, Amelia wandered the house, calling his name. She assumed he had gone to work early. But the hours passed. Then days.
The truth hit like a silent storm, and he wasn't coming back.
He had abandoned them.
All because of Aina's condition.
Amelia stood at the window, her thoughts heavy, her heart drowning in guilt. Was it my fault? Was it because of her...?
But when she looked down at her baby's peaceful face, she forced a smile, tears welling in her eyes.
"It's okay… I'm still here. I'll always be here."
She held Aina tighter, hiding her sorrow behind the love only a mother could give.
Years quietly passed, and little by little, Aina grew up under the gentle care of her loving mother.
Amelia, despite raising her daughter alone, gave Aina everything she had, while teaching her how to walk, how to eat, and how to smile, even if Aina didn't always show it back.
When Aina finally turned five years old, her mother, Amelia Joly, had a special surprise waiting for her.
Amelia wasn't just a kind and loving mother... she was also a brilliant, though secretive, engineer. Known by only a few in the world, she spent her quiet days inventing all sorts of creative gadgets, all with one goal in mind: "to make people smile."
Among those inventions were toys yet safe, soft, and lovingly made for children just like Aina.
A pride in her eyes, Amelia knelt beside her daughter, her hands gently holding out her latest creation.
"Happy 5th birthday, Aina! Hehe~"
With a bright smile, she handed her daughter a small, handmade plushie. It was an orange, soft, and shaped like a little round creature with a smiling face stitched on.
"Look! It can glow in the dark like the same hair color as your mommy!"
She giggled, pointing at her orange hair, then at Aina's matching locks.
"And you've got my eyes too—green like the leaves in spring!"
Amelia knelt beside her daughter, holding out the plushie with both hands.
"Well… It's not much, but I hope you like it."
Aina stared at the plushie in silence. Then, slowly yet so quietly it was almost a whisper, as she spoke.
"I… love… it… mom."
Amelia's eyes widened. Her breath caught.
And then, the warmest smile bloomed on Amelia's face.
Over the years, Amelia's greatest motivation became a single dream to find a cure that could restore Aina's lost emotions. That dream kept her going, even on the loneliest nights.
Then, one day, everything changed.
A major tech company in Arctheon, renowned for blending magic and innovation to change lives, has reached out to her. They had discovered Amelia during an event she participated in, the Creative Work Innovation showcase, where she presented one of her original inventions. Impressed by her passion and talent, they extended an invitation of wanting her to join their team.
Overwhelmed with joy, Amelia rushed home, her heart pounding with excitement. The moment she stepped through the door, she couldn't hold it in any longer.
"Aina! Aina! Look! Mommy got the best job ever!"
She exclaimed, holding up the official letter as if it were a trophy.
Aina sat on the carpet, quietly playing with her toys. Her face was as calm as always, yet no smile, no surprise. She slowly looked up at her mother, her green eyes locking with Amelia's.
"Hehe… Oh, right, you don't know what it means yet."
Amelia giggled softly, kneeling beside her.
Then, suddenly, Aina raised her tiny hands and began to clap.
It was quiet. Awkward. But to Amelia, it was everything.
She froze for a moment, her eyes widening with tears of joy beginning to form.
"Aina… were you… trying to say you're happy for me?"
There was no answer. Just the quiet sound of small hands continuing to clap.
But that silent gesture spoke louder than a thousand words.
Amelia smiled gently, her heart trembling as she slowly joined in, matching her daughter's rhythm, one clap at a time.
Two years passed, and Aina was now seven years old.
During that time, Amelia had worked tirelessly, balancing her roles as a loving mother and a brilliant engineer. Her efforts paid off. The company that hired her had grown rapidly thanks to her contributions, and she had been promoted, gaining the trust to lead her own projects.
Of course, her biggest ambition remained unchanged: developing a machine that could one day cure emotional disorders.
As Amelia walked confidently down the hallway of the company headquarters, employees passing by always offered her respectful bows and warm greetings. Her cheerful presence was like sunshine in the sterile halls, uplifting everyone's spirits.
"Hi there, Aina! What's my baby girl doing outside the office again~?"
While chatting with a group of coworkers, Amelia noticed a small tug on her sleeve. She turned to see Aina standing beside her with her usual blank expression. Smiling, Amelia gently picked her up and kissed her on the cheek.
One of the employees nearby looked concerned.
"Aren't you worried about letting your child wander around here?"
"Haha, are you kidding? This place is the toy development wing—perfectly safe!"
Amelia chuckled.
She then held up a small plushie keychain in the shape of an orange fruit, attached securely to Aina's pants.
"Besides, I installed a sensor inside her orange plushie. She never goes anywhere without it, so I always know where she is at all times!"
Everyone at the company felt a sense of relief and awe. Amelia wasn't just brilliant, but a genius. More than a few of her coworkers tried to befriend Aina as well, hoping to bring a smile to the quiet little girl.
But despite their efforts, interactions with her were often… awkward. Aina's emotionless demeanor made it difficult to read her reactions.
Still, now and then, Aina made an effort to respond. A small nod. A quiet word. It was enough to warm their hearts.
As the months passed, Amelia inched closer to completing her greatest invention. A machine that could transfer magical energy to stimulate the emotional systems in a person's body.
A miracle that, if successful, could rewrite the fate of those born without emotion.
She worked tirelessly, running countless simulations to ensure the procedure would be safe. No risks. No shortcuts. Just determination and love fuel her every step.
And then, the night before the big presentation, Amelia sat alone at her office desk. Her head rested in her hands, anxiety pressing heavily on her shoulders.
"Please… please let this work."
She whispered.
As if sensing her mother's distress, Aina quietly entered the room, her small feet making soft taps against the floor. She stood there for a moment before speaking in a calm, monotone voice.
"Mom…?"
Amelia looked up in surprise, then smiled softly. She stood, walked over, and gently scooped Aina into her arms.
"Hm? What's my little girl doing awake this late?"
She asked sweetly.
"I… had a nightmare..."
Aina replied, eyes blank but voice slightly trembling.
Amelia's smile grew warmer as she ran her hand through Aina's orange hair.
"Hehe, don't worry, sweetie. Mommy's here."
She said with gentle reassurance.
"And remember… you're never alone."
As she held Aina close, the silence between them felt peaceful, like a quiet promise that no matter what happened tomorrow, they would face it together.
Finally, the long-awaited day had arrived.
Inside the grand test chamber, lined with polished white tiles and glowing arcane circuitry, a cylindrical glass pod stood in the center, a device capable of holding a person inside. This was the culmination of years of research, sweat, and desperate hope. Amelia stood before it, her hands trembling slightly as she looked down at Aina.
Her heart ached.
"Can I really… do this to her? What if something goes wrong…?"
Amelia hesitated. Her hand hovered near the panel to activate the machine. Aina stood quietly beside her, holding onto the small orange plushie, emotionless as always, but something about her silence felt heavier today.
And then—
BZZT! BZZT! BZZT!
The blaring alarm pierced the room, bathing everything in flashing red light.
"W-What's happening!?"
Amelia gasped.
One of the researchers burst into the chamber, panic in his voice.
"Dr. Amelia! Multiple intruders have breached the lab! They're heading—!"
BANG!
A gunshot rang out. The man collapsed mid-sentence, blood splattering across the wall behind him.
Screams erupted.
Amelia flinched, her arms instinctively wrapping around Aina. The unmistakable sound of magic-charged weapons echoed through the halls with energy beams, lasers, and spellfire lighting up the corridors outside.
"Called the guards!"
Someone shouted in the distance.
"No… not now… not today!"
Amelia whispered in horror, clutching her daughter tightly against her chest.
As chaos unfolded around her, Amelia's mind raced. She couldn't let them take Aina. Not her. Not after everything. Not when she was so close.
"Don't look… just stay quiet."
Amelia covered Aina's eyes tightly, whispering.
As the sound of chaos closed in.
Footsteps echoed ominously down the corridors, as there were heavy boots, synchronized and swift. Then came the sharp clack of weapons being drawn. Figures in full black combat suits burst through the lab doors, their faces masked and voices cold as they shouted threats.
"We want the data! Hand over the research logs—now!"
Screams and panicked cries filled the air as some employees were shoved to the ground, others begging for mercy. Amelia gritted her teeth and pulled Aina close, hiding behind an overturned desk in the far corner of the lab. Her breath was shallow, but her mind remained sharp.
"Stay calm… The guards will come. They have to…"
But hope was shattered when the main door creaked open once again, and one of the black-clad intruders had spotted her.
Amelia's heart leaped. Without thinking, she grabbed Aina and sprinted through the hallway. Gunfire rang out behind them. A red warning light flickered above, casting frantic shadows along the walls as the man chased them.
She turned a corner. Dead end.
Cursing under her breath, Amelia slipped into a dark maintenance room and pressed herself and Aina behind a tall locker. Her body trembled as she held her daughter protectively, barely daring to breathe. The footsteps stopped just outside the door.
Then—
creak…
The intruder stepped inside.
Amelia clenched her jaw. She waited. One step. Two steps.
As the man passed their hiding spot, Amelia lunged forward with a cry, grabbing a metal pipe from the ground and slamming it into his face.
CLANG!
The intruder staggered back, his weapon falling to the ground. Amelia dove for the gun, but he was fast. Too fast.
With a grunt, the man unsheathed a dagger and charged.
"Aina—!"
In a heartbeat, Amelia threw herself in front of her daughter.
The blade sank into her stomach. Pain exploded in her body, but she didn't let go.
With a roar of motherly desperation, she shoved the man back with everything she had. Her trembling hands found the fallen gun, and she pulled the trigger.
BANG!
The man collapsed.
Blood stained her clothes, and her legs were weak. But even through the pain, she crawled over to Aina, who stood frozen, clutching the orange plushie.
"I'm here… Mommy's here."
Amelia whispered, forcing a smile as she weakly reached out and pulled Aina into her trembling arms.
But then—a sharp cough. Blood spilled from her lips, staining her hand and the floor beneath them. Aina's arms wrapped tightly around her mother, but her face remained still, emotionless… yet her grip trembled.
"Don't worry… everything… will be okay."
Amelia's voice cracked.
"..."
"I'm sorry… I couldn't do more for you… I couldn't give you the life I promised."
Her tears flowed freely now, mixing with the blood on her cheeks. Her body shook not just from pain, but from the overwhelming sorrow of a dream slipping away. The machine she had spent years building—shattered. Her work was ruined while her daughter was still trapped in silence.
Amelia held Aina closer, sobbing quietly as her strength faded. The edges of her vision blurred, her heartbeat slowing.
But just as everything began to dim, she saw something.
A single tear.
Aina, emotionless… had a tear slipping down her cheek.
Amelia's eyes widened.
It was faint, but on the side of her daughter's face, a flicker of emotion. Sorrow with pain finally surfaced.
At that moment, Amelia smiled, yet not forced, but genuine. Her lips curved with warmth, her eyes shimmering with peace.
"So… this is the answer… a mother's sacrifice, huh?"
Her voice was faint, but filled with joy. For the first time, she had seen it... Her daughter's emotions, awakened at last. Aina's hands trembled as she held onto her mother, her face contorting with no longer blank, no longer silent.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Mommy…! Mommy!"
The scream tore from her throat, raw and desperate.
"Please don't go… I don't want to be alone…"
She sobbed, her heart breaking open after years of silence. Her voice, once trapped deep inside, now flowed freely, filled with love and fear.
Amelia's fading eyes sparkled.
"Aina…"
She whispered, brushing a hand against Aina's cheek.
"You won't be alone… I believe one day… you'll find a life full of happiness… to stay stronger."
Amelia looked at Aina with tears welling in her eyes.
As her vision blurred, memories came rushing back, like warm sunlight before a storm.
She saw Aina's tiny hands in hers as they danced clumsily in the living room. She remembered feeding her, talking to her, even when no words came back.
The quiet dinners, the gentle lullabies, the soft claps Aina gave in her own way… and the rare, fleeting moments that made Amelia believe, deep down. Her daughter was smiling on the inside.
Behind those expressionless eyes, Amelia had always imagined a hidden world of emotion waiting to bloom.
And now, at the very end, it had.
With her last breath, Amelia reached out, brushing a tear from Aina's cheek with trembling fingers.
Then, with the gentlest, most loving smile, she whispered:
"I love you… My little Smart Orange…"
Her hand slipped away, and the light in her eyes dimmed.
Aina's heart, something had bloomed to cry out loud, uncontrollable sobs shaking her small body.
The girl born without emotion… was now crying for the first time in her life.
Tears fell endlessly as she clung to her mother's fading warmth, refusing to let go. The world around her blurred, filled only with the pain of loss… and the voice that would never speak again.
Then, footsteps echoed in the distance, clattering boots rushed down the hallway, and the door burst open.
It was the guards, but it was too late.
Their eyes widened at the tragic scene before them. The aftermath of chaos and cruelty. The wreckage of hope.
There, in the center of the room, a small girl wept beside the lifeless body of Amelia Joly—a brilliant inventor, a loving mother, and the woman who gave everything for her daughter.
A silence hung heavy in the air. One no one dared break.
In that moment… they understood.
A mother's love had done what no science could.
Hours had passed since the chaos.
The guards managed to secure only a handful of surviving employees and Aina. Most of the intruders had already escaped, carrying stolen data with them. What remained was only grief and the echo of what was lost.
At the station, Aina sat quietly among the rescued. A towel draped over her small shoulders, soaking up the cold more than the warmth. Her eyes were hollow, fixed on the floor, her tiny frame trembling in silence. She was alone, utterly alone, as her voice had vanished with her mother.
One of the guards knelt beside her, offering a gentle voice.
"Hey… are you all right?"
As she looked up, the man's face blurred into a terrifying memory, as one of the masked intruders.
Her breath caught.
She jumped up in panic and bolted out of the room.
"H-hey! Wait!"
The guards called out, chasing after her.
But she was small, fast, and driven by fear. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest as she ran through the dark streets, rain starting to fall in heavy sheets. She didn't stop until she found a narrow alleyway, that is hidden between buildings, where she dropped behind a pile of boxes and curled into herself.
"Mommy…"
Her voice trembled, barely above a whisper. The cold rain couldn't compare to the emptiness gnawing at her heart. She wished more than anything to feel her mother's embrace one more time.
Days turned into weeks.
Aina wandered the streets like a forgotten soul. People passed her by as some looked, yet most didn't. She lived off scraps, hiding in alleys and cardboard shelters. The guards continued their search, but she had vanished into the maze of Arctheon's underbelly.
Then, one night…
A storm broke over the city.
Aina sat in her box, shivering beneath a soaking blanket, tears mixing with the rain. Thunder rumbled above.
Footsteps echoed nearby.
Her heart stopped.
The sound grew closer, deliberate and steady. Aina gasped and quickly ducked behind the box, arms over her head, bracing for another nightmare. She couldn't go through it again—not again.
But then…
A shadow stood before her. A man dressed in a long, dark coat with a hood drawn low over his face. At his side hung a black katana, gleaming faintly under the streetlights.
Her eyes widened.
That silhouette…
She'd seen it before, and she was terrified.
At that moment, Aina thought it was over.
Her breath caught in her throat as the mysterious man slowly reached for his blade. Was he going to hurt her? Capture her? Her body froze, fear locking her limbs.
Then, in a flash, he drew the katana.
But instead of striking her, he raised it high into the sky.
Shiiing—!
A surge of white lightning energy burst from the blade.
In an instant, the rain that poured down around them… stopped.
Not everywhere, just in a wide circle surrounding them. The falling droplets parted above like a dome, as if time itself hesitated to touch this small, quiet moment.
Aina blinked in disbelief. Her soaked hair clung to her face as she peeked out from behind the box.
Then, the man knelt, unwrapping something warm and fragrant from his coat. A wrapped bun, yet fresh, still steaming.
He gently placed it in front of her, not saying a word.
The smell hit her nose.
Her stomach growled loudly.
She stared at the food, hesitant, still afraid… but then, slowly, her trembling hand reached out. She accepted it.
The man remained silent for a moment… then, slowly, pulled down his hood.
Aina looked up and froze.
The man had dark, weathered skin. A sharp jawline, a cold, unreadable expression… and silver-white eyes that almost glowed under the night sky. Faint scars traced the edges of his face, telling stories of countless battles.
The man's eyes widened, only for a moment. A flicker of something behind those cold, silver eyes.
He stared at her face. The soft orange hair… the green eyes, though dulled by grief… the way she clenched her hands, even the smallest expressions she didn't know she was making.
Memories flickered behind his silver eyes, ghosts of a woman from his past.
Dark blue hair that shimmered under the moonlight…
Eyes like fresh spring leaves…
And that same gentle smile, hidden beneath a fragile strength.
"…What's your name, kid?"
"A… Aina…"
Aina hugged the warm snack close to her chest.
"Last name?"
Aina froze.
The question struck deeper than expected. Her small hands tightened around the warm snack. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
She looked down. A faint tremble in her voice as she finally replied—
"…Alexander."
Aina clutched the warm snack with both hands, unaware of the storm stirring inside him.
"You… reminded me of her…"
The words slipped from his lips, barely above a whisper.
He wasn't speaking to her, but to the memory now rising from the depths of his heart.
Suddenly, the man extended his left arm toward her.
"Would you like to come with me?"
Aina's eyes widened. For a moment, time seemed to stop.
Someone has finally reached out to her…
Slowly, she reached up and took his hand. His grip was firm, yet gentle, as he carefully lifted her into his arms.
"W-what's your name… mister?"
She asked softly, clinging to the warmth she hadn't felt in so long.
"…Skyler Adriel."
"Skyler…"
She repeated his name to herself, then looked up at the clearing sky.
"Sky..."
She whispered with a faint smile.
The rain began to fade, revealing stars peeking through the night clouds. And in that quiet moment, Aina remembered her mother's words:
"You're never alone."
Tears gently slid down her cheeks, not from sadness, but hope.
Ten years later…
Aina had grown into a brilliant young woman with a cheerful personality, walking the path her mother once dreamed of.
Under Skyler's care, she had learned the art of engineering and the strength to protect herself. Though she stumbled many times, she never gave up.
She had seen her mother suffer. She understood now that pain often comes before greatness.
With each invention, each smile she brought to someone's face, she honored her mother's memory.
For Skyler, she was like family, and to her, he became the father figure she never had.
One day, Aina crafted a special gift, something a custom robotic arm that's built to restore the power in Skyler's injured right arm.
The people of Arctheon began to call her by a new name: "Smart Orange."
A tribute to the girl who once cried in the rain and now brings light through her creations. Sometimes, when the stars were bright, Aina would look up at the sky and smile.
"I'm not alone here... Mom."